Why You Should Be Careful When Using Cream Cheese To Thicken Potato Soup (2024)

ashlyn frassinelli

·3 min read

Cream cheese can be a delicious and tangy thickener for mashed potatoes so it stands to reason that it can also be used to add body to your favorite silkypotato souprecipes — right? The answer is yes. It only works well if you do it carefully, though. Before you dump a block of cream cheese into your soup pot, there is an important step to follow first to ensure your finished product doesn't end up a clumpy, lumpy mess.

To reach full hom*ogenization between your soup and the cream cheese thickener, you need to blend everything properly. This means putting the soup into a proper blender or using an immersion blender to blitz everything together. Without this essential step, the cream cheese may not fully combine into the soup. That will leave you with little bits of undissolved cream cheese floating around in your broth. The same is true if you're adding a scoop of sour cream to the dish as well. Blend it properly and thoroughly for the best, most velvety results.

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Why Won't Cream Cheese Combine?

Why You Should Be Careful When Using Cream Cheese To Thicken Potato Soup (2)

Getting a solid like cheese to combine with a liquid like soup broth can be a struggle. Cheese is a particularly tricky addition to soups because if the temperature of the soup is too hot or too cold, the cheese won't melt properly and will start to clump. Temperatures over 150 degrees Fahrenheit will cause the cheese to release liquid too fast as a result of broken protein bonds. As a result, the dairy will seize up. On the flip side, if the soup isn't hot enough, the cheese won't melt fully. It's essential to emulsify the cream cheese to achieve a completely smooth soup.

When it comes to potato soup, the emulsification process is slightly easier.Potato protein works as an emulsifying agent that helps suspend fats and liquids together. However, it's also true that the smaller the droplets of the two substances that need to be combined, the easier they can form a cohesive result. The blender breaks down the cream cheese into small particles for a smoother texture.

What Does Cream Cheese Add To Potato Soup?

Why You Should Be Careful When Using Cream Cheese To Thicken Potato Soup (3)

Much like with cream cheese-enhanced mashed potatoes, cream cheese is a welcome addition to potato soup. It adds both decadent flavor and a smooth texture. The creamy mouthfeel of melted cream cheese, when thoroughly and properly incorporated, adds richness to soup beyond compare. It's especially appropriate in potato soups as it adds some fat and body to accentuate the starchiness of the spuds.

Cream cheese also adds that all-important tang, imparting brightness and a touch of salty-sweetness that provides a depth of flavor to your simmering soup. Cream cheese is an excellent addition to soups that you want to be exceedingly thick (thicker than what a glug of heavy cream or half-and-half will get you). Just be careful to add it in the proper way with a good whirl in the blender. Be mindful of the clumps and you'll have a bowl of one of the richest, most delicious soups you'll ever enjoy.

Read the original article on Daily Meal.

Why You Should Be Careful When Using Cream Cheese To Thicken Potato Soup (2024)

FAQs

Why You Should Be Careful When Using Cream Cheese To Thicken Potato Soup? ›

Temperatures over 150 degrees Fahrenheit will cause the cheese to release liquid too fast as a result of broken protein bonds. As a result, the dairy will seize up. On the flip side, if the soup isn't hot enough, the cheese won't melt fully.

Will cream cheese thicken potato soup? ›

Cream cheese can be a delicious and tangy thickener for mashed potatoes so it stands to reason that it can also be used to add body to your favorite silky potato soup recipes — right? The answer is yes. It only works well if you do it carefully, though.

What is the best thickening agent for potato soup? ›

Cornstarch. Cornstarch is a very effective thickener, and a little bit can go a long way.

How do you keep cream cheese from curdling in soup? ›

Here's some tips to prevent curdling:
  1. Prepare a warm milk/flour mixture to add to hot soup.
  2. Stir some hot soup liquid into cold dairy product to temper it, then add to the soup.
  3. Do not boil the soup after adding any dairy product, especially cheese.
  4. Add acid to the milk instead of milk into the acid.
Dec 15, 2016

Will cheese thicken soup? ›

The best options for thickening soup are cream or half and half. Plain yogurt or even freshly grated cheese works well and adds an extra layer of tangy, salty flavor. Add the dairy at the end and avoid bringing the soup to a boil since this can cause yogurt, cheese, or cream to split.

