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There are times where you want a quick and easy soup in a cup, but you just haven't got the energy or time to make it from scratch. Luckily, with instant soups all you need is a mug and boiling water, problem solved! These days, instant soups come in a variety of flavours you can prepare and enjoy within seconds, so you'll never get bored.
With so many to choose from, to help you out we've compiled this ranking list of the top 10 instant soups to buy in the UK. Our favourites include Ainsley Harriott's spicy lentil soup, healthy Japanese miso soup and even a vegetarian chicken soup, all available online from Amazon, Tesco, Asda and more. Better get the kettle on!
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Table of Contents
Purchasing instant soup isn't just simply choosing your favourite flavour, there are other concerns you may wish to consider when searching for the right one. In this guide, we're here to help you choose the best instant soup in a cup, you'll thank us later!
Soups come in all sorts of textures, made using a variety of ingredients and coming from different regions of the world. As a starting point, think about what sort of soup you are craving. This will help you get an idea of which 'direction' you should be heading.
Everyone loves a cream based soup! These soups have a distinctively rich and silky texture that's incredibly moreish. Instant cream soups usually contain a small amount of milk, or sometimes potato, in order to achieve this specific texture.
Vegetable cream soups such as mushroom or tomato are especially popular as you can distinctly taste the unmistakable and delicious flavours of the soup. If you have the time, why not have some bread along with your soup!
Some days you just need a filling and comforting chicken soup to warm you up. Some instant chicken soups contain small chunks of chicken in their recipe, although not as much as a fresh soup it gives it a more home made flavour.
You may be surprised to know that some instant chicken soups are actually vegetarian! So, great news if you miss the flavour, but would prefer to avoid meat and other animal products in your diet.
Besides the 'traditional' western soups, you might like to try instant soups that originate from or are inspired by cuisine from other parts of the world. For example, Middle Eastern spicy lentil soup has a warm and hearty flavour, and also contains plenty of fibre!
Heading even further East, you also have the option of Japanese instant miso soups. These have a savoury, umami flavour and contain healthy seaweed and sometimes even tofu!
Depending on the brand and soup, each packet will contain a specific number of portions. While most contains 3 - 5 portions per package, some can have as many as 10 or even 12 portions so it does no harm to check.
If you're planning to stock up instant soup to keep at your office desk, or would like a nice single cup of hot soup while camping, knowing the number of portions will definitely help you to plan better in advance.
When it comes to the serving size for instant soups, it really depends on the amount of water needed to make it. Some instant soups use as little as 150ml of water and some require as much as 230ml!
While you can always eat two portions of soup in one go when one serving is not enough, you'll also be taking in double amount of calories, macros and salt. That's why it's important to check the serving size matches your appetite to avoid wasting any excess soup or consuming too much salt.
If you are concerned about your health or have any specific dietary requirements, checking the nutritional information can give you a better idea of how you could plan your meals. Taking note of information such as calories, salt content and macronutrients will help you enjoy instant soup as part of a balanced diet.
If you're looking for a meal substitute, soups with higher calories are a better option as these will provide you with sufficient energy for the rest of the day. On the other hand, if you're trying to lose weight, soups with lower calories will help you avoid excess calorie consumption.
Eating too much salt regularly can lead to health problems in the long run. As a guideline, the NHS recommends adults consume no more than 6g of salt, or around one teaspoon per day. As for macronutrients such as proteins, carbohydrates and fats, how much you should consume will depend on your age, gender and lifestyle. If you're unsure, you can consult your GP for more information.
Products | Image | Click to purchase | Price | Key features | |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Ainsley Harriott Middle Eastern Spicy Lentil Cup Soup | A Hearty Soup Everyone Needs to Have at Home | |||
2 | Meritene Energis Chicken Soup | £14.99 High | A Chicken Soup That's Suitable For Vegetarians Too | ||
3 | Mug Shot Vegetable Chowder Soup | An Instant Soup That's High in Fibre | |||
4 | Waitrose Love Life 59 Calories Cup Soup | A Delicious Soup Suitable for Calorie Controlled Diets | |||
5 | Tesco Roast Chicken Soup in a Mug | Roast Chicken Soup That's Ready in an Instant | |||
6 | Batchelors Cup a Soup with Croutons Cream of Mushroom | £1.07 Mid | A Flavour to Be Enjoyed All Year Round | ||
7 | Hokkai Yamato Sapporo Soup Factory Hokkaido Asparagus Soup | £6.25 High Mid | Taste Flavours from the North of Japan | ||
8 | Heinz Cream of Tomato Cup Soup | £1.07 Mid | A Classic Tomato Soup | ||
9 | ASDA Golden Vegetable Mug Soup | Simply Delicious 'Golden' Soup | |||
10 | Hikari Reduced Salt Instant Miso Soup With Wakame | £2.49 High Mid | A Healthier Version of the Traditional Japanese Soup |
We just love the contrast this soup provides on a cold winter's day; a spicy, warm and hearty soup that you'll crave to keep off the chill. The recipe contains red and green lentils and a blend of fragrant Middle Eastern spices that are so authentic, it almost tastes homemade!
