Ladles, Bowls, and Stockpots Galore: We Couldn’t Make It Through Soup Season Without These Tools

Frigid temperatures and snowy, blustery conditions are sweeping across the country. In an effort to keep warm, many of us are staying inside to make, eat, and share our favorite soup recipes. And since the wintry weather doesn’t seem to be slowing down any time soon, now is a great time to invest in kitchen tools and durable cookware to help you make delicious soups with ease.

There are countless products to choose from, so we mined through our extensive product reviews to bring you the test-winning gear we swear by. From a wildly powerful immersion blender from All-Clad to a gorgeous set of Le Creuset bowls, these are the kitchen items you need to soar through soup season.

Test-Winning Soup Season Essentials

• Beautiful, Yet Sturdy Stoneware Soup Bowls: Le Creuset Stoneware Soup Bowls, Set of 4
• The Best Metal Ladle: Cuisinart Stainless Steel Ladle
• The Best 12-Quart Stockpot: Cuisinart 12-Quart MultiClad Pro Stainless Stockpot
• The Best Immersion Blender: All-Clad Electrics Stainless Steel Immersion Blender
  

Le Creuset Stoneware Soup Bowls, Set of 4

Sometimes, a small cup of soup just won’t cut it. When you need a full bowl to satiate your appetite, it doesn’t get better than this spacious stoneware set from Le Creuset. The soup bowls can hold up to 22 ounces and come complete with a scratch-resistant glaze that ensures lasting durability. The set comes in blue, white, and teal and is safe for the oven, microwave, dishwasher and freezer. Rumor has it senior editor Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm literally dropped one from hip height the other night and it survived unscathed!

Cuisinart Stainless Steel Ladle

Serving soup is nearly impossible without a quality ladle. When we tested nine metal, silicone, and plastic options, this no-frills stainless steel came out on top. The curved handle is not only ergonomic and makes for a comfortable grip, but it also allows you to scoop up heaping portions of soup without hitting the pot’s rims and sides. The ladle makes for mess-free serving, pouring cleanly without dripping on the countertop.

Cuisinart 12-Quart MultiClad Pro Stainless Stockpot

If you like making large pots of soup to enjoy throughout the week, you’ll need a stockpot that’s up to the task. This tested-favorite from Cuisinart is made from sturdy stainless steel and boasts a 12-quart capacity to accommodate your biggest batches of broth. It also features large, comfortable handles that are easy to grip, even with bulky oven mitts. The thick base layer of this pot means it heats evenly, so you can saute your onions, garlic, herbs, and vegetables without burning them. Best of all, it’s dishwasher-safe, making cleanup a breeze.

All-Clad Electrics Stainless Steel Immersion Blender

Making pureed soups is so much easier with an immersion blender. Instead of transferring your ingredients from the pot to a full-sized blender, and then back to the pot, grab our review-winning immersion blender from All-Clad. The unassuming tool doesn’t come with any fancy accessories, but its powerful motor and sleek design placed it at the very top of our list. During our tests, it emulsified tough vegetables, sliced through ice cubes, and mixed creamy mayo in a flash. Head to Amazon to snag yours while it’s 32% off.

FAQs

What kitchen equipment do you need to make soup?

You’ll need a large stockpot and ladle to make soup, plus a good set of bowls to serve it in. For pureed soup, we also recommend using an immersion blender. 

What is the best tool for pureeing soup?

You can use any blender or food processor to puree soup, but we recommend using an immersion blender (also known as a hand blender) to speed up the process and eliminate the need to blend in batches.

Why We're the Experts

• Katie Brown is a commerce writer for Serious Eats, Food & Wine, Allrecipes, and EatingWell.
• Katie has been writing about food and drinks for over five years and previously worked as an editor at VinePair.