Buzz
When the temperature drops, it’s hard not to fantasize about diving into a warm, satisfying bowl of either soup or stew. Both will definitely fill you up and keep you warm, but they aren’t quite the same.
Soup and stew are both liquid-based dishes that can include a variety of ingredients such as vegetables, meat, fish, starchy foods, and more. In fact, they may even share the exact same ingredients. So, what makes your signature beef stew with potatoes, carrots, and peas different from your friend’s beef soup with the same vegetables? The key difference is the amount of liquid used.
According to The Kitchn, soup ingredients are usually fully submerged in water or stock, while stews are typically just covered with a small amount of liquid. Because less liquid is used in stew, it thickens as it cooks, resulting in a gravy-like consistency where the solid ingredients take center stage. Some recipes even incorporate flour or a roux (a mix of fat and flour) to further thicken the stew. Stews are also more likely to be served over grains like rice or noodles, as they tend to be less watery than soups.
The preparation methods for soups and stews can also differ: Some soups are ready in as little as 20 minutes, while stews always take longer to simmer. This is why many stew recipes recommend using a slow cooker, while soups are often made in an open pot on the stove. It could also explain why stew ingredients are typically cut larger than those in soups—they have more time to cook through.
