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Best soup makers for speedy weekday meals
If you love soup but don’t want to faff around with pots and pans, a soup maker will make light work of it for you, with minimal prep, cooking and cleaning.
By Gemma Wilcock | Last updated Jul 11, 2024
When it comes to mealtimes, there’s no better way of sneaking vegetables into your family’s diet than serving up a bowl of steaming hot soup. Cheap, healthy and versatile, soup is also a great way of using up leftovers. While some Mumsnetters swear by a trusty old pan and hob to make theirs, a soup maker can save you a lot of time, stress and mess, so you get a tasty meal without any of the hassle of the cooking.
Soup makers vary, with the most basic machines simply chopping, blending and heating your ingredients; while others can also sauté, purée and self-clean to save you on the washing up too. Multi-functional machines allow you to make smoothies, sauces and jams so there’s no risk of it gathering dust in your cupboards. But how do you decide which is the best soup maker for you and your family?
Well, you���re in luck. After bringing you our lists of other best kitchen essentials - including the best microwaves, best kettles, best toasters, best rice cookers, best blenders and best food steamers - we’ve done the in-depth research for you again to work out which soup makers are worth splashing your cash on. We’ve scoured the Mumsnet forums to find out which ones come highly recommended from real parents who’ve tried and rated theirs and checked other online review sites to see which soup makers came out on top. Whether you prefer your soup chunky or smooth, we’re sure to have found one that suits all your needs. Here are the best soup makers to buy.
Best soup makers at a glance
Best overall: Morphy Richards Sauté and Soup Maker | Buy now, £100
Best budget: Daewoo SDA1714 Soup Maker | Buy now, £48
Best value: Drew and Cole Soup Chef Pro | Buy now, £69
Best with controls: Tower Soup and Smoothie Maker | Buy now, £60
Best soup and smoothie maker: Lakeland Touchscreen Maker | Buy now, £150
Best Morphy Richards maker: Morphy Richards Total Control | Buy now, £100
Best compact soup maker: Tefal Easy Soup Maker | Buy now, £112
Best soup maker and blender: Ninja HB150UK | Buy now, £149
1. Best overall soup maker: Morphy Richards 501014 Sauté and Soup Maker
Price on writing: £100 | Buy now from Argos
Key specs
Type: Soup maker with cold settings | Power: 1100w | Capacity: 1.6L | Number of programmes: 5 | Weight: 2.3kg
What we like
Creates soup in 21+ minutes
Inspirational recipes in app and accompanying booklet
Saute function for extra flavour
What we don't like
Some online reviewers said it didn't have a long life (but most loved!)
What Mumsnet users say
“I have the Morphy Richards Sauté and Soup. Absolutely love it, particularly at this time of year. Couldn't recommend it enough! Super smooth soup in 21 minutes from when you put the lid on (or you can set it to chunky if you prefer soup like that).” - recommended by Mumsnet user, Impatientwino
“I've also got the Morphy Richards one that sautés. I put the stuff in, go for a walk and come back to lovely soup. One big advantage is that if you like smooth soup, it bends part way through, so everything cooks more quickly. I think it makes smoother soup than my stick blender, but not as smooth as a liquidiser.” - recommended by Mumsnet user, OperationallySound
Our verdict
Amongst Morphy Richards’ range, we really love their Sauté and Soup Maker, which features all of the functions needed to make a delicious meal for all the family - importantly, with minimal fuss. It’s earned our top spot as our Mumsnetters, who’ve done just that, rave about it.
You can make fresh, homemade soup in as little as 21 minutes using a choice of four settings: smooth, chunky, juice and blend. There’s also the ‘sauté’ function, which cooks ingredients like onion and garlic to make your soup even tastier, and you can pause the cooking to add seasoning at any time. All-in-all, you should be able to suit even the fussiest eater and, with a decent 1.6-litre capacity, whip up enough for a hungry family of four. Add in that it’s easy to clean and it comes with an accompanying booklet with handy recipes to get you started. We also like that there’s an app, the Morphy Richards’ Cook & Create app, for recipe inspiration. That’s a lot to love for you and your family!
