Can you picture life without a soup maker? While it is not far-fetched, soup makers have made life easier by reducing the time-consuming preparation of mouth-watering soups. It depends on your preferred homemade soup style- smooth or chunky soups.
Undoubtedly, it is worth investing in this intelligent cooking appliance that takes less space in your kitchen and saves you the hustle of pots and pans when preparing soup.
Despite being one of the most popular appliances in our kitchens today, many of us don’t understand the working mechanism of a soup maker. The mysteries hidden behind their metallic or plastic bodies remain to be mysteries. So, how does a soup maker work?
Today we’re going to look at how a soup machine works. And how its different parts contribute to its proper functioning.
What Is a Soup Maker?
This is an intelligent kitchen appliance that is used to make different soups. However, almost all soup machines can also make smoothies, sauces, and ice-cold drinks such as cocktails. It is essential to mention that the versatility of these kitchen appliances differs from one model to another.
Mechanism of a Soup Maker
Before diving into how a soup maker works, it is noteworthy to mention two types of soup machines – the blender and kettle-style options. These two have different working mechanisms, but they still deliver the same result: SOUP!
Blender Style
Typically these soup machines tend to resemble a large standard blender. However, a blender-styled soup maker is equipped with different functions that allow you to heat and cook your ingredients in it. Moreover, soup machines such as the Morphy Richards usually come with transparent jugs that allow you to monitor the soup’s progress without lifting the lid.
Keep in mind that this soup machine typically generates heat by blade friction. Alternatively, some are equipped with a hot plate at the bottom of the appliance. It allows you to sauté your ingredients.
Kettle Style
This soup maker looks like a large thermos flask or kettle. It comes with a durable stainless steel exterior that doesn’t allow one to see the cooking process.
It often has blades attached to its lid, and a heating element is found at the bottom of the appliance. An excellent example of a kettle-styled soup machine is the Tefal soup maker.
Parts of a Soup Maker
Let’s discuss the integral components of your soup machine and the important accessories that are commonly included in the package.
Instruction Manual
The instructional manual should always be your go-to guide to understanding any household appliance. And soup machines are no exception. The instruction manual is where the manufacturer lists down the set of all do’s and don’ts. So before you use your appliance, it’s always advisable to read the manual booklet of the model.
Moreover, some models attach a recipe booklet in the manual that will help kick start your soup-making journey with the maker. On the other hand, if you’re a novice, use the manual that has detailed steps to use a soup maker.
Control Panel
The control panel of a soup machine hosts various functions used to prepare different recipes. Some control panels have many purposes, while basic models are limited to primary functions, including blending and keeping warm.
Moreover, it’s essential to note that the control panel of most soup machines comes with an LED display that allows one to set the cooking timer for different recipes. So when shopping for one, always consider if it comes with preset functions.
Jug
Different soup makers come with various jugs. Some may have blades attached at their bottoms, whereas others come with a thermally insulated exterior.
The jug of a soup maker is the primary host for all your recipe ingredients. It is where the cooking takes place. Not that it’s not always advisable to take the lid off during the cooking process.
With that in mind, it’s not ideal to use a clear or transparent jug to blend frozen veg or uncooked vegetables such as sweet potatoes.
Also, when making soup, don’t overfill it with ingredients, as this will keep the machine from working efficiently and may cause spillage during the process.
Heating Element
The heating element is one of the main parts of a soup machine. When it comes to using a soup maker, the heating element at the bottom of the jug plays a role in extracting the flavours of the ingredients, eliminating the need for a saucepan for sautéing meat and other ingredients. It also allows the keep-warm function option.
Keep in mind that the heating element is typically located at the bottom of the appliance. Soup machines with this feature, such as the Morphy Richards soup maker, eliminate the need for a pan when preparing different recipes for both chunky and smooth soups.
Blades
Used for crushing and blending various ingredients, blades customise different soup textures to fit your taste. Blades typically come attached to either the lid or at the bottom of the jug.
However, it’s important to note that the same blades are ideal for crushing and blending frozen ingredients to make smoothies or ice-cold drinks.
At the same time, others are not robust enough for such tasks. Before throwing any frozen veg into your appliance, ensure that the blades can effectively do the job.
Soup Machine FAQs
How long do soup makers take to cook?
Generally, almost all soup makers take approximately 20 -30 minutes to cook the liquid food evenly. However, if you own a maker that lacks the steaming or the sauté function, the cooking period might be longer as you may be required to pre-cook some ingredients manually.
So consider settling for one that comes with essential functions such as steaming and sautéing.
Can I use a hand-held blender to make soup?
Yes. However, before using the hand-held blender, it is essential to ensure that all the ingredients are thoroughly cooked. Also, it’s always advisable to allow the ingredients to cool before you blend them. After you are done blending the ingredient, you will have to return them to a saucepan to let the food cook for a few minutes before serving.
Are all soup makers dishwasher-safe?
Before cleaning your soup machine, it’s wise to check if it comes with dishwasher-friendly parts. If it doesn’t, you’ll need to handwash your appliance.
On the contrary, you can also check the manual to see if your appliance comes with a self or pre-cleaning function.
Let’s Begin Cooking
Now that you have the answer to how does a soup maker work, you have a little more understanding of how this seemingly simple kitchen appliance makes your favourite soup.
Everyone should use a soup maker. It’s a must-have for every busy household. No need for a pan anymore! Remember, though – it’s advisable to always call a professional if it begins to malfunction.
Do you have a favourite soup maker recipe to share with us? Don’t forget to leave a comment below!
