Benable — create shareable lists of things you recommend!
E.g., products you love, local businesses, travel recs - you can add anything to a Benable list!

I Finally Replaced My Clunky Blender and Soup Night Got So Much Easier

Purple Star emoji 35 items
Transferring hot soup from pot to blender in batches was my least favorite kitchen task. The splashing, the burns, the lid that never sealed right. If you make soup more than twice a month and dread the cleanup, this is every tool that turned my soup...
Sections
5
 
 
 
 
 

Immersion Blenders That Actually Blend Soup Right in the Pot

I used to pour boiling butternut squash soup into a countertop blender and pray the lid held. One explosion on the ceiling later, I switched to stick blenders and never looked back.

 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Grab this if you hate being tethered to an outlet while leaning over a hot pot. No cord means you can actually move around, and the variable speed kept me from splattering tomato bisque on my white shirt.
KitchenAid® Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Use this when you want something powerful but don't want to spend a lot. I blended a full pot of potato leek soup in under a minute. For anyone just getting into homemade soups, start here.
Mueller Ultra-Stick 500 Watt 9-Speed Immersion Multi
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Switch to this if your old immersion blender leaves chunks no matter how long you blend. The bell-shaped head actually pulls food into the blade instead of pushing it away. My split pea soup was finally smooth.
Braun MultiQuick 5 Two-Speed Hand Blender
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Keep this one around for weeknight soups when you just need something simple and reliable. Two speeds, easy to clean, and it fits in my utensil drawer. Had mine for three years now.
Cuisinart Smart Stick Hand Blender
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Snag this if you're on a tight budget but still want to stop transferring hot liquids between containers. It handled my chunky minestrone without any drama. Honestly surprised at how well it works for the price.
Hamilton Beach Immersion Blender, 260 W 2-Speed Hand
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Try this if you want one tool that does immersion blending AND hand mixing. I use the blender attachment for soups and the whisk for whipped cream the same night. Saves so much drawer space.
Ninja Foodi Power Mixer System, 750PW
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Pair this with any deep pot and you're set. The blending arm is long enough that I don't have to tilt the pot at a weird angle anymore. My wrist used to ache after blending. Not with this one.
2-Speed Hand Blender - Empire Red

Pots That Make Blending Inside Them Actually Work

Blending in a flimsy thin pot is a recipe for scratches and wobbling. I ruined one nonstick pot before I figured out which ones can handle a spinning blade inside them.

 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Use this for any soup you plan to blend directly in the pot. The enamel coating doesn't scratch when the immersion blender touches the bottom, and it holds heat so your soup stays hot while you blend.
Lodge Cast Iron 6 Quart Enameled Dutch Oven, Indigo
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Grab this if your current pot is too shallow and soup flies everywhere when you blend. The tall sides on this one kept my carrot ginger soup contained. No more wiping down the stovetop after.
Cuisinart Chef'S Classic Stainless Steel 10 Qt. Stockpot W
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Perfect for anyone who batch cooks soup on Sundays. I make a double recipe of chicken tortilla soup and blend half of it right in here. The nonstick cleans up in seconds.
T-fal 12 Quart Non-Stick Dishwasher Safe Stockpot
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Try this if you're tired of cheap pots with hot spots that burn your soup before you even get to blend it. Even heating means no scorched bottom layer. Worth every penny.
Tramontina, Sauce Pot, 6-Quart, Tri-Ply Clad Stainless Steel
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Keep this around for bigger batches. I made French onion soup for eight people and blended it right in the pot without switching to anything else. Sturdy handles make it easy to move when it's full.
Calphalon 8 Quart Tri-Ply Stainless Steel Stock Pot with Lid
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Snag this if you want something that looks nice enough to bring straight to the table. I blend my tomato basil soup in it and serve from the same pot. One less dish to wash, which is the whole point.
Rachael Ray 8-Quart Covered Porcelain Enamel Non-Stick
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Use this for smaller weeknight soups when a big stockpot feels like overkill. Fits two servings of broccoli cheddar perfectly. The immersion blender reaches the bottom without any awkward angling.
Farberware Classic Series 4 qt Covered Stainless Steel

Splatter Guards and Lids That Keep Your Kitchen Clean

Even with the right blender, you can still end up with beet soup on your ceiling if you're not careful. These are the things that finally stopped me from repainting my kitchen walls.

