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The Spruce Eats / Lecia Landis
If you use any of the many varieties of chocolate in your kitchen, you’ll want to explore this collection of chocolate melting pots. They’ve all been created for the sole purpose of melting chocolate easily, quickly, and with minimal cleanup. Some chocolate melting pots are made for food preparation in the kitchen itself and others are made for entertaining, whether it’s a casual get-together or an elegant evening with a dining room set with fine linens, silver, and champagne.
Different methods can be used for melting chocolate. There are electric chocolate melting pot models, double-boiler models, and models that use solid fuel to maintain temperature. Consider how you intend to use the pot and what kind of chocolate experience you're looking for, then choose accordingly. None of these pots require a lot of work to set up or clean, but they do have quite a range in terms of size, so check the dimensions and weight to find your best fit.
Here, the best chocolate melting pots for your sweet occasions.
Best Overall
Cuisinart CFO-3SS Electric Fondue Maker
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Amazon
Reaches desired temperature in minutes
Easy-to-control temperature dial
Attractive finish
Includes a recipe book
Metal utensils may scratch nonstick coating
This set consistently rates as one of the best electric fondue sets on the market, and its reputation held up in our tests. At 3 quarts, it's big enough for a fondue party with eight guests or to handle enough chocolate for a generous round of candy making.
Made of brushed stainless steel with a nonstick lining, it's elegant and stylish. The electric heating element is at the base of the pot, and our home tester loved how quickly and evenly it heated up on all settings. In fact, it was so easy to use, our reviewer said it's perfect for those who want to make fondue a regular event. The fondue temperature stayed consistent through a whole dinner party, though everyone did have to be a little mindful when dipping as to not scratch the interior.
The temperature controls allow a wide range of settings, and a temperature probe is included in the set. The entire unit is dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. The set includes eight fondue forks and a recipe book.
Price at time of publish: $79.95
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The Spruce Eats / Sharon Lehman
Material: Brushed stainless steel | Size: 3 quarts | Heat Source: Electric | Dimensions: 6.12 x 10.5 x 7 inches
"With all eight heat settings, we found the pot heated quickly, reaching our desired temperature in just a couple of minutes." — Sharon Lehman, Product Tester
Best Budget
SONGZIMING Stainless Steel Double Boiler Pot
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Amazon
Low-tech, easy to use
Size makes it easy to store
Heat-resistant handle
Might be difficult to store when limited in space
This double boiler pot in gleaming stainless steel features a heat-resistant red handle, a hook to steady it, and two pouring spouts, all of which combine to make melting chocolate quick and easy. It’s heavy enough to avoid burning your ingredients and light enough for everyday use in the kitchen. If you’re looking for simplicity, this definitely fits the bill!
This is the right size to fit into a small saucepan. Just fill the saucepan a third of the way full with water, bring to a slow boil, and hook the double boiler pot with ingredients over the top of the saucepan. This is a low-tech option for quick and easy chocolate melting. Plus, you can use it to melt butter or cheese or use it to steam vegetables. It's also available in 2.5-cup and 1-quart sizes.
Price at time of publish: $10.59
Material: Stainless steel | Size: 2 cups, with other options | Heat Source: Electric | Dimensions: 10.2 x 5.6 x 2.1 inches
Best for Fondue
Nostalgia 1.5-Quart Stainless Steel Electric Fondue Pot
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Amazon
Nice size for small gatherings
Sophisticated look
Wide temperature range
Temperature control dial can get messy
This fondue pot is perfect for everyday fondue parties with a few friends or family. It holds up to 3 pounds of chocolate and is large enough for six people to gather around. Made of brushed stainless steel, it has a fairly chic look. The two handles are covered to avoid heat transfer, and the set includes six fondue forks that fit into notches on the pot for safety.
Other details include a wide range of temperature controls and removable dishwasher-safe parts. Reviewers do note that the front panel, which houses the temperature control, can get messy during a dipping party. It's also available in colorful 3-quart options.
Price at time of publish: $39.99
Material: Brushed stainless steel | Size: 1.5 quarts, with other options | Heat Source: Electric | Dimensions: 7.75 x 10.5 x 6.75 inches
Best for Set
Good Cooking Store Electric Chocolate Melting Pot Gift Set
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Amazon
Comes with candy molds and skewers
Compact for storage
Easy enough for kids to use
Heat isn’t entirely consistent
This efficient and easy-to-use melting pot is just what you need when you’re making candy—especially with little helpers serving as your sous chefs. All you have to do is plug it in and turn the dial to begin the heating process. And though it’s worth noting some users find one side heats faster than the other, it won’t scald the chocolate. Instead, it keeps it at just the right temperature and consistency for your cooking task, whether that’s coating strawberries, making chocolate lollipops, or whipping up a batch of homemade shaped chocolate with the included molds.
