Soup Makers

No I know I didn t need one but I am so glad I got one! I got the Morphy Richards one with the saute and it is so easy. Just chucked in all the vegs that needed finishing and some stock and twenty minutes later, delicious soup. The best bit however is just running the blender blades under the tap and swilling out the soup maker bit. Usually have a sink full of washing up. Convinced now that I will save water, energy and my nails and it is totally economical!!

Flipping 'eck NotTooOld you seem to have single-handedly started a GN soup revolution! Bet you wish you were on commission now

Endorse all rascal has said, MR soup maker arrived this morning,have already made carrot and coriander soup and have had it for lunch. DH well pleased, he loves homemade soup. Thanks Gransnet, think MR should give you a present, the sales must have increased since this thread started.

I'm so pleased I read about soup makers here. I had never heard of them. I've bought a Morphy Richards make and it's great. No more having to stand stirring soup at the cooker as it's so quick now. In no time it's ready and the soup maker is so easy to clean ready for the next time. I'm making up recipes as I go. Just the thing for this time of year. So thank you all! Enjoy your soup too!

Nor did I Rissybee but my DH came home with one last week and I am converted. Bung everything in, turn on, go do something else. Come back 21 mins. later, pour into bowl and enjoy.

Most soups taste better for the bit of caramelisation you get from sauteing, and for using 'proper' stock which I don't think you would be able to make in a soup maker. I use my slow cooker or my pressure cooker, depending on time available and soup type (and use these for all sorts of other cooking too), then the hand blender, so its still one pot cooking/washing up. I've never felt the need for another piece of equipment.

Will do Elegran thank you. I imagine this family (me) will be converted once we start receiving tasters.

Send her to scottishmum.com/soup-maker-recipes/ too.

Thank you Bellanonna it is indeed very lovely to have a twin sister. We're on the phone or FaceTime every day. I think I'll get her a soup maker - I know she's experimenting with soup which she takes into work and there seems to be a greater belief throughout this thread that it's a great asset in the kitchen.

Just got one from Amazon Warehouse,it's brilliant.

Well to be honest I'd go for the slow cooker. I use mine a lot and you can leave it on for hours, go away and forget it, and it doesn't dry out. You can make a variety of meals with it. I bought a soup maker 2 days ago and haven't had time to try it yet, but many people on the thread say they wouldn't be without theirs, including one staunch saucepan soup maker, who had a Damascus moment and seems to be making a lot of soup now. I think it depends on which one your twin would be likely to use more? Btw how lovely to have a twin sister! Happy decision making.

My twin sister has asked for either a soup maker or a crock pot slow cooker for my Christmas present to her. I'm unsure what to get her but I do like the idea of the soup maker. She's beginning to after many years experiment in the soup department. Any further advice would be most welcome.

In the Guardian there is a book called Soup for Syria, for anyone who likes to follow recipes.
It's quite expensive, £18.99 but the whole of the cost goes to Syrian refugees.
Recipes by people like Ottolenghi and Alice Waters.

Bought my first soup maker today !!! It's a MR, £49.99 from an electrical shop in St Martin's Lane. I was meeting a friend for lunch so picked it up on my way back, as it's quite heavy. I will report on my experiments next week. All your posts have been very helpful. Until I read the thread I'd never heard of soup makers.

Interesting that you say you didn't sauté the onions first; I thought it was intrinsic to developing the flavour of onion soup that the onions should be caramelised. It's the biggest faff imaginable! After reading all these posts, I think it is definitely time to dig this soupmaker out of the garage (if I can find it!) and give it a go!

I tried French Onion soup today and it was very good. The recipe didn't say to saute the onions first, so I didn't, and it was fine. The only thing is I think I would add some red wine another time to make it a bit more flavoursome. I filled the soup maker up to the MIN mark and there was plenty for four servings. I find on the MAX mark there is enough for six.

I understand the flavouring in onions and garlic is only properly oil soluble so some sort of frying essential. Got my MR with sauté function yesterday and tried it out with lentil and bacon from the recipe book. Well flavoured and blended but very thin. Perhaps I didn't add the right weight of lentils? It was at the end of a busy day.
Used the blend function to chop in some cooked potatoes and it made the consistency just right. It does make a mixing bowl full seacliff, certainly enough for 4 healthy appetites. I have had a look at the Scottish mum site Elegran. Thanks! Fancy the French Onion next!

Has anyone posted a link to this page scottishmum.com/soup-maker-recipes/ of recipes for a Murphy Richards soup maker?

Not too old.... 50g of lentils look such a small amount, but I will heed your advice!

Thanks Indi.

seacliff here's a link to the eBay one

They definitely make enough for 4 people. When I use it at the maximum level there are usually 5 very generously sized portions. I do have the sauté function and I have to say I haven't yet tried it without this, so I don't know if the ones without this option are OK. You could always sauté separately I guess, but that kind of defeats the object of the 'one pot' benefit.
Someone upthread mentioned getting the MR sauté one for £49.99 on eBay from Cooperative Electricals.

We like quite a big bowl of soup - would they do enough for 4 people?

Also, I don't really want to pay more than £50, so is the saute option really good to have? Do those who have it, use it?

I am veggie, I always thought frying onions/garlic first made difference to the flavour? I'm googling prices and hoping for an offer. come on Morphy Richards!

seacliff go for it! My initial reaction was the same - why on earth would I need another gadget when I can make perfectly good soup using a pan and a blender? However, I have had my soup maker for only a few days now and I know it was one of my better decisions, so much easier and quicker than pots and pans and blenders. And less washing up, which is always a big plus for me

Durhamjen I was vegetarian for many years and I was never hungry either. You seriously don't need to eat meat to feel full, do you