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Original poster

Are soup makers actually any use?

172 replies

BigButtons · 17/01/2025 18:20

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.

MNHQ Update
Searching for a soup maker that'll take the stress out of making your favourite soup at home? Our guide to the best soup makers is up to date with a wide range of options tried and tested options. We hope it’s helpful! Flowers

OP posts:
CloseYourRingStress · 18/01/2025 11:07

ssd · 18/01/2025 10:33

Thank you @CloseYourRingStress , i will definitely be trying thisSmile

That’s probably my favourite version @ssd. Sometimes the kids will say that this week’s soup is better than last week’s. That’s because I’ve used up a box of cherry tomatoes that needed eating or used sprouts or something that doesn’t have the depth of flavour other things have.

Whatever, it’s healthy lunch soup. I do think that nicer ingredients make a difference to the taste, but I don’t waste anything food wise.

DaDaDoDaiDa · 18/01/2025 11:11

soupfiend · 18/01/2025 10:20

So another question before I go out and try to get the Aldi soup maker, can it make things like cullen skink or smoked haddock chowder as these are the sort of soups we liek you cant find them that easily for a good price in the shops and even in restaurants you rarely come across them

I've done fish soup, no problem. Look for one that has a 'chunky' setting as well as smooth, or as pp said, you could add the fish last.

thesaskedminger · 18/01/2025 11:26

Mischance · 18/01/2025 10:21

Chop veg, stick in pan, add water and desired flavours, boil up, use stick blender if smooth required. All done in one saucepan - why would you need a special machine?

OP didn't ask how to make soup

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General food
suburburban · 18/01/2025 11:29

Zonder · 18/01/2025 09:24

I resisted because I was one of those people who said I have e a saucepan and a stick blender, why do I need a soup maker?

Oh boy, I realised the benefits when I was given one and thought I may as well try it out. It is much quicker - I don't chop the veg, I don't have to be in the kitchen, I don't do much.

But the biggest bonus is that you can just put the timer on it and go away. I make soup on days when I'm working from home. I carry on with my work in the study and pop back when I want to press the next button to go from chop to fry to simmer to blend. Doesn't matter if I leave half an hour between because the soup just sits there not boiling over or spoiling.

Yes it keeps it hot for a while

I'm using it now and tomorrow for people coming. It is convenient

I only have the small one but it will make about 4 small portions

Original poster
BigButtons · 18/01/2025 11:55

Right ho. Off down Aldi in a mo. Will walk into town to get my steps. Hopefully they still have some left- otherwise I’ll pop into Argos or buy on Amazon. The Morphy Richards is on sale- just the basic version.
i am so glad you have all posted.
i am a recent empty nester- although they keep coming back 🤔 and often can’t be arsed to make myself any food. I rather evil in the fact that I don’t have to cook for anyone.
Having a soup maker with at lest mean I get something healthy inside me whilst I adjust . I would love to be able to make a decent chicken and veg soup.
I weight lift so need my protein.
this frozen sofritto sounds intriguing- going to look it up and get some when out of possible.

OP posts:
blackheartsgirl · 18/01/2025 12:03

I bought the 30 quid basic one from home bargains after reading this thread and oh goodness me it’s great!
I always used to do soup on the hob then pour it into a blender then blend and it always ended up being a purée no matter what I tried and the texture used to make me gag.

my soup today came out silky smooth and full of flavour and I’ve just drunk a whole mugful.

what a win!

FloofyKat · 18/01/2025 12:03

mitogoshigg · 18/01/2025 09:49

Not really unless you love gadgets. I use a standard knife to chop, a pan to cook it then a £10 handheld blender if it's a smooth soup. Less faff than cleaning a soup maker (my mother has one, so fiddly to clean)

I’m not gadget lover but I find my soup maker a lot less faff than the stovetop method. And my soup maker is a doddle to clean.

I always put a very small splash of olive oil in the base of the jug before adding any ingredients. This seems to help avoid the burnt bottom issues some posters have experienced.

isthismylifenow · 18/01/2025 12:13

BigButtons · 18/01/2025 11:55

Right ho. Off down Aldi in a mo. Will walk into town to get my steps. Hopefully they still have some left- otherwise I’ll pop into Argos or buy on Amazon. The Morphy Richards is on sale- just the basic version.
i am so glad you have all posted.
i am a recent empty nester- although they keep coming back 🤔 and often can’t be arsed to make myself any food. I rather evil in the fact that I don’t have to cook for anyone.
Having a soup maker with at lest mean I get something healthy inside me whilst I adjust . I would love to be able to make a decent chicken and veg soup.
I weight lift so need my protein.
this frozen sofritto sounds intriguing- going to look it up and get some when out of possible.