 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Hold this over the pot while you blend and it catches everything. I learned this trick after a turmeric soup incident that stained my white countertop. Wish I'd known about this years ago.
Bergkoch Grease Splatter Screen for Frying Pan
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Grab this one if you want something sturdier with a handle that doesn't get hot. I rest it on top of the pot with a gap for the blender stick and it blocks 90% of the splashing.
OXO Good Grips Splatter Screen
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Use this to scrape down the sides of the pot between blending pulses. Chunks hide along the edges, and if you don't push them toward the blade, you end up with lumpy soup and a false sense of accomplishment.
Rachael Ray Cooking Utensils in Kitchen Tools & Gadgets
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Try this if your current screen warps in heat. This one stays flat and actually fits over my biggest stockpot. No more holding a floppy mesh disc while hot soup pops at your hand.
Progressive PL8 STANDING SPLATTER SCREEN PL8-4020
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Toss this right on the pot as a lid with a small opening for the blender shaft. Silicone grips the rim so it doesn't slide around. Saved my favorite sweater from a red pepper soup disaster.
Silicone Splatter Guards for Safe Cooking
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Keep a couple of these near the stove. Holding a hot pot steady while you blend with the other hand is tricky, and regular towels slip. These grip the handles and your hands stay burn-free.
OXO Good Grips Silicone Pot Holder, Oat
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Swap your metal ladle for this one. Metal ladles clang against the immersion blender and scratch your pots. Nylon is quiet, gentle on surfaces, and scoops soup just as well.
Chef Craft Select Nylon Soup Cooking Ladle, 12 inch, Red

Ingredients That Blend Into Smooth Soup Without a Fight

Some ingredients fight the blender no matter what you do. Stringy celery, fibrous sweet potatoes. These are the ones I reach for when I want silky soup without straining anything.

 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Use this as your base if you want soup that blends smooth without adding cream. I pour in a full carton with roasted veggies and the immersion blender turns it into something that tastes like a restaurant made it.
Swanson Chicken Broth, 32 oz Carton
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Toss a handful of these flakes into any blended soup to thicken it without flour or roux. My potato soup went from watery to creamy in about ten seconds. Nobody has ever guessed the shortcut.
Idahoan Buttery Homestyle Mashed Potatoes, 4 oz Pouch
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Keep a carton of this in the pantry for nights when you want soup but don't want to roast a whole squash. I blend in some extra roasted garlic and fresh herbs and call it homemade. No shame.
Pacific Foods Organic Butternut Squash Soup, 32 oz Carton
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Pour this into any curry-style soup before blending and it goes from thin to rich instantly. My Thai coconut soup tasted like the one from my favorite restaurant. The full-fat version is the move.
Thai Kitchen Unsweetened Coconut Milk, 13.66 fl oz Can
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Grab this if your soups taste flat even after seasoning. One spoonful dissolved in the pot before blending adds depth that salt alone can't. I put it in every single batch now.
Better Than Bouillon Roasted Garlic Base
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Sprinkle this into black bean or sweet potato soup before you blend. It rounds out the flavor in a way that makes people ask what your secret ingredient is. A little goes a long way.
McCormick Kosher Ground Cumin, 1.5 oz Bottle
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Try adding cooked ditalini after you blend the base. It gives you texture contrast so the whole bowl isn't just one note of smooth. My kids actually eat their soup now because of the tiny pasta pieces.
Viral Ditalini Pasta Recipe

Storage Containers for Freezing Leftover Blended Soup

Making a big batch of soup only pays off if you can actually store it without freezer burn or leaky lids. I lost an entire batch of lobster bisque to a bad container seal before I figured this out.

 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Use these if you've ever had a container lid pop off in the freezer and found soup ice everywhere. The latching lids actually seal. I stack them three high and nothing has ever leaked.
Rubbermaid Brilliance Storage Containers
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Grab these for single-serving portions of soup. I fill them three-quarters full, freeze them, and grab one for lunch. Leave headspace or the glass will crack. Learned that one the hard way.
Ball, Mason Jars, 16 oz, Regular Mouth Pint with Lids
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Pour blended soup right into these molds and freeze it into perfect blocks. Pop them out and store in bags. Defrosting two cups of soup for a quick dinner is so much faster than thawing a giant container.
Customer reviews for Souper Cubes 1/2 Cup Silicone
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Keep a stack of these for when you make more soup than expected. They're cheap enough that I don't stress if one goes missing, and they survive the freezer without cracking. Practical over fancy.
Glad Food Storage Bags & Containers
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Switch to these if you're tired of plastic absorbing tomato stains. My tomato soup turned every plastic container orange. Glass doesn't stain, doesn't smell, and goes straight from freezer to microwave.
Pyrex Simply Store Glass Bakeware Set, 14 Piece
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Snag a bulk pack of these for portioning out soup for the whole week. I label them with masking tape and a marker. They're lightweight, stackable, and I don't feel bad tossing one if it gets funky.
Galashield, Deli Containers with Lids, 16 oz, 24 Set
 
Anastasia Wells profile picture
Try vacuum sealing flat bags of soup if your freezer is packed. They freeze flat, stack like books, and the soup lasts months without freezer burn. My chest freezer went from chaos to organized overnight.
FoodSaver Quart Zipper Vacuum Sealer Bags