Remove Fat From Soup

We all love great soup - but no one needs extra fat and calories. So many of our favorites are full of fat and extra gunk that we don’t need. Fortunately, this is easily remedied without sacrificing flavor.

If you have time, make your soup a day or so before you plan to serve it. Put the soup in the refrigerator overnight. By chilling the soup, you will cause the fat to rise to the surface and harden. Then, you will be able to easily remove the fat off the top and throw it away. If you do this, you will also notice that the flavor of the soup will improve overnight because it has had a chance to soak in.

If you only have a few hours, consider putting the soup in the freezer to chill it quickly. This will work in a similar manner to step 1, but not quite as effectively. Still, it will cause the fat to harden and rise to the top of the soup - allowing you to remove it effectively.

With a large spoon, carefully and gently stir the soup in a circular motion from the middle to the edges scooping up the fat that has collected along the edges of the bowl.

Wrap a few ice cubes in paper towels and gently run them over the top of the soup. This will quickly chill some of the fat in the soup causing it to harden and come to the top (as in steps 1 and 2.) You will then be able to see and remove the fat easily.

Consider using smoked turkey instead of ham or sausage in your soup. Turkey has far less fat than ham or sausage and can be used to achieve similar flavors. You could also substitute bacon or pork with olive oil. Yes, you won’t get the same flavor, but adding a little smoked turkey can help.