Methods for Preparing and Warming Soup in the Vitamix Ascent X5
Ready to dive into some scrumptious soup-making with the Vitamix Ascent X5? Yeah, baby! Let's talk about cooking soup in a blender — it's not just for blending already cooked stuff, not by a long shot. This bad boy can cook soup like a boss, and here's the lowdown on how it's done.
Can a blender actually cook soup?
Hold onto your hats, because it's time to scrap the stovetop and grab your Vitamix. The Ascent X5, and other strong-as-a-noxious-ox yolks in the Vitamix family, can churn out soup at cookin' temperatures with frictional heat and a heck of a lot of blending power. Now, you're not goin' to cook with a fire, but there's a heat source, and the ingredients shrink so small they're done in a New York minute once they hit the right temperature.
Not all blenders can handle this kind of heat, but all Vitamix models are built for excellence, running at top speed for more than seven minutes when necessary. That's just what you need to get that soup steamin'!
The Vitamix Mother's Day Sale
If you've been wafflin' about getting a Vitamix but haven't been feelin' the price tag, oh boo-hoo! Here's good news: check out Vitamix's surprisingly swell Mother's Day sale! Curious about the Ascent X5? Dive deeper with my full review over here, or get your feet wet with the more wallet-friendly Explorian model E310.
Cooking Up Soup with the Vitamix Ascent X5
Slingin' soup in the Vitamix is easier than catchin' trout with a toothpick. The only thing to remember is that you can't make adjustments mid-game. Once the blender starts its 7-to-8 minute soup cycle, you'll have to wait for the results.
Preparin' the Soup
Load up that blender container with some tasty ingredients. I've made soup with raw, pre-cooked, and a mix of both. Keep in mind that the Vitamix will poach your ingredients, so add some flavor by roastin' or charin' certain items before tossin' 'em in. In my tomato soup, I roasted the tomatoes with charred skin, left the onions and garlic raw, but hey, you do you! And don't forget to add some liquid so the soup ain't too thick to blend.
Pressin' Start
Plop the container on the base, flip the switch, and press the button cylinder doohickey. Select the "Soup" program in the menu. Once the lid's locked tight, press the start button on the side. The Vitamix will ramp up to top speed within about 30 seconds, and then you can sit back and relax.
After just a few minutes, your soup will be cookin' like a boss, bubblin' and steamin' before your very eyes. When thecycle's done, check the temperature—I got my tomato soup to 186°F!
Adjustin' the Consistency
You like your soup thicker than a brick or thinner than water? No problem! Adjust the consistency to your likenin'. If the soup's too thin, give it some extra bulk by blending in aquafaba, cannellini beans, or even leftover mashed potatoes. Just run the blender again until smooth—no need for a full soup cycle unless you're adding a raw ingredient.
Sources:1. "Frictional Heating Causes Browning in the Absence of Air and Radio Frequency Power in Skimmed Milk and Whey Proteins." Journal of Food Science. 2016 Oct. 81(9): 1963–1969.2. "How to Cook Soup in a Vitamix." Foodal.3. "Cooking with a Vitamix." Sweet & Savory Meals.4. "Cooking Soup in a Blender." TheKitchn.5. "Can I cook soup in my Vitamix or other blender?" Gear Hungry.
- The Vitamix Ascent X5 can make soup at cooking temperatures, using frictional heat and powerful blending.
- With the Ascent X5, you can scrap the stovetop and cook soup entirely in a blender.
- During the soup-cooking process in the Vitamix, ingredients shrink and cook quickly once they reach the right temperature.
- All Vitamix models are designed to run at high speeds for extended periods, making them ideal for soup-making.
- The Vitamix Mother's Day sale offers attractive discounts on various food-and-drink gadgets, including the Ascent X5 and Explorian E310.
- When using the Vitamix Ascent X5 to cook soup, it's important to remember that adjustments cannot be made mid-process.
- To achieve the best results when making soup in the Vitamix, consider pre-roasting or charring certain ingredients to add flavor before blending.
