This post contains affiliate links. We may earn a commission if you buy via our links, at no extra cost to you. Full disclosure →
Who Is the Morphy Richards 501020 For?
The Morphy Richards Total Control 501020 is the premium model in the Morphy Richards soup maker range — the step up for buyers who already trust the brand from the 48822 and want more: more settings, more control over portions, and a machine that guides them through the cooking process rather than leaving them to make their own decisions about texture and timing. With 9 programs, Smart Response Technology, and a built-in portion selector, the 501020 is designed for households that want the same Morphy Richards reliability in a considerably more capable package.
At 4.2 stars from 1,648 reviews and 50+ units sold monthly, its track record is established. It sits above the 501014 Sauté model and at a similar price to the Cuisinart SSB3U — buyers at this level are choosing between Morphy Richards’ guided, automatic approach and Cuisinart’s hands-on precision engineering.
Design and Build Quality
The 501020 is finished in white with a 1.6-litre stainless steel jug — the same family-sized capacity as the 48822 and 501014. The touchscreen display is the immediate visual distinction from the rest of the Morphy Richards range: a flat, backlit panel that is clean to read and simple to navigate. Cool-touch housing keeps the exterior safe to handle throughout the cooking cycle, which matters for a machine that runs longer programs including reheat cycles that can keep the jug at temperature for extended periods.
The overfill sensor monitors liquid level and halts the cycle before overspill — the same safety feature found on the Hamilton Beach and Salter machines in this lineup. A detachable power cord makes the machine easier to position on the worktop and move for storage than fixed-cord alternatives.
Performance: 9 Settings and Smart Response Technology
The headline feature is programme breadth. Where the 48822 offers smooth and chunky, the Morphy Richards Total Control 501020 adds medium soup, sauté, drinks, reheat, blend, pre-clean, and keep warm — nine settings in total. Smart Response Technology means each programme runs pre-calibrated parameters for consistent output: the machine adjusts cooking conditions automatically rather than applying a fixed cycle regardless of ingredients or quantity. Morphy Richards positions this as “perfect for the less confident cook” — the machine handles variables that a more manual machine would leave to the user to judge.
The sauté function heats the stainless steel jug to a higher temperature, letting you brown onions, garlic, and spices directly in the machine before adding liquid. This produces deeper, more developed flavour than loading raw ingredients into a cold start, and it is the single biggest quality improvement over a two-setting machine for most soup recipes. The 501014 and Cuisinart SSB3U also carry this function — its presence in the 501020 brings the full Morphy Richards range up to the same standard at the top end.
The reheat function brings leftover soup back to serving temperature in the jug without transferring to a separate pan. Combined with the keep warm programme, the 501020 handles the full soup-making cycle from raw ingredients to warm serving without additional equipment.
Portion Control
The portion control feature is distinctive within this lineup. Before starting a cycle, you select the number of portions — two, three, or four — and the machine adjusts its operation accordingly. In practice, the 501020 calibrates cooking conditions for the volume in the jug rather than assuming a full 1.6-litre batch. For a household of two cooking smaller batches regularly, this is a more considered approach than underfilling a full-capacity machine and hoping the results are consistent.
501020 vs 48822 and 501014
The 48822 is the proven benchmark: 12,000+ reviews, consistent results, two settings, straightforward operation. The 501020 adds seven more programmes, Smart Response Technology, portion control, a touchscreen, and the sauté function — but at a significantly higher price, and with a 4.2-star average versus the 48822’s 4.4. The additional complexity is genuine added value, not feature padding; whether that value justifies the price difference depends on whether you will actually use the sauté, reheat, and portion control features with any regularity.
The 501014 also has sauté, but fewer total programmes and no Smart Response Technology or portion control. The 501020 is the more complete machine; the 501014 is more focused. If sauté is all you want and you have no interest in the additional programmes, the 501014 delivers the key upgrade from the 48822 at a lower price than the 501020.
Verdict
The Morphy Richards Total Control 501020 is the right choice for buyers who want Morphy Richards reliability with genuine programme depth — sauté for flavour, Smart Response Technology for consistent output, portion control for smaller households, and reheat so nothing goes cold waiting. It asks a higher price than the 48822 and delivers a meaningfully more capable machine in return. If two settings and proven simplicity are all you need, the 48822 remains the stronger recommendation. If you want the most capable machine Morphy Richards makes, the 501020 is it.
