DS Forums

 
 

Homemade soups: stick blender or food processor?


Reply
Thread Tools Search this Thread
Old 05-01-2013, 08:07
Mumof3
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,439

I've decided to eat more healthily, having homemade soups for lunch for the foreseeable. Would you recommend I get a stick blender, or do I need to get a full processor?
Mumof3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Please sign in or register to remove this advertisement.
Old 05-01-2013, 09:20
molliepops
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: woking
Posts: 21,684
This depends what you get on with best, I like a processor because I find the stick thingy hard to use whereas my husband loves the stick as it's less washing up and he finds it easy to use.

No help I guess sorry.
molliepops is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 09:29
stud u like
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The Sunny Side Of The Street
Posts: 40,106
I use a processor as it is cleaner and easier. If I used a stick, I would have soup everywhere.
stud u like is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 09:59
jojo01
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,215
I use a stick blender in the saucepan - for me it's quick and easy and avoids the need of transferring the cooked soup into a blender (not that I have one!)
jojo01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 10:24
peaches41
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 5,423
I use a stick as I like a few lumps of veg in my soup. However, if you want your soup to be velvety smooth, use a liquidiser.
peaches41 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 10:30
Smokeychan1
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 9,286
Flatmate prefers the stick, I use the blender (not my 30 year old food processor, although that would be useful to chop the veg up before cooking of course). You can get it smoother in the latter, but keep back some of the soup if you want to have chunks in too.

I think mollie is right and you just need to decide which you would get on with best. I like being hands-free to get on with something else even if only for 30 secs, the sticks are quite heavy too.
Smokeychan1 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 10:36
malpasc
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2004
Posts: 6,354
I tend to use the stick blender as it is quicker and more convenient - you can do the blending directly in the saucepan rather than having to pour the soup into the processor and then back into the pan afterwards.

I've never found it particularly messy to use a stick blender.
malpasc is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 11:30
WinterFire
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,230
What a coincidence. Yesterday I made soup with a standalone blender, and right now I'm eating some soup which I blended with a stick blender.

I was thinking that the standalone blender would do a better job. It didn't. The soup I have right here is very nicely blended indeed. And the stick blender is so much easier to wash.

I had no problem blending the soup without spilling any or having any splashing out.
WinterFire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 11:37
WinterFire
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,230
I use a stick as I like a few lumps of veg in my soup. However, if you want your soup to be velvety smooth, use a liquidiser.
I like big lumps. So what I do is cook the soup with the vegetables all chopped up. Then before blending I remove a proportion of the vegetables and put them to one side. I then blend the remainder to a very smooth texture, put the proportion of chopped vegetables back in, and voila!

Today's soup was blended with a stick blender, and was velvety smooth. Other than the deliberate lumps.
WinterFire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 12:04
Gogfumble
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Swashbuckling on Melee Island.
Posts: 21,624
I use a stick blender in the saucepan - for me it's quick and easy and avoids the need of transferring the cooked soup into a blender (not that I have one!)
I have both a stick blender and a blender and I do it like this too. Couldn't be doing with getting the blender out, just for a few seconds swizzing then having to wash all the bits.

Stick blender is a lot easier and the end comes off and can go in the dishwasher.

I also like lumpy bits which are easier to achieve with a stick blender.
Gogfumble is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 12:09
Utopian Girl
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Feb 2008
Posts: 7,610
I have both a stick blender and a blender and I do it like this too. Couldn't be doing with getting the blender out, just for a few seconds swizzing then having to wash all the bits.

Stick blender is a lot easier and the end comes off and can go in the dishwasher.

I also like lumpy bits which are easier to achieve with a stick blender.
I'll echo this. I spent years with a blender and food processor and bought a cheap stick blender for abroad - couldn't believe how quick & easy it was! Hence last year I invested in a turbo stick blender for here and wouldn't look back!

