MamaDarkness completed a very detailed study into meals versus stews for soul depth gain. This information can be found on Wurmpedia under [[Guides:Cooking With Mamadarkness]]. Until very high levels stews are the best approach to gaining soul depth while also being the easiest to dispose of.
=== Filling pans ===
An alternative approach for those purchasing vegetables is to ask their favourite farmer to build an onsite cookhouse for you to use. This saves a lot of time shipping vegetables however it does require that you travel to their cookhouse.