The Differences Between Broth, Bisque, Stock, and More Soup Types (2024)

Whether it’s a creamy chowder, cold gazpacho, chunky stew, or silky bisque, this guide will help you identify which kind of soup you're ladling into bowls.

By

Sheena Chihak, RD

The Differences Between Broth, Bisque, Stock, and More Soup Types (1)

Sheena Chihak is a registered dietitian, former food editor and current edit lead for BHG with over 17 years of writing and editing experience for both print and digital.

Updated on September 30, 2022

There's nothing like a cozy bowl of chicken noodle soup or New England Clam Chowder when you need a comfort food fix. And while Merriam-Webster defines "soup" as a liquid food made with stock (meat, fish, or vegetable) and pieces of solid food, there are quite a few kinds of soups in the culinary world. Here's our list of all the types of soups so you won't have to guess what it means when you spot "consommé" on the menu the next time you're at a French restaurant.

The Differences Between Broth, Bisque, Stock, and More Soup Types (2)

A "soup" can be labeled one of the following:

  • Bisque is a rich, thick, smooth soup that's often made with shellfish, such as lobster, crab, or shrimp.
  • Broth or Stock is a strained, thin, clear liquid in which meat, poultry, or fish has been simmered with vegetables and herbs. While normally used as an ingredient in other soups, it can be enjoyed as a light course on its own.
  • Bouillon (pronounced bool-yaan) is basically the same as broth, but the term refers to commercial dehydrated products sold as granules or cubes.
  • Chowder is a thick, chunky soup. Traditionally, chowder is made with seafood or fish, but chowders made with poultry, vegetables, and cheese are also popular.
  • Consommé (pronounced con-som-AY) is a strong, flavorful meat or fish broth that has been clarified.
  • Chili is short for chili con carne, which translates to "chili pepper with meat." It is a stew with a base usually consisting of beans, tomatoes, chili peppers or powder, and meat.
  • Gazpacho is a (usually) spicy soup made from raw vegetables or fruits and served chilled.
  • Stews are composed of larger cuts of meat and/or vegetables that are simmered in cooking liquid over a longer amount of time. Because there's less liquid here than a traditional brothy soup, some don't consider stews to be a soup.

Now that you've got all these soup definitions down, you can curb your craving by whipping up a creamy butternut squash bisque or hearty beef stew for your next meal.

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The Differences Between Broth, Bisque, Stock, and More Soup Types (2024)

FAQs

The Differences Between Broth, Bisque, Stock, and More Soup Types? ›

There are four main categories of soup: Thin, Thick, Cold and National. These types of soup are widely recognised in today's modern kitchen.

What are the 4 types of soup? ›

There are four main categories of soup: Thin, Thick, Cold and National. These types of soup are widely recognised in today's modern kitchen.

What is the difference between bisque and broth? ›

While it will also incorporate a seafood broth or stock for depth of flavor, bisque is defined by the addition of heavy cream and, sometimes, a thickening agent, which imparts a rich, velvety consistency.

What is the difference between soup stock and broth? ›

The main difference between stock and broth starts with the primary ingredient. Stock is generally made from bones, and broth is generally made from flesh.

What are the 4 types of stock soup? ›

There are four basic kinds of stock/fond: white stock (Fond Blanc), brown stock (Fond Brun), vegetable or neutral stock (Fond Maigre) and Fish Stock (Fume de Poisson). The classifications refer to the contents and method used to prepare the stock, not necessarily to color.

What is a bisque? ›

Bisque is a smooth, creamy, highly seasoned soup of French origin, classically based on a strained broth (coulis) of crustaceans. It can be made from lobster, langoustine, crab, shrimp, or crayfish. The French bisque is one of the most popular seafood soups around the world. Bisque.

What is the difference between a bisque and a soup and a chowder? ›

A chowder is a thick, creamy soup that typically contains seafood and potatoes. A bisque is a thick, creamy soup made with puréed shellfish or vegetables. A soup is a thinner, broth-based dish that can be made with a variety of ingredients.

Why is it called bisque? ›

The word bisque, "crayfish soup" in French, stems either from the Bay of Biscay or the technique of bis cuites, or "twice cooked."

Is boiling chicken bones healthy? ›

It can make a healthy addition to your diet and contains nutrients such as collagen, electrolytes, and various amino acids. Consuming bone broth can help reduce inflammation and build muscle when combined with daily exercise.

Is cereal a soup? ›

It might be a nice snack, but dry cereal is not a soup any more than a packet of Lipton soup mix is a soup or a bag of beans is a chili. Once you add a liquid (typically milk, though we've seen water and even orange juice), you have solid ingredients floating in a liquid and eaten with a spoon.

Which is stronger stock or broth? ›

As a result, stock is usually a healthier product, delivering a richer mouth feel and deeper flavor than broth. Stock is a versatile culinary tool that can deliver taste to any number of dishes. Darker in color and more concentrated in flavor than broth, it's ideal for use in soups, rice, sauces and more.

What is the difference between bisque and stock? ›

Bisque is a rich, thick, smooth soup that's often made with shellfish, such as lobster, crab, or shrimp. Broth or Stock is a strained, thin, clear liquid in which meat, poultry, or fish has been simmered with vegetables and herbs.

What are the 7 types of soup? ›

The Classification of Soup
  • Thin soups. It is a clear liquid food that is prepared without a thickening agent and can be served plain or garnished with a variety of vegetables and meats. ...
  • Passed soup – Consommé ...
  • Unpassed soup – Broth or Bouillon. ...
  • Thick soups. ...
  • Bisque. ...
  • Cream. ...
  • Velouté ...
  • Chowders.

What is very thick soup called? ›

A potage is a category of thick soups, stews, or porridges, in some of which meat and vegetables are boiled together with water until they form a thick mush. Bisques are heavy cream soups traditionally prepared with shellfish, but can be made with any type of seafood or other base ingredients.

What are the 4 components of soup? ›

At its most basic, soup is four components: a base, a thickener, a liquid, and a main ingredient. The liquid and main ingredient can be thought of as the essence: add 3 parts liquid to 2 parts main ingredient, and it's soup.

What are the 3 classifications of soups and their example? ›

They are categorized as clear soups like broths and consommé, thick soups like purees and veloutes, cold soups, and international soups from different regions. Clear soups are light and broth-based while thick soups are thicker and creamier, often made by cooking and pureeing ingredients.

What are 3 specialty soups? ›

In addition, a specialty soup doesn't require any meat on it; it can be made with fruits, vegetables, and nuts. Some examples are peanut soup, coconut soup, turtle soup, and curry soup.

What does bisque soup mean? ›

What does bisque mean? A bisque is a smooth, creamy French style of soup, traditionally made from crustaceans like lobster, crab or crayfish.

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