@BigButtons

This was the exact time when I got mine! A now quiet house and home alone so I just make enough that I know I will eat. And then also a second meal is there and I don't have to put much thought into it for the next lunch / supper.

And I found that time very difficult to be very honest and I wasn't eating well anyway. It's definitely a good way to get nutrients in, AND use up fridge stuff as I was always buying too much. Another major adjustment is buying just what I will eat in a week/fortnightly.

Original poster
BigButtons · 18/01/2025 12:27

isthismylifenow · 18/01/2025 12:13

@BigButtons

This was the exact time when I got mine! A now quiet house and home alone so I just make enough that I know I will eat. And then also a second meal is there and I don't have to put much thought into it for the next lunch / supper.

And I found that time very difficult to be very honest and I wasn't eating well anyway. It's definitely a good way to get nutrients in, AND use up fridge stuff as I was always buying too much. Another major adjustment is buying just what I will eat in a week/fortnightly.

Show quote history

It so is! It took me a while to adjust. I was buying too much and throwing stuff away.
Then I got used to it and then some come back for a week or more and I haven’t got enough food in!
I get quite resentful when I have to cook anyone dinner now.
last weekend my ( not so) dp cooked on my induction hob- the bloody song and dance that went on was ridiculous. Threats of having a drink even though he is doing DJ. 🤔

OP posts:
soupfiend · 18/01/2025 12:38

Another question sorry, Im back from my travels and the Aldi soup maker is no where to be found

There is one in Lidl which is the Morphy Richards, its the same price as on Amazon so I didnt need to impulse buy

However it does specifically say, and the reviews also say that you chop the veg first and then add it to the maker, but some posters here are saying they can also chop the veg for you

I have a disability in my hands which means I would prefer one that can chop the veg first but Im presuming it doesnt do it uniformly?
Or is it not really worth looking for that function

getthosetitsup · 18/01/2025 12:41

I get a lot of use out of my soup maker - must have had it around 10 years now.

Yes I could use a pan and a stick blender, but I'd have to stand over it for at least part of that time. With my soup maker, I just chuck everything in, switch it on and leave it while I go back to work. 21 minutes later my lunch is ready, with plenty extra to freeze down.

Original poster
BigButtons · 18/01/2025 13:10

Curses - no soup maker in Aldi. That’ll teach me to procrastinate

OP posts:
soupfiend · 18/01/2025 13:16

Same here

But looking at the write up on their website, it doesnt have a saute function.

Im now inclined for the Morphy Richards one I saw in Lidl, there were only 2 left!!!

CherryRipe1 · 18/01/2025 13:17

CloseYourRingStress · 18/01/2025 10:43

@CherryRipe1 I've never used the soup setting. I find it really useful though tbh.

Chilli for instance, I use black turtle beans, put them in close the lid and press the bean setting (20 mins) from dried without soaking. Drain the beans and rinse the inner pan, press saute and use that to sauté everything that you need to, add tomatoes, whatever liquid you are using, add the beans back and bring it to the boil using that saute function before pressing the slow cooker function on low (which is still a bit fierce tbh) setting the time to one hour.

I love the fact that it is a one pan job.

Mine doesn't air fry, I haven't gone down that route yet.

Sounds brilliant, thanks. I do love gadgets and being disabled am always looking for labour saving devices. Can't wait for the robot that washes, peels and chops veg etc.

bruffin · 18/01/2025 13:23

soupfiend · 18/01/2025 12:38

Another question sorry, Im back from my travels and the Aldi soup maker is no where to be found

There is one in Lidl which is the Morphy Richards, its the same price as on Amazon so I didnt need to impulse buy

However it does specifically say, and the reviews also say that you chop the veg first and then add it to the maker, but some posters here are saying they can also chop the veg for you

I have a disability in my hands which means I would prefer one that can chop the veg first but Im presuming it doesnt do it uniformly?
Or is it not really worth looking for that function

Not sure really what you eant.
You rough chop veg in large chunks and it liquidises while it cooks.i tend to buy frozen bags of sofrito as a base.
I have the morphy richards saute one, it does have a setting for smootjie maker which you could use for chopping small if you want a chunky soup but dont know how even it is

isthismylifenow · 18/01/2025 13:30

BigButtons · 18/01/2025 12:27

It so is! It took me a while to adjust. I was buying too much and throwing stuff away.
Then I got used to it and then some come back for a week or more and I haven’t got enough food in!
I get quite resentful when I have to cook anyone dinner now.
last weekend my ( not so) dp cooked on my induction hob- the bloody song and dance that went on was ridiculous. Threats of having a drink even though he is doing DJ. 🤔

Edited
Show quote history

I get quite resentful when I have to cook anyone dinner now

😂 You are not alone there

Zonder · 18/01/2025 16:27

@soupfiend I chop a bit. Like if I have parsnips I probably quarter then. Halve carrots. The machine does the rest.

