There’s nothing like coming home to a warming soup after a commute battling wind and rain (entirely possible even in the summer!).
But it’s more than understandable that the last thing you’d feel like doing after a long day is spending the remainder of it peeling, chopping and roasting veg and stewing meat before putting the whole lot in a blender to make a hearty bowl of soup.
That’s where soup makers come in.
Whether you want smooth or chunky soup, here are some of the best models around.
See our favourite soup makers below
Capacity: 1.7 litresThis 2-in-1 blender and soup maker from Ninja is perfect for all seasons and can make anything from soups and sauces to smoothies. The soup maker has several features such as the ability to sauté or chop so soup can be cooked in just 20 minutes - no excuses for buying it from the supermarket then.
The soup maker also has Auto-iQ technology which takes the guesswork out of cooking as any of the ten programmes will automatically combine various pulses, pauses and patterns to create your desired meal.
Best of all, the self-cleaning function comes once you’re done, rinsing the jug with the push of a button.
Buy now £149.00, Amazon
Capacity: up to 2L
There's no excuse for a takeaway when you've got Lakeland's soup maker waiting on the counter to whizz up a nourishing meal instead. The touchscreen gizmo can create tasty soup in as little as half an hour, using four automatic settings to get the right consistency. It's also handy for crushing ice; handy when you've got a thirsty crowd on your hands.
Comes with a three-year guarantee.
Buy now £149.99, Lakeland
Capacity: 2L
When kitchen space is tight, it pays to invest in an appliance that can do more. Enter Tefal's soup maker which masters both hot and cold recipes, putting both a classic minestrone and a cool gazpacho on the menu. It can also make decent breakfast smoothies and make soy milk, easily done with 10 automatic hot and cold programmes to choose from.
Sold with a one-year manufacturer's guarantee.
149 Argos
Capacity: 1.6 litresThis device not only makes soup, but it can sauté food too, which means you can gently soften onions, bacon or garlic first to add a greater depth of flavour to your meals.
There’s also a pause button so you can sprinkle in spices and seasoning at the right time as well as a timer, so you can adjust the settings and get on with other things while it makes your lunch or dinner. It really is the ultimate in lazy cooking.
There are four speeds to pick from; chunky, smooth, blend or juice, opening up your cooking repertoire to include everything from a hearty stew to a milkshake or morning juice. The top-down blade and non-stick coating make cleaning a breeze, too.
Buy now £73.98, Amazon
Capacity: 1.2 litres
Make chunky and smooth soups as well as other liquidised meals quickly and easily with Tefal’s easy-to-use model. The large display makes details clear to read and boasts five automatic programmes – four recipes and one specifically for cleaning - yes it even cleans up after itself! How’s that for simplicity?
Once cooked, the machine will beep to let you know your food is ready (but it can be a bit quiet so keep an eye on the clock if you’re in another room). The warming mode will keep it at the right temperature until you eat.
The only downside we’ve noticed is that the Tefal doesn’t have an angled lip, so you need to take care when pouring this into a bowl.
Buy now £129.99, Amazon
Capacity: 1.6L
Offered in sleek black, Dunelm's own-brand digital soup maker is perfectly suited to making hot liquids of all descriptions, from soup to steaming mugs of tea. Running on 1000W, the mains-operated appliance has simple settings and buttons making it a doddle to use.
Buy now £39.00, Dunelm
Capacity: 1 litre
If you’re renting or have a small home with limited storage, it can be hard to justify buying new things to add to your kitchen. However, this compact soup maker more than earns its keep, with a collapsible handle to make it even easier to put away.
It can make up to three portions of soup in under 20 minutes, just enough if you’re just cooking for two and want seconds. However it’s perfect even if you’re making a meal for one, as there should be plenty left to freeze for later or enjoy as leftovers for your next meal.
Given its small size, you may not want to overload this with tons of vegetables – try a classic tomato and basil spiked with a few drops of your favourite hot sauce for extra warmth.
Buy now £47.89, Amazon
Capacity: 1.6 litresGot more than two hungry mouths to feed? Then you’ll need a soup maker with a much larger capacity than the standard, like this Tower model which easily makes up to six portions.
Handy whether you’ve got a family or just having pals over for dinner, dazzle them with hot bowls of leek, bacon and potato soup or a hearty winter broth.
As well as soup this can also make baby food in no time. Comes with a one-year guarantee.
Buy now £59.93, Amazon
Need a recipe? Try this two delicious dishes from Morphy Richards:
Lentil and Bacon Soup - sauté function recipe
Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 30 minutes Setting: Smooth. Serves: 4
1tbsp oil 1 onion chopped 4 bacon rashers, chopped with the rind removed. 175g red lentils 1L pork or ham stock (made with 1 stock cube) ¼tsp mixed herbs Salt and ground black pepper
Method:
Add the oil to the Jug and press the Sauté Button. After one minute, add the onion and bacon and sauté for 4 minutes until soft, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon or spatula. Do not brown.
Turn off the sauté function by pressing the Sauté Button. Place the lentils in the Jug and add the stock up to the maximum mark. Add the herbs, salt and pepper and stir well. 4 Select the smooth setting.
Roast Tomato and Basil Soup
Cooking time: 21 minutes Setting: Smooth Serves: 4
Ingredients: 8 very ripe tomatoes (approx 640g), cut in half 2 red onions (approx 215g), cut into 6 pieces 4 garlic cloves 1tbsp olive oil 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar •Salt and ground black pepper 750ml chicken stock, made from stock cube 2 tsp tomato puree 1 tsp brown sugar 10g fresh basil leaves
Method:
Pre-heat the oven to 200ºC Gas mark 5
Place the tomatoes skin side up into a roasting tin with the red onions and garlic. Drizzle over the olive oil, balsamic vinegar and season with salt and pepper. Roast for 20-30 minutes or until softened and slightly charred. Carefully place into the Soup Maker with the chicken stock, add the tomato puree, brown sugar and fresh basil. Select the smooth setting. Once the soup is ready, season to taste and serve.
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2024-04-11T09:28:46Z dg43tfdfdgfd