Soup Makers

I am very tempted. Have already trailed through Amazon. Must have a look at Lakeland then which!

Mine is out every other day in the winter. I make a jug full and freeze half. It is one of my best buys because it is just so easy. I make up my own recipes with whatever needs using up.

Save your money it will only end up with the other electricals. Homes are full of ' it seemed a good idea at the time '.

I love my soup maker. Bought it last year £25 from The Range.

dj - I might get away with onions and pulses. I did make French onion soup a few times last winter and it was reasonably popular. I've ordered a recipe book along with the soup maker so I will have a look through that. I'm used to missing all sorts of ingredients out of all sorts of recipes in order to suit!

this has been a very timely post a friend asked me at Church yesterday if I would recommend her buying a soup maker, I have never used one but after reading this thread I will pass on to her your comments. Thanks folks.

I make a lot of soup, but using a blender. DD gave me a Cuisinart soup maker that her partner's mother gave them as a present. They tried it once, didn't like it and gave it to me, even though I didn't want it either! It has sat in its box in my garage for about four years and has never seen the light of day. Probably doesn't even work now.

I make soup about once a week then boil it up every day and/or add other things to it.
I always start off sauteeing the basic vegetables, it would be very bland if just boiled. Making soup is simple and satisfying, I don't need a machine any more than I'd need a porridge-maker or a curry-maker.

It's the easiest thing ever, number, as granjura says. You do not need the recipe book. Just chop up veg, add water or stock, etc., then switch on.
It tells you when it's ready, keeps hot for a long time, and you can reheat it if you forget about it.

I love my soup maker- but I ignore the recipes that say you have to fry onions, etc, firt- just too much of a faff. So throw it all in and turn on- and that's great. I got a bit of stick when I started a thread about my soup maker last year, but as said in that thread- the best thing about it is that I can switch it on and go for a walk or potter int he garden, without worrying about the soup catching at the bottom and time passing too quickly and forgetting, burning it. Wouldn't be without it now.

I`m ashamed to say this at my advanced age, but I`ve never made soup. Is it difficult to make, and would I benefit from buying a soup maker?

Does that mean no onions or pulses as well, NotTooOld?

Thank you, dj. It's not going to be very adventurous soup making. DH is already telling me not to put 'anything herby or spicy' in his. Unfortunately he suffers from IBS!

Happy vegetable soup making, NotTooOld.

Well, I went on Amazon to order the basic MR one (ie no saute function) and noticed that they are selling the Saute and Soup Maker (501011) for only 50p more (£49.97 - a reduction of £20.02). That must be because they have a newer version on the market. Usual indecision, consultation with DH not very helpful, and then decided I may as well go for the 501011 even if I don't use the saute function much. Hope I have made the right choice.

I've got the basic MR one, and I love it!

Thanks for that, everyone. You've decided me - I'm going for the basic Morphy Richards. I don't have a blender or a thick saucepan, so I won't be wasting anything. Also, we don't eat meat so bones are not a problem. (dj - Being a veggie myself I was interested to hear about your vegetarian café.)

I bought a soup maker and found it more trouble then it was worth. Gave it away. Saucepan and stick blender. Suffice. Good way to soften chopped onions is in a little oil in the microwave. Onions, can of tomatoes and some basil blended together makes a good soup. Spice it up with a dash of Tabasco. Spinach or pea soup can be made with frozen veg.

I love my soupmaker. At first I was very cautious but now anything goes! I like the choice of chunky or smooth. Check the internet for recipes /ideas.

My welsh Granny used to make cowl with neck of lamb, root vegetables, pearl barley and split peas. I can never quite make it so good. It was the sort of thing they put on the fire all day on the farm. Wonderful.

Never heard of a soup maker. Trouble is my kitchen is so full of gadgets I will have to stick to a saucepan and blender....sounds good though.

Yes that's spot on alternatively use a pressure cooker my granny always used one

Phoenix - couldn't agree more. Any veg in the fridge that needs using, plus onion and a tin of tomatoes and you cannot go wrong with the sturdy saucepan. I always add a sprinkle of Celery Salt which my Welsh Mum used to add. Blend it all when cooked with Billy Blender and there you have it - yum yum.

I have the cuisineart one. I've used it so much that I'm on my third in about 5years. Forget the sauté bit! It doesn't work properly but otherwise it's great.

I absolutely love my morphy Richards soup maker. Use it every day.

I love my soupmaker,I have had it almost a year now ,tho mostly use it in cold weather ,its on the go today !It can do chunky or blended soup ,just chuck in all ingredients,and 20mins later its ready.Good for experimenting new combinations of flavours as well .