The 11 Best Microwave Accessories You Actually Need

A good microwave can be used for more than just heating leftover food, and there are many useful and fun microwave accessories and gadgets you can use for different styles of cooking and heating.

This post will show you the best microwave-safe gadgets and accessories to help you make the most of your microwave oven.

This post may contain affiliate links at no extra cost to you.

👉 Looking for a new space-saving microwave? See the best small microwaves of 2026!

What Type of Microwave Accessories Can You Find?

The most popular microwave oven accessories are microwave plate covers, rice steamers, pasta cookers, bacon/fries crispers or grillers, egg poachers, potato bags, and even mac and cheese cookers.

You can also find microwave replacement parts, such as a glass turntable, a filter replacement, a wheel ring, and more.

👉 In a Hurry?

Top 5 Must-Have Microwave Accessories

If you only buy a few microwave accessories, these five cover everyday cooking, reheating, and cleanup:

• Microwave Plate Cover – prevents splatter, keeps the microwave clean, and works for almost every reheating
• Microwave Rice Steamer – cooks rice evenly in minutes without boil-overs or stovetop mess
• Microwave Soup Mug – reheats soups, noodles, and leftovers safely without spills
• Microwave Popcorn Popper – makes fresh popcorn from loose kernels with no oil or disposable bags
• Microwave Crisper Pan – improves texture when reheating pizza, fries, and frozen foods

These five accessories handle the most common microwave jobs and work in most standard microwaves.

11 Practical Microwave Accessories & Gadgets

Essentials include a rice steamer, pasta cooker, and Rapid Mac Cooker – great for no-mess meals in under 10 minutes.

Other top tools: a potato bag, bacon rack with lid, egg cooker, vegetable steamer, and soup mug – all BPA-free, dishwasher-safe, and microwave-safe.

A stackable cooking set lets you cook full meals, while a plate cover prevents splatter.

For saving space, wall-mounted microwave brackets support up to 99 lbs and fit most units.

Microwave Accessories for Steaming

These accessories are all bout about gentle cooking with moisture.

1. A Microwave Rice steamer

Cook rice easily with a rice-measuring jug that allows you to choose how many portions of rice to cook, and it even comes with a small serving spoon.

A microwave rice steamer works for all types of rice, including long-grain rice, and takes about 10 minutes to cook fluffy steamed rice.

The Joseph Joseph rice steamer is dishwasher-safe and microwave-safe (no BPA) and can be an alternative to the popular mini rice cooker everyone seems to have these days.

The set contains two large cooking pots with a 2-liter capacity (including a colander with handles for easy serving), and they are all compatible with all microwave power ratings.

2. A Microwave Potato Bag

If you regularly cook with potatoes, the OBTANIM microwave potato bag can make your life simpler and easier.

It can basically cook any kind of potato perfectly in about 4-6 minutes.

One bag can contain 2 large potatoes or up to 4 small ones.

(It takes about 5-6 minutes for big potatoes and 4-5 minutes for small potatoes)

The potatoes will come out of the microwave soft and ready as if they were boiled for 20 minutes or more.

We tried it and were happy to find they didn’t come out mushy and dry.

However, the skin will not be as crisp as it is from being baked in the oven.

Made from polyester, the potato bag can be reused and machine-washed for next time with no hassle, and you can also use it for corn cobs and cornmeal tortillas!

3. A Microwave Steamer

For steaming vegetables, fish, and poultry, we recommend the Sistema Microwave Steamer, which comes with a steaming basket and an outer pot with a steaming vent.

The easy-lift tabs help lift it when it is done, and the pot stays cool to the touch.

When you are done eating and you have some leftovers, you can use the same pot to fridge or freeze it.

If you prefer a silicone steamer, we recommend this collapsible silicone steamer with a handle and lid.

Microwave Accessories for Meal Prep

These are tools we use to cook or reheat complete meals, often ahead of time.

1. Microwave Pasta Cooker

If you want to save a ton of time on making the perfect al-dente pasta, a pasta cooker for the microwave is a low-cost option, and it even comes with a strainer.

You just add the pasta and water to the container and drain the water using the strainer once it’s done, in only 10 minutes.

No water will boil over and make a mess, and the pasta won’t stick to the container.

This is why we also use this gadget to make cakes!

It’s super easy to clean, but it’s quite bulky and can take up some space in your cabinet.

However, we know that it doesn’t work very well with freshly made pasta, and you have to be careful because the handles can get somewhat hot.

