Lakeland Touchscreen Soup & Smoothie Maker - Black and Silver 2L Glass Jug

Ummed and aahhed about this before buying because of the price, but am simply blown away by how good this is!It's beautifully made, has the air and feel of a very high quality product. It's tall, without taking up too much counter space, but is very solid and very stable, exactly what you want with hot liquids. The jug is thick quality glass, and is heavy when full (as all of them are), but the handle is well sized and balanced. (The booklet plays safe and says to use oven gloves to lift and pour, but I have no trouble lifting and pouring one one handed without the need for gloves. The glass is hot of course when the soup is made, but the handle remains cool and your fingers are guarded from touching the glass - so no problem at all!) It sits on the base easily, the lid fits really well, the removable section in the lid (for adding herbs later) clips in really well, its just superb.To use is an absolute doddle. Pop the ingredients in, use the touchscreen (so sensible in a kitchen!) to select 'chunky' or 'smooth' and touch the start button - half an hour later it's done, and if you're not quite ready for it it automatically keeps it hot for the next 20 minutes. To clarify - it keeps it 'piping' hot for that time, but the jug is so thick and the lid seal is good, in reality it stays hot for much longer than that - lovely to come back to for seconds or thirds a little later! You can also set it manually if you want, I've never needed to, the auto modes work so well. Unlike the old Morphy Richards one I used, (which kept blowing the trips) you can see exactly what's going on, and just touch the button for a little extra blending if needed. Perfect.The results are just great! When I started, I worked through some of the supplied recipes, and was initially concerned about putting a sliced chicken breast in without cooking it first - didn't need to be, it cooks absolutely beautifully! Every soup I've done has been excellent (even when I've got a bit creative with the ingredients!) and no question about being properly cooked. This morning, 2 leeks, three potatoes, a chicken 'stockpot' capsule and a veggie one, a good rattle of the black pepper grinder and a dollop of creme fraiche - three minutes to prepare, add the water, pop the lid on, press the button, 30 mins later it was poured into my big flask and I have soup with me all day at work. Just marvelous, and so quick to use I can do it in the mornings.Cleaning, also, couldn't be easier. A litre of water, a drop of fairy liquid (No more than that though! oops!) and press the auto clean - it heats and spins and sorts itself out - 5 minutes later, pour it away and rinse it - job done. It comes with a brush for cleaning - tbh that just sits in the drawer unused. The non stick base is perfect - nothing has ever stuck to it. The blades are stainless and also always spotless.Basically - over the moon with this, this has to be one of the most satisfying purchases I've ever made. I love how easy it is, pop it all in, touch the screen, walk away, 30 minutes and its done. The touchscreen is excellent, and makes it all so easy to keep clean and looking smart. No negatives at all, not even about the price - this is quality kit and worth every penny.

We've enjoyed soups from this fabulous machine for a couple of years. Very easy to use. We never throw left over veg away or compost it now -it all gets frozen and when the accumulation reaches 600 grams it gets defrosted and bunged into the soup maker along with a couple of veg stock cubes or one veg and one chicken stock cube, some freshly ground black pepper and a small chopped onion fried with crushed garlic, if there wasn't already any in the frozen veg. Add water till it reaches the max mark, switch on and relax while it works for you. Half an hour later, four decent portions of delicious and often unique soup. Just brilliant.The quantities above come from a carrot and coriander soup recipe in "Soup Maker Recipe Book: 100 Delicious & Nutritious Soup Recipes" available on Amazon -really good inspiration for different ideas. The butternut squash and leek recipe is a winner and we're never without portions of the carrot and coriander in our freezer, ready for a quick healthy lunch.We tend not to use the saute function (which works well) as we prefer to fry in a pan an have more control over that bit. But no problem in relinquishing half an hour of stirring.I also have to add that Lakeland's customer service is the best ever. After two years our soup maker developed a crack in the silver base of the jug. Via Amazon I asked for an exchange as it was within the 3 year warranty. Lakeland very promptly offered me a replacement without so much as a photo for evidence. The replacement arrived and, very unluckily, was also damaged. I followed the return instructions and packed up the new one. Again they very swiftly sent out a second replacement but to add to the run of bad luck, while waiting for this to arrive, I dropped my original jug onto a tiled floor and it smashed into pieces. I contacted customer services to explain and offered to pay for the replacement, as there was no way to prove i hadn't already broken it. I was quite amazed when they said not to worry and that they didn't want payment, but to take care returning the broken jug!I don't think I've ever felt so well looked after and even cared about by a customer service department. Well done Lakeland!

This is brilliant for making soups and smoothies. It’s heavy so be careful when moving it with hot liquid in but apart from that it’s excellent! My previous soup maker kept cutting out after a years use so I’m hoping this will last a lot longer. I think it’s sturdy enough to last a long time

Bought on recommendation from a friend. It is perfect cooks in 30 mins and the self clean setting is very practical. Highly recommended

It refused to work, was very heavy and too tall really for the space on my worksurface.

This is brilliant! It’s easy to whip up soups in half an hour. You just chuck the ingredients in and 30mins later - smooth or chunky( you choose) soup. Excellent for using up veg that’s past its best. Love it!

It's a great addition to the kitchen but it doesn't work very well with ice. And the motor for blending tends to overheat and there's a burnt smell. I still think it's a good product, but it could be better.