Microwave Toastie Makers: The Best Options in the UK (2026)
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A microwave toastie maker is a hinged case of heat-absorbing plates that goes inside your microwave and toasts a sandwich in roughly two to four minutes. The Morphy Richards Mico is the best-known and most reliable choice in the UK. It will not quite match an electric toastie maker for even browning, but where electric grills are banned or space is tight it is the best way to get a crisp, hot toastie from a microwave.
Quick answer:
- Morphy Richards Mico Microwave Toastie Maker: best overall, and the one to buy for most people
- Budget unbranded microwave sandwich makers: cheaper, but quality varies widely
- Microwave crisper or browning pan: best if you also want to crisp pizza and leftovers
- Toaster bags: best if you have a toaster but no grill allowed
- A compact electric toastie maker: best if you are allowed one, for the best results
On this page
How a microwave toastie maker works
Put a sandwich on a plate in the microwave and the bread steams: the microwaves heat the water inside it, and with nothing hot touching the outside it goes soft and chewy. A microwave toastie maker fixes that with plates made from (or coated in) a material that absorbs microwave energy and gets very hot, sometimes called a susceptor. Those hot plates press against the bread and brown it by contact, the same way an electric toastie maker does, while the microwaves heat the filling from inside.
Morphy Richards calls its version of this Heatwave technology. The plates sit inside silicone-covered grips so you can handle the case, and the whole thing closes like a clamshell around one sandwich. Because the plates heat themselves, the toastie maker does not need preheating in the way an electric machine does, but it does need the right time for your microwave's wattage.
Watch out: The plates get extremely hot. Use oven gloves or the designated grips to take it out, open it away from your face because steam escapes, and never run it empty or for longer than the manufacturer allows. Follow the instructions in the box, which take priority over any general advice here.
Comparison table
Prices are typical UK bands, not live prices; check before buying.
| Option | Toasties per go | Browning | Needs | Typical price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Morphy Richards Mico | 1 | Good, slightly patchy | Microwave | £20–£30 | Halls, offices, most people |
| Unbranded microwave sandwich maker | 1 | Variable | Microwave | £10–£20 | Tight budgets, if reviews are solid |
| Microwave crisper pan | 1 (open) | Bottom only unless flipped | Microwave | £10–£25 | Crisping pizza, wraps, leftovers |
| Toaster bags | 1–2 | Good | Pop-up toaster | £5–£10 | Toaster allowed, grill not |
| Compact electric toastie maker | 2 | Best | Socket, permission | £18–£35 | Anyone who can have one |
The best microwave toastie makers
Morphy Richards Mico Microwave Toastie Maker
The Mico is the reason most people know microwave toastie makers exist. It is a single-toastie clamshell with heat-absorbing plates set into silicone grips, and it is sold widely in the UK, including at supermarkets and Argos. It makes a genuinely crisp toastie in a few minutes, the non-stick plates clean easily, and the silicone keeps the outside manageable to handle.
What owners consistently say is that it needs a little trial and error. Too long and the bread edges harden; too short and the middle of the bread stays pale. Once you have found the right time for your microwave it is very repeatable. Morphy Richards has sold more than one version of the Mico over the years, so check the listing for the current model and its instructions. Our full Mico guide has timings, care and a verdict.
- Proper browning, not soggy bread
- No preheat, no extra appliance
- Easy to clean non-stick plates
- Fits in a drawer
- One toastie at a time
- Browning less even than electric
- Edges can overcook if timing is off
Unbranded microwave sandwich makers
Search online and you will find cheaper, unbranded microwave toastie makers that copy the Mico's clamshell design. Some work well; others have thin plates that barely brown, or hinges that warp after a few months. If you go this route, check that the listing clearly states it is microwave-safe with a heating or browning plate (not just a plastic mould), read recent reviews with photos, and avoid anything that does not give usage instructions or a wattage guide.
Given that the Mico is often discounted, the saving is usually small, so we only suggest this option if the branded one is out of stock.
- Cheaper
- Same basic idea
- Wide variation in quality
- Instructions often vague
- Durability unknown
Microwave crisper or browning pan
A microwave crisper is an open pan with a susceptor base, usually with a lid. It is less of a toastie maker than the Mico (it browns the underside, so you flip the sandwich halfway), but it also crisps pizza slices, quesadillas, wraps and leftover chips that the Mico cannot handle. If you want one gadget for crisping in the microwave, this is the more flexible buy.
For toasties specifically, press the sandwich flat, cook one side, flip, then finish. It is more fiddly and you will not get sealed edges.
- Crisps far more than sandwiches
- Larger cooking area
- Browns one side at a time
- No pressing or sealing
Reusable toaster bags
Not a microwave product, but often the answer to the same problem. Toaster bags are reusable non-stick sleeves (Toastabags is the best-known brand) that hold a made-up sandwich upright in a pop-up toaster. Many shared kitchens that ban grills and toastie makers still provide or allow a toaster, and a toaster bag gives you a crisp, evenly browned toastie with melted cheese, usually in one or two cycles.
