Potato soup, instant, dry mix vs Soup, beef barley, ready to serve
Original comparison by NutriVerdict
Bottom line: Soup, beef barley, ready to serve is the more nutrient-dense of the two, scoring 35 of 100 to 33 for Potato soup, instant, dry mix.
Soup, beef barley, ready to serve scores 35 of 100 for nutrient density, just ahead of potato soup instant dry mix at 33 of 100. The biggest difference is sodium, the dry mix carries 2400 mg per 100 g against 297 mg in the beef barley soup, over eight times as much. Calories follow the same pattern, 343 versus 52 per 100 g, though the dry mix still has more protein (9.2 g vs 2.81 g) and fiber (7.6 g vs 0.9 g).
Choose beef barley soup when sodium and calories need to stay low, since it is already prepared and far less concentrated. Choose the potato soup mix only if you plan to reconstitute it with plenty of water, which spreads its protein, fiber, calories, and sodium across a larger serving. Honest note: with scores just two points apart, this is a close call decided mainly by sodium load.
Head to head, per 100 g
| Metric | Potato soup, instant | Soup, beef barley |
|---|---|---|
| Nutrient Density Score | 33 | 35 |
| Calories | 343 kcal | 52 kcal |
| Protein | 9.2 g | 2.8 g |
| Carbohydrate | 76 g | 7.9 g |
| Dietary fiber | 7.6 g | 0.9 g |
| Sugars | 10 g | 1.2 g |
| Total fat | 3.1 g | 1 g |
| Saturated fat | 0.6 g | 0.3 g |
| Sodium | 2400 mg | 297 mg |
| Potassium | 1250 mg | 121 mg |
| Calcium | 172 mg | 11 mg |
| Iron | 2.4 mg | 0.5 mg |
| Magnesium | 62 mg | 9 mg |
| Vitamin C | 16 mg | 0.5 mg |
| Vitamin A | 3 ug | 14 ug |
| Vitamin E | 0.5 mg | 0.1 mg |
| Cholesterol | 12 mg | 4 mg |
Source: USDA FoodData Central · Public domain
Frequently asked questions
Is Soup, beef barley, ready to serve healthier than Potato soup, instant, dry mix?
On our Nutrient Density Score, which measures beneficial nutrients per calorie, Soup, beef barley, ready to serve scores higher, 35 of 100 to 33. Both can fit a balanced diet; the score reflects nutrients per calorie, not a whole-diet judgement.
Which has more protein, Potato soup, instant, dry mix or Soup, beef barley, ready to serve?
Potato soup, instant, dry mix has more protein, 9.2 g per 100 g to 2.8 g.
Which has fewer calories?
Soup, beef barley, ready to serve is lower in calories, 52 kcal per 100 g to 343 kcal.
Which has more fiber?
Potato soup, instant, dry mix has more dietary fiber, 7.6 g per 100 g to 0.9 g.
Full Potato soup, instant profile Full Soup, beef barley profile