Cleanup is just as effortless, since the top compartment where the chocolate sits lifts out so you can soak, scrub with soap, and rinse. Once everything is dry, you’ll love how convenient storage is. Since the whole thing measures less than 12 inches at most, it fits in crowded cabinets and small kitchens alike.
Price at time of publish: $22.99
Material: Plastic | Size: 1 cup | Heat Source: Electric | Dimensions: 9 x 6 x 5 inches
Best Multipurpose
The Pioneer Woman 1.5-Quart Slow Cooker Twin Pack
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Amazon
Set of two offers flexibility
Charming design
Easy-to-store
Limited heat settings
This 2-pack of small electric slow cookers offers a lot of flexibility. In addition to all the other uses of a slow cooker, you can melt chocolate for treats, or have a fondue party with dark and white chocolate at the same time. The 1.5-quart size is perfect for small families or couples, and both of the two different designs—floral and gingham—are decorative and worthy of keeping out on a countertop. That small size also means these are easy to store if you need to. There are three heat settings, and the crocks and lids are dishwasher safe.
Price at time of publish: $74.99
Material: Metal, stoneware, glass | Size: 1.5 quarts | Heat Source: Electric | Dimensions: 9.2 x 7.5 x 8.5 inches
Best for Entertaining
Nostalgia 32-Ounce Stainless Steel Chocolate Fondue Fountain
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Amazon
Fun and interactive
Large capacity
Can be used for other food items, like cheese
Hard to store
With a mirrored stainless steel surface, a towering design, and an impressive 2-pound capacity, this electric chocolate fountain set will stand out at any party, whether a backyard gathering to celebrate a graduation or baby shower or a more formal event like a wedding in a rented hall. And you don’t just have to use it for chocolate—send cheese, ranch dressing, or even liqueur for a spin for a sure way to impress your guests.
No matter what you’re serving up, you’ll have a lot of it. The 4-tier fountain holds a whopping two pounds at a time. And because the bowl is heated and the fountain is auger-style (read: no pump), you won’t have to do anything. Just plug it in and let it do its thing.
By nature of its size, cleaning takes a bit of time—you’ll have to go piece by piece. What’s more, storage is a bit more cumbersome than some other options. Thankfully, all of the parts disassemble without much effort, so you won’t have to find a place to stash a giant contraption.
Price at time of publish: $59.99
Material: Mirrored stainless steel | Size: 2 pounds | Heat Source: Electric | Dimensions: 13.3 x 9.8 x 9.8 inches
Best for Outdoor Dining
Cuisinart 13-Piece Cast Iron Fondue Set
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Amazon
Authentic traditional fondue set
Requires no electricity
Will last a long time
Pricey
This traditional red-glazed cast-iron fondue set has an authentic look and feel. The pot holds 1.5 quarts, and the set includes six fondue forks. The cast-iron pot is used to melt the chocolate on the stovetop, and then it’s transferred to the frame, which is fitted with a Sterno heating can (found at hardware stores). Since it’s cast iron, the pot maintains and holds the heat. This offers the authentic fondue experience, and it’s a lot of fun! It's also easy to use for outside dining, since it doesn’t require electricity.
Price at time of publish: $80
Material: Enameled cast iron | Size: 1.5 quarts | Heat Source: Solid fuel (Sterno can) | Dimensions: 7 x 13.25 x 7.25 inches
Best Commercial
ALDKitchen 4-Quart Chocolate Melting Pot
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Amazon
Large capacity
Heavy-duty commercial materials and manufacture
Nonstick components and dishwasher safe
Requires a lot of space to store and use
This chocolate melting pot is for home cooks who are ready to produce professional-level chocolate candies. With the capacity to melt and temper 4 quarts of chocolate and hold it at the perfect temperature to work with, this is the largest chocolate melting pot on our list. Made of stainless steel, it has a professional design and a wide range of temperature levels. It’s heavy-duty with nonstick components and made to last. It's quite large and heavy (over 10 pounds!) so make sure you have a kitchen that can accommodate it. It's available with two or four inserts, which are dishwasher safe.
Price at time of publish: $149.99
Material: Commercial grade stainless steel | Size: 4 quarts | Heat Source: Electric | Dimensions: 18 x 9 x 7 inches
Best for Candy Making
Wilton 2.5-Cup Candy Melts Pot
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Courtesy of Amazon
Quick and easy to use
Silicone insert replacements available
Easy to clean
Limited temperature control
Simple and efficient, this electric melting pot by Wilton is the perfect size for most batches of homemade candy or chocolate making. Just plug it in, add your ingredients, and turn it on to one of the two temperatures designed to best serve candy makers. It works quickly—most ingredients will be fully melted within 10 minutes. The insert is silicone, has pouring spouts on both sides, and is very easy to clean. The diameter of the bowl is 5.7 inches. Extra inserts can be purchased for working with multiple ingredients.
