Trudeau 0823004 Electric 11-Piece 3-in-1 Fondue Set

by Trudeau

• Electric fondue pot with warming base and 56-ounce stainless-steel pot
• Stoneware insert for cheese or chocolate fondue; variable temperature control
• Pot suitable for stovetop use; 2 loop side handles; fork guide
• 6 stainless-steel forks included; break-away power cord for safety
• Measures approximately 9-2/7 by 9 by 9-2/7 inches; 1-year limited warranty

Product Details

• Product Dimensions: 9.3 x 9 x 9.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Shipping: This item is also available for shipping to select countries outside the U.S.
• Shipping Advisory: This item must be shipped separately from other items in your order. Additional shipping charges will not apply.
• ASIN: B000EE52HI
• Item model number: 0823004
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (84 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,758 in Kitchen & Dining (See Top 100 in Kitchen & Dining)
  • #14 in Kitchen & Dining > Cookware > Fondue
  • #50 in Kitchen & Dining > Kitchen Utensils & Gadgets > Cheese Tools

Product Description

The Trudeau electric fondue pot makes the inconvenience of sterno a distant memory! The 11 piece set is a space saver offering the choice of either hot broth or oil based fondue for meat and seafood or just pop in the stoneware bowl for cheese or chocolate fondue. The mirror finish 18/10 stainless steel pot rests on a modular warming base that has a non-stick warming plate with a variable temperature control. The built in light indicates either on or off. The electric fondue also comes equipped with a quick release, magnetic power cord for safety, 6 stainless steel forks with a bright dot of color on the end for ease of identification and a fork guide to keep forks from sliding. 500 watts and UL approved.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

385 of 385 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Best electric fondue pot available: stylish, quality, functional. November 11, 2005

By artknows

The Trudeau electric fondue pot is a triumph of form following function. Being electric it is very convenient to use and arguably safer than "sterno" units. It is versatile and can be used with cheese, meat or dessert fondues. Compared to others presently on the market, it has the distinct advantage of being the only one truly designed for all three types of fondue.

I tested the Rival and the Cuisinart. Both use direct heat technology, which is fine for oil or broth based fondue which require high heat. However, when you cook cheese or dessert you have use a low heat setting. Both units cycle between "on" and "off" at various intervals trying to keep a steady temperature. This creates either rapid boiling or fast cooling. Making a cheese or chocolate fondue with the Rival and Cuisinart is doable, but be prepared to be stirring the pot a lot to prevent scorching the food. The Westinghouse seems to be the same design as the other two, but I have not tried it.

As for the Trudeau it has several nice features. First, the pot is separate from the heating base. This means you can heat the pot in the kitchen and bring it to the table when ready. The heating surface is teflon coated for easy clean up. The unit is also more "upright" than the other electrics which takes up less space on your table, while looking darn good too. IMHO.

However, what gives the Trudeau its distinct advantage is the unique double boiler system where, when making cheese or dessert fondue, you fill the chrome pot with 20 ounces of water and insert a stoneware crock into the pot. The arrangement allows for even heating at lower temperatures which is essential for cheese and chocolate fondues.

For oil or broth fondues, the chrome pot sit atop the direct heat of the heating base as you would expect. Six better than average fondue forks are included along with a fork holder for the chrome pot to keep the forks from sliding around. Another nice feature is the patented electric plug which eliminates the guesswork of knowing which way to insert the plug into the base.

If you want one fondue pot to serve all your needs, this is the one to buy.

61 of 63 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars excellent all around fondue pot!! November 27, 2007

By Lisa Schmeckpeper

Amazon Verified Purchase

Never thought I really liked Fondue until I went to the Melting Pot for dinner on my birthday. Quite expensive so I decided to try it at home. After much research I picked this pot because of its dual bowl system. You can do cheese, chocolate and broth. This pot kept all of our courses hot enough without scorching. Nicely sized for our family of four. I would buy this pot again if I needed to!

66 of 69 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Its a THREE Star, NOT a Five Star March 10, 2011

By Carolyn

Let me be the voice of reason to counter all the glowing five star reviews on here. I've been using electric fondue pots at home since my first visit to the Melting Pot over ten years ago. The West End, Rival and Cuisinart models are virtually the same, with identical Pros and Cons. For those pots, all the magnetic cords come off if a piece of dust settles onto the device. The heating element is of the on/off variety that makes cooking cheese fondues "challenging" to the say the least. But not impossible. On the plus side those models are large, do broth fondues VERY well, have a temperature gauge for precise heating and double as fryers with ease.

Now on to this fondue pot, the Trudeau.

PROS:
- Even heating. The ceramic insert elevates the cheese fondue experience to a 100% replication of your memories at the Melting Pot. It is the main standout of this device.

- The magnetic cord stays attached much more securely than the other models. If you accidentally tap your fork against it, it WON'T detach. That's a good thing.

CONS:
- Very small when compared to the other brands, about HALF the size, especially when cooking cheese fondues and using the ceramic insert.

- No temperature gauge whatsoever. Just a red bar. Guesswork required.

- Very cumbersome to transport. I didn't realize this at the time of purchase, maybe I misread something, but this fondue pot comes in THREE pieces: The heating skillet base, the metal pot liner (for broths), and the ceramic inner liner for cheeses. So if you start cooking your fondue in the Kitchen and want to move it to the living/dining room, you're in for a complicated series of trips. Also, there are NO HANDLES on the actual heating base, only on the metal broth liner - and those are small and metal at that. Good luck moving the base without burning yourself. The other models like the Rival and Cuisinart are one piece devices with plastic handles. Pop off their cords and away you can go.

- The STICKER. If you've read the other reviews on here, yes, the complaints over that blasted sticker are extremely valid. Its round, about three or four inches in diameter and attached directly to the surface of the skillet style heating base unit. Its not one of those "easy peel" plastic stickers either. It comes off in micro-millimeter bits, leaving a lot of glue residue on the hot plate. Which WILL stink like heck when you turn it on the first couple of times.

- Price. Is this REALLY worth TWICE the price of the other models? You have to decide that for yourselves, but if I had this purchase to make again I would not have spent over $50 for this product. Three stars = "It's Okay"