Ping your heart out: how the UK fell back in love with the microwave

Internet searches for how to cook brownies in the microwave have risen by 50%, according to Waitrose. Photograph: Edwin Tan/Getty Images

From the humble baked potato to spicy steamed fish, the microwave oven is having a resurgence as households turn to the ping dinner to help save money on energy bills.

Almost one main meal a week is now cooked primarily with a microwave in the UK, according to the market research firm Kantar, which found usage rose 8% compared with last year.