Are soup makers worth it? If so, how do you use yours?

[Geebray]

I want to get more healthy and I like soups, but I want to start making my own rather than buying processed ones. Is a soup maker worth it? Or is it just another kitchen gimmick?

What sort of recipes do you use for yours, if you have one?

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I love mine. One pot cooking/blending. As easy as popping the kettle on, only to produce lovely fresh soup within 22mins.

We’ve got one and love it. Dh and I work from home. We are on calls all morning so he will chop everything before he starts work and put it all in the soup maker. I usually have a minute between calls so have time to go and press the button to start the soup maker. It keeps it warm once it finishes so dh and I can just pour out when we have our lunch break. I really couldn’t do that on the hob. Less washing up as well

We are in a similar situation.

That's it, I'm decided! Thank you all for your input.

I definitely want one that sautees. The Ninja get a couple of mentions here, and the Lakeland one? I've found a Morphy Richards one on Amazon as well.

Any recs for brands?

Depends on how often, they are good, my mum has one but I use a pan and hand blender or my multi cooker

@Geebray my post earlier didn't really are sense - but I've bought 2 Morphy Richards ones (top of the range, both sautéed) and they both died just outside of guarantee.

So don't touch those ones!

We’ve got the Ninja one. It is slightly annoying that you can’t submerge the jar to wash up but not sure if that’s the same for all the brands

I love mine but I have chronic health conditions so standing and chopping things or trying to hold a hand blender are really hard for me to the point that I just gave up on ever having soup unless it was from a can.

Prechopped soup mixes, some lentils, water and stock cube and I have a decent soup in 20 minutes without causing myself a lot of hassle or pain.

And the soup maker turns itself off. I forget about pans all the time. Even with a timer I'll turn the timer off and forget to go through to turn the pan off. I've also forgotten about pans and left the house before and come back to a burnt mess which is a nightmare to clean up.

The clean up of the soup maker is a lot easier for me than cleaning down all the walls after using a hand blender too. I just put water and a tiny squirt of Fairy in it, turn it on, then rinse it out when it's done. You only really have to clean the spout on it after that.

It's a total game changer for me.

Soup makers are one of the many modern gadgets which are totally unnecessary and a complete waste of plastic, energy and resources.

They don't do anything that you can't do yourself with very minimal effort (for most able-bodied people).

A saucepan and a cheap hand blender are all you need.

I wouldn't bother at home but we have one in the office kitchen and it's brilliant for easy, healthy office lunches. We have no hob but use this glorified kettle which works well.

Oh dear, I didn't realise that I was going to ruin the world with my dastardly plan to buy a soup maker! 😆

I have made my mind up, I am #TeamSoupMaker, now I'm just interested in brand recommendations.

Ninja looking good so far!

Noted! Thanks.

Sure. You do you. Update us next year and let us know which cupboard it's been chucked into the back of, or whether it's in landfill.

You are taking this weirdly personally.

Plenty of people on this thread have sung the praises of the soup makers. I hope to be one of them. Hence doing my research by starting this thread.

I have a pan and a hand blender. I do not make soup with them. I want/need something else that I will actually use to make soup with.

My soup maker doesn't sauté, I think that I decided that it wasn't worth the faffing about. Mine is a Tefal, works very well. Has a self clean but I don't bother with it. Favourite soup is red pepper and tomato. Onion, red pepper or two and a can of chopped tomatoes, usually with a dissolved stock pot.

Not sure why you think I'm taking anything personally because I'm pointing out the waste of these gadgets.

If you don't make soup with your saucepan and blender I'm just not sure why you think having a soup maker is going to make any difference.

If you want to make soup, you already have all the technology available to you to do so, but you don't.

So do you really want to make soup?

It's like buying all the fancy gym equipment when you don't exercise at all. You'll use it for a few months and then go back to your current state of not exercising. What's the point?

If you wanna make soup, make soup.

This is the thing - a hand blender just doesn't get the soup to the same texture as a soup maker. I put soup on, take the dog out, and just pour the soup out when I get back.

Like others, I had a pan and a blender. I didn't use them. I do use my (excellent value second hand) soup maker.

Ninja one is pricey but so, so worth it!! I had Morphy Richards one but part of blade shaved off and I didn't notice until I poured the soup out. Steer clear. You can stick loads of stuff in, it sautees, it blends, chops, make iced cocktails, jam. I use it twice a week, really easy and you walk away and leave it for 40 mins.

@Geebray , don't buy a soup maker. Just order your soup from a supermarket that does deliveries. It will save a new gadget from being manufactured and ending up in landfill.

@teacrumpetsandcake take it you don't have a car then, mobile phone, laptop or any plastic shit?!

This may have been answered before. But can you do a chunky soup in them or do they have to be blended....

I've started making chicken or beef bone broth in my slow cooker overnight and then using that instead of stock cubes. I make mixed veg soup depending on what's in the fridge and needs using up.

The broth is full of protein and helps with immunity.

It's a game changer for me and my kids.

I get the bones free from my local butcher.

Yes, chunky or smooth

I make a lot of soup. I honestly can't imagine how a soup maker would make it easier or quicker. You need a good solid bottomed saucepan and a stick blender.

🙄 Do people on here actually think I am an idiot? It is precisely because we get through a fair amount of ready-made soup - delivered from a supermarket! - that I want to start making my own.

And no, having to sautee veg and then stir and tend a pot, even if it's simmering, then having to use the stick blender, does not suit me. I have said that now.

Stick blender people - divert your energy for saving the world into some other cause than by trying to soup maker shame me. Ta everso.

So, Ninja is looking popular? I might try and find a second hand one (maybe that would satisfy the stick blender evangelists who think I am responsible for climate change 🙄)