In short: the Staub brand is the enameled cast-iron cocotte born in Alsace, now a benchmark in chefs’ kitchens and family kitchens alike. At Raclette Club, you’ll find it with its 20 cm fondue set, a cast-iron caquelon that handles cheese and chocolate equally well.
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The Staub brand in a few lines
According to Zwilling, its owner, Francis Staub designed his first cast-iron cocotte in 1974, in Alsace, laying the foundations of the company. The brand remains associated with Turckheim, near Colmar, where France 3 Grand Est devoted an episode of its series on the town to it and where the tourist office points out a Staub store. The cast iron itself is poured in a foundry in Merville, in the north of France, according to the official STAUB USA channel, which shows the sand molds, the hand finishing and the enameling.
Since 2008, Staub has been part of the German Zwilling group, which still presents it as a traditional French maker and highlights the “made in France” label. Zwilling’s product page for our fondue set also indicates French manufacturing. The brand made its name with its cocottes, its dishes and its deep colors, including the cherry red found on the caquelon on our review page.
Watch
Video: France 3 Grand Est on YouTube. France 3 Grand Est report on the history of Staub cocottes in Turckheim.
Video: STAUB USA on YouTube. Official video shot at the Merville foundry: cocottes, not the fondue set.
Video: STAUB France on YouTube. Official cheese fondue recipe in a Staub caquelon; the exact model isn’t specified.
Video: @cafemaddy on TikTok. A creator cooks shabu-shabu in a cast-iron fondue set sold by Zwilling in the United States; post made in a paid partnership with Zwilling.
Its appliances at Raclette Club
| Model | Type | Who it’s for | Review | Amazon |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 20 cm fondue set (ASIN B01EZAFRWQ) | 2.3 L enameled cast-iron caquelon, stove and 6 forks, induction | Fondues for 6, with cheese, meat or chocolate | Read the review | Check the price on Amazon.fr |
What we think
The 20 cm fondue set has everything of a classic Staub, according to the Zwilling product page: a 2.3 L enameled cast-iron caquelon (2.35 L on other pages), a stove with burner and 6 forks, induction and all-hob compatibility, and even oven use. So you can melt the cheese on the kitchen hob, then move the caquelon onto the stove at the table. Cast iron holds heat for a long time, which leaves you time to fish out the piece of bread that fell to the bottom, and to negotiate your forfeit.
The flip side is weight: nearly 5 kg for the whole set according to Zwilling. This isn’t the caquelon you pass from hand to hand over the table. And Staub lives first and foremost on its cocottes: for fondue, our selection is for now limited to this set, to be compared with caquelons from other brands.
For which fondues?
- For a Savoyard fondue for 6: the 20 cm set and its 6 forks. Our comparison of fondue pots pits it against the cast iron and ceramic of other brands.
- For a chocolate fondue: the same caquelon, which Zwilling also cites for chocolate; see our comparison of chocolate fondue sets.
- For a meat or Chinese fondue: Zwilling also states meat in broth and Chinese fondue for this set.
Frequently asked questions
Is the Staub fondue set dishwasher safe?
Zwilling’s product page for the 20 cm fondue set says it is dishwasher safe. Drying the cast iron well afterwards is still a good habit.
Does the Staub caquelon work on an induction hob?
Yes according to Zwilling: the caquelon in the 20 cm fondue set is compatible with induction and all hobs, and it can go in the oven.
Where can I buy a Staub fondue set?
On Amazon.fr, on Zwilling’s website and at kitchenware retailers; the brand also has a store in Turckheim, in Alsace. Check the diameter and color before ordering, because several sizes exist.
