5 Annoying Kitchen Habits That Are Ruining Your Soup

Whether I’m making a spicy gumbo or creamy tomato bisque, fall is just another name for soup season in my book. There are so many easy soup recipes out there, but even the best-laid plans can go horribly wrong with annoying kitchen habits like lazy ingredient prep and haphazard blending. 

I’ve let these common soup-making mistakes simmer for too long — it’s time to learn how to make soup the right way. And it all starts with having the proper kitchen essentials, such as a powerful immersion blender or silicone cooking utensils. If you are constantly meal prepping soup or ready to finally make your first batch, skip these annoying kitchen habits to make the best soups, stews, and bisques.

Best Kitchen Tools for Making Soup

Prepping Ingredients as You Go

Ingredient prep is key, especially during soup season. If you want to minimize your cooking time, ingredients should be washed, cut, and ready to go before you stir anything. Wash your produce in a salad spinner to speed up the drying process, or chop them all at once in a food processor or vegetable chopper. You can even prep ahead and store your mise en place in the fridge until it’s time to cook.

Cooking Protein and Vegetables Together

As easy as it would be, the best soup recipes don’t tell you to throw all of the ingredients in the pot at the same time and walk away. You may have to roast vegetables in the oven, sear meat on the stove, and caramelize onions all at the same time. Having solid cookware and reliable appliances can help the process along, including crisping chicken in an air fryer or stir-frying vegetables in a cast iron skillet.

Working With the Wrong Pot

While there may be many steps in my go-to soup recipes, I try to cook as many things as I can in the same pot, from browning chicken thighs to softening the onions and garlic. So I don’t reach for any old pot — only my trusty Dutch oven, durable stainless steel stockpot, or speedy pressure cooker can get the job done. A pressure cooker is great in a pinch, whereas an enameled cast iron dish is conveniently oven-safe, and a stainless steel pot is easy to clean.

Using Flimsy Tools

Soup can be thick and heavy, so the last thing you want is a tool that’s not up to the task. I’ve stocked my kitchen with wood and silicone kitchen utensils — with the exception of a sturdy stainless steel ladle — because they’re heat-safe, durable, and won’t shed microplastics into my food. I use a wooden spoon to gently scrape up all the good stuff at the bottom of my Dutch oven and a silicone spatula to brown chicken and cook off vegetables.

Blending Improperly

Not all soups need to be blended, but those that do require a sturdy, powerful blender to achieve that smooth, velvety consistency. If your blender has a weak motor or dull blades, trade it in for a high-powered Vitamix or one of the best immersion blenders out there. A blender will be quick and efficient, while a handheld immersion blender will take up far less space and save you some dish-washing time. 

While it can be tempting to take shortcuts while making soup, the small details really matter when it comes to making a delicious bowl. Small changes, such as investing in chef-recommended non-toxic cookware or prepping and storing ingredients in glass food containers, will make soup season even more flavorful.