One kitchen gadget I wouldn't crave are those new soup makers - can't see the attraction, for my use anyway. Now a 'thermomix...! My husband goes deaf suddenly if I go on about one.
Utopian Girl is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 12:41
WinterFire
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,230
One kitchen gadget I wouldn't crave are those new soup makers - can't see the attraction, for my use anyway. Now a 'thermomix...! My husband goes deaf suddenly if I go on about one.
Not having heard of a thermomix, I checked their website. http://www.ukthermomix.com/

To me it looks worryingly like one of these multi-level marketing systems. You can book a thermomix demonstration or become a demonstrator. I hope it's not like these schemes where you have to pay the firm to sell their products, and there's hardly anything left over for the seller.
WinterFire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 16:26
Mumof3
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,439
My eldest daughter has just pointed out to me that I'd have to use a processor every day for a year before it started to pay for itself. Looks like I'll be buying premium, off-the-shelf soups for a while longer.
Mumof3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 16:35
jojo01
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2005
Posts: 9,215
My eldest daughter has just pointed out to me that I'd have to use a processor every day for a year before it started to pay for itself. Looks like I'll be buying premium, off-the-shelf soups for a while longer.
I picked up my stick blender in Sainsburys a couple of years ago for a tenner.

Even if your heart is set on a blender, it'd be worth picking up a cheap stick to see how you get on with it. If you like it, you'll end up saving a fortune on shop-bought soups.
jojo01 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 16:36
whoever,hey
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Posts: 30,072
Different capacities as well.
whoever,hey is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 16:37
Gogfumble
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Jan 2007
Location: Swashbuckling on Melee Island.
Posts: 21,624
Argos' cheapest hand blender is only £4.13, or there are better branded ones for £13.

You can get a food processor for £20 or a jug blender for £10-£20, all would be capable of whizzing up a soup and home made soup is much cheaper, healthier and nicer than shop bought soup.
Gogfumble is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 16:50
earthling13
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Apr 2007
Posts: 10,268
I love a good homemade soup. Is it time to start up a soup recipe thread do you think?
earthling13 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 16:55
molliepops
Forum Member
 
Join Date: May 2005
Location: woking
Posts: 21,684
My eldest daughter has just pointed out to me that I'd have to use a processor every day for a year before it started to pay for itself. Looks like I'll be buying premium, off-the-shelf soups for a while longer.
I think mine has paid for its self many times over it's nearly 20 years old now. If it had just lasted a year then yes it's expensive but they do last longer and can do other things than soup too.
molliepops is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 17:40
Mumof3
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Posts: 4,439
Oh go on then. I have a terrible tendency of acquiring things, and then assuming that I've addressed the underlying problem without taking further action (expensive treadmill, storage solutions etc). I'll go for a processor, and will instantly feel healthier, whether or not it ever comes out of the box.
Mumof3 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 18:19
WinterFire
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,230
I picked up my stick blender in Sainsburys a couple of years ago for a tenner.

Even if your heart is set on a blender, it'd be worth picking up a cheap stick to see how you get on with it. If you like it, you'll end up saving a fortune on shop-bought soups.
Stick blenders have all sorts of applications. I think that a tenner for a usable stick blender is a bargain. I think mine cost £17 or so, but it wasn't the first one I bought and I'd decided that I wanted a reasonable one.
WinterFire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 18:20
WinterFire
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Dec 2008
Posts: 5,230
I love a good homemade soup. Is it time to start up a soup recipe thread do you think?
I'll join in if you do.
WinterFire is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 18:21
NRG
Inactive Member
 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Location: Northern Ireland
Posts: 2,953
Bamix Swissline! bin your pathetic stick blenders and bulky machines.
NRG is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 18:38
peaches41
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2005
Location: Cornwall
Posts: 5,423
I love a good homemade soup. Is it time to start up a soup recipe thread do you think?
Most definitely.
peaches41 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 18:56
Rab64
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Nov 2011
Location: Scotland
Posts: 818
I do not use either. I jusy chop meat, veg by hand, takes less than 5 minutes. I like "bits" in my soups
Rab64 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 05-01-2013, 19:30
stud u like
Forum Member
 
Join Date: Aug 2005
Location: The Sunny Side Of The Street
Posts: 40,106
I love a good homemade soup. Is it time to start up a soup recipe thread do you think?
A very good idea!
stud u like is offline   Reply With Quote
 
Reply




 
Forum Jump


All times are GMT. The time now is 17:45.