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Soup maker thoughts please

(103 Posts)
Noola Fri 30-Dec-22 15:47:59

I often find I have too many vegetables. I don't want to waste them though.

Do you have experience of a soup maker?

I live alone and so am wondering if it would be good to use one, but fear it may be just another gadget.

I'd be grateful for advice and thoughts, please.
Thanks.

Calendargirl Fri 30-Dec-22 15:50:58

I either make soup on the hob, or in the slow cooker.

Don’t feel I need a soup maker, yet another gadget, but have never used one, so just my personal opinion.

midgey Fri 30-Dec-22 15:52:22

A gadget too many in my opinion!

Callistemon21 Fri 30-Dec-22 15:53:18

I have one and it's easy to use and it will blend as well, but if I'm making a lot eg more than about 3 or 4 portions, I still do it on the hob.

Cressy Fri 30-Dec-22 15:53:29

I bought my soup maker from Aldi. I think it’s great for making a quick batch of soup when I don’t have time /want to fiddle around with roasting or frying off veg first. It makes enough for four bowls of soup. Compact enough to go in the cupboard.

Calendargirl Fri 30-Dec-22 15:54:11

P.S.

Did turnip soup in slow cooker the other day.

Turnip, potato, leek, carrot, onion, garlic, ham stock.

Delicious.

Callistemon21 Fri 30-Dec-22 15:57:03

Now, do you mean turnip or swede, Calendargirl?

Are you a West Country girl?

Calendargirl Fri 30-Dec-22 15:59:30

Callistemon21

Now, do you mean turnip or swede, Calendargirl?

Are you a West Country girl?

No, definitely turnip.

My DH got them from a farmer friend, think he feeds his sheep with them.

Baa!

And no, am not a West Country girl!

Kim19 Fri 30-Dec-22 16:00:29

Never found the need for such a gadget myself and make delicious soup courtesy pressure cooker and good stock embellished with whatever vegetables are available.

tanith Fri 30-Dec-22 16:08:26

Slow cooker or hob does the job perfectly.

Grandmadinosaur Fri 30-Dec-22 16:08:40

Yes I’ve had one for a few years now. It’s convenient in as much that you just throw the ingredients in and you can leave it while you get on with other stuff and can even leave it to do it’s thing if you need to go out. My only gripe is it’s another gadget to accommodate in the kitchen.

LadyGracie Fri 30-Dec-22 16:11:56

I have a Tefal soup maker and love it, so simple to use up left over bits of veg, add an onion, a couple of cloves of garlic, season with salt, black pepper and a few chilli flakes and leave it to it. Best soup ever.
Mushroom is another favourite.

I bought a new Samsung Microwave when my old Panasonic gave up the ghost, the new one is magic, so many functions.

I don’t like my air fryer though. I also sold my slow cooker and pressure cooker.

Casdon Fri 30-Dec-22 16:12:09

They are great if you live on your own, because you won’t have piles of vegetables to make into soup, a soup maker will make two portions at a time. I don’t like cooking, but do want to eat healthily so I like mine because it saves on faff and washing up. I cut the vegetables into large chunks, add liquid and seasoning, switch it on, and half an hour later the soup is done and ready to eat, no separate blender, no saucepan, no watching it, no messing about stirring it. It doesn’t take much room in the cupboard, it’s like a large kettle, all in one.

butterfly1 Fri 30-Dec-22 16:17:22

I've had my soupmaker for 2 years and use it often. Just put whatever veg you want to use, add stock and set for either smooth or chunky. Done in 20 mins, no stirring, blending or keeping a watch on it.
I live alone and it makes enough for 4-6 portions, depending whether i put the minimum or maximum amount of stock.

Noola Fri 30-Dec-22 16:34:23

So helpful, thank you.
I think I will give it a go.

Suggestions for good veg to put in?
Also the stock - I will, I guess, use stock cubes, but don't want it too salty. Any help on this please?

SunshineSally Fri 30-Dec-22 16:37:38

I love my soup maker. It’s a Tefal one abs sautés as well. You can put anything in - just cut into chunks - so any leftovers in the fridge can also be added. I like my soup smooth rather than chunky. So I sauté my onions and peppers in mine first, add the stock I’m going to use and then the chopped veg etc. it takes just 20 mins. I then transfer to a large container and then clean the soup maker straight away - it’s easier to clean and doesn’t take long. The soup is still hot and there’s plenty for a couple of days. Serve with crusty bread …. Mmm 😋
I often buy the stew packs in supermarkets and add to them.

AreWeThereYet Fri 30-Dec-22 16:38:31

We use ours quite often. It's useful because it turns itself off while I wander off and forget about it till the alarm goes off. Makes about four portions for us, so we often freeze two.

ParlorGames Fri 30-Dec-22 16:38:53

Pressure cooker every time in our house. No need for fancy stock cubes either, just a little salt and black pepper, once cooked, just a hand blender to liquidise.......job done!

SunshineSally Fri 30-Dec-22 16:39:11

Stock cubes are fine - it won’t be too salty.

SunshineSally Fri 30-Dec-22 16:42:12

I’ve had mine for 7 years - it’s this one:
Morphy Richards Saute and Soup Maker 501014

LadyGracie Fri 30-Dec-22 17:02:42

I like my soup smooth too, I use the stock pots, vegetable ones are tasty, for something a little special I swirl some single cream in or grate some Parmesan on top. Butternut squash is our favourite soup.

Casdon Fri 30-Dec-22 17:03:23

Noola

So helpful, thank you.
I think I will give it a go.

Suggestions for good veg to put in?
Also the stock - I will, I guess, use stock cubes, but don't want it too salty. Any help on this please?

I like this stock, which I get from Sainsbury's, they probably do it elsewhere too. It’s low salt and definitely adds flavour.
My favourite soup is leek and potato, but I usually do mixed vegetable, and throw any vegetable I have in apart from Brussels sprouts.

AreWeThereYet Fri 30-Dec-22 17:05:50

We use the Boullion powder too sometimes but often just water, depending on what soup we're making. Also use homemade stock when we have it.

Blondiescot Fri 30-Dec-22 17:06:53

I did consider getting one, but I make very big pots of soup at a time, not only for our own house, but for the elderly in-laws and sometimes son and his family too. Because of that, I just make it in my Ninja now.

Callistemon21 Fri 30-Dec-22 17:27:17

My favourite soup is leek and potato, but I usually do mixed vegetable, and throw any vegetable I have in apart from Brussels sprouts

Casdon, I made a 'Christmas soup' the other day with vegetables I'd bought in case we had to stay at home on Christmas Day.

I included, for the first time in a soup, quite a large number of Brussels sprouts as well as anything else in the veg drawer, and home-made stock.
It was delicious. The taste of sprouts wasn't overpowering.
Of course, if you don't like sprouts, then it wouldn't be so delicious! 🙂

The stock was ham stock and the ham had been cooked in cider.