NoCarbsForMe · 18/01/2025 16:38

I don't see the point.
Roast or steam veg, cover in stock, blend with stick blender.
Couldn't actually be any easier!

Zonder · 18/01/2025 16:49

@NoCarbsForMe I was of the same opinion until I was given one. See my post earlier today for why.

Original poster
BigButtons · 18/01/2025 17:49

Ok- so which brand should al be looking at? I don’t need a bells and whistles one. Morphy Richards seems to get the best reviews on Amazon.

OP posts:
getthosetitsup · 18/01/2025 17:55

BigButtons · 18/01/2025 17:49

Ok- so which brand should al be looking at? I don’t need a bells and whistles one. Morphy Richards seems to get the best reviews on Amazon.

I've had a Morphy Richards one for about a decade.

Mines the sauté one, although I rarely use the sauce function.

bruffin · 18/01/2025 17:59

NoCarbsForMe · 18/01/2025 16:38

I don't see the point.
Roast or steam veg, cover in stock, blend with stick blender.
Couldn't actually be any easier!

It is so much easier and cleaner! You stick veg, stock and a few herbs in turn it on and leave it for 20 minutes and come back and you have delicious soup.

soupfiend · 18/01/2025 18:00

I have bought the morphy richards saute and soup today in Lidl

So I fried off frozen garlic, frozen ginger and some chicken fat I had in the fridge. This I added some chopped onion and chopped cauliflower stalk and leaves, quite finely chopped.

At the same time I air fried what was left of an old bag of frozen parsnip and carrot. I chopped that up after I fried off the above

I then added some chicken stock stuff that was under the chicken fat in the fridge and added the water up to 800ml ( I can only eat about 200ml of soup at one time which is why I bought the small one)

I hadnt realised initially that if you choose the chunky setting it doesnt do any blending at all but you can then blend at the end i fyou want

It cooks for 26 mins on the chunky setting and that is the rub for me because I like my food cooked down a lot for the flavour, you can only use the saute for maximum 10 mins. I also burnt the bottom and no it isnt easy to clean because of course it has eletrics in it so you cant submerge it in water. I have a rice cooker like that and it puts me off using it.

So it cooked my soup for 26 mins and then I blended it down. OH then said it was too thick so wanted more liquid in it, some must have evaporated when it was cooking it lets off a lot of steam and I had to move it from under a cupboard.

So now I do have a whole litre of soup and I cannot eat much personally and not sure OH is that keen on the flavour.

So next batch will probably be in a months time!!

Next time I have to use far far fewer solids so that it can be thinned to a soup consistency without it going over about 800ml. That is the minimum amount for this model. That will still give me at least 4 portions

littleteapot86 · 18/01/2025 18:10

Can someone post the amazon link to the Morphy Richards one please?

WongKarWhy · 18/01/2025 18:11

soupfiend · 18/01/2025 18:00

I have bought the morphy richards saute and soup today in Lidl

So I fried off frozen garlic, frozen ginger and some chicken fat I had in the fridge. This I added some chopped onion and chopped cauliflower stalk and leaves, quite finely chopped.

At the same time I air fried what was left of an old bag of frozen parsnip and carrot. I chopped that up after I fried off the above

I then added some chicken stock stuff that was under the chicken fat in the fridge and added the water up to 800ml ( I can only eat about 200ml of soup at one time which is why I bought the small one)

I hadnt realised initially that if you choose the chunky setting it doesnt do any blending at all but you can then blend at the end i fyou want

It cooks for 26 mins on the chunky setting and that is the rub for me because I like my food cooked down a lot for the flavour, you can only use the saute for maximum 10 mins. I also burnt the bottom and no it isnt easy to clean because of course it has eletrics in it so you cant submerge it in water. I have a rice cooker like that and it puts me off using it.

So it cooked my soup for 26 mins and then I blended it down. OH then said it was too thick so wanted more liquid in it, some must have evaporated when it was cooking it lets off a lot of steam and I had to move it from under a cupboard.

So now I do have a whole litre of soup and I cannot eat much personally and not sure OH is that keen on the flavour.

So next batch will probably be in a months time!!

Next time I have to use far far fewer solids so that it can be thinned to a soup consistency without it going over about 800ml. That is the minimum amount for this model. That will still give me at least 4 portions

If you need it cooked down more you can always set it going again but in your case, it seems like a pan would be better.

OP, I’ve had both Morphy Richard’s and Tower soup makers and both were excellent (gave the Morphy to my mum). I would say go for one with a sauté function though.