Homemade soup has never been so easy -or quick!
These souped-up gadgets do it all in minutes: even adding croutons and taking care of the washing-up
AS THE nights draw in, what’s more satisfying than a bowl of homemade soup? High-tech soup makers mean it’s never been easier to make your own from scratch. These souped-up gadgets will do everything from making croutons to washing-up. TESSA CUNNINGHAM put the latest models to the test.
IT WASHES UP, TOO!
Tefal Easy Soup Maker, £59.99, lakeland.co.uk Tefal’s chunky soupmaker — which has the blade in its lid — looks just like a Thermos flask, complete with a handy handle (main picture).
I imagined carrying it into work and making soup at my desk. sadly it’s impossible because, if you lift it by the handle, the lid opens. shame.
However, it’s hard to be disappointed in a machine that is clever enough to cook 1.2 litres of soup and keep it warm for up to two hours. I fry an onion, put all my ingredients into the jug and press the Creamed soup setting. There’s also a soup With Pieces button if you prefer.
I’m on the phone while the machine gurgles away in the corner. Just 28 minutes later, I hear a beeping noise.
My soup is ready, but I can carry on chatting as the machine automatically switches to ‘keep warm’ mode. When I’m done, I simply it with water, press the easy Clean button and it washes itself, even heating the water. fantastic. 4/5
FASTEST BY FAR
Sage Boss Super Blender, £499.99, lakeland.co.uk
HESTON Blumenthal claims this heavyweight machine can make a piping hot jug of soup in just six minutes. That’s barely the time it takes to make an omelette. so is it possible? as I embark on a simple recipe for vegetable soup, I realise how Heston has cut c or ners. His s wanky machine — which also makes smoothies and frozen desserts — won’t fry. It’s a key step in soup-making so I have t o do it separately. Plus, the jug makes only 1.2 litres.
so, after frying my onion on the stove, I pop the chopped ingredients (onion, cabbage, carrots, potatoes and water) in and press the soup button.
Instantly the machine’s three huge stainless steel blades shriek into action.
The din is almost unbearable. It’s like standing next to a jumbo jet at full throttle. The dog starts howling and I flee to the bedroom. I can still hear it one floor up. Heston’s six minutes are the longest of my life.
on the plus side, the soup is hot and smooth. But at this price, surely it could fry an onion and keep the noise down? 1/5
BUDGET BUY
Crofton Soup Maker, £49.99, aldi.co.uk
THIs gadget, which makes a generous 1. 4 litres, looks basic, but it’s hard to grumble as you get plenty of bang for your buck. There’s a four-speed dial for blending, it can make smooth or chunky soup and keeps it warm for up to 35 minutes. after getting the machine to fry my onion with the Heating and Cooking option, I select Heating and Blending, setting the time on the integrated LED screen for 30 minutes.
The blade whirrs into action, chopping and blending in 15second bursts throughout the cooking time. But it is so noisy that next time I’ll cook the soup in the maker and then use the short Blend option afterwards.
The machine beeps when it’s done. as I’m not hungry yet, I press the Heat and Keep Warm button. My soup is still tasty and hot after 35 minutes. 3/5
EASY PEASY
Salter Electric Soup Maker, £46.95, amazon.co.uk If you want simplicity, this could be the machine for you.
There are just three settings: Puree, Chunky and Blend/Clean (so you can mix the soup to your desired consistency and, later, clean the jug.)
a handy plastic measuring jug slots into the lid, which also houses the blade. It makes a satisfying 1.6 litres of soup in one go.
once my ingredients are chopped they all go in together (there’s no option to fry) and I press Puree. Within a minute, I hear bubbling. I leave it cooking while I catch up with emails. a long beep alerts me when the soup is finished an acceptable 21 minutes later. It’s hot and a lovely consistency. What could be easier? 3/5
A PRICEY CHOICE
Cuisinart SSB1U,£98, johnlewis.com I f you’re very parti cular, this machine — which can make 1.4 litres in 30 minutes — could be ideal. It’s like having your own sous chef. It won’t just fry your veg — it stirs them, too. But you have to set the timings and heat levels yourself, so you can’t j ust walk away and paint your nails.
following the recipe book, I fry my onion for two minutes on low before adding the other ingredients and switching to high for ten minutes. When I see i t bubbling I switch to simmer for 20 minutes. With the veg cooked, I move to a fast Blend (there are four speeds) to get a smooth consistency.
The machine is impressively quiet and my soup is hot and delicious. But I’m not sure it’s much easier than using a frying pan and hand blender. 2/5
SIMPLY THE BEST
Morphy Richards Saute And Soup, £62.49, amazon.co.uk I fell in love with this smart-looking machine on sight. It’s compact enough to fit in a kitchen cupboard, but so powerful it will make a whopping 1.6 litres in just 21 minutes. and the dedicated saute programme means I can make fresh croutons, too.
I start with the croutons. I press the saute button, add some oil and as soon as it sizzles pop in little chunks of bread. They take just eight minutes. I remove them and put them aside.
Pressing the saute button again, I fry my diced onion. once it looks done, I add the rest of the ingredi- ents and select the smooth button. There’s also a Chunky button should you prefer. an LED screen lights up and starts counting down the 21-minute cooking time (Chunky takes 28 minutes.)
Though i t emits a series of increasingly noisy gurgles as it cooks and grinds, I don’t have to listen. I’m next door with my feet up, reading the paper.
a gentle beep alerts me when the soup is done. It’s delicious. If only the machine cleaned itself, it would be perfect. 5/5
SOUPER SWANKY
Andrew James 7 in 1 Soupmaker, £44.99, amazon.co.uk THIs swanky machine in metallic red or black and grey l ooks twice the price. The lightest machine we tried, it also makes the mo s t soup a whopping 1.75 litres. It won’t fry onions, but, after chucking in my vegetables, it purrs into action the second I press the smooth soup button.
alternating between cooking and blending, it takes 20 minutes to make a nourishing soup.
The glass jug means you can watch it at work and stop it early if it looks to your liking.
a ping tells me that the job is
5/5 done. Perfect!