Keep fillings thin (cheese, ham, a little pesto) and use regular sliced bread. They are cheap enough to buy a few and wash one while using another.
- Very cheap, reusable
- Excellent browning
- Keeps the toaster clean
- Thin fillings only
- Not every toaster has wide enough slots
A compact electric toastie maker
If you are allowed one, a small electric toastie maker still makes the best toastie for the money. The Tower T27013 deep fill and the Breville Deep Fill (VST091) are both compact (the Breville stands upright with built-in cord storage), and typically cost not much more than a Mico. You get two sealed triangles at once, more even browning and room for a deeper filling.
See our best compact toastie makers and the main best toastie maker list for full picks.
- Best toastie quality
- Two at once, sealed edges
- Needs a socket and worktop space
- Banned in some halls and offices
Microwave vs electric: the honest limits
A microwave toastie maker is a clever workaround, not an upgrade. Here is how it really compares with a standard electric sealed sandwich toaster. For a full head-to-head see microwave vs electric toastie maker.
- Browning. Electric plates are held at a steady temperature by a thermostat. Microwave plates heat up as the cycle runs, so browning can be lighter at first and patchier overall. Expect good rather than perfect.
- Capacity. One sandwich per cycle, against two (or four) in an electric machine. For a household, that adds up.
- Fillings. The microwave heats wet fillings fast, which is great for melting cheese but means beans, tomato and sauces get very hot and can spit. Keep wet fillings modest.
- Speed. There is no preheat, so a single toastie can be quicker from cold. For a second or third toastie, electric wins.
- Space and rules. This is where the microwave version wins outright: no extra appliance, no worktop footprint and usually acceptable where heating appliances are not.
Timings by microwave wattage
Your microwave's wattage is printed inside the door or on the back plate. As a broad guide for a cheese toastie on standard sliced bread, expect the following, then adjust in 15-second steps. Always follow the timings in your toastie maker's own instructions first.
| Microwave wattage | Starting time (cheese toastie) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 700W | About 3½–4 min | Check at 3½ min |
| 800W | About 3–3½ min | A common UK wattage |
| 900W | About 2½–3 min | Watch the edges |
| 1000W+ | About 2–2½ min | Easy to overcook |
For step-by-step instructions, safety tips and common fails, read how to use a microwave toastie maker. For fillings that suit the method, try our microwave toastie recipes.
Who should buy a microwave toastie maker?
Good fit
- Students in halls where grills and toastie makers are banned. Check your accommodation rules; our toastie makers for students guide covers this in detail.
- Office workers with a shared microwave and no hob.
- Caravans, boats and bedsits where worktop space is precious.
- Occasional toastie eaters who want one now and then without another appliance.
Skip it if
- You make toasties for more than one person regularly.
- You care most about deep, even golden browning.
- You like big, wet fillings: a deep fill electric machine is far better.
Tips for better microwave toasties
- Use standard medium sliced bread. Thick slices stay pale in the middle.
- Butter the outside lightly; it helps browning and release.
- Grate the cheese so it melts before the bread overcooks.
- Keep fillings thin and away from the edges.
- Let it rest for a minute before biting: the filling will be hotter than you expect.
- Clean the plates once cool with warm soapy water; avoid scourers.
Where to buy
The Mico is stocked by many UK retailers, including supermarkets and Argos; see our Argos toastie maker guide for what the store typically carries and how to compare. Prices change often, so compare a couple of retailers before buying, and check you are getting the current version with instructions.
FAQs
Do microwave toastie makers actually work?
Yes. Because the plates absorb microwave energy and get hot, they brown the bread by contact, so you get a crisp toastie rather than soggy bread. Results are a step below a good electric machine, mainly in evenness of browning, but clearly better than microwaving a sandwich on a plate.
Can I put a microwave toastie maker in a combination microwave on grill mode?
Only if the manufacturer says so. Many are designed for microwave mode only, and the grill element or convection heat can damage silicone grips or coatings. Check the instructions for your model before using any mode except standard microwave.
Are microwave toastie makers allowed in student halls?
They are usually acceptable because they are not heating appliances in their own right, but every accommodation sets its own rules. Check your halls' list of banned items before you buy, and ask if it is unclear.
Is a microwave toastie maker cheaper to run than an electric one?
The difference is tiny either way: both use a small amount of electricity for a few minutes. An electric machine uses some extra energy preheating, but cooks two toasties at once. Our toastie maker electricity cost guide shows the sums.
Can I make other things in a microwave toastie maker?
Some people use them for quesadillas, folded wraps and eggy bread, as long as the food fits and the instructions allow it. Avoid anything that would leave the plates running near-empty, such as a single thin tortilla on its own.