Your guide to microwave cooking

Our microwave recipe collection is a popular destination on bbcgoodfood.com. It’s incredible what you can rustle up at the touch of a button. From chocolate cake to butternut squash risotto, microwaves can add an extra dimension to your cooking, while saving valuable time and electricity costs. They’re more energy-efficient than turning on the oven – a jacket potato can be ready in just 10 minutes if you use the microwave rather than baking it in the oven for an hour. They are the workhorse of a busy kitchen, and it’s no surprise that 93% of households own one.

Which setting to use

All cooking times are based on a 900W oven. Adjust times accordingly for other wattages. The recipes are cooked on full power unless stated otherwise.

If you’re in the market for a microwave, check out our reviews on page 130 and bbcgoodfood.com. Or scan the QR code for Elaine’s full round-up.

“Microwaves can add an extra dimension to your cooking, while