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 cold or boiling water in a soup maker? ›

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.

Can I put frozen vegetables in my 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.

Do you put raw vegetables in a soup maker? ›

Chop your ingredients into small pieces, especially tough veggies such as potatoes, carrots, squash and turnip. This allows the vegetables to fully cook in the short soup maker cycle. Ensure the lid is placed fully on and secure. Make sure all meat that goes into the soup maker is pre-cooked.

Can you put raw meat in 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.

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

Add Flour Or Cornstarch

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

What not to do when making soup? ›

The 7 Biggest Mistakes You Make Cooking Soup
  1. Boiling instead of simmering. You want a small bubble or two to rise to the surface of the liquid every few seconds. ...
  2. Not using enough salt. ...
  3. Ignoring water. ...
  4. Overcooking the vegetables. ...
  5. Adding tomatoes at the beginning. ...
  6. Neglecting to garnish. ...
  7. Not trying a pressure cooker.
Nov 19, 2014

How much liquid do you put in a soup maker? ›

Simply remove the Lid (3) and pour 800ml of water and a small amount of washing up liquid in the Soup Maker. Place the Lid (3) back on the Jug (15) and plug the Soup Maker into the mains, select the Clean Function (4).

Is it cheaper to make soup in a soup maker or on the hob? ›

cheaper to run than your hob. Make delicious. homemade soup in just 20 minutes – forget stirring at. the stove, the Soup Maker will chop and blend for.

Why does my soup maker burn on the bottom? ›

Why Does My Soup Maker Burn on the Bottom? If your soup maker burns on the bottom, it may be because you need to give it a stir once in a while during cooking, or the temperature is too high.

Is there any point in a soup maker? ›

Both types of appliances have their pros and cons, but soup makers tend to be more versatile, allowing you to make hot and cold soups, smoothies, fruit juices and more. Plus, they're really self-contained, meaning you don't need to use lots of different pots and pans.

What else can you 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 soups should not be frozen? ›

Soups with a creamy consistency, like potato or chowders, might not taste good after freezing because it affects the texture and makes potatoes mushy. Rice, beans, and noodle soups might also taste different or become mushy. Typically, broth-based soups will freeze well.

Does a soup maker heat the soup? ›

The design usually includes a heating element, bowl and can be fitted with special blades to chop ingredients and cook up a serving of soup in about 15 to 30 minutes.

How to thicken up soup in a soup maker? ›

6 ways to thicken soup:
  1. Blend all or part of it. If you've made a broth with chunks of vegetable in it, such as minestrone soup, then pour the soup through a sieve. ...
  2. Add cream or yogurt. ...
  3. Add flour or cornflour. ...
  4. Use a butter and flour paste. ...
  5. Blend in bread. ...
  6. Add lentils or rice.

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.

Can you heat soup up in a soup maker? ›

There are 7 operation options: Chunky Soup, Smooth Soup, Steam/Boil, Reheat, Smoothie, Blend and Pulse. 2. After press the "Start/Stop" button, the indicators flash, then choose the type of cooking operation required, then the soup maker will start working. 3.

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