stir the soup

Meaning

This phrase means to use a spoon or ladle to mix a liquid food (soup) in a circular motion while it is cooking. This helps distribute heat evenly and prevents the ingredients from sticking to the bottom of the pot. The tone is practical and instructional.

Examples

• Could you please stir the soup while I chop the parsley?

  Could you please stir the soup while I chop the parsley?

• You need to stir the soup occasionally so the vegetables don't stick to the bottom.

  You need to stir the soup occasionally so the vegetables don't stick to the bottom.

• She used a large wooden spoon to stir the soup as it simmered.

  She used a large wooden spoon to stir the soup as it simmered.

• Remember to stir the soup gently so you don't break the soft potatoes.

  Remember to stir the soup gently so you don't break the soft potatoes.

• I forgot to stir the soup, and now the bottom of the pot is slightly burnt.

  I forgot to stir the soup, and now the bottom of the pot is slightly burnt.

Common Mistakes

• ✗ Please mix the soup with a spoon.

  ✓ Please stir the soup.

  While 'mix' is grammatically correct, native speakers almost always use 'stir' for liquids in a pot.

• ✗ He is moving the soup in the pot.

  ✓ He is stirring the soup.

  'Moving' just means changing its location. To describe the circular mixing motion used in cooking, use 'stir'.

Related Expressions

Practice

• Grab a wooden spoon and ___ every ten minutes.

  💡 Mix the liquid food in the pot.

  Show answer

  stir the soup

• If you don't ___, the cream might separate.

  💡 Keep the broth moving in a circular motion.

  Show answer

  stir the soup