2. Best budget soup maker: Daewoo SDA1714 Soup Maker
Price on writing: £48 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Type: Soup maker with cold settings | Power: 1000w | Capacity: 1.6L | Number of programmes: 4 | Weight: 2.54kg
What we like
Value for money
Can also make smoothies or juices
Overfill sensor
What we don't like
Couple of online reviewers said it was hard to clean soup from the base
Our verdict
If you have a smaller budget, the Daewoo Soup Maker can make up to 1.6 litres of soup, with a choice of smooth or chunky. You can also use it to make a smoothie or juice for a nutritious drink or snack so it makes varied goodness-filled bits for your family.
Making soup can be messy - the last thing you need! - but thankfully, this soup maker helpfully comes with overfill sensors to prevent an eruption in your kitchen. The indicator light on the control panel also lets you know the status of your soup, so you can leave it to bubble away while you get on with that ever-long to do list.
Related: The best blenders to buy, as rated by Mumsnetters
3. Best value soup maker: Drew and Cole Soup Chef Pro
Price on writing: £69 | Buy now from Asda
Key specs
Type: Soup maker with cold settings | Power: 1000w | Capacity: 1.6L | Number of programmes: 3 | Weight: 3.72kg
What we like
Soup ready in 19+ minutes
12-hour delay timer
Non-stick base and auto-clean function for easy cleaning
What we don't like
No indicator on outside to show how full soup maker is
What Mumsnet users say
“I love mine! Does chunky and smooth. I have a Drew and Cole” - recommended by Mumsnet user, Timehealsmost
Our verdict
Want a bowl of soup on your table in less than 20 minutes? Soup Chef says you can make 5 bowls in as little as 19 minutes - that's enough for all the family! It comes with plenty of extra features to help you whip up a healthy meal in no time at all including a smooth setting to get the right consistency and a saute function to save faff and add taste. You can make cold drinks and nut milks with the Soup Chef Pro and there's an app to help with recipe ideas too.
Perhaps best of all, the non-stick base makes it easy to clean and it has an auto-clean function so you won't need to put in much effort at all - you'll just need to add some detergent and water to the jug and it will clean itself. It even has a 12-hour delay timer that you can set, so it'll start making soup when you want it to, and a 'warm' function to keep it nice for up to two hours.
4. Best soup maker with intelligent control system: Tower T12031 Soup and Smoothie Maker
Price on writing: £60 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Type: Soup maker with cold setting | Power: 1000w | Capacity: 1.6L | Number of programmes: 3 | Weight: 2.4kg
What we like
Makes soups, smoothies and even baby food
Easy cleaning function
Intelligent control system to prevent burning
What we don't like
No saute function
What Mumsnet users say
"I have a Tower soup maker. Its just so easy. I soften the onions in a pan whilst I chop the other veg, add the stock, switch it on and perfectly blended soup in 20 mins. It's easy to rinse afterwards if the soup doesn't get dried on" - recommended by Mumsnet user, CopperLily
Our verdict
This nifty little soup maker, recommended by a Mumsnetter, blends and heats ingredients to make up to six portions of soup. If you're a fruit-loving family, you can make smoothies too, and it'll even blend up baby food. Chunky and smooth functions mean you can make them all to your preferred consistency too - something for everyone.
It has an easy cleaning cycle (you'll simply add water and detergent then run the cycle) and we like the idea of the 'intelligent control system' which prevents burning, saving cleaning faff and bad tastes. It's pretty good value for money too, at less than £50, especially with such versatility.
Related: The best baby food makers to buy, as recommended by parents
5. Best soup and smoothie maker: Lakeland Touchscreen Soup and Smoothie Maker
Price on writing: £150 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Type: Soup maker with cold settings | Power: 1000w | Capacity: 1.4L (hot liquids), 1.75L (cold liquids) | Number of programmes: 4 | Weight: 7.14kg
What we like
Makes variety of hot and cold things, including baby food
Easy-to-use touch screen
Auto-clean setting
What we don't like
No saute function
Pricey (but does loads)
What Mumsnet users say
“I never saw the point of them, but I was given the Touch Screen version and it's great. Roughly chop veg, put in all ingredients, walk away and 30 minutes later the soup's ready. I've used raw chicken and minced meat and it's fine. There are pre-set programmes for chunky or smooth soups and the facility to control the process manually.” - recommended by Mumsnet user, Handbagsatdawn33
Our verdict
Lakeland’s Touchscreen Soup & Smoothie Maker may be at the higher end of the price range, but it does a lot of exciting stuff. We like the sleek design and user-friendly controls that make it easy to make delicious warming soups in the winter and yummy milkshakes (or frozen margaritas!) in the summer. The digital touch screen is easy to use when switching between cutting, blending, stirring and simmering, although unfortunately there’s no sauté function.
