Taste-Off: The best dry soup mixes — and the salty horrors

A really good dry soup mix can be a lifesaver on a frantic weeknight -- or it can be a ghastly, over-salted, bowl of yuck. Here's what to buy -- and what to avoid.

There are few meals as comforting and nutritious as a pot of homemade soup. Whether it’s rustic or elegant, creamy or brothy, it’s a near perfect food — especially during cold and flu season.

While the best soup is made from scratch using fresh ingredients, a good dry soup mix will do in a pinch — if you choose carefully. Dry soup mixes come in an array of styles and flavors, including minestrone, chicken noodle, mixed bean, tortilla, potato and even cheese. Many of these mixes require nothing more than boiling water, but the best incorporate a few fresh ingredients as well. Made right, a good dry soup mix turns water into a tasty, comforting meal in minutes.

Unfortunately, many dry mixes are hugely problematic. They can be incredibly high in sodium or filled with excessive additives. And poorly dehydrated elements make for unpleasant flavors.

To find the best dry soup mixes, look for those with the shortest list of ingredients. A few additions for freshness and texture are fine, but beware long lists of strange ingredients in print so tiny it’s hard to read.

Here’s the scoop on the best of the bunch, and the ones best poured down the drain. Nutrition details refer to one cup of soup.

Frontier Enchilada Soup

Yes, this mix requires a short list of additional ingredients, but the result is an enjoyable bowl that tastes like homemade. The mix consists of freeze-dried vegetables, spices and herbs. It has no added salt — a boon for anyone monitoring their sodium intake. 60 calories, .5 g fat, 10 mg sodium, 3 g protein. $5.79 for 5.75 ounces at Sprouts; $7.29 at Whole Foods. (4 stars)

Patagonia Provisions Organic Black Bean Soup

This mix of freeze-dried beans, corn and carrot cooks up ultra-fast and offers a tasty, filling bowl of goodness. Cooked according to directions, the soup is a bit thick, but an extra shot of water is a quick fix. 280 calories, 1.5 g fat, 440 mg sodium, 17 g protein. A 5.8-ounce pouch is $7.29 at Whole Foods. (4 stars)

Alessi Premium Tuscan White Bean Soup

Lots of herbs make this colorful puree of beans and vegetables taste fresh and light. Bits of macaroni add heartiness. 150 calories, .5 g fat, 660 mg sodium, 7 g protein. A 6-ounce pouch is $3.89 at Raley’s. (3 stars)

Sierra Soups Mama Sorrenti’s Minestrone

Even though this vegan, gluten-free option includes an impressive-looking packet of dried vegetables, the resulting soup is decidedly flat in flavor. More fresh elements could turn it into a fine soup. 40 calories, 1.5 g fat, 240 mg sodium, 2 g protein. $3.99 for 12 ounces at Safeway. (2½ stars)

Bear Creek Country Kitchens Tortilla

This would never pass as fresh tortilla soup, but the contents of this package make for an acceptable, if slightly under-spiced soup. It’s oddly viscous due to too much potato powder. 110 calories, 1 g fat, 830 mg sodium, 3 g protein. An 8.8-ounce bag is $4.69 at Safeway. (2 stars)

Sierra Soups Chicken Noodle Soup

As convenient as it is to “just add water” to this vegetarian mix, it doesn’t work. The result is a watery broth with a strange, nutty flavor that doesn’t taste a bit like chicken (because it’s not). A spoonful of bouillon makes it palatable. 100 calories, no fat, 500 mg sodium, 4 g protein. $3.99 for 10 ounces at Marshall’s. (2 stars)

Bob’s Red Mill 13 Bean Soup Mix

To call this melange of beans a soup mix is wrong. It requires an overnight soak, three hours of cooking time, plus every other ingredient that goes into a pot of bean soup. Even worse, the recipe on the back of the package results in a flat, unfortunate flavored soup. 200 calories, .5 g fat, 0 mg sodium, 12 g protein. $4.99 for 29-ounces at Sprouts Market. (1½ stars)

Knorr Leek Recipe Mix

A hint of leek in very salty broth make this soup disappointing. It might work as the base for a potato-leek soup, but it’s not likely to please as is. 60 calories, 1 g fat, 690 mg sodium, 1 g protein. $2.85 for 1.8 ounces at Raley’s. (1 star)

Wyler’s Mrs. Grass Hearty Homestyle Chicken Noodle

Over-the-top salt is the primary issue with this otherwise ordinary soup with highly processed, artificial chicken flavor. The addition of ground turkey, as per the recipe suggestion, makes it edible. 70 calories, 1.5 g fat, 1,010 mg sodium, 2 g protein. $5.49 for 5.93 ounces at Raley’s. (1 star)

Idahoan Steakhouse Creamy Potato Soup

The flavor of fake cheese and butter make this soup underwhelming. It has great chunky texture and is pleasantly creamy, but the daunting list of of preservatives and additives take over. 220 calories, 10 g fat, 1,030 mg sodium, 3 g protein. $4.19 for 7.1 ounces at Raley’s. (½ a star)

Bear Creek Country Kitchens Creamy Potato

Hold your nose and swallow. There is nothing delicious about this gluey concoction that tastes like paper. 150 calories, 3.5 g fat, 870 mg sodium, 2 g protein. $3.18 for 11 ounces at Walmart; $4.89 at Raley’s. (No stars)

Reviews are based on product samples purchased by this newspaper or provided by manufacturers. Contact Jolene Thym at timespickyeater@gmail.com. Read more Taste-off columns at www.mercurynews.com/tag/taste-off.