Ching’s Secret Cook Up Soups Review – We Tried 4 Variants

Light but hearty, soups make for comforting meal options. But the unceasing boiling and stirring of soup prepared from scratch can be daunting. To cut down on the prep-time, there are packs of instant soups. Just add warm water, stir, and voila! 

Earlier we reviewed two Ching’s Instant soups – Tomato Oats and Lemon Coriander. The flavors and consistency were impeccable. Impressed, we decided to try out the new ‘Cook Up’ range. For this, we ordered Asian Hot, Manchow Noodles, Hot & Sour, and Lemon Coriander, and here’s our Ching’s Cook Up Soups review. 

All you need to know about Ching’ Secret cook up soups is discussed here. 

1. Package Type

The soup mixes are packed in a single-use pack. These are not resealable. 

2. Available Flavours

In addition to the ones we reviewed, here are five flavors offered in the ‘Cook Up’ range.

• Mix Veg
• Hot & Sour
• Manchow
• Sweet Corn
• Tomato

3. Price Range

A pack holding four serves is priced at Rs 65.

4. Shelf Life

The soups have a shelf life of 12 months. 

5. Main Ingredients

Corn Flour, Sugar, Iodized Salt, Dehydrated Vegetables, Dried Glucose Syrup, Flavor Enhancers are the main ingredients. A unique combination of flavor enhancers and veggies is used for each variant. 

6. Nutritional Information

Per 100 grams, these soups offer 320-370 Kcal with 60-70 grams of carbohydrates, 1-7 grams of fats, and 6-9 grams of proteins. 

Related Reading- Knorr International Soups

In the case of instant soups, convenience is as significant as taste. A lump-free consistency, easy mixability, and evenness of flavors throughout have been gauged during the review. 

1. Taste

Instant soups are often packed with an undesirable, industrial taste that ruins the overall experience. We checked all the varinats for this. Apart from that, we checked for seasonings.

2. Flavour

Are the flavors refreshing? Do they combine well with each other? Are they balanced or does one flavor overpower the other? Does the flavor mentioned on the pack showcases itself taste-wise too?

3. Aroma

Did the dominant flavors of the soup reflect aroma wise too? Were any industrial or artificial aromas? If yes, which variant was it?

4. Texture

What textural variety does the soup offer? This parameter discusses the crunch of veggies, the crispiness of noodles. Did they lend a bite or had they turned soggy upon mixing?

6. Consistency

After adding the recommended quantity of water, did the soups have a thick, luscious consistency or did they feel too watered down?

Here is a tabular comparison of the four variants we reviewed. 

The four Ching’s Secret Cook Up variants we reviewed are packed in a pouch that is not resealable. Each pack holds four serves. Since we prepared one serve, the soup mix and water were added proportionately, following the instructions on the pack. Taste, consistency, and other tasting and non-tasting parameters are discussed below. 

1. Lemon Coriander

In the dry stage, this powder had a whitish appearance with a prominent citrusy, lemony aroma. We also observed the dehydrated veggie bits in the powder. 

Post-cooking, the soup looked clear with a tinge of green. The dehydrated veggies and bits of greens/herbs added vibrancy to the bowl. In around three minutes, the powder had converted into a soup beautifully. This was served immediately and we noticed a clear soup-like consistency. It’s thinner than the other variants, for sure. 

Without a doubt, this was one of the yummiest we tried from the range. The lemon and coriander flavors marry each other quite well. The crunch and texture added by the dehydrated veggies is commendable. All-in-all, this tasted fresh and the citrusy flavor was appreciated by the entire Team. 

Features

• A 55-gram pack is priced at Rs 65.
• It has a shelf life of 12 months.
• One pack holds four serves.
• Main Ingredients- Corn Flour, Iodized Salt, Dehydrated Vegetables (15.5%), [Carrot, Cabbage, Spinach, Beans, Coriander Leaves (0.8%)], Sugar, Dried Glucose Syrup, Lemon Powder (6%), Flavor Enhancer (INS 635), Onion Powder, Garlic Powder, Pepper Powder, Anticaking Agent (INS 551), Sunflower Oil, Thickener (INS 415), Turmeric Powder, Natural Flavoring Substances (Coriander)

Likes

• The taste and aroma seem very fresh.
• We liked how the dehydrated veggies add a crunch. 
• The lemon and coriander flavors are prominent and pair well.
• This is easy to prepare and pocket-friendly!

Best Suited For

Looking for something fresh, filling, and light? We recommend trying the Lemon and Coriander Ching’s soup. 

2. Manchow Noodles Cook Up Soup

While gauging the soup mix in its dry stage, we observed a dull brown appearance with small bits of noodles, and dehydrated veggies, mostly mushrooms. 

During the tasting, we witnessed a generous amount of mushrooms. A combination of Shiitake and Wood ear mushrooms, this added a chewy, chunky bite to the soup. The noodle bits were cooked well and they lent a textural variety. These weren’t long noodle strands, they were smaller bits.

This soup has a well-rounded seasoning with a dominant soy and garlic flavor. The earthy, almost meaty, flavor and aroma of mushrooms is inviting and delicious.

Overall, we quite liked this variant. 

Shiitake and Wood ear mushrooms lend quite different flavors and aroma. But the chunky texture and mouthfeel are more or less similar. 

Shiitake has strong earthy flavors and awakens the umami taste buds on the palette. Wood ear mushrooms, on the other hand, have no prominent flavors, but they are known to beautifully absorb the spices/gravies they are added to. 

