Okay, so I wanted cheap lazy lunches this week, right? Pulled up Instacart just hunting for those paper bowl soups – you know, the ones that cook in the damn microwave inside the packaging. Figured I’d grab one box to try… ended up rabbit-holing into comparing five brands like it was my job.
The Hunt Begins
First stop? Walmart. Saw this Thai Kitchen rice noodle soup bowl for like $3.25. Packaging looked fancy with “authentic flavors” blah blah. Tossed it in my cart. Then spotted Progresso’s lentil soup bowl – cheaper at $2.50, but the bowl felt flimsy as hell. Kept digging.
Next aisle, found Imagine organic butternut squash. Price tag? $4.99. Almost choked. Organic tax strikes again! Grabbed it anyway for science. Spotted a green box – Amy’s Kitchen lentil vegetable – another $4-something splurge. Last find? Campbell’s Chunky Chicken Noodle. Basic. $2.79. Fine. Checked out haul feeling like a coupon villain.
Microwave Showdown
Home time. Lined ‘em up on the counter like contestants:
- Campbell’s: Ripped lid, poured water to line. Microwaved 3 mins. Bowl got SUPER floppy – held it by the rim like hot lava. Soup smelled like… salt.
- Thai Kitchen: Peeling film off was a puzzle. Added water. Noodles swelled way past the fill line – volcanic eruption in my microwave. Cleaning sucked.
- Amy’s: Felt sturdy. Peeling corner tab worked slick. But after nuking? Veggies were mushy sadness. Tasted like $4 regret.
- Progresso: Lid ripped clean off. Easy water fill. But during cooking? That flimsy bowl sagged. Held breath praying it wouldn’t collapse.
- Imagine: Bowl felt thickest. Smooth peel tab. Zero leaks. But damn – tasted like baby food. Texture weirded me out.
Taste Test Chaos
Gathered roommate as judge. Results:
- Campbell’s: Salty AF. Noodles soft. Chicken bits? Rubber ghosts. Roommate: “Tastes like broke college flashbacks.” Price won, flavor lost.
- Thai Kitchen: Spice kicked nice! Broth decent… but noodles? Gluey mess. And microwave cleanup was war flashbacks.
- Amy’s: Lentil mush with zero seasoning. Felt healthy… and depressing. Like eating guilt.
- Progresso: Actually tasty! Lentils held shape. BUT bowl almost folded mid-meal. Stress eating.
- Imagine: Roommate dipped spoon. Made face. “Smooth like soup-smoothie?” Hard pass. Even the dog ignored it.
Final Winner… Kinda?
Honestly? None blew my mind. But Progresso won on taste + price. Flimsy bowl nearly killed the vibe, though – ate it hovering over the sink. If you hate dishes? Get Thai Kitchen but bring armor for noodle explosions. Cheap option? Campbell’s survives if you drown it in hot sauce. Lesson? Paper soup bowls are wartime rations – manage expectations.
