How to use a soup maker the correct way and the common mistakes to avoid (2024)

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Vegetable soup Read More FAQs

But... it looks like a kettle

Lots of soup makers look like big kettles, so have no fear. Soup makers are an all-in-one route to soup. They tend to be able to make smooth or chunky soup in between 20 to thirty minutes. Some have a sauté option that will make your soup far superior, so be sure to look out for this when choosing your model.

Begin with hot liquid

In order to have piping hot soup in a short amount of time, it's essential to be prepared. Your stock or water must be boiling when added to the soup maker - otherwise you are adding on unnecessary time to the process.

Make sure your ratios are correct

If you find that the bottom of your soup maker is burning, then you are not adding enough liquid. Most soup makers recommend using 750ml of liquid per batch but bear in mind that some starchy vegetables will absorb liquid during the cooking. Always check your user manual for guidance.

How to use a soup maker the correct way and the common mistakes to avoid (1)

My chunky soup is too chunky

Soup makers are fantastic, but they are not miracle workers. When you are adding your vegetables to the soup maker, make sure that they are cut into chunks that are reasonably the same bite-sized pieces. This will benefit you in a uniformly 'chunky' soup and also that all of the vegetables will be cooked.

My soup is smooth but too thick

No problem. Add a little more hot stock or water to your soup maker, hit the 'blend' button and mix until you have arrived at your desired consistency.

Make sure your meat is cooked

If you are adding meat to your soup, make sure that it is precooked. Soup makers do not reach the temperatures that we require to cook meat thoroughly, so it is always best to precook it.

Leave the lid on

Resist the temptation to check on your soup while it is cooking - there are moving parts in your soup maker that will result in you

possibly being splattered with hot liquid if you open the lid in the middle of cooking. Avoid at all costs.

Mind your blades

Using frozen vegetables make cause the blades of your soup maker to become blunt, so it is always best to thaw frozen ingredients before adding them to your soup maker.

Vegetable soup

recipe by:Darina Allen

Following the Ballymaloe soup formula (1:1:3:5), this versatile soup is smooth, hearty and bursting with flavour

How to use a soup maker the correct way and the common mistakes to avoid (2)

Servings

6

Preparation Time

10 mins

Cooking Time

20 mins

Total Time

30 mins

Course

Starter

Ingredients

  • 50g butter

  • 150g potatoes, peeled and diced

  • 110g onions, peeled and diced

  • 340g chopped vegetables of your choice, diced

  • 1.2l stock or 1l stock and 150ml creamy milk

  • seasoning

Method

  1. Melt the butter in a heavy-bottomed saucepan.

  2. When it foams, add potatoes and onions and turn them until well coated. Sprinkle with salt and freshly ground pepper. Cover with a butter wrapper or paper lid and the lid of the saucepan.

  3. Sweat on a gentle heat for 10 minutes. Add the vegetables and stock, bring it back to the boil and continue to cook until soft, and liquidise. Do not overcook or the vegetables will lose their flavour. Adjust seasoning.

How to use a soup maker the correct way and the common mistakes to avoid (2024)

FAQs

What not to put in a soup maker? ›

Do not heat milk in your soup maker or use it to reheat any food. Most of our recipes use a small amount of potato which helps to thicken soup. Pasta and potatoes if used in excessive quantities can cause the soup maker to overheat. Stick to the quantities in our recipes as a guide.

Do you put boiling water in a soup maker? ›

In order to have piping hot soup in a short amount of time, it's essential to be prepared. Your stock or water must be boiling when added to the soup maker - otherwise you are adding on unnecessary time to the process. If you find that the bottom of your soup maker is burning, then you are not adding enough liquid.

What mistakes do cooks do when cooking soups? ›

Common mistakes with soups:
  • Using inferior stock. Most of my soups are based on good stocks usually made at home. ...
  • Not sautéing onions, celery and garlic before adding. ...
  • Adding ingredients in the wrong order. ...
  • Not adding umami. ...
  • Not garnishing. ...
  • Not tasting.
Feb 5, 2021

Do you put cold stock in a soup maker? ›

Note: Make sure that any stock is cold before adding it to the soup maker. Check that the lid is securely positioned before use. Do not add any frozen ingredients or uncooked meats or fish to the soup maker. All ingredients must be thawed and at room temperature and all meats or fish much be precooked before use.

Can I put frozen vegetables in a soup maker? ›

You need to thaw frozen vegetables thoroughly, partly because if still frozen they might be hard enough to damage the blade and partly because they will release extra water into the soup and affect its consistency. Otherwise fresh, frozen or a combination are all fine.

Can I put raw meat in a soup maker? ›

Raw meat should NOT be added to the soup maker. It's ok to add cooked meat like shredded left over roast chicken or boneless chicken cooked especially for the soup, or things like cooked ham or leftover gammon etc to the soup maker but the soup makers shortish cooking times are not conducive to cooking raw meat.

Can you use stock cubes in a soup maker? ›

A: I use supermarket own brand stock cubes most of the time and had no problem with them. or whatever known brand is on offer. I used 2 today and crumbled them in.

Can you put frozen fruit in a soup maker? ›

To prevent this, add half a cup of water or stock to the Soup Maker before placing in any solid ingredients. Then top up with the remaining liquid specified in your recipe. If you plan to use anything frozen, make sure the ingredients are fully thawed first. There may be damage to the blade if content is still frozen.

Does a soup maker chop the vegetables? ›

Well a soup maker no matter how much you pay for it won't chop or peel your veg/meat really it just cooks it (which you can do easily in a pan) and blends it (which you can do with a food processor).

How do I make soup thicker in a soup maker? ›

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute.

What else can I use a soup maker for? ›

In the soup maker, you can cook vegetables, meat, steamed fish or chicken fillets, sauces, cereals, soy and nut milk, mashed potatoes or any other vegetables, hot chocolate, custard, fruit drinks and compotes, co*cktails, pancake dough and even ice cream.

What veggies go in soup first? ›

The first set of veg—a quartered onion plus roughly chopped carrots and celery—goes in at the beginning, their flavors seeping into the soup as the chicken cooks. They're cut into big pieces and act as part of the foundational stock.

What gives soup the best flavor? ›

Foods that have a great deal of acidity, like lemon juice, vinegar, white wine, and tomato puree, can help liven up the flavor of bland-tasting bone and other broths. "The acidity of these ingredients works to complement and enhance the broth's flavors, not mask it.

What not to put in soup? ›

The Worst Things to Put in Your Soup
  1. By Sara Butler. If there's one good thing about fall and winter, it's soup. ...
  2. Heavy Cream. Heavy cream creates an inviting texture for soups but that's where its positive contributions end. ...
  3. Juice. ...
  4. Turkey Bacon. ...
  5. Cheese. ...
  6. Croutons.

Do you put raw food in a soup maker? ›

Raw meat should NOT be added to the soup maker. It's ok to add cooked meat like shredded left over roast chicken or boneless chicken cooked especially for the soup, or things like cooked ham or leftover gammon etc to the soup maker but the soup makers shortish cooking times are not conducive to cooking raw meat.

What is the point of a soup maker? ›

Save space – Every kitchen struggles for space, the soup-maker is sleek and compact and fits away neatly even into the smallest of cupboards. It certainly takes up less space when cooking than a big soup pan, and a blender.

Are soup machines worth it? ›

I wouldn't be without it now." It's quick and avoids waste: Maggiemaybe suggests throwing in "whatever you have - garden surplus, veg rack leftovers, etc, roughly chopped, with herbs/stock cube and cold water - and in 21 minutes you have your soup. A quick rinse and the soup maker's ready to go again."

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