Soup - Can I use a hand blender?

dora37

All very useful posts. :beer:

Think I'll start with a couple of basic ones like Potato & Leek and French Onion.

It'll keep me busy tomorrow!

dora37

Just a quick question to you 'soupers' - when everything has been simmered, do I blend as it is or separate the vegetables from the liquid and blend separately and then mix back together?

Thanks

Ticklemouse

All at once - bung your blender in the lot and whizz away. No need to make unnecessary work anyway

grimelda

Stick blenders could have been made specifically with soup in mind. I never use a processor for that any more. I do, however, like my soups a bit lumpy.

Kenwood makes fantastic processors. I love my Kenwood. I don't think they are cheap, but I got one that does everything -- blends smoothies, slices and grates veges, whisks eggs, kneeds bread (haven't tried that out yet though). It's gorgeous but it cost me $au200 (about £80 or so).

Murtle

just blend eveything together, the veggies as they turn to puree/soup need the water to dilute them and the water becomes thicker and is the basis of the soup! I use a hand blender, I love it - so easy and I use all left over veggies. Blend it till it's smooth and then add gently chopped/blended chicken to OH (I'm a veggie he's not!)

Warm crusty bread from the bread maker and dinner is served!!!

dora37

Done it - not a soup virgin anymore!........... :rotfl:

I had a small amount of cauliflower and broccoli, so cut up with a few potatoes, added them to some sweated onion and poured in some chicken stock. Even though I say so myself it is quite tasty....and the children like it!

Now for my next question (last one honest!), what do you store your soup in bags/containers? Are there better things for storing liquids?

Thanks

Murtle

I freeze in bags as I only have a small freezer that's full to the brim, if there is more room then I use the plastic takeaway boxes. I also freeze in quantities that I need. some will be one portion, some will be two portions!!

HTH

annie-c

I burnt out my first stick blender after 2 years of making soup with it - it only cost £5 so worth every penny!

Something I do oocasionally is reserve a bit of the veg before blending, then add it back later so you get a chunky texture - good with potato and leek for example.

annie-c

Murtle, sorry to sound thick, but how do you freeze in bags?

Do you have to use a bag inside a container to stop it leaking everywhere?

dora37

annie-c wrote:

Murtle, sorry to sound thick, but how do you freeze in bags?

Do you have to use a bag inside a container to stop it leaking everywhere?

I just poured the soup into a measuring jug from the pan and then from the jug in to the bag and there was no spillage.

Hope that helps