A microwave's power is measured in watts - and generally, the higher the wattage, the faster your food cooks. Look for a microwave with a selection of auto programs (to automatically set the weight and time for specific foods), digital displays and easy-to-use push-button or touch panel controls. These models are proven to be energy efficient and come from brands that stay fault-free for longer, so shouldn't need replacing very often. Clear labelling Controls should be clearly labelled with a large font size. Digital displays should be brightly lit and easy to read. If you're visually impaired, consider one that beeps when you make a selection.

You can wipe down greasy, smudged viewing windows with a 50/50 mixture of vinegar and water, before rinsing and leaving to air-dry. Your best bet for getting the gunk out of the rubber door seals is a damp cloth dipped in a little bicarbonate of soda. Where to buy a microwave What’s more, you can improve or expand upon your current culinary repertoire with the help of our high-quality cookware selection, or produce mouthwatering bakes every time thanks to our baking range. Kitchen Essentials for a Bargain We also offer stylish water bottles, flasks and reusable takeaway cups or tumblers for a practical and attractive way to stay hydrated and cut down on plastic waste. Some models at this price will come with other extras such as delayed start and multi-stage cooking (to automatically switch between heating modes such as defrosting and heating). These combine normal microwave cooking with a grilling element. They can perform all the tasks you'd expect from a standard model, such as defrosting ready meals and reheating leftovers. The grill function can also brown food.Sometimes called 'solo' microwaves, these are the most basic. They're great for simple tasks such as warming soup, heating ready meals or defrosting food. Keeping your microwave clean will help to reduce energy costs too because bits of food, grime, and spills will add a couple more seconds to the cooking time of your food. A kitchen should be a hub of activity, a place to express creativity and a space to share with the whole family. It’s the heart of the house. For this reason, we believe that excellent cookware, utensils, storage products and accessories should never break the bank. Six evenly spaced vents in the top let steam escape without letting all the moisture out of your carefully prepared meal, and deep finger grips in the centre make it easy to lift on and off the plate.

or High Ideal for anything with a high water content and the best setting for steaming. It’s also good for reheating ready-made meals, soups, canned foods, cold coffee and tea, mince or tender meat, poultry, fish, cooked pasta, and most vegetables. These tips will help you to save even more money when using your microwave. Choose the correct power setting for your dish If your turntable is on the grimy side, simply remove it and wash with warm soapy water – or pop it in the dishwasher if your model permits.Because of these strict criteria, less than 10% of the microwaves we've tested get an Eco Buy recommendation. Keep your surfaces clear and your cabinets organised with our kitchen storage range, and add the finishing touches with kitchen accessories for great prices when you shop with us. Find High-Quality Kitchen Appliances Despite their relatively straightforward purpose, microwaves can vary considerably in terms of the accessories and features they offer. Cooking certain foods at full power will dry them out or burn the outside before the middle is done. And you’ll use more energy doing so, too.