Popular ingredients include:

• Meat : thinly sliced ​​beef, pork, chicken.
• Fish : shrimp, squid, fish fillets.
• Vegetables : spinach, bok choy, mushrooms, corn.
• Noodles : rice noodles, egg noodles.
• Tofu : firm or silken tofu.
• Stock base : meat or vegetable stock, sometimes seasoned with spices.

The preparation can take anywhere from 30 to 60 minutes, depending on how many ingredients you want to use. Boiling the ingredients in the broth usually only takes a few minutes.

Yes, you can customize hotpot to accommodate different dietary needs. Provide a variety of vegetables, vegan proteins (like tofu and seitan), and gluten-free broth. Ask your guests about their dietary needs and plan your ingredients accordingly.

Yes, hotpot is suitable for children. Make sure you choose ingredients that are age-appropriate, such as soft vegetables and thin slices of meat. You can also offer milder broths and sauces.

Use separate dishes for raw and cooked ingredients. Make sure everyone has their own serving tongs or chopsticks for taking ingredients out of the pot. Avoid using the same chopsticks for taking raw and cooked food.

Hotpot differs from fondue in that the ingredients are cooked in broth rather than melted cheese or oil. In addition, hotpot is often healthier, as it contains lots of fresh vegetables and lean meats, and the focus is on cooking the food in water or broth, which adds less fat.

You can store leftover stock in the refrigerator for later use, but make sure to reheat it thoroughly before using it again. However, untouched, raw ingredients should be discarded for food safety reasons.