Why Is Food Burning or Sticking in My Morphy Richards Soup Maker?

If food is burning, scorching or sticking to the base of your Morphy Richards Soup Maker, this is generally caused by the ingredients, liquid quantities or cooking method rather than a manufacturing fault.

Certain foods contain natural sugars and starches that can burn when they come into direct contact with the heated base. This is a recognised characteristic of cooking with a heated soup maker.

Food burning, sticking or leaving marks on the base does not, by itself, mean your soup maker is faulty.

This guide explains why burning happens, how to help prevent it and how to remove burnt-on food safely.

Why Does Food Burn on the Base of My Soup Maker?

The most common contributing factors are:

• Natural sugars: Tomatoes, onions and other vegetables contain sugars that can caramelise or catch during heating.
• Starches: Potatoes, rice, pasta and lentils can release starch, causing food to thicken and stick.
• Insufficient liquid: A thick mixture may allow ingredients to remain in direct contact with the heated base.
• Concentrated ingredients: Tomato purée, passata and thick sauces may settle against the heating surface.
• Ingredient preparation: The size, quantity and order of ingredients can influence cooking results.
• Cooking oils and fats: Different oils and fats behave differently when heated.
• Food residue: Burnt-on residue left from a previous cooking cycle may contribute to further sticking.

Even when following the same recipe, results can vary because fresh ingredients naturally differ in moisture, starch and sugar content.

Step 1: Add a Little Liquid Before Solid Ingredients

One of the most effective ways to help reduce burning is to prevent starch-rich or sugary ingredients from sitting directly against the heated base.

For soup maker models 501021, 501025 and 501050, the troubleshooting instructions specifically recommend adding approximately half a cup of water or stock before solid ingredients.

You can then add the remaining liquid required by your recipe.

This method can be particularly helpful when cooking with potatoes, tomatoes, rice and other ingredients that may stick.

Always ensure the total contents remain within the permitted filling levels.

What If My Recipe Says to Add Ingredients First?

Some recipes, including those supplied with Morphy Richards Soup Makers, instruct customers to add solid ingredients before liquid.

These recipes are provided as cooking guidance, and results can vary depending on the ingredients used.

If you've followed one of these recipes, you haven't necessarily done anything incorrectly.

However, where the model's troubleshooting guidance recommends adding liquid first, this is an additional preventative measure designed to reduce direct contact between ingredients and the heated base.

Following a recipe exactly does not guarantee that food will never stick or burn.

Step 2: Check Your Ingredients and Liquid Quantities

The balance between solid ingredients and liquid is important.

Too many dense ingredients or too little liquid can create a thick mixture that is more likely to stick during cooking.

To reduce this:

1. Follow the recommended ingredient quantities.
2. Avoid adding excessive amounts of potatoes, rice, pasta or other starchy foods.
3. Include sufficient water or stock for the recipe.
4. Keep the contents between the minimum and maximum filling levels.
5. Cut vegetables into suitably sized pieces so they cook evenly.

Do not add extra liquid beyond the maximum filling level.

Why Do Potatoes, Rice and Pasta Cause Sticking?

These ingredients contain starch, which can thicken the liquid during cooking.

If too much starch is released or the mixture becomes particularly thick, food may settle against the heated base and burn.

Reducing the quantity of starchy ingredients or adjusting the balance of ingredients and liquid may help.

Step 3: Take Extra Care with Tomatoes

Tomatoes contain natural sugars and solids that can catch against the heated base.

This can occur with:

• Fresh tomatoes.
• Tinned chopped or peeled tomatoes.
• Passata.
• Tomato purée.
• Concentrated tomato sauces.

Thicker tomato products, particularly purée and passata, may be more likely to settle against the heating surface.

How Can I Reduce Burning When Using Tomatoes?

• Ensure sufficient water or stock is included.
• Mix concentrated tomato purée with some of the recipe liquid rather than leaving it directly against the heated base.
• Avoid using excessive quantities of thick tomato products.
• Follow the recommended ingredient quantities.
• Use the liquid-first preventative method where recommended for your model.

Tomatoes are not prohibited ingredients. They are included in Morphy Richards soup maker recipes, but their natural sugar content can contribute to sticking or burning.

Step 4: Check the Cooking Oil or Fat

Cooking oils and fats may affect how ingredients behave during heating, particularly when using a sauté function.

Common examples include:

• Vegetable oil.
• Sunflower oil.
• Rapeseed oil.
• Olive oil.
• Butter.
• Cooking sprays.

Different oils and fats have different heating characteristics. Using excessive quantities or allowing ingredients to catch during sautéing can contribute to residue or burning.

If Your Soup Maker Has a Sauté Function

Models such as 501014 and 501020 include a sauté function.

Use this function only for suitable ingredients and follow the recommended cooking method.

For model 501014, the sauté function is intended for short cooking periods, such as softening onions. Its instructions advise against sautéing sugary or starchy foods and against allowing ingredients to burn.

Stir suitable ingredients during sautéing as directed, and avoid prolonged cooking.

Adding more oil does not necessarily prevent burning.

Step 5: Take Care with Dairy and Thickening Ingredients

Milk, cream, cheese, flour and other thickening ingredients can affect the consistency of a soup.

Some may catch against the heated base during prolonged cooking.

Where the recipe recommends adding these ingredients towards the end of cooking, follow that method.

