Soup makers - are they worth it?

[HateLife21]

I already have an electric pressure cooker/multi cooker but like the idea of a machine that even blends it for you

If you have one, do you use it regularly or is it s bit of a gimmick?

Love mine, use it once or twice a week during the colder months. I bung a load of veg inc tinned tomatoes and a stock cube in water in soup maker, switch it on and I can go for a shower, vacuum , read a book or whatever while it does it’s thing. Very easy to clean, makes tasty and healthy soup. I’m a bit boring and there are loads of flavours you can make, I just like blended veg soup.

Thanks caramac

Anyone else?

I love mine too, I used to make it on the hob but it’s much better.

Love my ninja soup maker. Easier than on the hob. Encourages me to eat more veg.

Yes, I use it several times a week - much quicker and easier than blending it myself, and a smoother result. Once the ingredients are in you can forget about it for 20 minutes, then have soup.

I have a Morphy Richards Compact.

I have a very basic kettle style one (ie. Cooks and bkends, no saute). Love it as we have soup a lot.

I was vaguely interested, but thought my instant pot and stick blender was good enough.

I was wrong! I was given one 2 weeks ago and it's brilliant!

Less faff, just chuck in stuff set and forget.

Working from home means I can spend 5 mins bunging stuff in then have tasty soup ready to pour 20 mins later.

Today I hadn't planned to have soup but I had a head of brocoli which needed using up so I roughly chopped it up, used some left over roast potatoes alsolurking in the fridge and
added chicken stock and went back to work. When it was done threw in some grated extra mature cheddar and stirred.....YUM!

Hardly any effort but hearty and filling.

Yes bought it in November used it at least 2/3 times a week.

Curried butternut is my favourite.

PearlJamButties that's what I was thinking about it hardly being onerous to get the stick blender out the drawer once the pressure cooker had finished but interesting that you think it's definitely worth it!

Present from my children, wouldn’t be without it, used so much over winter.

Use mine ask the time. I Always have lots of veg in and when it either gets on a bit or I haven't planned any meals with veg I'll chuck it in there. I add lots of black pepper and chilli flakes, set it and come back to very, very hot, tasty soup.

I like that I can vary between smooth or chunky.

Use mine ALL the time, I don't ask it the time [GRIN]

I decided against in space grounds, I too have a multi pressure cooker and use a stick blender. This allows be to control the chunkiness

I absolutely love mine, one of my best purchases ever. I have a Morphy Richards one with a sauté function. Less washing up and can just leave it while cooks and blends. Keeps warm for ages too after it's finished.

IMO it depends on how often you’re likely to use it. I have a saucepan and a very powerful stick blender. And for soups such as tomato I strain it after blending anyway because of seeds etc, so wouldn’t be worth it for me.

But if you eat soup several times a week then I can see how you might be tempted. Although bearing in mind most of them aren’t dishwasher safe so what you gain in prep you make up for in washing up - my saucepan and stick blender attachment go in the dishwasher...

I didn’t get on with mine. i make a lot of soup and felt it didn’t cook it the way i do on the hob. It doesn’t take more time on the hob than it does in a maker.

Saucepan and stick blender is hardly onerous, so never felt the need for one.

Thanks for asking OP, I've been thinking about getting one this week and been wondering the same thing. Those of you that do have them and love them - which do you have? The myriad of options is mind blowing. Is the saute function worth it?

@dementedma

Saucepan and stick blender is hardly onerous, so never felt the need for one.

This. I considered it but with limited storage space for devices, I opted against one as I'm not convinced it would be that much better than the pan & stick blender option.

Going against the grain here to say I hate mine. It's bloody massive and takes up loads of space. It never cooks the very small pieces of carrot first time, it advertises 20 minutes for soup but I end up having to run a whole cycle again.

Ok for smooth I suppose as it cooks quicker when blended but for minestrone or similar it sucks. Quicker on the hob!

(Morphy Richards one)

Ooh... i have just ventured into making soups (never heard of special machine).

Which one do each of you have?

No. I was given one, used it once, didn't think it paid for the space it uses so gave it away. As far as I know it is still looking for a permanent home

And I like soup. DH makes chicken broth and tomato soup, I make more complicated ones. We both use a stockpot and stickblender.

No. It’s a waste of time. A saucepan and a stick blender is all you need. (I have a soup maker and it is gathering dust!)

I’ve got the morphy Richards compact one. I use smart price frozen veg and a kallo organic umami stock cube on the smooth setting.

Sometimes I throw caution to the wind and add wholemeal pearl barley at the end (precooked).