When temperatures drop, nothing beats a bowl of homemade soup. But it can be hard to find time to peel, chop and simmer vegetables on a busy day. I've had a Lakeland Digital Soup Maker for a year, and it's transformed the way I make winter lunches – saving time, money and food waste along the way.
There are few things more comforting on a cold winter's day than a steaming bowl of homemade soup. It's warming, nourishing, wonderfully versatile and considerably cheaper than buying ready-made alternatives.
But let's be honest: when you're juggling work, family and everything else life throws at you, the thought of peeling, chopping, cooking and blending vegetables can feel like too much effort.
That's where the Lakeland Digital Soup Maker has become something of a kitchen hero.
Designed for people who want wholesome, homemade meals without spending hours at the hob, this clever countertop appliance cooks and blends everything in one jug. There's no need to stand over a saucepan, keep checking the temperature or get the blender out afterwards.
My routine couldn't be simpler. I raid the fridge or freezer, throw in whatever vegetables need using up, add water and a stock cube, select either the chunky or smooth setting on the touchscreen and let the machine do the hard work.
Just 33 minutes later, lunch is ready.
And unlike many supermarket alternatives, I know exactly what's gone into my soup – with no need for artificial additives or preservatives.
What soups can you make in the Lakeland Digital Soup Maker?
The short answer is: almost anything.
I've already made mushroom, tomato, minestrone and butternut squash soup, as well as plenty of combinations depending on what's lurking in the fridge.
My absolute favourite, though, is what I call 'bottom of the veg box soup'.
A forgotten half cabbage, a couple of carrots and a swede? In they go. A leftover leek and a few sweet potatoes? Perfect. Rather than letting vegetables go to waste, I turn them into a delicious homemade lunch.
All you need is your choice of vegetables, water and a stock cube. I often throw in butterbeans, lentils or pearl barley, too, for a heartier, more filling winter soup.
It's particularly satisfying knowing that something which might otherwise have ended up in the bin can become a delicious family meal.
The machine is incredibly straightforward to use. A clear countdown timer shows exactly how long is left, while the removable measuring cup in the lid allows you to add herbs, spices or a splash of cream during cooking to adjust the flavour.
It's the sort of thoughtful design I've come to expect from Lakeland. In fact, my kitchen is already full of its products.
How much soup can it make?
With a 1.5-litre Tritan jug, the Digital Soup Maker comfortably feeds our family of four people, with a couple of extra bowlfuls if someone wants more, making it ideal for family meals.
And I've found if everyone’s schedules don’t quite align, the automatic Keep Warm function holds the soup at the perfect temperature for up to six hours — a small detail that makes a big difference in real life.
Six automatic programmes, a sleek digital interface and included starter recipes make this a genuinely versatile bit of kit.
Given that we were buying tubs of soup for £3.75 for 600ml it didn't take many weeks for me to save more than the £79.99 it costs.
How much soup does the Lakeland Soup Maker make?
The 1.5-litre Tritan jug is a generous size, comfortably making enough soup for our family of four, with a couple of extra bowlfuls if anyone fancies seconds.
One feature I've particularly appreciated is the automatic Keep Warm function.
Family mealtimes don't always go to plan, especially when everyone has different schedules. Being able to keep soup at the perfect serving temperature for up to six hours is genuinely useful.
You can choose between three temperatures – 50°C, 60°C and 70°C – so there's no need to rush everyone to the table the moment the soup finishes cooking.
There are six automatic programmes, a sleek digital touchscreen and a selection of starter recipes included, making it a surprisingly versatile addition to the kitchen.
Can a soup maker save you money?
This is where the Lakeland Digital Soup Maker really surprised me.
We'd been spending around £3.75 on 600ml tubs of supermarket soup. When you consider how quickly those purchases add up, making your own starts to look like a much more attractive option.
Priced at £79.99, the soup maker didn't take many weeks to pay for itself compared with what we were spending on shop-bought soup.
And that's before factoring in the money saved by using up leftover vegetables, dried lentils and store-cupboard ingredients.
You also have complete control over what goes into every batch, making it easier to avoid unnecessary ingredients and tailor recipes to suit your family's tastes.
All six Lakeland Digital Soup Maker programmes explained
Here's what each setting does:
1. Chunky
Makes rustic, chunky soup in approximately 33 minutes. You can use the Pulse function afterwards if you'd prefer a slightly smoother consistency.
2. Smooth
For silky, perfectly blended soups, this programme heats, cooks and blends your ingredients in approximately 33 minutes.
3. Juice
Blends cold ingredients in just three minutes, making fresh smoothies and fruit juices without the need for a separate blender.
4. Keep Warm
Choose between 50°C, 60°C and 70°C to keep your soup at the ideal serving temperature for up to six hours. The machine also automatically switches to Warm mode once cooking has finished.
5. Pulse
A useful function for preparing vegetables, adjusting soup consistency and blending ingredients. It can also help clean the jug when used with warm water and washing-up liquid - a genius idea.
6. Steam/Boil
Boil water or stock, or steam ingredients for up to 60 minutes.
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Is the Lakeland Digital Soup Maker worth buying?
For anyone who loves homemade soup but struggles to find the time to make it from scratch, I'd say this appliance is well worth considering.
The biggest selling point for me isn't just that it makes soup in 33 minutes. It's how effortlessly it has become part of our everyday routine.
I can turn leftover vegetables into a warming lunch, make a hearty batch of minestrone for the family or prepare a smooth butternut squash soup without dirtying half the kitchen.
It's also helped us cut down on food waste and reduce the amount we're spending on supermarket soup.
At £79.99, it's not the cheapest kitchen gadget, but when you consider its multiple programmes, generous capacity and potential to save money on ready-made meals, it's an investment that makes sense.
My verdict? When the weather turns cold and a bowl of homemade soup becomes one of life's little pleasures, the Lakeland Digital Soup Maker makes it easier than ever to enjoy it – without spending your evening in the kitchen.
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