How do you like your soup? Fresh or leftover?

[Marthe48]

I like it either way, but would rather not got past 4 or 5 days after I made it

Opinions on stews and casseroles are welcome

[KarenS]

1. To me, soup is best the day after it's made.

Cooled down, refridgerated, and reheated.

But then I freeze potions from the refridgerated status.

[MiHale]

2. When making homemade soup or stews...

I usually make the day before waiting to let all the ingredients “marry” and blossom. Baked casseroles, imho, don’t need the same treatment as the higher heat from the cooking process in the oven should take care of the release of flavors.
I cook my soups and stews very slowly sometimes taking most of the day. Long and low and slow.

[Blue_playwright]

3. Anything with beans or lentils...

...it's gotta be DAYS old and then it's perfect. LOL. I like it gooey!

[fierywoman]

4. I might eat the soup once as a leftover (but I get bored eating the same thing

every day) so I freeze the rest in single portions and welcome the rest later!

[Marthe48]

5. I don't like to freeze cooked food

I probably don't use a good enough wrap, so I use my cooking up

[spinbaby]

8. But it's so hard to make a little bit of soup

I can’t seem to make less than a gallon at once. And with only me eating it, it’s eat nothing but soup for days or freeze it or throw it out. I freeze it.

[Marthe48]

9. I make about 2 quarts

More or less. A can of broth, a half onion, a chicken breast, with about 12 oz. of water, a 1/2 bag of frozen mixed veg, a small potato, about 1/2 cup of okra. I have barley, so I cook about 1/3 cup of barley in a different pot and add it to the main pot. I add my herbs and spices, and garlic of course. I make enough to get 3-5 servings, which lasts 4 or 5 days.

I have a method, but not a recipe

[chowmama]

6. Both

If it's got pasta or rice, it better be fairly fresh or the starch gets soggy. Other soups are better with a little age. I've got the makings of chicken noodle in the pantry, and already-made split pea/ham in the freezer. I'm hoping to get time to make some beef broth so I can make and store a batch of beef mushroom barley.

With or without a sandwich, on a late (and chilly) night, you can't beat them for a quick supper.

[CTriverYankee]

7. Both

Either way. As long as it's hot I'm happy...

[thatcrowwoman]

11. Birds of a feather

Welcome to DU, CTriverYankee.
🕊thatcrowwoman

[thatcrowwoman]

10. Mostly I like it piping hot! With crusty bread on the side.

🕊thatcrowwoman

[ProfessorGAC]

12. Depends On The Soup

Seafood soups (lobster bisque, for instance) are better fresh. Repeating shellfish makes them chewy, reheating fish makes them mushy. If it's a pureed bisque, the proteins partially hydrolyze creating a gel that negatively affects the texture.
French onion soup melds flavors better after a day, unless one is willing to slow cook for 8 hours or so.
Cream soups are cooked slow enough in the first place that flavor develops fully. The next day they're not better, but they're not worse either.
Cold soups are better fresh. The veggies lose their crisp the next day.

[Marthe48]

13. Thanks for all of the information

I've eaten clam chowder, maybe oyster stew. I was thinking of chili, or meat and vegetable soups. But so many others to consider.

My friend makes cold cucumber soup and a tomato mango she made by experimenting

[ProfessorGAC]

14. I'm A "Wing It" Cook, Too

But, my wife says I have a way with spices that she'd rather have me cook than go to a restaurant.
If we do go out, it's likely because I don't want to cook that day, and neither of us want prepared frozen that day.
But, like your friend, I make it up as I go along.
BTW: One of my onion soup secrets is cinnamon & vanilla bean. Try it! I think you'll like it.

[Marthe48]

15. Interesting

I think about onion soup once in awhile, but usually just make the curried chicken veggie.

I put a dash of nutmeg in any of the cream sauces of soups I make

[trof]

16. SOUPS, STEWS, CHILIS, AND GUMBOS

Usually taste better the next day.
I dunno, the flavors meld?

[PoindexterOglethorpe]

17. Both. When I do make soup, I plan to freeze individual portions.

I live alone, and so I need to plan my meals, especially the leftovers, very carefully.