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Soup Season Kitchen Gear: Slow Cookers, Dutch Ovens & Prep
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items I put together the pots, slow cookers and prep tools I would buy for a cold-weather soup routine, from a budget Dutch oven to the hand blender that makes squash soup silky. Most of these are everyday Target, Walmart and Amazon finds, so you can start...
This is the one I point budget cooks to for braises and no-knead bread. The cast iron holds an even low heat and the enamel wipes clean. Worth buying if you want a Dutch oven that does not cost as much as a Le Creuset.
Mueller DuraCast 6 Qt Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven
A roomy pot for a family-sized batch of soup or pot roast. The wide loop handles are easy to grip with oven mitts. Pick it over a thin stockpot if you start soup on the stove and finish it in the oven.
Tramontina Enameled Cast Iron 6.5-Qt Round
I would start with this if you have never owned enameled cast iron and want to test the habit first. It browns meat well and goes from stovetop to oven. Get it for stews, then upgrade later if you cook with it every week.
Amazon Basics Enameled Cast Iron Dutch Oven Pot
A good fit if the slow cooker lives on your counter and has to look nice. It has preset functions and a digital timer for soup season. Grab it if you want a programmable cooker that does not look like a plain appliance.
Beautiful 6 Qt Programmable Slow Cooker, Rose by Drew
This is the plain, no-frills pick for someone who wants a cheap pot of chili or beans on a Sunday. The removable crock goes in the dishwasher. Go for it if you only slow cook a few times a season and do not need presets.
Mainstays 6 Quart Oval Slow Cooker, with Stainless Steel
A larger multicooker for big batches of stew or chili when guests are coming. It sears, slow cooks and steams in a single pot. Choose it if you want to skip the extra skillet and cook the whole meal in one vessel.
Ninja 8-in-1 PossibleCooker Plus 7.5 Qt Multi-Cooker
I recommend this for anyone who is tired of microwaving leftover soup at work. You plug it in at your desk and it warms the food slowly in its own container. Grab it if your office has a line at the microwave every noon.
Crock-Pot Electric Lunch Box, Portable Food Warmer
I would choose this one if you want finer control over texture, from chunky to silky soup. The variable speed trigger handles thick purees well. Get it if you make soup often and like to adjust the consistency yourself.
Variable Speed Corded Hand Blender - Black Matte
A sturdy ladle with a handle that stays comfortable and does not slip when the pot is full. The deep bowl fills a bowl in one or two scoops. Pick one up if you are still serving soup with a mug or a serving spoon.
OXO Good Grips Stainless Steel Soup Ladle
These are the bowls I would buy for everyday soup because they are light, stack neatly and resist chips. The 18 ounce size holds a full serving. Go for a set if your current bowls are too shallow for chili.
Corelle® Winter Frost White 18-ounce Cereal Bowls, 6-pack
A tough vacuum food jar for soup, oatmeal or stew on a cold job site or hike. The steel body survives drops and the lid doubles as a bowl. Get it if you want a food jar that can handle rough days.
Classic Legendary Food Jar + Spork | 14 Oz
I bake cornbread in this to go with a pot of chili. The wedge shapes give crisp edges and you can serve them like slices. Get it if you want a quick side that makes soup night feel complete.
Lodge Pre-Seasoned Cast Iron Wedge Pan, 8 Wells
I like the clip-tight lid on this one for hauling chili or pulled pork to a potluck without a spill. It cooks on a simple low and high setting. Buy it if your slow cooker travels more than it stays on the counter.
Hamilton Beach Stay or Go Portable Slow Cooker
The stick blender I would choose for smooth squash or tomato soup made right in the pot. The wand is easy to guide and the blades go through cooked vegetables quickly. Grab it if you skip soup because transferring it to a blender is a mess.
Buy Braun Hand Blenders Online
A carton I keep in the pantry so a pot of soup can start without simmering bones. It has a clean flavor that works in noodle soup and rice. Pick up a few if soup night often happens on short notice.
Organic Free Range Chicken Broth
I like the locking lid on this one for carrying soup or dip to a potluck or tailgate. It has three heat settings and a roomy crock. Pick it if your slow cooker travels in the car as often as it sits on the counter.
The Pioneer Woman® Melody 6 Quart Portable Slow Cooker
A big stainless stockpot I would use for soup, stock and pasta when the slow cooker is too small. It heats quickly and the lid fits snugly. Pick it if you cook for a crowd or like to make a pot for the week.
Cuisinart Chef's Classic Stainless-Steel Stockpot
I freeze soup flat in these so a block stacks in the freezer and thaws quickly. Label the bag with the date before it goes in. Grab a box if you want an easy way to save leftovers for busy weeks.
Ziploc, Freezer Food Storage Bags, Grip 'n Seal
A chopper with interchangeable blades that dices onions and carrots for soup in seconds. It catches the pieces in a container so the counter stays clean. Buy it if prep is what keeps you from making soup on weeknights.
Mueller Pro-Series 10-in-1 Vegetable Chopper
A small chopper for mincing garlic, herbs and onions for a soup base. The pulse control gives you chunky or fine. Pick it up if you want a quick prep helper without hauling out a full processor.
KitchenAid 3.5 Cup Food Chopper KFC3516ER
I use a pot like this for chili, stew and braised short ribs that simmer for hours. The enameled cast iron holds even heat and the lid keeps moisture in. Pick it if you want one big pot that goes from the stovetop to the oven.
7 Qt. Chef's Classic™ Enameled Cast Iron Round
A basic, sharp chef's knife for chopping the onions, carrots and celery that start most soups. The non-slip handle is easy to hold with wet hands. Buy it if your soup prep is done with a dull knife.
Mercer Culinary Millennia 8-Inch Chef's Knife, Black Handle
A carton that lets you start soup without simmering bones for hours. I keep a few in the pantry for noodle soup, rice and sauces. Grab a few if soup night often happens on short notice.
SWANSON S 100% Natural Chicken Broth, 32 oz Carton
A heavy ladle with a comfortable handle that does not slip when the pot is full. The deep bowl fills a bowl in one or two scoops. Pick one up if you are serving soup with a mug or a serving spoon.
KitchenAid Stainless Steel Ladle
Disposable liners that make cleanup after a pot of chili or pulled pork as simple as tossing the bag. They fit most oval and round slow cookers. Grab a box if scrubbing baked-on crock is why your slow cooker stays in the cabinet.
Slow Cooker Liners FAQs