Complete Microwave Recipe Guide | MUJI Microwave Grill Plate vs. 3COINS vs. Arnest Comparison + 26 Easy Recipes (Latest 2026 Edition)
Want to cook but dread washing the dishes? Microwave cooking gadgets have taken Japan and Chinese households worldwide by storm in recent years, championing the lazy-cooking concept of "dinner ready with a ding." In October 2026, MUJI officially joined the fray, launching the new Microwave Grill Plate, which is the first to produce truly seared fish, fried eggs, and toast with grill marks in the microwave. It has become a hot topic in Japan since its launch.
Today, we will compare the differences between the three popular microwave cooking gadgets from 3COINS, Arnest, and MUJI, along with 26 microwave cooking recipes, and show you how to cook delicious dishes that rival wok-fried food without any oil smoke.
What is a microwave cooking gadget?
MUJI Microwave Grill Plate Specifications at a Glance (for reference)
| Item | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Product Name | Microwave Grill Plate Black / with Inner Lid, for 1–2 people |
| Price | ¥6,990 (tax included) |
| External Dimensions | W 26.0 × D 24.5 × H 12.5cm (including outer lid) |
| Internal Dimensions | W 23.8 × D 17cm, full water capacity 2.2L |
| Weight | Approx. 1.29kg |
| Material | Steel-plated aluminum, ceramic coating on the inside; polystyrene handle; silicone on the bottom and lid edge |
| Compatible Heat Source | For microwave "microwave function" only, 500W/600W |
| Not for Use | Open flame, IH, oven, toaster oven; plastic wrap, aluminum foil, baking paper |
| Country of Origin | China |
Comparison of the Three Popular Microwave Cooking Gadgets
| 3COINS 6-in-1 Microwave Cooker | Arnest "Dekitatei" | MUJI Microwave Grill Plate | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Main Features | Frying, stir-frying, boiling, steaming, cooking rice, and reheating all in one | Silicone heating bottom, fried fish without oil smoke | Double-lid design with outer lid + heating inner lid, for four types of cooking: "grilling/steaming-grilling/cooking rice/boiling" |
| Grill Mark Effect | General | General | ★ Wavy heating bottom plate, can produce clear grill marks |
| Recommended Power | High heat 800–1000W | High heat 800–1000W | For 500W / 600W only |
| Portion | 1–2 people | 1 person | 1–2 people (full water capacity 2.2L) |
| Weight | Lightweight | Only 440g | Approx. 1.29kg (bottom plate 4.5mm thick, more stable) |
| Dishwasher Safe | ✔ | ✔ | ✔ |
| Recipes Included | — | 32 Japanese recipes | Recipes by Japanese official website chefs (translated and selected in this article) |
| Price | Entry-level | Mid-range | Japanese price ¥6,990 |
So Which One Should You Choose?
- Living alone, dormitories, rented apartments, small kitchens: Arnest 440g is the lightest and easiest to store. MUJI 1.29kg is 12.5cm high with the lid, which may not fit in small microwaves.
- Your home microwave is 800W/1000W: Arnest can be used directly; MUJI needs to be set to 500/600W, and the time needs to be converted yourself.
- Afraid of hassle, want "put it in and ding": Arnest is done with one lid; MUJI needs to remember "inner lid for grilling, outer lid for steaming/boiling".
- Like fried chicken thighs, cheese dishes, luncheon meat: Arnest has no such restrictions.
- Want grilled fish with wavy grill marks: MUJI's inner lid design is made for this, but the price is the above restrictions.
Microwave Cooking Gadget Advantages at a Glance
- No oil smoke, no odors, the kitchen will not be splattered with oil.
- Pot-and-lid design, serve directly from the pot after cooking, greatly reducing the number of times you wash dishes.
- Compact size (Arnest is only 440g), suitable for small families, dormitories, or single households in rented apartments.
- Dishwasher safe, easy and convenient for daily maintenance.
- Saves electricity and water, and you can cook hot, delicious home-cooked dishes without turning on the stove.