Price at time of publish: $36.39
Material: Plastic, silicone | Size: 2.5 cups | Heat Source: Electric | Dimensions: 6.31 x 9.12 x 5.67 inches
The Cuisinart 3-Quart Stainless Steel Electric Fondue Set is perfect for fondue, performed well in our tests, and is an all-around good choice for melting chocolate. If you want a chocolate melting pot to use in the kitchen for general tasks and candy making, the Wilton Candy Melts Melting Pot checks all the boxes and is affordable.
What to Look for in a Chocolate Melting Pot
Material
Chocolate melting pots can be made of stainless steel of varying weights, enameled cast iron, stoneware, or ceramic. All of these materials work well, but each has advantages you should consider before you buy. Most chocolate melting pots are dishwasher safe, but it's always good to check if easy cleanup is important to you.
Size
Chocolate melting pots come in a good range of sizes. Decide which is best for you by considering how you intend to use the pot (as a fondue pot or as a cooking tool) and what size portions you generally make.
Heat Source
Heat sources for chocolate melting pots can include electricity, steam, solid fuel, and even tealights. Electricity is the most common, steam is generally used when the chocolate will be used fairly quickly in cooking, solid fuel like Sterno can be used indoors or outdoors, and tealights are used for very small fondue sets.
Temperature Control
Electric models will have temperature controls that can vary from one set temperature to many adjustable temperatures, depending on the model. The more varied the temperature control, the more foods you can potentially use in the chocolate melting pot, as many of these pots have also been designed to use for broth, cheese, caramel, or oil.
Specialized Use
Chocolate melting pots tend to fall in one of two categories: those that are used primarily as fondue pots and those that are used primarily to melt chocolate for use in cooking/baking/candy making.
Design
Style is a big part of any chocolate melting pot, and it’s true that form should follow function. If you’re using your pot in the kitchen, it will have a different look than a pot designed for entertaining at a fancy dinner party.
FAQs
Can you melt chocolate in a crock pot?
Yes, you can melt chocolate in a crock pot on low heat, but be sure that the size of the crock pot fits the amount of chocolate you want to melt. If you use too big a pot and too little chocolate, it can burn.
How do you melt chocolate in a crock pot or a fondue pot?
Choose a chocolate that melts well—this will be a chocolate with at least 32 percent cocoa butter. Chop the chocolate into small pieces on a cutting board with a large sharp knife, or use chocolate chips. You can use parchment paper to keep the cutting board clean if you like. The smaller the pieces, the quicker the chocolate will melt. Avoid getting even a single drop of water in the pot or on the chocolate, or it will seize up and not melt evenly. Keep the heat set on low until the chocolate is melted, stirring occasionally, or follow the directions of your specific fondue pot.
Can you melt chocolate in an Instant Pot?
Yes, you can melt chocolate in an Instant Pot, but it’s not ideal. Basically, you would use the Instant Pot as a double boiler, bringing about an inch of water to a boil, then placing a bowl with finely chopped chocolate in it over, but not touching, the steaming water. The steam will melt the chocolate, but be sure to stir often as it melts. The reason this method isn’t ideal is that sometimes the water can spatter up into the chocolate due to a non-secure fit between the bowl and the Instant Pot, making the chocolate seize up and not melt properly. If you want to use the steam method of melting chocolate, a good-fitting double-boiler pot set on a regular kitchen stove is much simpler.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats?
Karen Resta is a writer specializing in food culture and history, cooking, pastries, and restaurants. She's also a former pastry chef and has traveled to Budapest, Kyiv, and Paris during their Fashion Weeks as a photographer and writer, always finding the best authentic pastries along the way. She now spends a lot of her free time baking at home and recommends quality within your given budget. Finding the best way to melt chocolate has been a long-time worthwhile obsession, and is always very satisfying! Having the right tools available and knowing how to use them well (it can take practice, like anything else) makes all the difference, and she curated this list with that in mind.
This article was later updated by Brigitt Earley. Brigitt is a writer and editor with nearly 15 years of experience testing and writing about consumer products, including small kitchen appliances. She also holds a certificate in culinary arts from the French Culinary Institute and has worked in a professional kitchen. She loves fondue—both cheese and chocolate—and regularly melts chocolate to make cake pops with her kids. To do both, she uses the Cuisinart fondue pot recommended above.
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