For soups or sauces, the temperature can be changed from 75 to 100 degrees and there are three speeds to help you get your desired texture. A handy timer can be set for up to 60 minutes so you can leave it to bubble away while you get on with the day’s tasks. The ice setting crushes ice and makes smoothies, milkshakes, cold sauces and even baby food - a big plus for families. Thanks to the glass jug, you can check on the consistency of the liquid too. Helpfully, it can be easily cleaned using the auto-clean setting and it even comes with a brush to help dislodge any leftover food.
6. Best Morphy Richards soup maker: Morphy Richards Total Control Soup Maker 501020
Price on writing: £100 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Type: Soup maker with cold settings | Power: 1100w | Capacity: 1.6L | Number of programmes: 9 | Weight: 2.89kg
What we like
User-friendly
Nine built-in functions
Pre-clean setting
What we don't like
Quite pricey
Some online reviewers said it has a short life-span (though most reviewers loved it)
What Mumsnet users say
“I love mine. It wasn’t expensive as I got it in the sales - a Morphy Richards one. I use it at least twice a week and really enjoy the soup from it. I also use frozen vegetables and save a fortune.” - recommended by Mumsnet user, Yummymummy2020
Our verdict
When it comes to soup makers, there’s not a lot the Morphy Richards Total Control Soup Maker doesn’t do. In fact, this kettle-style soup maker is very user-friendly – even for novice cooks.
It has nine built-in functions for sautéing, reheating, and blending drinks, sauces and smooth or chunky soup - or even a bit of both - with a pre-clean setting to give the jug a good wash after each use. The Total Control is also great for any form of family unit, as you can choose how much soup to make, which is handy and great for cutting back on waste.
Related: The best air fryers to buy, as recommended by families
7. Best compact soup maker: Tefal Easy Soup Maker
Price on writing: £112 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Type: Soup maker with cold settings | Power: 1000w | Capacity: 1.2L | Number of programmes: 4 | Weight: 2.48kg
What we like
Easy to store
Lots of functions for variety
‘Keep warm’ mode
What we don't like
Smaller capacity than most on our list
Only one temperature
No saute function
What Mumsnet users say
“Absolutely love it! Bought both my adult children one and then got myself one too!” - recommended by Mumsnet user, Yaychocolateginandwine
Our verdict
For easy storage, the Tefal Easy Soup Maker is compact and lightweight, so you can whip up a bowl of tasty soup for your family without worrying about it taking up too much cupboard space. If you do need to keep the Tefal Easy Soup Maker out, the cord is removable so you can keep your worktops clutter-free.
With a 1.2-litre stainless steel jug, it does have a smaller capacity than most of the soup makers on our list, but it’s not short on options - with four automatic programmes and manual mode to create different texture soup in 25 minutes, as well as blending fruit for compotes and healthy cold drinks. It only has one temperature and there’s no sauté function so you may need to do this separately, but there are ‘keep warm’ and ‘easy cleaning’ modes once your soup has been made. It also comes with a handy recipe booklet.
8. Best soup maker and blender: Ninja HB150UK Blender and Soup Maker
Price on writing: £149 | Buy now from Amazon
Key specs
Type: Blender and soup maker | Power: 1000w | Capacity: 1.7L | Number of programmes: 10 | Weight: 5.6kg
What we like
10 automatic cooking functions
Makes soup in 20+ minutes
‘Keep warm’ function
What we don't like
Quite heavy
What Mumsnet users say
“I love my Ninja soup maker! I have found you can pretty much throw anything in there and it comes out great. Usually I bung in a chopped onion chopped, a chopped potato, some garlic, parsley, thyme and chicken stock.” - recommended by Mumsnet user, Fredelliottisayfredelliott
Our verdict
The Ninja Blender and Soup Maker may look like any other blender, but it can do more than just make healthy smoothies and juices. Unlike a blender, it comes with a built-in heating element for sautéing and cooking ingredients, with a whopping 10 automatic cooking functions to make smooth soup in 20 minutes and chunky in 30. Once it’s done, there’s a ‘keep warm’ function that you can use until you’re ready to eat.
