Microwave steriliser bags for efficient sterilising

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

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 Gilbert is 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.