or Medium Low Simmer foods such as chilli, sauces, rice and cereal on this setting. You can also use it to defrost smaller items - many microwaves use Medium Low as the ‘auto defrost’ setting. Multi-step programming This allows you to program different cooking modes in sequence, to automatically switch between defrosting and cooking your dinner, for example. Auto cook programs Enter the type and weight of food, and the microwave will automatically set the time and power needed to cook it. Premium models can offer up to 30 programs, including specialised ones for popcorn or roasts.

That’s why, at B&M, we have a full kitchen range to help you to prepare the best food for less. Tableware, Cookware and Baking Sets 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.

Because of these strict criteria, less than 10% of the microwaves we've tested get an Eco Buy recommendation. If this seems like too much effort, look for a microwave with auto programs that'll set the time and power level for you. Switch it off at the wall Pizza function This tends to work better with grill or combi microwaves, as the grill helps to crisp the pizza base and brown the top. Some models come with ‘crisper plates’ which can also be used for quiches. You'll get better results if you use a frozen pizza and pre-heat the oven and plate for four or five minutes first. or Medium High Reheating single-serving leftovers, casseroles, stews, ribs, and foods with cheese. You can also use it to warm milk but be sure to stir it every 15 seconds so you don't end up with a thin film on top.

Start your day right with a good cuppa. We’ve got kettles in all colours so you can brew your favourite teawith ease. 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. Combis usually have a much bigger capacity than standard machines. The average combi can fit a 35cm-wide dish inside, compared with 29cm for a typical solo model. Clearance space Auto defrost Most microwaves offer an auto-defrost setting that uses bursts of low heat to defrost based on the weight of the food. Some come with settings for specific foods.

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Large door Wide-opening or dropdown doors make it much easier to get heavy or hot dishes in and out of the microwave, especially if you have reduced strength or dexterity. Auto reheat Enter the weight of the food and the microwave automatically calculates how long it should take to reheat. Better microwaves let you select what it is you're cooking, rather than giving one cooking time for every type of food.