2. A Rapid Mac Cooker

If you are a mac and cheese fan, for less than $7, you can get the Rapid Mac Cooker – and have your favorite boxed mac and cheese ready in 5 minutes.

No boiling water, draining, and adding the rest. It takes 1/5 of the time to make macaroni and cheese.

For busy people with hungry kids or college students – this is a well-worth investment (which is reusable for 5 years!)

👉 See the complete list of college kitchen essentials

To get the perfect mac and cheese, all you have to do is add pasta, fill with water to the fill line, microwave for 3 minutes, stir, and microwave for 2 more minutes. Then, add seasoning and enjoy.

According to buyer reviews, you can also use it for ramen noodles and oatmeal with no problems.

(However, you’ll have to consider the power rating of your microwave for specific cooking times. You may have to experiment a little)

👉The Rapid brand (which also makes the popular Rapid Egg Cooker, Rapid Oatmeal Cooker, Rapid Ramen Cooker, and Rapid Cake Baker makes its microwave cookware from heat-resistant, BPA-free, and dishwasher-safe materials.

3. A Microwave Cooking Set

A microwave cooking set can be a practical solution for all your cooking and reheating needs, and this microwave cooking set by Joseph Joseph is stackable, which means you can use it to cook an entire meal in minutes.

For example, you can cook a few fish fillets on the bottom container, a bunch of small whole potatoes, and a few pieces of asparagus on the griddle at the same time.

However, you’ll have to consider the cooking time needed for each one and start with the potatoes first, then add the fish, and then the asparagus.

The 4-piece interchangeable set includes two large pots, a steamer, a griddle, and a lid.

Both the top and bottom parts of the set include integrated handles for easy and safe removal, and the lid doubles as a base for the griddle and steamer or as a stand-alone microwave plate.

A very useful and practical set, but note that it may be too big for a small microwave.

4. Microwavable Stainless Steel Lunch Box

Microwave-safe lunch box containers are built for reheating meals directly in the same container, making them ideal for work lunches, meal prep, and leftovers.

Most designs include steam vents to reduce pressure buildup and are made from BPA-free materials that are dishwasher-safe.

The main limitation is portion size, since these containers are meant for single meals rather than family-sized servings, and overheating can warp lids over time if instructions are ignored.

Used correctly, they reduce dishes and simplify daily reheating.

5. Microwave Popcorn Popper (Non-Oil)

A microwave popcorn popper lets you make fresh popcorn without oil or disposable bags, making it a popular alternative to packaged microwave popcorn.

Most models produce enough popcorn for movie night in just a few minutes and are reusable and dishwasher-safe.

The trade-off is that popping results depend on microwave wattage, so a small percentage of kernels may remain unpopped, and the container can get hot when removing it.

Still, for people who want control over ingredients and portion size, it’s a simple, reliable upgrade.

6. A Microwave Egg Cooker and Poacher

The Sistema egg cooker is the most popular microwave egg maker on Amazon and comes with a lid and a steam release vent to make the perfect poached egg, scrambled egg, omelet, or egg muffin for breakfast – in a flash.

Made from 100% virgin plastic (BPA- and phthalate-free), it is dishwasher-safe (on the top rack), and microwave-safe.

It is even fridge and freezer-safe. The small handles are very helpful.

The only problem is that it can only make up to 2 eggs. For 3-4 eggs, we recommend the Sistema 4-egg Poacher.

Note: Sistema products are not made in China – they are made in New Zealand.

Microwave Accessories for Crisping

Accessories that improve texture, not just heating.

1. 10-inch Microwave Crisper Pan

This microwave crisper pan is designed to help foods come out crisp instead of soggy by using a non-stick cooking surface that heats food evenly and can be washed in the dishwasher.

This crisper pan is great for reheating pizza slices, fries, nuggets, and bacon, giving better texture than reheating directly on a plate. Because it’s roughly 9.75″ in diameter, it fits most standard turntable microwaves, though it won’t crisp as fast as a conventional oven and may take a little experimentation with timing.

It’s a solid pick for anyone who wants a simple way to microwave foods that normally come out limp and chewy.

2. A Microwave Bacon Rack with a Lid

If you often cook bacon in a microwave, the PrepSolutions Microwave Bacon Griller is a great alternative to the crisper most people use.

It can cook 7-9 bacon strips to perfection, comes with a vented lid (to prevent grease splatter), and the design keeps the bacon elevated so the fat drips off, leaving you with a healthier version and an easy-to-clean rack (dishwasher safe).

According to buyer reviews, it takes 1 minute per slice of bacon to get them perfectly cooked and crispy.