Microwave Cooking Gadget Recipe Selection (18 Lazy Recipes)
The following recipes have simple ingredients and few steps, so even beginners can easily get started.
Note: The microwave power used is high heat approx. 1000W, medium-high heat approx. 800W. Readers can adjust the heating time according to their own microwave power.
Quick Breakfasts Loved by Young and Old
Breakfast time is limited, these 6 microwave cooking gadget recipes can be done in 10 minutes, even children can eat happily.
- Smooth poached eggs——half box of soft-boiled eggs, eggs, medium-high heat 2 minutes
- French toast——toast, eggs, milk, medium-high heat 1.5 minutes, flip and another 1.5 minutes
- Crispy-bottom fried dumplings——dumplings with starch water, little oil, medium-high heat 8 minutes
- Japanese cheese tamagoyaki——eggs, milk, square bread, luncheon meat, medium-high heat 10 minutes
- Exploding chocolate oatmeal brownie——banana, oatmeal, eggs, cocoa powder, medium-high heat 10 minutes
- Japanese Osaka-style okonomiyaki——premix powder, shrimp, cabbage, okonomiyaki sauce, medium-high heat 10 minutes, flip and another 2 minutes
Fitness Fat-Loss High-Protein Meals
Want to eat healthy and not cook until your head is full of oil smoke? This set of microwave cooking gadget recipes focuses on high protein and low oil, suitable for fitness and fat-loss enthusiasts.
- Oil-free fried chicken thighs——onion and garlic on the bottom, asparagus with chicken thighs, medium-high heat 12 minutes
- Garlic shrimp vermicelli bowl——cabbage, enoki mushrooms, fresh shrimp, vermicelli, eggs, medium-high heat 10 minutes
- Salmon mushroom baked rice——salmon, raw rice, mushrooms, asparagus, sear for 3 minutes, flip for 3 minutes, then add rice and cook on medium-high heat for 10 minutes
- Clean fat-loss platter——chicken breast, potato, broccoli, carrot, medium-high heat 10 minutes
- Tomato fatty beef shrimp paste bowl——tomato, fatty beef, shrimp paste, medium-high heat 7 minutes, then stir-fry for 5 minutes
- Waterless steamed chicken——300g chicken thigh meat, cabbage, shiitake mushrooms, medium-high heat 15 minutes
Hong Kong-style Quick Home-cooked Dishes
No time to cook after work? These 6 Hong Kong home-cooked flavor microwave cooking gadget recipes can still produce mom's taste with a ding.
- Potato stewed chicken wings——chicken wings, potato, onion, ginger slices, medium-high heat 15 minutes
- Eggplant with minced meat——minced pork, eggplant, garlic, scallions, medium-high heat 10 minutes, stir-fry for 2 minutes
- Steamed sea bass with fermented black beans——sea bass, garlic, fermented black beans, medium-high heat 10 minutes
- Braised radish ribs——ribs, radish, medium-high heat 10 minutes
- Steamed chicken with fermented black beans——chicken, garlic, fermented black beans, light soy sauce, medium-high heat 10 minutes
- Cumin pan-fried chicken leg cutlet——chicken leg cutlet, medium-high heat 10 minutes
Usage Tips: The Key to More Flavorful Cooking
Recipes often state "heat for 8 minutes + braise for 6 minutes". This "braising" (steaming) step is important——after heating is complete, do not open the lid immediately, let the residual heat continue to cook in the sealed space, the ingredients will be more thoroughly cooked and flavorful, with a tender and soft texture.
Usage precautions:
- Only suitable for microwave ovens, do not put in ovens, open flame burners, or IH induction cooktops
- Be sure to use heat-resistant gloves when taking it out, to avoid steam burns
- Heat resistance is approx. 210–220℃, avoid using at excessive temperatures
- Dry thoroughly after washing to extend its service life
Microwave cooking gadgets are especially suitable for Hong Kong, Taiwan, overseas Chinese households with small kitchens or open kitchens. With one machine in hand, you can cook healthy home-cooked dishes anytime.
