Soup makers

[BlackAlys]

Do you have one?
Are they worth it?

I do like and appreciate a good soup but am wondering if this is another novelty gadget.

'It's the weather for soup, after all.

I use mine nearly everyday. I dont bother to saute I just chuck it all in, leave it and come back to lovely soup with no mess.

@Gerwurtztraminer

Ditto a vote for soup maker. A lot less faff and washing up than a saucepan & blending. Takes 20 mins from start to eating and easy way to use up sad looking veg in particular. The Saute version adds more flavour (and mine doesn't need the lid on when sauteing).

Best recipes:

1. Sweet potato, can of coconut milk, Thai red curry paste, extra chilli if you like it hot, and a squeeze of lime when serving. Can make a pumpkin or butternut squash version as well.
2. Roasted red pepper and tomato soup is lovely (roast peppers in oven first, and a can of tinned toms with chicken stock).
3. Tinned lentils, spices of choice and some veg is quick and filling though best the next day when flavours have developed a bit.

@Gerwurtztraminer do you mind telling us which one you have? Thanks!

@woodhill

Also don't you have to cool soup down to use stick blender or liquidiser then reheat again

No, you don’t. At least not for an immersion blender you don’t.

On the back of this thread I finally just made Butternut Squash soup.

I roasted the squash and onions, then once cool blitzed in the blender with stock and seasoning.

I've had to wash the baking tray, blender, a bowl, fork, spoon. So am thinking a soup maker would be far less hassle and that I'd make soup far more often as I love a good soup.

Not that I was aware of, I just stick the stick blender in the hot pan!

@GoingForAWalk I roast the squash and onion in a casserole dish, then put that on the hob, add stock and blend with stick blender. Less to wash up

caramelised onion and other veg make good soup.

big pot and stick blender here too.

I'm sure with liquidisers it's important to.

I wasn't convinced till I bought a soup maker but it's been really useful

I have one. I love it! I’m not into gadgets, but I do like this. I’ve had it about 5 years. It has a sauté bottom, but it works with the lid off so I can stir the stuff sautéing. I use it a couple of times a week.

The only irritation is cleaning it because it doesn’t go in the dishwasher !

Pop a dishwasher tablet (or break a tablet in half) in the soup maker with water, leave overnight, then pour out and quick swill with clean water. No need to use a sponge or scrub or anything, and it comes up gleaming clean.

@lovingnewme
I've got the Morphy Richards Compact Saute 1 litre. Plus was on sale at the time.

Like other people have mentioned I got hot splatters from using a blender in a saucepan and who wants to wait for it to cool down first.

The Soupmaker is so much quicker and has a self clean mode. Does sound pretty loud on full blend is only criticism.

[quote Gerwurtztraminer]@lovingnewme
I've got the Morphy Richards Compact Saute 1 litre. Plus was on sale at the time.

Like other people have mentioned I got hot splatters from using a blender in a saucepan and who wants to wait for it to cool down first.

The Soupmaker is so much quicker and has a self clean mode. Does sound pretty loud on full blend is only criticism.[/quote]
Thanks!

[quote AliceAldridge]@GoingForAWalk I roast the squash and onion in a casserole dish, then put that on the hob, add stock and blend with stick blender. Less to wash up [/quote]

You're right I think I'm just going to carry on as I am.

Although I did see a Salter soup maker reduced online at Robert Dyas. I've bought from them before and they have some great offers and are reliable.

@AliceAldridge

What else do you add to it ?

I added honey, nutmeg, garlic powder, SnP.

I wondered if it was worth adding milk ?!? Or butter. Or turmeric after blending but I don't want to stain anything. I don't want to buy cream just for soup.

I use Marigold and add turmeric and sometimes cumin, also garlic and paprika. I put lentils in which gives it a nice consistency and sometimes a tin of tomatoes.

The BBC Good Food site has one with two chilli peppers and 4 tbsp creme fraiche which I want to try now

@GoingForAWalk I have sometimes put a bit of milk in soups in the absence of cream though. It sounds worth a try!

Team pan and blender here. I did have a soup maker but sold it. Washing it up was a complete faff. I also batch make soup to freeze and can make much more in my Sainsburys le creuset knock off with my basic hand blender.

some soups are nicer unblended imo.

That's useful thanks @AliceAldridge