The minimum turntable size for this popular Bacon Griller is 12.5 inches, so make sure your microwave is big enough to accommodate this one (it is too wide for a small microwave turntable – it won’t spin).

Use it for more than bacon – cook sausage links, pizza rolls, and taquitos.

For a small microwave, we recommend the Bad Boy Bacon Maker, which is made from silicone and accommodates 6 slices of bacon that you put inside, strap it to fold it to a small size, and cook for 5 minutes.

Microwave Accessories for Easy Cleanup

Tools that protect the microwave and reduce mess.

1. A Microwave Plate Cover

Probably the most essential microwave accessory, the microwave plate cover acts as a layer on your food and prevents splatter inside, which is hard to clean, looks gross, and is unsanitary

Most microwave covers are made from BPA-free plastic, and the best ones have a steam vent (to allow moisture to escape) and comfortable grip handles.

The popular Layron plate cover is made from PP (polypropylene) – a material for making nursing bottles. It is melamine-free, has large grip handles and a steam vent, and is dishwasher safe.

👉 If you prefer a plate cover made from silicone, we recommend the Kichwit Collapsible Silicone Microwave Plate Cover, which takes up less storage space and is made from a natural material. Fits most microwave sizes (11″x3.8″)

2. A Microwave Soup Mug

Microwave-safe soup mugs and cups are safer than to-go containers.

Standard mugs may create air pockets that can trap steam underneath the surface, which can sometimes cause the soup to explode in the microwave.

The best-selling soup mug on Amazon is the Sistema Microwave Soup Mug with a lid and steam vent, which can hold 22 ounces (large soup cans) and is made from 100% Virgin plastic (Phthalate- and BPA-free).

We also like the prettier Evriholder Campbell’s Micro Microwave Mug, which can also hold 22 ounces and is made from hard plastic (BPA-free), and has an airtight and leakproof lid with a built-in steam release vent.

You can use soup mugs to make hot chocolate for kids and even to reheat noodles, pasta, and more – and take it on the go.

How to Choose Microwave Accessories (What Actually Matters)

Not every container or gadget labeled “microwave-friendly” works the same way. Before you buy, here’s what to check.

1. Check for the Microwave-Safe Symbol

Always look for a microwave-safe label or symbol on the product itself or the packaging. This means the material has been tested to handle microwave heat without melting, cracking, or leaching chemicals under normal use.

2. Choose Materials That Heat Evenly

Some materials perform much better in microwaves than others:

• Best options: BPA-free plastic, silicone, microwave-safe glass, and ceramic designed for microwave use
• Less reliable: Thin plastics, uneven ceramics, or mixed materials
• Avoid: Metal, aluminum foil, stainless steel, and containers with metallic trim

3. Match the Size to Your Microwave

Accessory size matters more than you may think.

• Mini or dorm microwaves: Need compact, low-height accessories that won’t block rotation
• Standard microwaves: Can handle larger steamers, crispers, and stackable sets
• Turntable check: Make sure the accessory fits fully on the turntable and can rotate freely

If an item is too large, food will heat unevenly or not at all.

4. Follow Basic Microwave Safety Rules

Even safe accessories can cause problems if used incorrectly.

• Never microwave empty containers
• Always open steam vents or lids before heating
• Let hot containers cool briefly before handling
• Stop using any accessory that cracks, warps, or smells after heating

Which Accessories Protect a Microwave and Help It Last Longer?

To make your microwave last longer than average (3-4 years of heavy use), use accessories like microwave covers (to prevent splatter), microwave-safe cooking mats (to protect the turntable from scratches), and steaming baskets (to prevent damage and rust).

What Items Should You Never Put in a Microwave?

Avoid these items to prevent fire, damage, or harmful chemicals:

• Metal objects (including aluminum foil and utensils) can cause sparks and fires.
• Plastic containers with metal trim can also spark and catch fire.
• Glass containers with gold or silver trim may cause sparks.
• Brown paper bags are flammable and unsafe to microwave.
• Takeout containers with metal handles are often not microwave-safe.
• Non-microwave-safe containers can release harmful chemicals when heated (we use Teflon-free cookware!)
• Whole eggs can explode if microwaved in their shells.

Can You Microwave Without the Spinning Plate?

Yes, if you have a turntable microwave, you can heat the food inside it without the spinning plate.

However, if the food is not constantly rotating, the food will not heat evenly.

You’ll have to stop the microwave a few times during cooking time to change the position of the container, or buy a microwave that is designed without a turntable, like this Panasonic model.

The KM Team