{"id":2180,"date":"2022-05-29T14:00:34","date_gmt":"2022-05-29T20:00:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/?p=2180"},"modified":"2022-05-29T09:10:31","modified_gmt":"2022-05-29T15:10:31","slug":"is-a-soup-maker-a-must-have-or-a-dud","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/claremontcoloniccenter.com\/?p=2180","title":{"rendered":"Is a Soup Maker a Must-Have or a Dud?"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t
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Is a Soup Maker a Must-Have or a Dud?<\/h2>\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\"ClaremontColonicNewsletter\"\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\tIs there anything better than a piping hot bowl of soup on a chilly night, or a chilled masterpiece during the Summer months?<\/i><\/b> \n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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\n\t\t\t\tYes! Soup that doesn\u2019t come from a can. One quick way to make soup is to use a blender to pulverize and blend your ingredients in one go and then heating your concoction on the stove. Or, there\u2019s another contraption on the market that can whip up a batch of soup at the simple press of a button \u2013 a soup maker. But, is it a must-have, or a waste of cash? We find out.

\n\nHow does a soup maker work? <\/b>

\nA soup maker is an all-in-one appliance that combines various blending functions, to make your soup chunky or smooth (or however you like it), with a heating element or friction blades to cook a batch of soup in about 20 to 30 minutes. Soup makers typically resemble a blender or kettle.

\n\nWhat\u2019s the point of a soup maker? <\/b>

\nA soup maker takes the hassle out of making soup. It requires minimal time and effort, which is perfect for busy families and anyone who isn\u2019t fond of cooking. All you need to do is chuck in your ingredients, add stock and other condiments, sear (if required) and let the soup maker take care of the rest.

\n\nMost soup makers have a variety of settings and features to create varying consistencies and textures, or specific recipes, like pumpkin or tomato soup. Basic models typically only have a boiling and blending function with limited consistency settings, which is why most people stick to making soup with a blender.

\nWhat\u2019s the difference between a soup maker and a blender? <\/b>

\nIsn\u2019t a soup maker just a glorified blender? Yes and no. While you can make soup in a blender, it typically only does about half of the job of blending, but not heating or cooking ingredients. Some blenders do come pretty close though, as some models have a high enough speed setting, that the friction from the blender can heat the soup slowly.

\n\nA soup maker works a little differently. It\u2019s designed specifically for the purpose of making soup (and smoothies), and uses the friction of spinning blades to heat the soup and blend all your ingredients simultaneously. Soup makers also feature time and temperature settings, so you can set your soup to cook and come back when it\u2019s ready. Some soup makers also come with a full-fledged heating element to saut\u00e9 foods like onions or meat, a keep warm setting and pre-cleaning mode.

\n\nHow much does a soup maker cost? <\/b>

\nSoup makers cost roughly the same as blenders, with prices starting from $70 and reaching up to $300 or more, for models with more capacity and multiple preset functions. If you\u2019re serious about soup, it may be worth to fork out more for a model which features smart connectivity which will give you access to recipes and cooking tips for your appliance.

\n\nCan you put raw meat in a soup maker? <\/b>

\nYou should pre-cook all meats (including fish) before putting them in a soup maker, because the heat settings on most models simply aren\u2019t high enough to cook meat thoroughly. A good way to skip this step is to use any leftover meat from other meals to make a hearty soup. This also reduces food waste. With that said, there are models out there, like the Morphy Richards Total Control Soup Maker, which comes with a heating element that allows you to fry up small quantities of raw meat (less than 200g).

\n\nCan you put frozen veggies in a soup maker? <\/b>

\nSmall amounts of frozen veggies (less than 100g, about 4oz) like peas or carrots, should be ok to go in the soup maker with a hot broth. As a rule of thumb, avoid putting large quantities of frozen veggies in a soup maker, because a) this could damage the blades of your appliance and b) because it could slow the cooking process all together. If you want to play it safe, just let your ingredients fully thaw before popping them in the soup maker.

\n\n5 reasons to use a soup maker<\/b>

\n#1 \u2212 It saves time and effort: Making soup from scratch can be very time consuming. It typically involves chopping up your ingredients and simmering everything using different pots and pans, while keeping an eye on the cooking time etc. A soup maker does all that for you at the press of a button.

\n\n#2 \u2212 It saves on the washing up: Instead of washing up a frying pan, pots and a blender; all you\u2019ll have is a jug and blade to clean!

\n\n#3 \u2013 It\u2019s versatile: Soup makers don\u2019t just make soup. They can also make smoothies, milkshakes, batters, dips and even baby food. Blenders still typically have way more functionally though.

\n\n#4 \u2013 It helps reduce food waste: If you often find yourself with random leftovers in your fridge, making soup is the perfect way to use up that food and minimize waste. Chuck everything in the soup maker, add broth, spices and make yourself a hearty chowder or gumbo.

\n\n#5 \u2013 It saves space in the kitchen. A soup maker is sleeker and more compact in design than a blender, which means it can fit in even the tiniest of cupboards.

\n\nFeatures to look out for in a soup maker

\nCapacity<\/b>

\nOne liter of soup is equivalent to about three servings. If you\u2019re planning to make a batch for the whole family, make sure your soup maker has at least a 1.5L capacity.

\n\nFunctions and programs<\/b>

\nThe more preset programs and functions you have, the more options you\u2019ll have in terms of consistency and finish. Some soup makers come with a saut\u00e9 function that allows you to fry some ingredients at the start. Look for models that have various blending options and specific programs for stews etc., as well as a keep warm function and pause button, in case you want to add ingredients last minute.

\n\nEasy clean<\/b>

\nMost soup maker parts aren\u2019t dishwasher safe, which means you\u2019ll have to handwash. Look for a model with comes with a non-stick base and a glass jug (instead of plastic), which should make the clean-up easier. There are also models on the market that come with an auto-clean function!

\n\nHow long does it take to make soup in a soup maker? <\/b>

\nFrom start to finish, it should take you roughly 20 to 30 minutes, depending on your cooking\/blending setting. Chunky soup typically takes the longest to cook. Making soup using a blender takes maybe 10 or 20 minutes more.

\n\nIs a soup maker worth it? <\/b>

\nIf you\u2019re serious about soup, and more specifically, making soup with minimal effort, then a soup maker is totally worth it. It\u2019s as simple as prepping your ingredients and just pressing \u2018cook\u2019 and you can have yourself a batch of soup in 20 minutes, while you watch TV. As mentioned, soup makers can also make smoothies, jams and other foods, which makes them versatile.


\nContributor: Megan Birot -Canstarblue.com.au (abridged)\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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