Which of the following is not a step in preparing soup?

Baking bread is not a step in preparing soup, as it involves a different cooking process and focuses on a separate dish. Soup typically requires steps such as chopping vegetables, simmering stock, and seasoning the mixture to build flavor, texture, and depth in the final product. Baking bread, on the other hand, is related to making a baked good that might accompany the soup but does not directly contribute to the soup-making process itself. Therefore, while all the other options are integral components in preparing a soup, baking bread does not align with those specific steps.