Cheese fondue has become famous all over the world. Lots of visitors to Switzerland don’t want to leave without trying this speciality. It even made it into the ‘Asterix’ comic book series. No single person is credited with inventing the cheese dish, and its origins are disputed. Nonetheless, various online articles on the subject agree that cheese fondue became a national dish in the 1950s. It featured in Swiss army cookbooks at the time.
Naturally, we were keen to find out if cheese fondue has sparked the interest of any inventors. It has! The patent database hits aren’t as high as for other subject areas, but fondue has definitely led to a few eureka moments.
Separate stirring sections to keep things hygienic
Fresh from the idea factory comes Jonny Billeter’s invention, published in 2025. ‘A fondue pot with various compartments – personalised and hygienic’ is the title of his patent. The pot with separate compartments for the cheese mixture is designed to improve hygiene levels when sharing fondue.
Patent: CH721523
Fuel paste or electricity – the fondue has to bubble
A lot of heat is needed to make the cheese bubble. The heat is provided by fuel paste, for example (image on the left). This particular patent doesn’t protect the fuel paste itself: it protects the special construction of the burner for fondue, raclette and other cooking appliances powered by fuel paste. The flame burns evenly, and the desired temperature is maintained, which means that you don’t have to constantly readjust the openings on the burner.
Electric models are also available (image on the right), as demonstrated by this hotplate specially designed for fondue. The key feature is a two-stage heating system: rapid heating, then automatic gentle warming, which prevents the cheese from cooking or burning. The unique construction ensures that just the right amount of heat reaches the pot.
Patent for fuel paste: CH690317
Patent for electric hotplate: CH544537
Eating fondue is very inflexible in one respect: you need a table and a fondue pot. However, this invention from 2014 makes the melted cheese portable – you pour it into a baguette. The innovation consists of a fork tong (main innovation), a drip guard and a bread holder. It might not be as cosy as a traditional fondue dinner, but you still get to eat hot cheese with bread.
Patent: CH707512
Sometimes fondue just needs a helping hand – or rather, a small motor. This patented invention has a stirrer built into the lid. A slim motor lowers a spiral-shaped stirring arm into the pot, which automatically keeps the cheese moving. No more burning or lumps. Patented in 1996, this invention never fails to make the cheese creamy, so all you have to worry about is not losing your piece of bread.
Patent: CH686338
Von Roll and the fondue pot
The long-standing Swiss technology company Von Roll contributed to fondue culture in 1967. In the past, cast iron pots often had closed hollow handles. They collected everything that you wouldn’t want to have to deal with – grease, water and odours. Von Roll solved the problem with a simple idea: a u-shaped handle that’s open at the bottom and isn’t hollow. Hygienic, robust and much easier to clean.
Patent: CH441663
Designs – a football helmet and fondue on tap
Inventions can be pleasing to the eye too: during our research, we discovered some protected fondue-related designs. Design rights protect the appearance of an object. The ‘helmet-shaped fondue set’, for example, resembles an American football helmet (US design protection: USD709318). The fondue bar, on the other hand, originates from Switzerland (design number 148443). Up to three fondue pots can be placed on the pull-out wooden boards. According to the applicant, the barrel can also be used as a bar table when closed. The object was entered in the IPI’s design register in February 2025. Finally, we took a look in our design protection archive and came across an ornate fondue pot.
