Morphy Richards MixStar Compact stand mixer (400520) with dual rotating beaters, whisks & dough hooks

At a glance

If you want a stand mixer but don’t have the kitchen worktop or cupboard space for a full-size machine, the Morphy Richards MixStar Compact is built for that reality. It’s designed around a compact footprint, an open-top style for easier ingredient handling, and a bowl that’s dishwasher safe to make clean-up less of a chore.

On paper, the big selling point is its dual-action approach: it uses dual rotating beaters and includes a dual scraper so the mixture should be fully incorporated rather than leaving bits to scrape down manually. It also has a count-up timer to help you keep track when you’re baking by timing rather than by guesswork.

That said, compact mixers aren’t meant to replace every high-capacity baking session. If you’re consistently working with very large batches, this may feel more “capable for everyday baking” than “built for big kneads all day”.

What it’s for (and why the design matters)

The MixStar Compact sits in the practical middle: it’s aimed at home bakers who want consistent results without turning the kitchen into a permanent mixer station. The open-top design is a welcome touch for real-life baking, because it’s easier to add ingredients mid-process or swap attachments without wrestling with the top or fully stopping.

There’s also an extra splash guard to reduce mess. That won’t make everything spotless in the way some people expect, but it should help when you’re doing tasks like beating cake batter or mixing something that wants to rise and splatter.

A small detail with outsized day-to-day impact is the mention of built-in storage within the bowl, so attachments don’t always end up as “somewhere in a drawer”. It’s not glamorous, but it’s the kind of feature you notice when you’re cooking after work and just want things to stay tidy.

The essentials: dual action and speeds

This mixer is positioned as compact but still properly powered, with a 650W motor and 6 speed settings. Different bakes often need different pacing, so having multiple speeds matters more than you might think when you’re switching between, say, whipping, creaming, and mixing.

The dual-rotational mechanism is described as delivering double the action and whipping your mixture in half of the time. It’s a confident claim, and real results will depend on your recipe and technique—but the approach is clearly meant to speed up mixing while keeping the texture consistent.

You also get a dual scraper intended to help ensure all the mixture is incorporated. If you’ve ever had batter clinging to the sides and ending up uneven, this is the sort of feature that can improve consistency with less manual scraping.

Key specs to compare before you buy

• Power: 650W
• Motor settings: 6 speeds
• Timer: count-up timer
• Bowl: stainless-steel, dishwasher safe
• Design: open top design with splash guard
• Attachments mentioned: dual rotating beaters, whisks & dough hooks
• Colour: grey

If you’re comparing against more basic hand mixers or entry-level stand mixers, the combination of bowl dishwasher safety plus multiple attachments is a strong practical bundle. If you’re comparing against larger premium machines, the “compact but powerful” idea may look less about raw capacity and more about convenience for everyday batches.

What you’ll notice day to day (including limits)

In everyday use, the open-top layout makes it easier to stay flexible—add an extra splash of milk, drop in chocolate chips, or switch from whisking to mixing without turning your baking into a production.

The dishwasher-safe stainless-steel bowl is likely the most “actually useful” time-saver. When you’re doing multiple bakes across a weekend, the difference between hand-washing and putting the bowl in the dishwasher shows.

Just keep one limitation in mind: compact designs tend to be a trade-off. Even with 6 speeds and a 650W motor, it may not be the best choice if you regularly knead large dough batches or want to run very heavy mixes for long stretches.

Is it worth it?

It’s worth considering if you’re a keen home baker who values convenience—open-top access, a splash guard to reduce mess, built-in storage to keep attachments neat, and a dishwasher-safe stainless-steel bowl. The dual-action setup and dual scraper are also a good fit if you want the mixture to be properly incorporated without constant manual scraping.

You may want to skip it if you need maximum capacity for bigger batch cooking, or if your priority is heavy-duty, frequent kneading in very large quantities. Compact stand mixers can work brilliantly, but they’re not the same category as machines built for constant, large-volume production.

Mini FAQ

How easy is it to add ingredients during mixing?

Because it uses an open top design, you should be able to add ingredients or change attachments with ease during the process.

Is the bowl dishwasher safe?

Yes—the stainless-steel bowl is described as dishwasher safe, which should simplify cleaning.

Does it include dough hooks as well as whisks?

Yes, the package is described as including dual rotating beaters, whisks and dough hooks.

How many speeds does it have?

It has 6 speed settings.

Final thoughts before you commit

Before buying, it’s worth checking your typical batch sizes and how often you knead versus whisk/beat. If most of your baking is everyday cakes, batters and moderate doughs, this compact approach makes sense. If you’re regularly working with large quantities, you might find this kind of “compact but powerful” design leaves you wanting more space and capacity.