soup maker - are they worth it?

[Ratbagratty]

I make loads of soups this time of year. Someone suggested I brought a soup maker as I was complaining that my blender stick isn't quite up to the job of making smooth soups (tomato skins and grainy texture on some). Are they worth it? any recommendations?

I got a Ninja heavily reduced on prime day- impressed with the 3 soups I have made so far. Much smoother than my stick blender

Love them!

On my second. Bung in ingredients, get on with other stuff, come back to soup that I know is filled with the good stuff.

It depends on your family's attitude to soup, I suppose. If they like home made soups and you make them at least once a week, they earn their counter space. If you don't make a lot of homemade soups then it's probably worth getting the nice fresh soups from Aldi or similar when you do feel like them.

Wouldn’t be without mine, can’t manage pans and a blender so it’s perfect. Hot fresh soup with little effort in 21 minutes!

If it's the ability to make really smooth soup that you want then invest in a good blender. Soup makers are ok but you have everything cooked the same amount, either blended or not; less opportunity to be inventive or add in things at different stages so that the more delicate components don't overcook.

Love my Sauté and soup maker! I live alone, and always have soup for lunch during winter, so I make a batch once a week. So easy, bung in the ingredients, switch it on, and 21 minutes later the soup is ready! The “smooth” setting really does result in smooth soup, which I prefer.

Thank you for the replies, I didn't even knows these existed!! Are they a case of pay for what you get with them?

You still have to chop all the veg though don't you which is the most time-consuming bit of the process, or am I missing something?

I prefer chunky soup so haven't bothered with one but my DF loves hers and uses it regularly.

Mine's got different settings for smooth and chunky. I buy bags of ready chopped frozen veg so no prep required unless potatoes are involved

I like bits in my soup too

I have the morphy Richards sauté and soup. Absolutely love it particularly this time of year. Couldn't recommend it enough!

Super smooth soup in 21 mins from when you put the lid on (or you can set it to chunky if you prefer soup like that)

They are brilliant, so quick and easy to use. Love mine so much.

I like my stick blender. It does get soup smooth and I enjoy pretending to The Dark Destroyer chasing around a piece of stubborn potato so that it can be squashed!

This passes for my entertainment

I love mine! does chunky and smooth..I have a drew&cole

I'm so lazy that I buy ready sliced mushrooms and pre cooked chicken pieces. Throw it in with some stock and cook on chunky. Then blend just a bit at the end with some cream. Usually enough for me to take to work for 3 or 4 shifts.

Or frozen cauliflower, stock and onion. Cook on smooth then whizz in sone cream, cheddar and blue cheese. Yummy.

I've also got the Murphy Richards one that sautés. I put the stuff in, go for a walk and come back to lovely soup. One big advantage is that if you like smooth soup, it bends part way through, so everything cooks more quickly. I think it makes smoother soup than my stick blender, but not as smooth as a liquidiser.

Oh well if it blends part way through, that makes more sense I guess. I like the idea of going for a walk and coming back to it all done. I guess you gain time not having to pot watch. I don't like buying pre-chopped veg though because of the loss of nutrients. On the other hand, a soup made with pre-chopped veg is probably better than a store bought sandwich for lunch.

I got my dads after he died - probably wouldn't have bought my own tbh.

I use it more than I expected. Made lentil and tomato today which will last me most of the week and took less than 5 mins. I always go for the creamed option and it's a good texture.

My sister has one and finds it perfect for her as she lives alone. I find them too small as my family loves its soup and I make a large potfull at a time. I haven't fount a soupmaker that makes that amount of soup

What's wrong with an ordinary blender? Mine is about 15 years old, still going strong and I use it every few days.

I love mine. Like pp have said I have a Morphy Richards and it makes it either smooth or chunky

Does anyone know of a good extra large soup maker please? We are a big family!

@katy1213 I have a Kenwood stock blender with 2 soup attachments and it seems to leave the texture grainy and if tomatoes are involved the skin isn't blended well. I could take skins off but that is so much flaff!

Hmm good point on the quantity, I do normally make up large batch at a time and freeze what isn't eaten so will have to think more.

Also does tomatoes strain them?

Stain not strain sorry!!

If you mean a stick blender, I don't think they ever achieve a smooth soup. Mine is a jug blender. But I always skin tomatoes; don't like tomato soup so there's never more than a couple to deal with.