Soup-Making Tips I’ve Learned from Years in the Kitchen!

Practical soup-making tips to help your soups taste better and build confidence in the kitchen, plus freezer tips and cozy encouragement for home cooks.

Many of the things I find myself doing in the kitchen after more than 35 years as a home cook can be traced back to two women in my life: my mom and my mother-in-law.

Both of these women spent a LOT of time in their kitchens, but they approached cooking very differently.

My mom loved written recipes. She had neatly written recipe cards, each tucked into plastic sleeves, all organized inside her extra-large Rubbermaid recipe file. She had a collection of recipe books and a monthly subscription to “Farm Wife News” and “Taste of Home” magazine.

My mother-in-law, on the other hand, took great pride in the fact that she cooked most things without a recipe at all.

I loved watching both of these women work their magic in the kitchen.

I remember standing by as my mother-in-law mixed up buns, tossing ingredients into a bowl almost like a scientist. No measuring cups, no written instructions—just experience and instinct. And like magic, every week buns would appear. Perogies were made. They were rarely made the same way twice, but somehow she always knew when the dough felt just right. It was truly something to watch.

---

Two Very Different Approaches to Soup

My mom and my mother-in-law also approached soup-making very differently.

I remember my mom telling me one time, “I just can’t make soup. Ask your dad—he’ll tell you. The soup I make just doesn’t have any flavor, does it?” She looked over at him, and he just smiled and nodded with a little twinkle in his eye.

I recently heard something that really stuck with me: when you tell yourself you can’t do something, your brain shuts off and goes on vacation. It says, “Fine, I don’t need to figure this out.” And so it doesn’t.

My mom wished she could make good soup, but didn’t pursue it very hard.

My mother-in-law, on the other hand, grew up watching her own mom clean out the refrigerator and pull together a pot of soup in just a few minutes. She was an absolute pro.

After watching her for years—and jotting down my own versions of her soups—my mom came to visit one time while I had a pot of soup simmering on the stove.

She took a bite and said, “Okay… what did you do? This soup tastes so good.”

---

Learning From So Many Good Cooks

Over the years, I’ve been a student of many women who make excellent soup. And thanks to the internet, we now have access to fantastic soup recipes with exact measurements that turn out beautifully if that’s your style.

Since it’s the cold time of year—and soup is one of our favorite meals to make on a chilly day—I thought it would be fun to jot down some of the soup-making tips I’ve learned along the way.

---

Soup-Making Tips I’ve Learned Over the Years

1. Broth Is Your Friend

This was the piece my mom was missing. She used water, but didn’t add broth.

Whether you use chicken, vegetable, or beef broth, it adds incredible flavor to whatever kind of soup you’re making. Broth creates a rich base that water alone just can’t. Sometimes I use cartons or cans of broth, but most of the time I use boullion powder for my soup broth.

---

2. Season As You Go

As you layer the ingredients—sautéed vegetables, meat, broth, and even the creamy or cheesy ending—season as you go.

Building flavor in layers makes such a difference, and the finished soup will taste deep, balanced, and comforting. Oh, and if you happen to over spice your soup (hello, too much cayenne pepper!) – remember that adding honey will “cool” down overly spicy soup.

---

3. The More You Do It, the Better You’ll Get

Like anything in life, practice matters.

You might want to start with really great recipes and see how other people make soup. But over time, you’ll notice there’s a pattern to soup-making. And one day, you may find yourself pulling ingredients from the fridge that need to be used up, adjusting a recipe slightly—or ignoring it altogether—and ending up with a pot of soup that turns out great.

---

4. Wine enhances the Flavors of Soup

I find it hilarious that I learned this tip from a now retired Baptist minister who was a definite tee-totaller! He made the most amazing Sunday lunch soup for us one day and whispered the secret ingredient was actually wine!! The alcohol cooks off, and boy does it taste amazing. I sometimes use carton broth that contains white wine. It really is delicious.

---

Tips for Making and Freezing Soup

Soup is one of my favorite things to make in big batches and freeze ahead. Here are a few tips that make it easy and practical:

How to Cool Soup Quickly

When you want to cool soup down quickly before freezing it, fill your sink with cold water and add some ice cubes. Place the pot right into the sink (making sure no water gets into the soup) and give it a stir every few minutes. This helps it cool down safely and quickly.

---

How to Freeze Soup Without Taking Up Too Much Space

I love freezing soup in Ziploc freezer bags. Lay them flat while they freeze, and once solid, you can stack them upright like file folders in your freezer. It saves space and makes grabbing soup for a quick meal so easy.

---

A Few Freezing Do’s and Don’ts

• If your soup has pasta, don’t add it before freezing. Add the pasta when reheating so it doesn’t turn mushy.
• If you are wanting to freeze a creamy soup, freeze it before you add the cream or milk. Add the cream once you have heated it up and just before serving.
• Avoid freezing soups with chunks of potato, as potatoes tend to get grainy and mushy once thawed.

---

A Little Encouragement

If you’re new to making soup, I want to encourage you—you can do it.

If you want to learn, you’ll figure it out. And if you’re someone who prefers recipes with exact measurements and clear instructions, that’s wonderful too. There’s room for both approaches in the kitchen.

Below, I’ll share some of my favorite soup recipes if you’d like a place to start.

Happy soup making. I’m cheering you on.

---

Favorite Soup Recipes to Try

• Potato Corn Chowder
• Chicken Noodle Soup
• Dumplings for Soup
• Sausage and Tortellini Soup
• Classic Chili
• Buffalo Chicken Chili
• White Chicken Chili
• Minestrone Soup
• Hamburger Rice Soup

Want more recipes & ideas for your home?

Join thousands of others on my newsletter list & have them delivered right to your inbox! Sign up here.

Pin this to remember it later!