Microwave steriliser bags for efficient sterilising

Tommee Tippee Travel and Microwave Steriliser Bags

by Emily Gilbert |
Updated on

If you're looking to keep your baby's bottles sterilised when out and about or have limited storage at home, meaning you can't have a full baby steriliser, microwave steriliser bags are a fantastic solution for cleaning feeding equipment or items that are often in your little one's mouth.

Microwave steriliser bags are bags that you pop your bottles, soothers, teethers, breast pumps, or teats into before adding the recommended amount of water. Then you simply pop these steriliser bags in the microwave, and within minutes they're ready to go. Microwave steriliser bags do rely on a microwave, so make sure you have one of these to hand if they're going to be a regular cleaning tool in your day-to-day life.

Unlike UV sterilisers, they're small, compact and ideal for travelling, but it's worth keeping in mind that due to their size, you may need an alternative sterilising solution for larger items such as breast pumps. They take up a lot less space than electric sterilisers, are much easier to clean, and do the job quickly - all you need is a microwave!

The best microwave steriliser bags at a glance:

Best multi-use microwave steriliser bags: Nuby Microwave Steriliser Bags - Buy from Amazon UK
Best microwave steriliser bags for speed: Munchkin Cool Touch Microwave Steriliser Bags - Buy from Amazon UK
Best budget microwave steriliser bags: ASDA Little Angels 5 Microwave Sterilising Bags - Buy from Asda

To help you narrow down the best microwave steriliser bags to buy, we've rounded up our favourites and answered any and all questions you may have.

The best microwave steriliser bags

Best multi-use microwave steriliser bags

Description

Sterilising in just 90 seconds, each Nuby Microwave Steriliser Bag in this pack of six has up to

Pros

  • Sterilises in 90 seconds
  • 30 uses
  • Usage tracking chart

Cons

  • May be too big for smaller microwaves

Best microwave steriliser bags for speed

Munchkin Cool Touch Microwave Steriliser Bags

Rrp: £9.99

Price: £9.06

Description

**The Munchkin Cool Touch Microwave Steriliser Bags were Shortlisted for Best

Pros

  • 30 uses
  • Sterilises in 90 seconds
  • Cool-touch grip

Cons

  • May be too big for smaller microwaves

Best budget microwave steriliser bags

Description

**The ASDA Little Angels Microwave Sterilising Bags won Bronze for Best Travel Product Under £25

Pros

  • Great price
  • Lightweight

Cons

  • Less uses than others

Best microwave steriliser bags for travel

 Philips Avent steriliser bags
Price: £10.13

Description

**The Philips Avent SCF297/05 Microwave Steam Steriliser Bags were Shortlisted for Best Travel

Pros

  • Takes just 90 seconds
  • Sneak peek window
  • Safe zone

Cons

  • Less uses than others

Best microwave steriliser bags with cool-touch

Tommee Tippee Travel and Microwave Steriliser Bags
Price: £9.99

Description

These five handy sterile travel and microwave bags are great to carry your gear in that can also

Pros

  • 30 uses
  • Takes just 90 seconds
  • Cool touch area

Cons

  • Zip can be hard to close

Best microwave steriliser bags with pour spout

Medela Quick Clean Micro-Steam Sterilisation Bags x5
Price: £13.79

Description

Medela's pack of five Quick Clean Microwave Bags effectively remove 99.9 per cent of common germs

Pros

  • Lightweight
  • Roomy
  • Folds up small

Cons

  • Less uses than others

Best microwave steriliser bags with check boxes

Dr.-Browns5-Count-Pack-of-1White-Option-Microwave-Steam-Sterilizer
Price: £9.99

Description

Dr Brown's Microwave Steriliser Bags will quickly sterilise bottles and other parts and

Pros

  • Compact size
  • Easy to use
  • Check boxes

Cons

  • Less uses than others

Best sized microwave steriliser bags

Vital Baby Nurture Microwave Sterilising Bags

Rrp: £7.50

Price: £7.50

Description

The Vital Baby Nurture Microwave Sterilising Bags claim to have great sizes for sterilising up to

Pros

  • 30 uses
  • Check-off area
  • Easy to use

Cons

  • Some reviewers found toggles fall off

Microwave steriliser bags Q&A

How do microwave steriliser bags work?

Babies don't start producing germ-fighting antibodies until they're six months old, but by the time baby reaches their first birthday, their body will be able to kill off bacteria all by itself.

For that reason, the NHS says that it is important to sterilise all your baby's feeding equipment, including bottles and teats, until they are at least 12 months old.

The microwave boils the water and creates a build-up of steam which eliminates 99.9 per cent of bacteria by blasting them with 100°C water vapour.

To clean thoroughly, put bottles in upside down, and space out rings and teats to fully sterilise them. The time it takes depends on your microwave and the manufacturer's instructions, with times ranging from 90 seconds to six minutes.

How long do bottles stay sterile in microwave bags?

The different manufacturers will give guidelines as to how long you can leave equipment in the steriliser bags before it needs to be sterilised again, with periods of time-varying up to 24 hours. Make sure to check these to make sure you're keeping your baby's feeding accessories as sterile as possible.

Are microwave steriliser bags safe?

Yes, so long as you follow the right precautions to make sure they're safe for you and your little one.

Firstly, you should make sure the bags are BPA-free to avoid chemicals contaminating your baby's feeding equipment. All our shortlisted picks are BPA-free and come from manufacturers that you can trust.

You need to be careful when you remove the bag from the microwave as the steam will be extremely hot - make sure to wait a few minutes to cool before opening.

You should also be careful with what you put in the steriliser bag. It goes without saying that metal is a no-go for the microwave, and you should make sure anything you put in is clearly 'microwave-safe'.

Before you start using your new microwave steriliser bags, check the manufacturer's instructions to ensure you're adding the correct amount of water.

Emily Gilbertis the Features & Reviews Editor for Mother&Baby and has written for the website and previously the magazine for six years. Specialising in product reviews, Emily is the first to know about all the exciting new releases in the parenting industry.

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