Is there an easier way to make pureed soup?

13 years ago

I love pureed vegetable soups but I hate making them. Usually I steam the vegetables until soft and then put them in the food processor until they become a smooth, thick paste. Then it's back to the pot and I thin the vegetable mixture with chicken stock until it's the consistency I want.

Will an immersion blender be able to puree the vegetables in the pot smoothly or is chunky the best it can do? I'd like to save time, clean up and mess. But I don't want to waste money on an appliance that can't do the job. Is there an immersion blender out there that can do it? Does it need any special features or attachments? Or should I just stick with way I've been doing it?

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Comments (16)

mustangs81
13 years ago
I use a stick blender to puree the vegetables in the pot and I am pleased with the results.

I don't have anything fancy, just a Kitchen Aid 9 speed.
Annie Deighnaugh
13 years ago
Yes an immersion blender is what you need and they do a great job. Cook your soup until veggies are tender then stick the "boat motor" as emeril calls it in the pot and you can make it as chunky or as smooth as you like. They aren't very expensive and they are very easy to clean.
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Well, if all that's in the soup is potatoes, onions, carrots and water, I think most the flavor is going to be added via the soup, so you'd better go for it. However, I think it's going to taste like a can of soup with some vegetables added. As long as your family likes that, it's all good. It would be faster, though, to just cook the vegetables on the stovetop and stir in the can of soup. You still have prep time for the vegetables so aren't saving anything there and it's only 20 minutes or so for the vegetables to cook. I also live "in the boonies" in Michigan, but I always basic ingredients. I learned when the kids were still at home that it's the only way to guarantee a meal when necessary, keep a well stocked pantry! Annie
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User
13 years ago
Yep I have the Cusinart and just finished doing my potato soup. I actually do it in the pot and still leave some of it chunky , like I did with the vegetable soup the other night and pureed the butternut squash soup in the pot till it was smooth. Tonight with the potato soup I removed some of the potatoes to puree them and then added them back in so that there were some cubes of potato still in evidence. Either way the stick blended is fantastic !
azzalea
13 years ago
Just be careful when you buy one, that it can be used in HOT mixtures. I bought one once, and when I got it home, and read the instructions, it said it wasn't to be used in hot stuff--and they meant it--I ignored that instruction, and it died the first time I used it.
Nunyabiz1
13 years ago
My wife bought me a nice Bamix Professional Immersion Blender a couple years ago when they were on sale. Works great for soups.
jadeite
13 years ago
Another KA stick owner here. I find it does a decent job of most soups and sauces. If I want a really smooth puree, I use my regular blender, then strain through a fine sieve.

Cheryl
dcarch7 d c f l a s h 7 @ y a h o o . c o m
13 years ago
If you have the budget, consider one of those high-end high power blenders.

They will make true smooth puree out from uncooked vegetables, in addition, the rotational power is so high, the puree actually gets hot by the friction created from the rotation, and you will have cooked soup/puree right in the blender.

dcarch
localeater
13 years ago
Stick blender, nothing fancy, I think it is a Braun. I love it. My kids won't eat spaghetti if the sauce has any lumps, stick blender to the rescue! And, they are not babies either two big tween boys.
Not complaining though, they love all their greens!
colleenoz
13 years ago
One thing I was told by an appliance technician, is that you should not tap the stick blender on the side of the pot to dislodge any clinging puree. After heavy use the motor is hot and the (plastic) bushings the keep the shaft straight in its housing are warm, and tapping makes the metal shaft move back and forth and slightly deform the softened bushings. Enough of this and the shaft will not be held straight in the housing as it rotates and could destroy the motor.
cj47
13 years ago
I've had a few stick blenders, and the really cheap ones don't do as good of a job as the ones that cost a little more. I have a Kitchenaid that does a pretty good job, it's got an adjustable speed and I can start it slow and then ramp it up as the vegetables break up. When I make a smooth veg soup, I boil the vegetables in the chicken broth, then puree in the pot. If I have enough broth in the soup, it will come out very smooth.

Cj
John Liu
13 years ago
Only tip is, remove some of the liquid first, then purÃ¯Â¿Â½e, because if the result is too thick you can add liquid to thin it, but not the reverse.

I used to use my stand blender, now I use the stick blender almost exclusively. Way more convenient.
lov2garden
Original Author
13 years ago
Yayyyy! Thanks everybody! I really appreciate the tips and the brand info. I'm buying me a stick blender for Christmas!
lpinkmountain
13 years ago
A stick blender changed my life!! I am not that fussy about food appearance, I can always strain it if I want it extra fine, but I use just my stick blender for everything now. Gave away my regular blender because I wasn't using it. I even do smoothies with the stick blender. Thanks to Johnliu I have a Cuisinart for everything else. They aren't very heavy duty so yes, watch them on the banging and heat, both baddies, so cool your mixtures before pureeing and also keep the blender from banging on the pot bottom or sides.
sally2_gw
13 years ago
Another stick blender user here. I know you don't need more convincing, but I just want to thank Colleen and John for their great tips! I know I've been guilty of tapping the blender on the side of the pot - it's just a natural thing to do, so I'll stop. I love the idea of reserving some of the liquid for adding later. Thanks, John.

Sally
eahamel
13 years ago
I'm with everyone else - cook the veggies in broth or water, and use a stick blender when they're cooked.

I also like to saute onions, brown them, and add to soups and cook with the veggies. They add a lot of flavor.
colleenoz
13 years ago
I use a silicone spatula to scrape off any puree back into the pot.

Is there an easier way to make pureed soup?

Comments (16)

mustangs81

Annie Deighnaugh

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Is there an easier way to make pureed soup?

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