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Testing: The Cuisinart Soup Maker
It can be daunting trying to outfit an entire kitchen, punctuated with many "do we really need this?" moments. To which I replied again and again: YES. To the automatic yogurt maker. To the pasta crank. To all of it. But even I was a little dubious about the Cuisinart Soup Maker & Blender.
Testing: The Cuisinart Soup Maker
It's been two months since my C's bridal shower, and we're only beginning to scale the terrain of stainless steel, enamel-coated cast-iron, renewable bamboo and fired porcelain that's growing in the basement like an untended tumor. (Need a muffin pan? I've got 11.) Since I do most of the cooking at Casa Erace, C graciously abdicated the registry throne, letting me load up the gift list with every kitchen gadget I could have ever wanted. In other words: dangerous business.
It can be daunting trying to outfit an entire kitchen, punctuated with many "do we really need this?" moments. To which I replied again and again: YES. To the automatic yogurt maker. To the pasta crank. To all of it. But even I was a little dubious about the Cuisinart Soup Maker & Blender. This contraption looks like a widemouth version of your everyday blender, but comes mounted on a pedestal that transfers heat to a metal plate in the base of the pitcher. This lets you sweat or saute aromatics and bring liquids to a speedy boil, simmer and purée all in one spot. But isn't that kind of extravagant? Was I really that lazy that I couldn’t make soup in a pot and transfer it to a blender?
No and yes, it turns out. If you’ve ever made puréed soups, you know it’s a pain in the ass ladling liquid into a blender in batches. It makes a mess, and if you don’t have the patience to wait for the soup to cool down before blending, then it make an even bigger mess. I once wound up with upper cabinets covered in tomato bisque, and with that in my mind, I added the Soup Maker & Blender to the registry and have been working it to death since the weather chilled out.
Even better than the convenience of not having to transfer pot-to-blender is the 900-watt motor. You know that velvety smooth consistency of restaurant soups? The four-speed motor gets your ingredients to that texture in 30 seconds. No need for a China caps, strainer, tamis or cheesecloth, all items I’ve used in the past to try to achieve that consistency in my soups.
It’s worth noting the Soup Maker also does everything a regular blender can do. That demon of a motor crushes ice the way you or I crush dry leaves in the street, making for the dreamiest smoothies and milkshakes. I’ve made eggplant dip and vinaigrettes with it, ice cream bases and marinades. This is one gift I definitely won’t be returning. Get your own at Williams-Sonoma; it's on sale now for $199.95.
Photo: williams-sonoma.com
Can I have copy of you kitchen gadget wish list...or atleast the gadgets that were worth it?— StephPlease- Sure, Steph. Here's what I've been using the most of lately in my humble kitchen, besides the Soup Maker:
-Kitchen Aid stand mixer
-BergHOFF induction cooktop
-AllClad grill pan
-Cuisinart 2-qt ice cream maker— AdamErace
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