Soup Maker

[slinky.kate]

my blender is getting done and I am thinking of renewing it,i make a lot of soup so I was wondering if any of you have any opinions on this

[slinky.kate]

oh' I gather no one has got one then?

[ducksie]

I didn't know what opinion you were looking for slinky.kate, I just thought you wanted someone to agree yes to you buying a new blender/ :)

[Mamyalynne]

I like the idea of a soup maker, but cooking for one it may be an expense too far.

[slinky.kate]

I need to buy a new blender,but I do make lots of soup so I think it will get well used.especially as it does the same as a blender anyway,i seen them advertised for £69.99(£100 off)

[grasscarp]

I make soup and then blend if necessary with a hand held blender

[factor-fiction]

I too make a lot of soups and smoothies. Whilst the blender is essential for smoothies it just helps for soups but I think it only needs to do the basics. I wouldn't expect to pay more than £30-£40 to replace mine. I wouldn't see a need for anything expensive or a soup maker.

[EcclesCake]

A soup maker may save on washing up but you are limited by the volume. At least with a saucepan and a blender you can blitz in batches. A blender will, in all probability, have a more powerful motor for blitzing too.

I'd can the soup maker and replace the blender!

[friedgreentomato]

I have a full blender and a hand blender - I only ever use the hand blender whilst making soup.

The hand blender cost £20 so you would save yourself a load of cash.

[gingejbee]

If you can look at latest Which? (in library perhaps?) there is a test on five gadgets for making soup...October's magazine, btw.

[EcclesCake]

That's true but it is a flippin' useless article because it isn't comparing like with like.

However.....

The all in one soup maker = Cuisinart wins £123-£139
Stick blender = Kenwood HB724 wins £50-£70
Jug blender =Tefal Blender Force £27-£30
Mini Chopper = Kenwood CH180 £20
Juicer = Philips HR1869 £150

Personally, I'd go stick blender, less washing up as you can blitz in the saucepan. Although I favour Bamix.

[lcg]

a soup maker? never heard of anything so ridiculous!!! all you need is a saucepan and a hand held blender. anything else is a complete rip off, imho....x

[ladyalex]

I make a lot of soup and use my trusty stick blender that I have had for decades now.
I wouldn't spend the money on a soup maker as the stick blender is so versatile.

[gingejbee]

Eccles: I don't agree that the article is "useless"....unusual, perhaps, in not comparing similar products.
However, it's pointing people in a different direction from dedicated soup-makers...and, in the process, saving the expense of one, and pointing out their disadvantages.

[EcclesCake]

I may have been a tad harsh in describing it as 'useless'. It would have offered more benefit if they had found space for at least a comparison of three of each type in the more usual Which? style.

[friedgreentomato]

articles like that play on the insecurities of people without cooking experience!

[gingejbee]

FGT: can't agree with you, either. Have you actually seen the Which? report? It didn't play on any insecurities of anybody...it looked at, and tested, kitchen gadgets that people (like the OP) may consider buying to prepare soup easier/ quicker/ more expensively.

[EcclesCake]

But it has created indecision, without balancing the pros and cons of the various style of offerings. The articles crux is consider this, that and t'other, without a fair comparison within each class.

I agree with FGT, that this is preying on the insecurities of a home cook who thought they wanted 'A' but now wonders if 'C' would be better.

Irrespective of the Which? report, the overwhelming advice from ABers is to can the soup maker and get a stick blender. Sound advice IMHO.

[sandyRoe]

Does anyone remember a hand operated blender from years ago? It looked something like a colander and had a handle at the top.

[EcclesCake]

That would be a Mouli!

Brilliant for getting tough fibres out of your soup!