Why is my potato soup not thickening? ›

Pour in a little cream to add thickness and a silky texture.

Adding cream to your soup will help thicken it, and it will give the potato soup a creamy, silky texture. In addition, the cream adds a rich flavor that goes perfectly with potato soup.

What is the healthiest way to thicken soup? ›

The absolute healthiest way to thicken soup is by using a traditionally made bone broth powder like the one from Bluebird Provisions.
  1. Oat Flour, Quinoa Flour or Chickpea Flour.
  2. Applesauce or Mashed Bananas.
  3. Eggs.

Why won't my cream cheese melt in my potato soup? ›

Cheese is a particularly tricky addition to soups because if the temperature of the soup is too hot or too cold, the cheese won't melt properly and will start to clump. Temperatures over 150 degrees Fahrenheit will cause the cheese to release liquid too fast as a result of broken protein bonds.

Can you use cream cheese to thicken? ›

Cream cheese can also help to thicken cream-based sauces. It can act as a thickener for salad dressings, dips, and be used as a replacement for mayonnaise. It can also help to thicken pancake batters and be used as a base for cake icing when mixed with butter.

How do you make cream cheese not clump in soup? ›

How do you prevent cheese from clumping in soups? MDP: The key is to add cheese at the very end, with just residual heat -- either after turning off the heat or at the very end. It's a similar technique as with pasta, how you have the burner very low or turned off.

How to dissolve cream cheese in soup? ›

Add the chunks of cream cheese into the soup and let it cook for about 5 minutes or until the cream cheese is completely melted into the soup and the soup is thick and creamy. * To ensure no cream cheese chunks, place the unwrapped bar of cream cheese onto a microwave-safe plate, and cook for 40 seconds.

Does cream cheese help thicken soup? ›

Yes, dairy products like heavy cream, sour cream, or cream cheese can be added to soups to thicken them. These ingredients give a luscious and velvety texture to the soup, making it richer and more indulgent.

Does cheese thicken potato soup? ›

Cheddar Cheese can be added at the end of the cooking process to thicken the potato soup. Make sure to stir complete mix the ingredients together.

How do you keep potatoes from getting mushy in potato soup? ›

Cut the potatoes into rissolettes and blanche them (i.e. cook them briefly, not to full doneness). Use the water you used in the soup and put the potatoes back in when you go to warm the soup again for serving. Since they're cut fairly small, they should be just about done without being mushy when you go to eat.

How to keep potato soup from getting too thick? ›

After a certain point, this can quickly overwhelm the liquid in your soup recipe, as the starches absorb liquid while turning more and more gluey, gummy, and thick. Therefore, you'll want to keep mashing and blending to a minimum in order to keep your soup smooth.

How can I thin out my potato soup? ›

Cook the soup until heated and adjust the seasonings. If a thinner soup is desired, stir in a little more milk or half-and-half. To make baked potato soup, top each bowl with shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream, crumbled bacon, and chives.

How to thicken potato soup without cornstarch? ›

Whisking beurre manié (butter-flour paste) into simmering soup is the best way to thicken an otherwise too-watery soup. Add bits of the paste gradually and simmer to cook out any raw flour taste. The broth will be velvety smooth, rich, and thick.

What 2 ingredients are used to thicken the soup? ›

You can thicken soup by adding flour, cornstarch, or another starchy substitute. For the best results, never add flour or cornstarch directly to your soup. If you do, it will clump up on top. Instead, ladle a small amount of broth into a separate bowl and let it cool.

How do you thicken mashed potato soup? ›

Stir in ¼ to ⅓ cup mashed potato per 1 cup soup or stew.

Why did my cream cheese clump in soup? ›

Applying too much heat to dairy base sauce. or soup can be a common mistake made in the kitchen. This can cause the soup to become separated and curdled. and give it a gritty texture.

Does adding cream to soup make it thicker? ›

Adding extra cream can thicken a creamy or blended soup like this wild mushroom-soup, but stirring in a spoonful of thick yogurt can be more effective. Be careful not to boil the soup once you've added the cream or yogurt or it may split.

How to thicken crockpot potato soup? ›

Cornstarch, potato starch, and chickpea flour are a couple of pantry-friendly ways to thicken soups, stews, and sauces in the slow cooker. Just a tablespoon or two of any — added towards the end of cooking — will thicken sauces especially well.

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