If you need to put food on the table, fast, a microwave is unbeatable. Ideal for those with busy lifestyles, microwaves today are also versatile. Alongside the basic functions such as 'reheat' and 'cook', many offer defrosting programmes, rotisserie options and grills - so you can pack a lot of cooking-power into a comparatively small space.

Sainsbury's has a great range of models, so whether you want something basic, or something to bring out your inner chef, we've got all the answers, online.

Choose from our wide range of microwaves

Microwave ovens produce radio waves at a frequency of 2,500 mega hertz (MHz). These excite water molecules in food, causing it to heat.

Microwaves do not penetrate very deeply, so food heated for a short period will be hot on the outside but still cool in the middle. This is why it is important to stir foods during heating and also allow them to stand before serving.

Because only the food is heated rather than the oven itself, foods cooked in a microwave will never develop a crust. 

Measured in litres, microwaves vary in size from around 17 to 40 litres for a large combi oven. The larger the model, the larger the turntable, but note that larger models cost more to run.

 

Microwaveable food will clearly display the appropriate category and power levels on the packet under 'cooking instructions'.

Microwaves usually reach a maximum power of between 650 and 1950 Watts, with the rating and category clearly displayed. The higher the wattage, the quicker the food will cook. Even the most basic microwaves have different programmes or power levels, which cook or defrost using appropriate power. Microwaves are classified according to wattage:     

Category	Wattage
Category B	650W
Category D	750W
Category E	850W

Basic microwaves are generally controlled using manual dials that set temperature and cooking time. Touchpad buttons offer more control but can be a little fiddly to use. Automatic sensor cooking calculates cooking temperatures and times based on the weight and type of food being cooked. Automatic controls will push up the price of a microwave.

AVOID plastic that isn’t microwave safe, metal dishes, foil containers and any china dishes that have a metallic rim or metal inlay. Using a metal dish will cause the microwave to arc (spark), which could cause a fire.

USE Non-porous china or ceramic plates, heatproof glass, Pyrex and microwave-safe plastic.

Auto-sensor or auto-weight programmes: these calculate cooking time for you. There is no need to enter the power or time - just select the food and its weight, and press start.

Catalytic self clean lining: a catalytic lining will prevent build-up of food and grease as spills are continuously burnt-off when the convection oven is in use. 

Chaos defrost: this system blasts frozen food with strong, random microwave energy, which heats the food more evenly thus defrosting it quicker. 

Child lock: stops children from turning on or operating a microwave unsupervised. 

Convection cooking: this is how food is cooked in an ordinary oven. 

Crisper plates: these help crisp food like pizzas, quiches and pies.

Heating category: microwaves are classified from B to E depending on their wattage and how quickly they heat food. B is the slowest, and E is the fastest. 

Multiple sequence cooking: automatically changes power levels during cooking so that food can be defrosted and then cooked without stopping and resetting the microwave.

Sensor cooking: this monitors the moisture level and temperature of the food, and automatically adjusst the power/timer to prevent overcooking. 

Timer: this is set using a dial or push buttons, and different models vary between 0 to 60 minutes and 0 to 99.99 minutes. 

Turntable: this rotates when the microwave is on, ensuring food is cooked properly. It is removable for cleaning.