Cuisinart Soup Maker Plus | Saute, Cook, Stir, Blend | Silver | SSB3U

Product Information

Everyone loves a nice bowl of soup, and whether you prefer it chunky or super smooth, the best soup maker will prep perfect soup in no time. If you’re done with watching over a pot for hours on end, our recommended soup makers will revolutionise your preparation process and likely produce some of the best soup you’ve ever had. The Expert Prep Pro is our top of the range food processor, combining the very best performance, with total versatility. It comes with a wide range of accessories, for all kinds of food prep and includes safe and handy storage cases, for the blades and discs. As well as soup programmes, it makes sauces, taking the effort out of béchamel and cooked dips, while its ice-crushing programme can be adapted for fresh lemonade and other drinks. A detachable power cord makes for simple storage, while a self-cleaning programme removes the need for scrubbing.

However, what it does have to justify its price is a sleek touchscreen, four automatic cooking programmes and the choice to cook manually by varying time and temperature – and a slow blending function that means you won’t accidentally get purée when you wanted chunky and rustic. This is a real multi-tasker. The all-in-one model can make chunky and smooth soups, with ice crushing and sous vide modes too. We love the auto-clean function, which took just five minutes to leave the jug looking sparkling. We test each machine by making a bowl of tomato soup using the standard smooth soup setting, followed by Thai butternut squash soup on the standard chunky setting. We taste each soup to make sure all the ingredients are well-cooked and take a temperature reading to ensure that it's hot enough to serve. There’s also a manual mode with temperatures ranging from 40˚C to 99˚C and an eight-hour timer. Plus, for those who dread cleaning up after a soup-making session, it’s a dream. All the integral electronics mean that neither the two-litre glass jar or lid are dishwasher-safe so instead, there’s a self-cleaning programme to do the hard work for you, as well as a slim brush for scrubbing away stubborn debris.Simply fill to the level required, select the two, three or four portion size using the dedicated button and it’ll adapt the cooking time to suit the volume. Automated keep warm after cooking is handy but even cleverer is the option to reheat, so it’ll work around a busy lifestyle.

Silicone feet stop the processor from moving around the worktop, even when mixing heavier ingredients like dough The "pusher" is a complex shape and also difficult to clean, especially in the dishwasher as it traps water inside the body of the pusher. A litre of soup is around three servings, so a soup maker that can accommodate over this should make a good batch. If you plan to make a lot of soup, opt for 1.4 litres or more. If you’re making soup for one, something up to a litre is ideal. What other features should I look for? A soup maker is essentially a blender with a heating element in its base. There are two main types: those that look like a traditional blender and those that have a blade suspended from their lid. Both types perform well but the former offers more versatility, as you can use it as a blender too. Most models can also blend cold foods. For more control, you can find soup makers with pause buttons that allow you to add ingredients, and stir functions so you can prevent ingredients from being overcooked.Differing from our top two scorers, this soup maker's blade is suspended from the top rather than the base. It has smooth, medium, and chunky soup settings, as well as separate functions for smoothies and milkshakes. All this earnt it full marks for its flavoursome and silky smooth tomato soup, and the chunky soup was tasty too. Cleaning: Add warm water and detergent to jug, set to 2 mins on simmer setting, then blend on 'speed 1' for a further 1 min

If that sounds like just what you’ve been looking for, it pays to make sure that your soup maker has really earned its place on the worktop. The best soup makers need to be simple to clean and easy enough to operate that you don’t have to pore over an instruction manual every time you’re in the mood for chowder. Think about how many people you’re likely to be serving. Generally speaking, 400ml is one portion of soup and all the models on our list have a maximum capacity of 1.6L or above, meaning you can make enough for at least four people. Programs Most models come with functions for both smooth and chunky soups. The soup maker will cook the ingredients first, then either blend until smooth or leave as chunky. Other pre-programmed settings to look out for include: As well as cooking ingredients, soup makers can blend them into a smooth or chunky soup, so you can get just the texture you like. Plus, with no need for multiple pots and pans, they are a helpful, space-saving option. Things to consider when buying a soup maker SizeNot only will the Expert Prep Pro save you endless time in the kitchen, it will also give you perfect results. Use it to slice and dice for hearty stews and casseroles, grate and spiralise for beautiful salads, mix dips, sauces, cake batters and fillings and even doughs for breads and pizzas. We also recommend wiping the inside of the jug with a warm soapy cloth – but keep your fingers clear of the blades. How we test