If you want to cook and blend soups regularly in one appliance, choose a heated blender. If you already cook the ingredients in a saucepan, a standard blender suitable for the task or a hand blender may be enough. A food processor is worth considering mainly if you’ll also use its other functions. Before blending anything hot, check the instructions for the exact model, then compare the quantities you prepare, the space you have available and how easy it is to clean.
If you’d like to combine cooking and blending, a heated blender is worth considering. According to UFC-Que Choisir, it can cook the ingredients before blending the soup; with a standard blender, you cook them separately.
To blend soups, sauces or purées after cooking, you can compare a jug blender with a hand blender. A jug blender means transferring the ingredients, while a hand blender lets you blend them in a container, as long as you follow the instructions—particularly when working with hot ingredients.
A food processor may be a good choice if you expect to use its other attachments regularly. However, UFC-Que Choisir points out that a food processor’s versatility doesn’t mean it excels at every task. Check the blender function separately.
Your choice depends first on which part of the process you want the appliance to handle: blending ingredients that are already cooked, or cooking them as well. The space you have available and the other recipes you plan to make will help you choose between the different styles.
Consider it: for smoothies, sauces and cooked ingredients that you want to blend in a dedicated jug.
Bear in mind: cooking is a separate step, and whether you can use it with hot liquids depends on the model.
Consider it: if you want to cook and blend soup in the same appliance.
Bear in mind: cooking cycles and preparation volumes vary by model, and the lid generally stays closed during the programme.
Consider it: if you already cook in a pan and want to save space.
Bear in mind: you need to hold it while blending, and usage restrictions vary by model.
Consider it: if chopping, grating or kneading are also part of your regular cooking.
Bear in mind: you’ll have more parts to store, and the blender attachment may not be suitable for hot soup.
| Criterion | What to check | Who it matters to |
|---|---|---|
| Integrated cooking | Check that the appliance cooks and blends, then look at its programmes and minimum and maximum capacities. | I make soup regularly and would rather not use a saucepan followed by a separate appliance to blend it; around 33% of consumers put this all-in-one convenience first. |
| Hot ingredients | Read the instructions for the exact model: permitted liquids, filling limits and guidance on the lid. | For cooked soups or sauces, I want to know whether I can blend them without waiting for them to cool; around 27% of consumers put this compatibility first. |
| Other kitchen functions | Think about the tasks you’ll do regularly and which attachments are included; assess the blender function separately. | If I also plan to chop or grate, I want an appliance whose different functions I’ll actually use; around 20% of consumers prioritise this versatility. |
| Storage and cleaning | Compare how much space the appliance needs, which parts need washing and the model’s cleaning instructions. | I want an appliance that’s easy to store and clean after frequent use; for around 20% of consumers, this is the main consideration. |
Suitability varies by model, and the jug’s apparent material isn’t enough to determine whether it can handle heat. Philips says in its FAQ that the blenders it covers are for cold or room-temperature liquids only, while Kenwood and Bosch market some of their heat-resistant jugs for hot soup.
Check the instructions for the model you’re considering before pouring in hot ingredients. If hot liquids aren’t permitted, let the soup cool or choose an appliance specifically designed for them.
Minimum capacity matters too, especially for smaller portions: some models need a certain amount of liquid to work as intended.
Compare your usual portions with the minimum and maximum quantities specified for soup, rather than looking only at the jug’s capacity.
A blending function doesn’t guarantee that the appliance is heat-resistant. For example, Bosch recommends the blender attachment for the MCM3201B food processor for smoothies and cold drinks, while some ThermoSafe attachments are advertised for hot soup.
Check which uses are permitted for the specific attachment, whether it’s compatible with your food processor and which parts are actually included in the configuration you’re considering.
Just because it’s a hand blender doesn’t mean it can be used in any saucepan or with every ingredient. The SEB instructions cited for one Ultra Compact model specifically prohibit using it in a saucepan on the hob.
Check the restrictions for your model. To limit splashing, immerse the blending foot before switching it on, and switch it off before lifting it out of the mixture.
The Soup & Co range is an example of a heated blender designed for hot and cold preparations.
Its Ultra Compact hand blenders are worth considering if you want a space-saving appliance for recipes such as soup.
The brand offers, among other things, a blender attachment for certain food processors, rather than a standalone appliance in this configuration.
Suitability for hot ingredients varies between its dedicated blenders and its food processor attachments.
The Blender Power 3 is an example of a jug blender that blends ingredients without cooking them.
These hand blenders and jug blenders are suitable for recipes such as soups, sauces, purées and smoothies, depending on the uses listed for each model. If you want to blend hot ingredients, check the instructions for your chosen model first. These appliances are not described here as heated blenders.
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Worth considering for blending soups and sauces, with a whisk and chopper for other recipes.
The product description lists a 700 ml beaker and a 500 ml chopper. It limits continuous use to one minute, followed by a one-minute rest.
Before using it with hot soup or in a saucepan, check the instructions for this model.
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Worth a look if you want to blend soups or purées and have attachments for other recipes too.
The listed configuration includes two speeds, a 500 ml chopper and an 800 ml beaker.
Before blending hot ingredients or using it in a cooking pan, check the instructions.
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Worth considering if you prefer to blend smoothies, sauces or soups in a jug on the worktop.
The product listing specifies app control, Wi-Fi connectivity and a self-cleaning cycle.
Although the listing mentions hot preparations, check the instructions for the permitted temperatures and fill levels before adding hot soup.
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Worth a look if you make smoothies or sauces in a jug one day and individual portions the next.
The product description lists a 2 L jug, with a 1,9 L limit for liquids, and two 680 ml cups. The removable parts are listed as dishwasher-safe on the top rack.
Check the instructions before considering it for blending hot soup.
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Worth considering for blending small quantities of sauces, smoothies or soups with a hand blender.
The product description specifies one speed, a detachable blending foot and a 600 ml plastic beaker. It recommends limiting continuous use to one minute and letting the motor cool between uses.
For hot liquids or blending in a saucepan, follow the instructions.
No. Hot ingredients are only suitable if the specific model is designed for them. Philips says the blenders covered by its FAQ should only be used with cold or room-temperature liquids. By contrast, Kenwood and Bosch market some heat-resistant jugs as suitable for hot soup. Follow the instructions for filling the jug and securing the lid too.
Yes, if the model is designed to do both: UFC-Que Choisir describes heated blenders that cook and then blend soup. Check the permitted quantities and available programmes, especially if you make small portions or want to change the recipe during the cycle.
It depends on the model’s instructions and the state of the saucepan. The SEB instructions we consulted prohibit using the blender in a saucepan on the hob. To limit splashing, follow the instructions on how to blend and when to remove the blending foot from the mixture.