Features

• A 72-gram pack holds four serves.
• It is priced at Rs 65.
• The shelf life is the same as above.
• Main Ingredients- Noodles (38%) [Refined Wheat Flour, Refined Palm Oil, Salt, Wheat Gluten, Gelling Agent (INS 508), Emulsifying Agent (INS 452 (i)), Acidity Regulator (INS 501 (i))], Corn Flour, Dehydrated Veggies (13.5%) [Carrot, Cabbage, Mushroom], Iodized Salt, Sugar, Soy Sauce Powder (Soybean, Wheat, Salt), Flavor Enhancer, Dehydrated Garlic, Pepper Powder, Onion Powder, Thickener (INS 415), Sunflower Oil, Anticaking Agent (INS 551), Chilli Powder. 

Likes

• We loved the abundance of mushrooms!
• The mushrooms added a lovely meaty/chewy bite to the soup.
• The noodles were cooked well.
• All flavors complement each other well. 
• This wasn’t too spicy. 

Best Suited For

Love mushrooms? You are sure to relish this packaged soup by Ching’s.

3. Asian Hot

Visually, this is a very dull-looking soup mix with a tinge of orange. In addition to dehydrated vegetables, we also saw some sugar granules. In this pre-cooked stage, the powder had a prominent aroma of garlic.

Once cooked, it looked thick and wasn’t too flowy. That said, a common observation among all four variants is that the longer you let the soup sit, the thicker it becomes. We recommend consuming your bowl of soup as soon as it is off the stove.

Aroma-wise, this has an intense sour aroma. While cooking and once done, this soup showed a deep orange-red color. 

Spicy and sour! This soup was dominated by these two flavors. The sugar granules melt and the sweetness is very mild, towards the end. This is followed by a dominant peppery heat and a light sourness.

The carrot bits rehydrate well, but the crunchy bite is retained. The soup is labeled as ‘Asian Hot’ and it delivers exceptionally on this claim. 

Features

• A 55-gram pack is priced at Rs 65.
• This pack holding four serves has a shelf life of 12 months.
• Main Ingredients-Corn Flour, Iodized Salt, Dehydrated Vegetables (9.5%) [Cabbage, Carrot, Beans, Parsley], Dried Glucose Syrup, Tomato Powder, Flavor Enhancer (INS 635), Chilli Powder, Dehydrated Onion, Dehydrated Garlic, Acidity Regulator (INS 260, INS 330), Anticaking Agent (INS 551), Natural Flavoring Substance (Celery)

Likes

• This variant packs flavor in every spoonful.
• The interplay of spicy, sweet, and tangy flavors is commendable. 
• The veggies taste fresh and add a nice crunch. 

Best Suited For

Subtly sweet, paired with peppery heat, and some sourness- this soup is the ideal option if you’re looking for something flavorful on a chilly night. 

4. Hot & Sour

Similar to the Manchow Noodles soup, this was a brown soup mix with dehydrated mushrooms. After cooking, the soup turned deeper brown with a thick consistency.

It has no hot/spicy aroma that hits you on the nasal passage or the throat. The aroma was more mushroom-dominant. Despite having balanced flavors and an overload of crunchy veggies, this soup didn’t really do it for us. It is labeled ‘Hot & Sour’, but there isn’t really any heat or sour flavors in this soup. 

Features

• This is priced at Rs 55 for a 55-gram pack.
• It holds four serves.
• Shelf life is the same as above.
• Main Ingredients- Corn Flour, Dehydrated Vegetables (20%) [Carrot, Cabbage, Mushroom], Iodized Salt, Sugar, Dried Glucose Syrup, Flavor Enhancer, Onion Powder, Chilli Powder, Soy Sauce Powder (Soybean, Wheat, Salt), Pepper Powder, Anticaking Agent (INS 551), Sunflower Oil.

Likes

• This has a generous amount of dehydrated veggies, especially mushrooms.
• These add a lovely crunch.
• This soup has a nice balance of flavors. 

Dislikes

• Labeled ‘Hot & Sour’, this soup does not show prominent hot or sour flavors. 

While all four variants we reviewed were flavorful, Ching’s Secret Cook Up Manchow Noodle and Lemon & Coriander had our hearts! These delivered exceptionally on the flavor tags and were fresh tasting.

That said, the Asian Hot variant wasn’t bad either, it showcased a flavorful interplay between spicy, sweet, and sour flavors. Similarly, Hot & Sour wasn’t bad-tasting, it just did not live upto the flavor tag.

Ching’s Secret Cook Up soups taste delicious. The consistency and convenience are commendable. We collectively liked Manchow Noodle and Lemon & Coriander more than the other two. 

When do you prefer having a bowl of soup? As a starter with some soup sticks or for dinner with buttered rolls?

Here are some interesting FAQs on Ching’s secret cook up soups

1. What’s the difference between Ching’s cook up and instant soup?

Hot water is added to instant soups while cook up soup mix powder is added to a pot of boiling water and stirred for three minutes. 

2. Are these soups a vegetarian?

Yes, these soups are 100% vegetarian. 

3. Do these soups contain any preservatives?

Flavor enhancer INS 635 adds flavor while helping preserve packaged foods. It is vegetarian and vegan.

4. Can more vegetables be added to these cook up soups?

Yes, definitely. Though all four variants had abundant quantities of veggies, you can add more if you wish. 

5. Can these soups be consumed by children under 6 years of age?

Regardless of age, consumption of packaged foods should be limited. 

* If you do agree with our review, please give it a thumbs up! And, tell us which one is your favorite from this list. If you don’t, please tell us why!

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* Our reviews are unbiased and all samples used during the reviews were paid for by us. Read our entire ethics statement here.

* No part of this review is sponsored by any brand. All expenses were borne by us.