Kalorik Chocolate Melter/Fun Fondue

The main reason I got the Kalorik Chocolate Melter/Fun Fondue was because of the extras. I had visions of making chocolates and all sorts of gourmet treats, along with straight fondue. I was also attracted to the revolving tray. Now the tray is a nice touch. It's sturdy plastic and is attactive and durable. But the pot itself is small and not extraordinary at all. In fact, it's probably less useful than a model costing $25.00. The "molds" are small plastic trays that will tear easily and will probably fall apart after one use. The tools, likewise, are plastic and small. If you get this pot, count on buying a separate set of equipment for stirring and dipping.

The instructions are also unclear. Although the pot looks like a double broiler, it is unclear whether or not water should be used in the lower layer. It is also unclear whether to turn the heat to settings 1 or 2. It also says not to use anything except for chocolate in the pot, but traditional fondue is made with milk, cream, or some other kind of liquid.

The system is messy, though easy to clean. The chocolate leaked all over the inside and outside of the pot, including the bottom layer. The good news is that the pot seems to be made of some chocolate resistant material and cleaning went quickly. A full pot of chocolate took approximately half an hour to melt, a little bit longer than the advertised 18 minutes but faster than many other systems.

In retrospect, I wish I would've gotten a cheaper model and bought my own frills. This is good for an attractive presentation, but there are many less expensive fondue makers that will get the job done just as well.