Lentils are considered by many to be a superfood, making this soup relatively low in calories, yet protein dense with only a little fat. Which is perfectly suited to those who strive for a balanced diet.
This chicken-flavoured soup doesn't actually contain any chicken, making it suitable for vegetarians. Not only that, it's also rich in multiple vitamins and nutrients such as B2, B6, B12, C, D and iron, along with 7 grams of protein per serving. So if you're a bodybuilder, we promise you'll love this soup!
Since this soup is packed with nutrients, it's a great choice if you're looking for a meal substitute. Perfect if you don't have the time for a proper meal, or for those who have difficultly consuming enough nutrients.
It's rare to compare the fibre content of instant soup with fruit, but did you know, this soup contains the same amount of fibre as a whole cup of chopped apples? That's 10% of your total recommended daily fibre intake!
Gut boosting benefits of fibre aside, this chowder is filled with mouthwatering vegetable flavours, such as potato, sweetcorn and red pepper. Even those who usually dislike vegetables will be happily eating it up. As a finishing touch, we recommend a slice of warm buttery toast.
It's seemingly rare to find calorie-controlled instant foods that are both delicious and satisfying. Luckily, this soup from Waitrose has the perfect balance of rich flavours and low calories per serving. This soup contains more than 7 different kinds of vegetables and a sprinkling of noodles.
Even if you're not on a diet, this soup makes a great lunchbox option when paired with your sandwich of choice. Lunch breaks have never been more exciting!
It takes at least an hour to roast a chicken, but it only takes a few seconds to prepare a steaming hot mug of this roast chicken soup! Although it won't quite rival a roast chicken dinner, this chicken soup is so flavourful you would never guess it was instant.
What's even better is that this soup is very affordable, especially for its fairly large serving size, making it ideal for students and those with a tight budget who want to enjoy a nice cup of hot soup.
This is a mushroom soup that you'll want to savour just as much with your summer lunch as you will with a winter dinner! Made with Shiitake mushrooms, your house will be filled with this warm and wonderful aroma.
Even though this soup has just over 100 calories, it contains a surprisingly high percentage of fat. While it's still a great choice to have as a snack or as an accompaniment to your meal, you may want to eat in moderation if you are keeping an eye on your daily fat intake.
Made from potatoes and asparagus, with this soup you'll be able to enjoy the authentic taste of Hokkaido in northern Japan. It comes pre-prepared with croutons, so you can sit down and enjoy this rich and creamy soup while you imagine the snowy landscape of this beautiful prefecture.
Good quality of ingredients comes with a price, and unfortunately that means this soup is fairly expensive. That said, if you're willing to spend a bit more, we highly recommend this one.
Some will be pleased to know that Heinz classic tomato soup is now available in instant form! Amazingly, this recipe contains 67% tomatoes and is free from artificial colours, preservatives and MSG. So you can expect an authentic tomato flavour.
The downside of this soup is that it contains a relatively high level of sugar, with 11.3 g per serving which is over a third of the recommended daily allowance for adults. That's why, we'd recommend having this soup only once in a while as a treat.
This hearty and warming soup contains a variety of golden-coloured vegetables such as yellow pea and carrots, with a sprinkling of croutons. This recipe produces a lovely colour that's reminiscent of autumn leaves.
While this will be largely down to personal taste, the choice of seasoning may be a bit divisive. Some may find this soup to be a little too sweet, so if you're sharing with others, be sure to check with them before purchasing.
This soup contains 20% less salt compared to most instant miso soups, so you won't have to worry about having a bloated stomach from excess salt. It also contains wakame, a type of seaweed, so you can experience the full flavour profile of this Japanese staple, but in a healthier way.
While this soup contains the least calories per serving, that also means it won't provide much energy, so it's likely you'll be feeling hungry very soon after eating. Instead of using as a meal substitute, why not pair it alongside another dish?
There are days when you just need a quick cup of coffee or an instant no-hassle meal, especially for those of us with hectic lives. To help you get everything done on time, why not take a look at these instant food-related articles!
Instant soups are just so convenient to have on hand! With a wide range of flavours to choose from, you're sure to find the right one to enjoy whatever the time of day, as long as you have a kettle on hand. So, who's excited to have instant soup for lunch tomorrow?
Author: Angina Chow
No. 1: Ainsley Harriott|Middle Eastern Spicy Lentil Cup Soup
No. 2: Meritene|Energis Chicken Soup
No. 3: Mug Shot|Vegetable Chowder Soup
No. 4: Waitrose|Love Life 59 Calories Cup Soup
No. 5: Tesco|Roast Chicken Soup in a Mug
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