Avoid adding excessive quantities of thickening ingredients, particularly when the mixture already contains a high proportion of starch.

Step 6: Clean Burnt-On Food from the Base

Burnt-on food should be removed before using the appliance again.

How to Remove Burnt Food

1. Switch off and unplug the soup maker.
2. Allow the appliance to cool completely.
3. Empty the jug.
4. Add hot, soapy water to cover the affected area.
5. Leave the burnt-on food to soak for approximately 15 minutes.
6. Gently remove the loosened residue using a suitable sponge cleaning pad.
7. Rinse the appropriate surfaces and dry thoroughly.

If residue remains, repeat the soaking process rather than scraping it away forcefully.

Important Cleaning Precautions

• Do not use metal scouring pads or sharp metal utensils.
• Do not scrape the heated base.
• Take care around the sharp blades.
• Do not immerse the lid, motor housing or electrical components in water.
• Keep electrical connections dry.
• Do not use abrasive cleaning methods that could damage the surface.

For models with a non-stick coating, such as 501014, take particular care not to scratch or damage the coating.

Does Your Soup Maker Have a Cleaning Programme?

Some models include a dedicated cleaning function.

For example, the Total Control Soup Maker (501020) has a Pre-Clean programme designed to help clean the base of its removable vessel.

Other models have different cleaning functions or require manual cleaning.

Use a cleaning programme only if it is provided on your model, following its designated instructions.

Are Burn Marks or Discolouration Safe?

Some staining or discolouration may remain after burnt-on food has been removed.

Residual cosmetic staining does not necessarily affect the performance of the soup maker or the quality of the food produced.

The Morphy Richards Total Control Soup Maker (501020) instructions specifically confirm that discolouration remaining after cleaning does not affect performance or food quality.

This refers to cosmetic discolouration, not physical damage.

If the heated surface is intact, clean and the appliance otherwise operates normally, staining alone is not evidence of a manufacturing fault.

However, if the surface is cracked, peeling, deteriorating or physically damaged, discontinue use and contact Customer Support.

Does Burning Mean My Soup Maker Is Faulty?

Food burning or sticking to the heated base is not, by itself, evidence of a manufacturing fault.

Morphy Richards soup maker instructions recognise that certain ingredients can burn when they come into contact with the heated surface.

In most cases, this is related to ingredient composition, liquid quantities or preparation rather than a problem with the appliance.

Repeated burning with the same recipe does not automatically indicate a fault, particularly if the ingredients and preparation method remain unchanged.

Will Replacing My Soup Maker Stop Food Burning?

Not necessarily.

If burning is caused by the ingredients, recipe proportions or cooking method, the same issue may occur with another appliance of the same model.

A replacement uses the same cooking principles and would not necessarily prevent ingredient-related burning.

For this reason, burnt-on food, sticking or cosmetic staining alone would not normally establish that a replacement is required.

Any separate symptoms suggesting an appliance fault can be assessed individually.

What If I've Followed All the Advice and Food Still Burns?

If you've completed the troubleshooting steps and food continues to burn, the next step is to review the recipe and preparation method in more detail.

Even when the recommended quantities have been followed, variations in the natural moisture, sugar and starch content of ingredients can affect cooking results.

Completing the troubleshooting steps does not automatically establish that the appliance is faulty.

If the appliance heats, blends and completes its programmes normally, adjustments to the ingredients or preparation method may still be needed.

If the appliance is also failing to heat, blend or complete programmes, or there is visible physical or electrical damage, this should be investigated separately.

Need Help Reviewing Your Recipe?

If food continues to burn or stick and you'd like further guidance, please contact our Customer Support team.

To help us identify possible causes, please provide:

1. Model and serial number: The model and serial numbers shown on the appliance's rating label.
2. Recipe and quantities: The full recipe, including all ingredients and approximate amounts of solid ingredients and liquid.
3. Preparation method: The order in which ingredients were added and the cooking programme selected.
4. Oil or cooking fat: The type and approximate quantity used, if applicable.
5. Tomato ingredients: Whether fresh tomatoes, tinned tomatoes, passata or tomato purée were used, and when they were added.
6. Cleaning and maintenance: How the appliance is cleaned and how frequently.
7. Previous troubleshooting: What you've already tried and whether it made any difference.
8. Photographs: Clear images of the burnt residue and the cleaned base, where possible.

If you've already provided some of this information, there's no need to send it again.

Our team can review the recipe and preparation method, offer further guidance and determine whether there are indications of a separate appliance issue requiring assessment.

Summary – Preventing Food Burning in Your Soup Maker

Food burning or sticking is generally associated with the ingredients and cooking conditions rather than a manufacturing fault.

To help reduce it:

• Use suitable ingredient and liquid quantities.
• Keep the contents within the correct filling levels.
• Add a little water or stock before solid ingredients where recommended.
• Take extra care with tomatoes, potatoes, rice and other sugary or starchy ingredients.
• Avoid excessive quantities of thick sauces or cooking fats.
• Follow the correct method when using a sauté function.
• Clean burnt-on residue after each use.
• Review your recipe if burning continues.

Burnt-on food, sticking or cosmetic discolouration alone does not mean your soup maker is faulty or that a replacement is required.

If the appliance has additional symptoms or visible damage, contact Customer Support for further assistance.