The best gadgets for your microwave
From fluffy scrambled eggs to sticky rice, you won’t believe how many recipes you can try in the microwave with the help of some nifty cooking accessories.
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With so many of us short on cooking time, we often rely on our microwaves for preparing quick meals in a flash. It’s no surprise there are now so many gadgets which make poaching eggs or steaming rice achievable at the click of a button. We tested a bunch of them to find out which ones really are worth the hype.
For more expert buyer's advice, read our review of the best microwaves, plus visit our reviews section for 200+ unbiased guides to the very best kitchen essentials and more.
Best microwave gadgets
Rice steamer
Joseph Joseph M-Cuisine rice cooker
This super-slick rice cooker comes with an easy measuring jug so you can choose how many portions of rice to cook, as well as a small serving spoon, making it easy to serve straight from the pot. We put it through its paces with one of the hardest varieties: long-grain rice. We simply popped in a cup of rice, matched with the required amount of cold water, covered with the lid and placed inside the microwave for 10 minutes. The result? A generous portion of fluffy steamed rice, much simpler to cook than on the hob. It's dishwasher safe, too, so minimal washing-up was required.
Porridge pot
Sistema microwave breakfast bowl
Our porridge-crazed nation has been crying out for the perfect porridge bowl, and it just so happens we’ve found it. Wave goodbye to nasty spillages – this secure pot comes with built-in ventilation so air can escape during cooking, making sure your porridge won’t explode halfway through cooking. At 850ml in volume, it's the ideal size for breakfast for one. Looking for porridge topping inspo? We’ve got a guide for that.
Available from Amazon (£5.50)
Egg scrambler
OXO Good Grips microwave egg cooker
To some, the thought of scrambling eggs in the microwave is just plain wrong. To the fearless, however, this handy pot scrambles or ‘fries’ eggs in minutes – and the results are quite surprising. Crack an egg inside, season and seal, then pop in the microwave. After a minute, bring out the pot, release the bottom and slide the egg onto your plate. Give it a little whisk with your fork if you’re looking for scrambled eggs. This gadget does have its limitations – it’s definitely only suitable for one portion and you may find it a little tricky to whisk inside the bowl, but for a quick scrambled egg on toast job, we think it’s a winner.
Available from:
Lakeland (£9.99)
Amazon (£10)
Cling film
Lakeland perforated cling film
This cling film has been specially designed for microwave cooking. The tiny airholes allow steam to escape during cooking (meaning food doesn't balloon or explode in the microwave). We tried it out while cooking chicken and we were left with super juicy chicken breast, with all the moisture still sealed inside. Two thumbs up.
Available from Lakeland (£6.79)
On the lookout for a new machine? Check out our review of the best microwaves.
Microwave recipes
Microwave chilli
Microwave biriyani
Microwave shakshuka
Microwave banana pudding
Microwave chocolate cake
Microwave butternut squash risotto
Microwave mac 'n' cheese
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What's your favourite microwave gadget? Share your thoughts below...
This review was last updated in February 2020. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
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