The best microwaves in the UK for every kitchen and budget – tested
They're perfect for time-poor cooks, but which deserves your counter space? From combi models to smart designs, here's what our expert recommends
If you're at a restaurant and hear a ping a couple of minutes before your meal arrives at your table, it's unlikely to be a good sign. But microwave ovens are a brilliant tool in the home kitchen. They're fearsomely fast at heating up - or even cooking - food when you're time-poor and lacking the energy to make something wholesome after a hard day at work. And in hot weather, cooking by microwave isn't just quick: it also won't warm your home.
Microwaves work best for heating food with a high water content (they make the water molecules in food vibrate to create heat). However, before testing, I asked around to find out what people use theirs for most, with a view to using this information to shape my tests. I learned a few things - like lots of people eat mug cakes. Who knew? And that wheat bags are a popular alternative to hot-water bottles. But the majority of folk use their microwave for reheating cold cuppas, defrosting frozen batch-cooked meals, warming food, popping microwave popcorn - and, of course, cooking jacket potatoes more quickly. I used these insights to shape my testing.
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