NUK
Micro Express Plus Microwave Bottle Steriliser
7/10 overallAbout £15
A compact microwave steriliser that sterilises up to 3 bottles in about 3 minutes, ideal for travel or small kitchens.
The verdict
The NUK Micro Express Plus, around £15, is a compact plastic tub that goes into your own microwave, sterilising up to 3 bottles in about 3 minutes. It's a sensible first steriliser on a budget or a genuinely portable second one for travel, though its smaller capacity and dependence on your microwave's power output make it less suited to families doing multiple cycles daily at home.
Where electric sterilisers are a permanent kitchen appliance, this NUK unit is a compact plastic tub that goes into your own microwave, sterilising a smaller load (up to 3 bottles) in around 3 minutes. It's the obvious choice for smaller kitchens without spare counter space, or as a genuinely packable option for staying away from home.
Against the electric options in this category (Tommee Tippee Steri-Express, Philips Avent 3-in-1), the trade-off is capacity and convenience versus cost and portability: this fits fewer bottles per cycle and depends on your microwave's power output for consistent results, but it's far cheaper to buy and small enough to pack in a suitcase or nappy bag for a weekend away.
For a first steriliser on a budget, or as a genuinely portable second one for travel, this is a sensible pick. For a family doing multiple sterilising cycles daily at home, an electric steriliser's larger capacity will save more hassle over time.
Is the Micro Express Plus Microwave Bottle Steriliser worth it?
- Much cheaper than electric sterilisers
- Compact and genuinely portable for travel
- Fast cycle time
What are the downsides of the Micro Express Plus Microwave Bottle Steriliser?
- Smaller capacity than electric sterilisers
- Result depends on your microwave's wattage
- Needs microwave access, no standalone option
Specs
- Type
- Microwave steam
- Capacity
- Up to 3 bottles
- Portable
- Yes, compact enough to travel with
- Cycle time
- Approx. 3 minutes (microwave-dependent)
- Stays sterile
- 24 hours with lid closed
How we scored it
Sterilising Effectiveness
Cycle time and reliability of killing bacteria across a full load.
Effective but results vary slightly with microwave wattage.
Capacity
Number of bottles and accessories it fits in one cycle.
Fits only 3 bottles per cycle, smaller than electric alternatives.
Ease of Cleaning
How easy the steriliser itself is to descale and keep clean.
Small and simple to rinse out, no descaling element involved.
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
How this review was done
We haven't used the Micro Express Plus Microwave Bottle Steriliser ourselves yet. This review is built from NUK's published specifications and product information, and scored the same way as everything else on the site. We'll update it, and the badge above, once we've tested it hands-on.
How it compares
|  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | About £15 | About £117 | About £22 | About £45 |
| Overall score | 7/10 | 6.4/10 | 7.4/10 | 8.1/10 |
| Type | Microwave steam | UV-LED, no water or chemicals | Cold water chemical (tablets or fluid) | Electric steam |
| Capacity | Up to 3 bottles | Claimed up to 6 bottles; 3-4 comfortable in practice | Up to 6 standard bottles, 5L water | Up to 5 bottles + accessories |
| Cycle time | Approx. 3 minutes (microwave-dependent) | Approx. 5-7 minutes sterilise, +15-20 min to dry | 15 minutes to sterilise | Approx. 5 minutes |
Frequently asked questions
How many bottles can the NUK microwave steriliser fit?+
Up to 3 bottles per cycle — it scores 6/10 for capacity, smaller than the electric alternatives in this category like the Tommee Tippee Steri-Express (5 bottles) or Philips Avent 3-in-1 (6 bottles).
Is the NUK steriliser good for travel?+
Yes — it's compact and genuinely portable, small enough to pack in a suitcase or nappy bag for a weekend away, which none of the electric standalone sterilisers in this category can match.
How long does the NUK steriliser take?+
Around 3 minutes, a fast cycle time compared with cold-water or electric methods, though the result depends on your own microwave's wattage rather than a fixed setting, so results can vary slightly between kitchens.
How easy is the NUK steriliser to clean?+
It scores 8/10 for ease of cleaning — small and simple to rinse out, with no descaling element involved, unlike electric steam units in hard water areas.
Guides that mention this
Best Baby Bottle Sterilisers Compared
The NHS says sterilise feeding equipment until your baby turns one, but it doesn't tell you which steriliser to buy. Here's how six real options — electric steam, cold water, microwave tub, UV and travel bags — actually compare on speed, capacity and cost.
Sterilising Baby Equipment: Which Method, and For How Long
Four sterilising methods, one NHS timeline: until your baby turns one. Here's what genuinely differs between them, beyond price.
Reviewed by
Sepehr
Software engineer, soon-to-be dad, uncle to four — the tech-obsessed half of the two of us testing this stuff. Currently building this site with my wife, ahead of our own baby arriving.