What Is The Difference Between Soup and Stew?

If you're also wondering what the difference between a soup and stew are, you're in the right place.  They are no doubt very similar dishes with a lot of crossover techniques during preparation — some soups are even considered stews and vice versa. However, there are a few differences and we shall take a closer look at them below.

3 Major Dynamics Between Soups And Stews

1. Soup Requires More Liquid

The liquid is the primary ingredient in soups. Soup can be completely liquified or it can consist of other elements like meat and vegetables that are completely submerged in water, stock, or broth.

Stew, on the other hand, is typically "chunkier" but it contains just enough water to cover the main ingredients.

2. Stew Is More Narrowly Defined

As a recipe category, soup is broader than stew. Soups are basically any combination of ingredients cooked and consumed in liquid. They can have different consistencies or cooking time. In fact some may not require cooking at all like the gazpacho.

Stew, meanwhile, is usually thick and almost always served warm. It also takes some time to prepare.

3. The Cooking Methods May Vary Slightly

Stew means any dish that is prepared by stewing, which is defined as a method by which something barely covered in liquid is simmered slowly in a closed pot.

Soup, on the other hand, can be prepared in different ways. However it’s often made by boiling ingredients and then simmering to deepen the flavors.

More on Soups…

Soup is an old dish but we still consume it today. In fact, some believe it is as old as cooking itself. Evidence of its existence has been traced as far back as about 20,000 B.C.

In French cuisine, soups are categorized into two: clear (bouillon and consommé) and thick (purees and bisques).

This is a very broad category that includes both thin miso soup and chunky minestrone. As such it is hard to pinpoint an exact attribute that makes soup what it is.

More on Stews…

Stews have also been made since ancient times. They can consist of any combination of solid food ingredients cooked in liquid, such as stock.

The common ingredients used in its preparation include: beef, chicken, carrots, potatoes, mushrooms, onions, beans, and peppers.

The liquid in stew is usually thickened by reduction or with flour, cornstarch, or arrowroot thereby creating a heavier, gravy-like base.

Which is your usual go-to, stews or soups?