What Is Condensed Soup, Actually?

The temps are getting cooler and the days are getting shorter. That can only mean one thing: It’s time to get into soup mode! And the variety of soups out there are almost unlimited! There’s pho, ramen, udon, menudo, pozole, chicken noodle, chicken and rice, chicken and Flintstones shaped paste, and more! Then there’s condensed soup. Does that just mean that the words on the label have been shortened? No, of course not. Well then, what is condensed soup? What does condensed soup mean? Let’s put the soup on and get some answers!

What is condensed soup?

If you have ever stared at a can of Campbell’s soup or been stuck in an Andy Warhol gallery, you’ve probably noticed that Campbell’s soup cans have the word “condensed” written across the label. What does condensed soup mean? Well, it basically means that soup has been condensed. Condensed soup is a soup that has had most of the water removed so that it becomes a thick stock or cream. To reconstitute it back into a regular soup, just add water or cream. 

There are condensed canned versions of most popular soups; cream based, protein and carb like chicken noodle, and even stock bases. When you have a can of Campbell’s chicken noodle soup, it’s kind of thick. That’s because it’s condensed. The instructions say to add one can of water and heat it up. When you do that you are reconstituting the soup. 

How is condensed soup made?

So we know that condensed soup is soup with much of the water removed. But how do you make condensed soup? Simply boil it. Condensed soup is made by boiling soup down to a thick consistency. You can reduce liquids by boiling them and letting the water evaporate. What’s left over is a thick, concentrated version of the liquid. 

What is the difference between condensed soup and regular soup? 

The difference between condensed soup and regular soup is that condensed soup is more concentrated and regular soup has more water. Basically, one can of condensed soup is equal to two cans of regular soup. Campbell’s is believed to have perfected their condensed soup making technique around 1897. 

Can you eat condensed soup without adding water?

Condensed soup usually has instructions to add a can of liquid. But can you just eat that condensed soup without adding water? Sure you can! But it probably won’t taste as good. It will definitely be more intense and have a thicker consistency. 

There are plenty of recipes that call for a can of condensed soup and you don’t have to add any extra water to those. For just one example, Thanksgiving favorite, green bean casserole is usually made with a couple of cans of condensed cream of mushroom. I usually just take a shot of condensed soup then take a shot of hot water and mix them in my mouth.