If you want more control though, there’s six manual settings for making everything from smoothies and sauces to jams and sorbets. The Ninja Blender and Soup Maker can be cleaned at the touch of a button, while it’s heavy, it looks stylish too.
Related: The best bread makers to buy, according to Mumsnetters
Is a soup maker worth buying?
A soup maker is not an essential kitchen tool - you can easily whip up a batch of homemade soup on the hob. But if you don’t want to faff about with pots and pans, a soup maker can make a delicious, healthy meal in 20 to 30 minutes with minimal prep, cooking and cleaning.
An all-in-one device, a soup maker can chop, blend, cook and heat your food for you – and some even clean themselves too - so you can add the ingredients and get on with doing something else rather than standing over a hob. This cuts down on the amount of appliances and utensils you use and can save you a lot of time too.
Most soup makers can also make smoothies, sauces, purées (handy for weaning) and jams.
What’s the difference between a blender and a soup maker?
Blender – generally, this is a machine that chops and breaks down cold foods and mixes them together to make smoothies, milkshakes, sauces or juices. Some high-end blenders use the friction of the blades to generate heat but some ingredients may need to be cooked beforehand.
Blenders with a heat element - you can buy blenders that have a built-in heating element so they can cook ingredients for soups and sauces.
Soup maker – like a blender, this also chops food and mixes it together to make a liquid, however it has a heating element which can also sauté, cook and heat the soup for you, usually in around 20 to 30 minutes. Other functions include ‘smooth’ or ‘chunky’ and most machines can be used to blend cold ingredients too. A soup maker either has blades in the lid or blades in the bottom of the jug.
How to choose the best soup maker
Size
Before splashing out on a soup maker, think about how much you’ll be making. If you live alone, you probably won’t want a big machine taking up precious shelf space in your kitchen. The machines on our list vary from 1.2 to two litres in capacity, with an average 1.6-litre soup maker making around four portions of soup - ideal for a four-person family.
If you’re going to be getting it in and out of the cupboard regularly, look at how much it weighs too as some machines can be quite heavy.
Cleaning
With all the chopping, blending and cooking that goes into making soup, you’ll need to give your machine a good clean afterwards. Most will need to be handwashed to make sure you’ve got rid of any leftover food, but some soup makers do have a cleaning programme, which can do most of the hard work for you.
Speed
Soup makers generally take around 20 to 30 minutes to make soup. Some may be quicker, but you may be left with some raw ingredients if you don’t precook or chop them up small enough. The higher the power, the quicker your soup will be to make.
Programmes and extra features
Soup maker settings vary, but if you want to get more from your machine, look for pre-programmed options that allow you to select whether you want smooth or chunky soup (or even a bit of both) and to sauté foods like onion and garlic first for extra flavour. They may also come with different speed and temperature settings for making different sauces and textures.
Soup makers can also come with jam, smoothie, milkshake and ice settings, among others. If you really want to limit how many kitchen appliances you use, look for a machine with inbuilt scales so you can measure your ingredients too.
What is the best soup maker to buy?
After much research, we think the best overall soup maker to buy is the Morphy Richards Sauté and Soup Maker. It features lots of handy settings for making a tasty bowl of smooth or chunky soup, even sautéing the food for you. The 1.6-litre jug size can easily feed a family of four in as little as 21 minutes – and the price isn’t bad either.
How we chose our recommendations
Most of our recommendations for soup makers came from Mumsnet users themselves. We searched the Mumsnet forums for posts about which soup makers Mumsnetters really rated. We also researched various review sites to find out which soup makers performed well across the board.
About the author
Gemma Wilcock is a freelance writer and copywriter with 15+ years of experience. She has written for Bella magazine and Woman’s Own, and has produced content for a range of charities and small businesses. She loves writing about subjects that are helpful to the reader – and herself! - from product reviews to financial advice, and activities that the whole family will enjoy. At Mumsnet, she provides useful parenting advice and has written about products designed to make life easier – as a mother of two children herself, Gemma knows how important it is to get the right advice.
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