7 Essentials for Soup Obsessives

There are people who like soup, and those for whom it makes the world go round. You’ve seen them at the office at lunch: They’re meticulously loading up their bowl with pretty liquids they brought from home, then unpacking garnishes from tiny reusable containers. They’re the ones who always have homemade stock in the freezer, maybe frozen into cubes, for use in stocks and stew recipes. Or maybe they just dump leftover chicken into microwaved cubes at the end of a long day and call it “dinner.” (A delicious dinner.)

These are soup people, and they are legion.

Here are gadgets for the soup people. It’s the stuff you shouldn’t be without, whether you’re a once-a-week soup person or a daily aficionado.

1. Le Creuset Soup Pot

A soup person must have something into which to put the soup. This Le Creuset option is as pretty as a picture, and fits neatly on the stovetop without crowding other gear. We love those big handles on the sides, making for easier transfer from oven to trivet. And there’s a lot to like about the fact that it’s dishwasher-safe.

2. Instant Pot Tuscan Lentil Soup Starter

Avid home cooks know that the difference between a fast weeknight home-cooked dinner and ordering pizza is the smart shortcut. Instant Pots make quick work of lentil soup, but caramelizing onions and sautéing spices for them can take a ton of time. Take advantage of fast-cooking lentils and an electric pressure cooker‘s power with this five-star-reviewed soup starter.

3. Walnut Wood Ladle

Too often, ladles are an afterthought. Maybe yours is the same plastic one you use for the kids’ punch in summertime, or a metal one that gets too hot. Get a dedicated soup ladle, like this gorgeous walnut one attending to form and function alike. It ages gracefully and looks gorgeous sitting out. To achieve the most comfortable hold, the wood is tumbled for an ultra-smooth finish. Handles taper for a natural grip. It’s just the thing to make you make more soup.

4. Souper Cubes Freezer Tray With Lid

We’ve all been there: You froze the stock in a giant plastic container, and now you only need a cup of it for a recipe. Don’t spend all your precious time melting it down only to refreeze most of it again. You’ll lose quality that way. Souper Cubes are genius because you can freeze in 1/2 cup or whole cup amounts; there are lines on the tray. A tight-fitting lid helps avoid freezer burn. This is such a smart way to rescue small amounts of stock, bone broth and even pasta sauce from being discarded.

5. Double Mezzaluna

When something seems daunting, time- or energy-wise, we tend not to do it. This applies as much to cooking as it does to everything else in our lives. And show us the soup recipe that doesn’t benefit from a sprinkling of chopped herbs! If you make the process of chopping them easy, aromatic and fast, you’ll be more likely to have them on hand and more likely to use them. Beechwood and stainless steel combine in this gorgeous double mezzaluna (Italian for “half moon”), which rocks back and forth and makes short work of garnishes.

6. Vitamix Professional Series 750 Heritage Blender

Engineered and made in the U S of A, this gold standard of blenders makes the act of cooking soup a snap. The Vitamix Pro 750 Heritage blender features a wide, squat metal base for better durability and ease of storage under cabinets. It can turn the toughest, stringiest kale into a silky elixir. Use it for some of the best smoothies you’ve ever had, or keep yourself in soup every single day.

7. Soup and Pasta Plate Set

Sometimes, particularly when hosting, it’s nice to have the option to serve soup or pasta in a wide-based bowl with a wide lip, like you might get at a restaurant. Particularly if your soup features a star element, like the black cod in this white miso number, let it shine in elegant porcelain. It’s just the thing to set you apart as a, er, soup-er-star.