Introducing The Best Soup Makers…

Every so often, a new product hits the market and suddenly everyone wants one. It’s not a new phenomenon, I remember the Beta Max video recorder, the microwave and later the Dyson vacuum cleaner exploding into homes across the UK, and things would never return to the way they were back before their advent.

The reason for the inevitable success of certain products is it starts a chain reaction, usually making life easier for the product owner. To revisit those examples:

  • Beta Max
    It may have ultimately fallen to an inferior format, but the top loader beta max video recorder holds a place in the hearts of many 80s tech fans. Even comedian Peter Kay joked about how the house shook when you loaded the tape in, clearly demonstrating what an iconic invention they once were. Today we have Sky+ and HDR boxes to do the job, but without the video tapes of yesteryear, we’d never have come so far and would perhaps be needing to be in front of live TV to catch our favourite programming.
  • Microwave
    The horror of some people is quite amusing in hindsight, there were all sorts of people terrified of the health risks of eating food heated in a microwave oven. It’s probably the mention of radiation that did it, with nuclear disasters fresh in the public’s mind. Today though, few homes would function normally without the ability to cook a potato in a few minutes or make a bowl of porridge in seconds.
  • Dyson vacuum cleaner
    We used to call our vacuum cleaner a hoover as kids, which no doubt still happens across the country today, much to James Dyson’s irritation. When a superior product arrives, you hear some quite odd terminology – in this case people talking about how they wanted a Dyson Hoover. Bags are gone, suction is better, and homes across the country quite like the cyclone, even though no-one quite seems to know what it is.

While the soup maker doesn’t quite match the above inventions in terms of revolutionising their industry, they do offer some parallels. For example, the time saving is definitely on offer. Comparing the top soup makers you’ll see that while they do take up to half an hour to cook soups, most of that time is antonymous, so you only need to load them up and leave them to do their thing.

According to Soup Maker Zone, their top recommendation (the Tefal Easy Soup) takes just 23 minutes to finish, including chopping and heating. That’s a lot quicker than using a pan on the stove, as any regular home cook will know, waiting for it to thicken up feels like an age.

It’s not just the time saving aspect people like either, it’s the fact that they do the work for you, and you don’t need to know a lot about soup making in order to make a passable meal. In addition, you’ve got a lot less to clean up afterwards too, and many of the best soup makers have cleaning cycles so that they almost clean themselves (you still need to put the water in yourself!).

Electronic soup makers still feel like a relatively new technology, and they’ll inevitable get better and better in future, but if you keep your eyes peeled (much like the ingredients you put in them), you’ll see they’re appearing in many more homes all the time, much like those old beta max videos.

The Benefits of Soup

Soup is almost always a liquid food, usually served hot or warm, which consists of mixing together ingredients of various vegetables or meat with broth, or a liquid solution of water and stock. Hot soups also consist of boiling hot ingredients in liquid solutions until the flavour is extracted, usually creating a broth of sorts. Soup is served at different times, depending on the need.

The first known soup kitchen, founded in Greece more than five thousand years ago, was in Athens. The recipe for the soup has been around ever since, but has never been standardized to the point that it became a regular part of most diets. It seems to have started as simply an added treat in the households of the rich. The rich did not have enough time to cook for themselves and their guests.

Soup kitchens were established in other cities during the nineteenth century. By the mid twentieth century, soup had developed into a staple part of the American diet. The popularity of soup has continued to grow throughout the United States and beyond. This may be because of health benefits and the feeling of satisfaction of eating something that we are supposed to eat every day.

Soup has many variations, although most soups have one thing in common. The ingredients used in soup are mostly water, salt, and either meat or vegetable. The main difference between the main types of soup is the cooking time involved. Some types can be prepared in a matter of hours, while others take much longer. In fact, a good recipe for a simple dish may call for a couple of hours of preparation. For larger dishes, this time would vary according to the recipe.

Lard is probably the most popular type of vegetable used in soups. It is typically used because it is inexpensive. However, it is also cheap to harvest and to process, making it quite inefficient as an energy source. Because it is so versatile, lard is often used in combination with other vegetable products. Bacon, ham hocks, and pork fat can be used as well to produce a variety of recipes, such as bacon, ham, pork, or lard potato soup.

Kidney beans can be used in soup as well. Although they have been used in India for ages, today they are widely consumed throughout the world in both Eastern and Western countries. Kidney beans contain high amounts of protein and potassium, both of which help regulate the blood pressure, and heart rate, improve digestion, and increase stamina.

Different types of fish and meats can also be used in soup. Fish, particularly salmon, is often combined with vegetables to make soups that are extremely tasty and very filling. Spices are also commonly added to soup to bring out the best flavour. However, it must be noted that the best way to avoid cooking spices into soup is to blend them separately and then use them as a garnish or after the meal.

Other benefits of soup include its ability to provide some form of health benefit. The antioxidants found in many foods can fight off the free radicals that build up in the body. By fighting these free radicals, you will generally feel better and live longer.

While some of the main types of soup can be enjoyed any time of the day, it’s important to make sure you have some at your disposal when you need one. Soup does not always have to be served cold. It can be served with your favourite dinner sauce and even can be mixed with milk to create a delicious breakfast beverage. There is no better way to kick off the day than with a warm bowl of soup.

As mentioned earlier, soup is a perfect accompaniment for almost any meal. Whether it is a basic recipe for potato soup, chicken nuggets, chilli, Chinese food, beef stew, or macaroni salad, there are many different styles of soup to choose from. To find a great recipe, visit your local grocery store or cookbook and look for a recipe that you love and then simply prepare it according to the instructions.

Make sure you make your own soups in the privacy of your own home. While it is true that soups don’t have to come with a side of pasta or meat, it’s important that you don’t compromise the health benefits for the taste of a simple bowl of soup.