Are soup makers actually any use?

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Aldi have one in stock atm. I like soup but often can’t be bother with all the faff. I like the idea of chopping things up and having a machine do it all. However, it might end up being another item that doesn’t get much use.

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IMO no, but I don't have a large kitchen.
I don't chop everything into tiny pieces for soup. If I want a smooth soup I cut the vegatables up, cook it then use my stick blender (which I use a lot).

I microwave veg and blend with whatever hot liquid i want as a base: water and stock powder, whatever, cream, milk etc in my magimix. That has the advantage that I can use the blender for other things such as smoothies- though I mainly use it for soup. It’s terrific

Don't they just boil the veg then blend it? I can't see why a pan & blender can't do the same thing. It's the cutting up veg that's the faffy bit, and you'll need to do that anyway. The only job it saves is the transfer from pan to blender, which is relatively easy once you've done all the prep.

I use a stick blender in the pot- really handy, and you can get a very smooth soup if you blend for long enough.

Do you mean a stick blender? We were given one as a wedding present >30 years ago and when it died it was instantly replaced.

Amazingly useful.

I really like my soup maker and use it a lot

I like my soup blends and use it alot when I WFH, prep the veg in the morning, turn it on at 12 then fresh soup for lunch at 12:30. Occasionally bits get stuck on the bottom and burn and it's tricky to clean it properly.

If you don't want to leave it to do it's thing a stick blender is probably better

I thought a pan and stick blender did the same thing as a soup maker until I got a soup maker

Definitely worth it for me. I didn’t used to eat much soup, but it’s used weekly at least.

It will chop the veg up for you, or not as you wish.,

I love mine. My favourite thing is how easy it is to get the right consistency - fill with veg to one line then with stock to the next, select smooth or chunky, press go, 20 mins later you have soup. Mine makes exactly 4 portions so that's my 4 lunches for a week at work sorted. When I used to use a pan and a stick blender I could never get the consistency right - it came out like a watery puree. Because the soup maker cooks for a bit then blends for a bit then cooks for a bit etc it comes out silky smooth.

Thank you. I am tempted. Not unlike when I got a cheapo air fryer- very basic. It wouldn’t matter too much if it didn’t get used. I have used it everyday since I bought it over a year ago. Love it.
i can’t be arsed with the sautéing- using a stick blender and inevitably ending up being covered in splatters of burning hot soup.
are the more expensive models worth it or will it (like my cheapo air fryer) be fine with the £30 Aldi one?😊🙏🏻

I had exactly the same experience. Thought they were probably a waste of time, but they're not. I use mine most days in the winter

I got one when trying to lose weight 7 years ago, can put any combination of veg in even if slightly past it’s best,plus water and stock cube and yep 20 minutes have low calorie no additives soup. Have used it loads. Doesn’t need watching and switches itself off. Easy to get your 5 a day too.

Agree. I just got the Aldi one and like it.

I prefer the soup maker as so much less faff. Mine gets soup silky smooth and it's easy to get the ratio of veg to liquid right when you get used to it. I use when I have veg that has gone past its best but can't bear to chuck it out.

I use mine a lot. You just shove everything in and get soup, no messy blending or saucepans.
You'd never use a stick blender again if you'd seen what was in mine.
I dropped my old one on the floor by mistake and cracked the case. It was choc a block full of mould and dried scum.
I washed it everytime after use but it still gets filled with crap.

I use mine a lot as I have a toddler, I really appreciate being able to chuck the veg and stock in then walk away. Probably if you can hover in the kitchen for another 20mins you don't need it.

I asked this question on my social media several years ago and had LOADS of naysayers saying ‘Why can’t you just use a pan and a blender?’. Well it takes far longer and I got awful scalds up my arms using a stick blender! I went for it. In 25 minutes I have delicious, blended soup. Also it’s self-cleaning, you just put warm water in and it cleans. I do batches of soup every couple of weeks in winter and freeze it. Had mine 7 years now and must still getting plenty of use.

I couldn't see the point until I got one. Now I wouldn't be without it. So much quicker and easier than a stick blender and delicious results every time. Mine has a saute function too which makes it even more delicious xx

I don't really understand what they do-and I did do some research when my dd was a student. Surely a decent pot and a stick blender would do the same? As a general rule, I try not to have gadgets that only one thing....

I prefer the stick blender, that way I can easily vary the content and especially the volume. I always cook more than for 1 day, sometimes I freeze some or keep for the next day. I doubt I would get that volume from a soup maker.

I also sometimes use chicken pieces (with the bone in) initially for the stock so that wouldn't work at all.

Essentially it’s like a pressure cooker and blender in one. It heats the soup in a confined space, I think there’s some science in food retaining flavours if it’s sealed. You can set mine to blend to chunky or blended. So in 25 minutes it cooks and blends tasty soup. Like I say, after not insignificant scalds to my arms I was scared of stick blender!

I use mine most days. I have one that lets you salute your ingredients before adding the stock, so it’s just a bit more convenient than having to use a pan and a blender, and I like how I can just set it and leave it and I’ll have a nice soup in 20 minutes.

I can't see how it saves time really. It's the chopping which is time consuming. I make soup with a big pan and a stick blender easily enough.

i love my soup maker and would never go back. Saves sooo much time and mess and incredibly easy to clean. I’m much more inclined to make soups and try new ideas now.