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How to clean a soup maker – dos and don’ts

Online Niel November 7, 2024

Many of us would happily eat soup every day of the year, but there’s no denying that fall and winter are prime seasons for soup consumption. And while soup makers are a great way to ditch canned supermarket soups in favor of homemade ones, you also need to know how to clean a soup maker to keep it delicious.

Whether you’re on the smooth or chunky side of the spectrum (I prefer a smooth soup, personally), the best soup makers will help you bring your favorite flavors to life. But a dirty soup maker can contaminate your food and even lead to persistent stains, ultimately affecting the machine’s long-term efficiency, so you need to know how to get it squeaky clean for your next soup.

Like Isabella Forgione, small appliance expert at AO.com, explains, “Cleaning your soup maker properly can help maintain its performance and extend its life, so it’s best to know how to clean it.” We’ve created the ultimate guide on how to clean a soup maker so you can keep those soups going all winter long.

What you will need

Lakeland 4 Piece Cleaning Brush Set

Washing liquid Eco Miniml 5L Refill

4 pieces cellulose sponge wipes

Step by step

1. Use the self-cleaning function, if available

Sometimes cleaning a soup maker is incredibly easy, thanks to the extra bells and whistles that come with more modern machines. And while this isn’t generally the case (especially if you have an old soup maker), you may be able to use a self-cleaning feature.

This time-saving feature allows you to press a button and let the machine do the hard work for you. Charles Cadman, Product Developer at Salter, says: “The Salter Digital Soup Maker has a ‘Mix/Clean’ function to remove stubborn stains. Simply add hot water to the stainless steel bowl up to the max line and select the cleaning function.’

However, if your soup maker doesn’t have a self-cleaning option – or you think it needs an extra helping hand to get 100% clean – you can follow the steps below.

Ninja Foodi HB150UK blender and soup maker next to sliced tomatoes on a wooden chopping board

(Image credit: Future PLC)

2. If not, turn it off and let it cool

If you’re going to clean a soup maker yourself, the first step is to make sure it’s safe to do so. After all, you don’t want to burn yourself – and we all know that electricity and water don’t mix.

That’s why Charles advises: “Before cleaning the soup maker, make sure the soup maker is turned off, unplugged and has cooled down after use.”

It may take a while for the soup maker to cool down, but it’s important to be patient and wait until it cools down to prevent any accidents.

3. Fill it with warm water and washing detergent

When the soup maker is turned off and cooled, you can then start cleaning it. Fortunately, this is very easy to do.

Isabella says: “After each use, fill the soup maker’s jug with warm water and a drop of washing up liquid. Wash it with a soft sponge and pay special attention to avoid immersing the electrical parts in water.

We cannot stress this strongly enough. Sinking it is the only thing you should sink not do when cleaning a soup maker, as this will damage and potentially break the appliance’s electrical components. Then you will have to buy another one.

Sage Super Q blender next to plate with fresh mint leaves

(Image credit: Future PLC)

4. Tackle tougher stains

While the steps above should be enough to get rid of tomato stains or the last remnants of blue cheese, there’s always the possibility that you’ll be greeted with more stubborn stains in your soup maker. If that’s the case, just repeat the process – but be a little more patient.

“Repeat the same process, but let your soup maker soak for half an hour,” says Isabella. “Avoid using any metal scrubbers and harsh chemicals like bleach. Finally, be sure to clean the blades, but do it carefully with a small brush.

In fact, it might be worth using a soft toothbrush (a clean one, of course) to make sure you don’t damage your blades or fingers in the process.

If the staining is caused by hard water in your area, you may need to descale your soup maker as well. To do this, you can clean with vinegar. Simply fill your soup maker with some white vinegar and let it work its magic for 30 minutes. Make sure to rinse afterwards – unless you want your next soup to have a vinegar twist!

5. Dry and store for later use

Once you’ve completed the above, you can then dry your soup maker clean with a clean towel – but don’t put the lid back on just yet. Experts advise you to keep the soup maker with a lid off as this allows any residual moisture to evaporate. This will ultimately extend the life of your soup maker and prevent mold from forming.

Then you can store it wherever you want – whether you want to store it on your kitchen worktop, store it in a kitchen cupboard or store it in utility room with other small appliances.

Remember to repeat this process after each use to keep it as clean as possible.

Frequently Asked Questions

How to clean the bottom of a burnt soup maker?

If you burned your soup in the soup maker, soaking it in a mixture of warm water and dishwashing liquid for 30 minutes should lift the burnt residue from the bottom.

If it still doesn’t work, you can try the same thing again, but use white vinegar instead of dishwashing liquid. The acidity of the vinegar should dissolve the stubborn residue – but you may need to scrub it gently with a brush to remove it completely.

If this still didn’t do the trick, make a paste of baking soda and warm water before cleaning the bottom of the soup maker. However, this should be a last resort as baking soda can sometimes be too abrasive for the appliance.

What not to put in a soup maker?

Although a soup maker can make everything from a broccoli and stilton soup to a pumpkin soup, there are some foods and items you should never put in a soup maker. This includes:

Store bought soups.
Raw meat.
Frozen vegetables.
Hard herbs.
Large pieces of food.

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How to clean a soup maker – dos and don’ts

Online Niel

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How to clean a soup maker – dos and don’ts

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