National Homemade Soup Day is on Thursday, February 4, 2027, and it comes around every February 4. It’s a reason to make a pot of soup from scratch instead of opening a can. Early February is cold in much of the country, so the timing works.
When Is National Homemade Soup Day?
It’s always February 4. It’s an unofficial food day, and it isn’t a federal holiday.
Who Started National Homemade Soup Day?
No founder or start year has been documented.
Why Make Soup at Home?
The biggest difference is salt. The FDA says Americans eat about 3,400 mg of sodium a day, while the Dietary Guidelines call for less than 2,300 mg. More than 70% of that sodium comes from packaged and prepared foods.
The CDC lists soups among the foods that supply the most sodium in U.S. diets. When you cook your own pot, you decide how much salt goes in.
Lemon juice, garlic, fresh herbs and a Parmesan rind all add flavor without the salt shaker. Homemade soup also stretches leftovers and feeds a crowd cheaply.
How to Celebrate National Homemade Soup Day
- Use up leftovers: simmer a roast chicken carcass with onion, carrot and celery for stock, then add noodles.
- Go meatless: make a red lentil soup with cumin and lemon; red lentils cook down in about 20 minutes.
- Blend a classic: roast tomatoes with garlic, blend them smooth and serve with grilled cheese for dipping.
- Cook for a crowd: make chili or minestrone in a slow cooker before work and invite friends over.
- Swap with friends: each person makes one big batch, then everyone trades quart jars.
- Cook a soup from another country: try Mexican pozole, Vietnamese pho or Italian wedding soup.
- Cool it fast: split a big pot into shallow containers and refrigerate within two hours, as the USDA advises.
- Freeze it flat: ladle cooled soup into zip-top freezer bags and lay them flat, so they stack and thaw faster.
- Save scraps for stock: keep onion ends, carrot peels and herb stems in a freezer bag until it’s full.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does homemade soup last?
The USDA says leftovers keep three to four days in the refrigerator. Frozen soup stays safe indefinitely but tastes best within three to four months.
How should I reheat soup?
Bring soup to a rolling boil, the USDA says. For other leftovers, check they reach 165°F with a food thermometer.
Can you freeze soup with noodles or potatoes?
It’s safe, but texture can suffer. Noodles turn soft and potatoes can go grainy, so many cooks freeze the base and add noodles fresh when reheating.
Is there also a National Soup Day?
People often search for “National Soup Day,” but February 4 is the date tied to homemade soup. Clam chowder has its own day later in February.