8 Handy Kitchen Items for Soup Lovers

One of the best things about winter is a warm bowl of soup when it’s cold and gross outside. It’s easy to make and doesn’t require much attention after the prep work is done. If you take your soup seriously, though, you’ll probably want to invest in the proper tools.

Soup Tips

Again, making soup usually isn’t too complicated, unless you’re trying a more gourmet recipe. Still, it does require some basic cooking knowledge. The tools we recommend below can also make the process a whole lot easier, which is especially helpful when you’re in a rush.

Here are a few other tips to remember when it comes to soup:

• Prep in advance whenever possible. One of the most time-consuming things about making soup (especially vegetable) is all the chopping. If you plan to make soup when you get home, chop your veggies in the morning. An even better option is to throw everything in a slow cooker in the morning and let it cook all day while you’re at work.
• Let it sit for a while before you eat. Sure, you can eat soup as soon as it’s done. However, it tends to taste best when you give it some time to simmer, so all the flavors can come together. That’s why leftover soup often tastes the best!
• Double the recipe. If you have a large stockpot, you can make a ton of soup. Again, leftover soup tastes the best, and doubling the recipe shouldn’t be hard. Make it once and eat it over the next few days whenever you need a quick, easy meal.

The Breville BSB510XL Control Grip Immersion Blender

An immersion blender can change your soup-making experience in the best possible way. At some point, you usually have to combine your soup ingredients in a blender. This is annoying at best and dangerous at worst—pour steaming hot soup into a blender, and then back into a pot? No thanks! If you have an immersion blender, you can blend everything without removing it from the pot. It’s also much easier to clean.

The Breville Control Grip Immersion Blender is especially awesome! Its shape makes it easy and comfortable to hold. It also provides eight inches of depth, so it works even with tall pots. It won’t scratch your pot, and the internal ribbing offers even, easy blending.

It also comes with a chopping bowl you can use to cut up herbs, nuts, and cheeses. The Breville is especially excellent for blending potato or creamy broccoli and cheese soups.

The Lodge 7.5 Quart Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven

If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen, a good Dutch oven is worth the investment. The Lodge Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven is a favorite for cooks because it’s sturdy, durable, and isn’t too pricey. The 7.5-quart option is ideal for huge batches of soup.

You can use it on the stovetop or in the oven, so you can use it to make a variety of dishes. Cast iron pots give your dishes a great flavor and cook everything evenly. This one also looks nice enough to serve from on the dinner table.

Crock-Pot 6-Quart Cook and Carry Programmable Slow Cooker

A slow cooker makes life so much easier—especially when you’re making soup. Because soup tastes best after it simmers over low heat for a while, it will taste incredible when you make it in a slow cooker. Plus, you won’t have to do more work after a long day because dinner will be ready when you get home.

The Crock-Pot Cook and Carry Programmable Slow Cooker is a classic. The programmable timer (not all slow cookers have one) allows you to cook from 30 minutes up to 20 hours. When it’s done cooking, it doesn’t turn off, either—it switches to “Warm” so your food won’t get cold.

The insets are all removable and easy to clean, and six quarts is a great size for soup. The lid also locks, so you can easily take it with you to a get-together or party.

The Vitamix 5200 Blender

If you prefer a standard blender over the immersion kind, it’s hard to do better than a professional-grade Vitamix. They’re expensive for two important reasons: they work well and last a long time.

The 5200 is especially great for soup because you can cook it right in the blender! The blades in the Vitamix reach fast enough speeds to create friction heat, which can turn cold ingredients into hot soup in less than 10 minutes.

It has a variety of speeds, and the 64-ounce container can hold a huge batch of soup. The blades can blend anything—even the hardest ingredients.

Cleaning the 5200 is a breeze: just pour some dish soap and warm water in, and it cleans itself in about 60 seconds.

The OXO Good Grips Large Wooden Spoon

Typically, you have to stir soup throughout the cooking process, and you need a good, large spoon to do so, especially if you’re using a tall pot. Wooden spoons work best because they won’t scratch your cookware, and they’re especially great on cast-iron pots.

This OXO Good Grips Large Wooden Spoon is made of solid beechwood and has a natural oil finish, so it even looks nice on your counter.

The Rosle Stainless Steel Hooked Handle Ladle with Pouring Rim

A good ladle is an absolute must-have when you make and serve soup. How else can you neatly get it out of the pot and into your bowl? This Rosle Stainless Steel Hooked Handle Ladle stands out because of its nifty pouring rim, which helps everything slide right out without making a mess.

Made of stainless steel, this ladle’s matte finish reduces the appearance of fingerprints and doesn’t feel slippery.

The Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 16-Quart Stockpot

A Dutch oven is handy, but it can be hard to clean, and you can’t put it in the dishwasher. The Farberware Classic Stainless Steel 16-Quart Stockpot is large enough for even your biggest batch of soup. The aluminum core ensures it evenly cooks your soup, and it’s oven-safe up to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

It’s also dishwasher-safe, making it easy to clean.

Corningware 20-Ounce Oven Safe Meal Mug

Because leftover soup is so good, you need a good container for taking it with you. The Corningware Meal Mug is ideal for this because it holds the perfect amount of soup for lunch. It’s also oven-safe and won’t chip or break. The vented lid makes it easy to heat the contents in the microwave, and it keeps soup hot for a long time.