Multi-million pound ready-meal boss makes shocking microwave confession and labels air fryers a 'con'

The creator of a fancy range of fresh ready meals has shared his surprising take on using microwaves.

Charlie Bigham, aka the man behind the posh prepared meals that bear his name, has admitted not being the biggest microwave fan.

A former management consultant from London, Bigham founded his multi-million ready meal empire in 1996, with recipes ranging from lasagne and cottage pie to salmon en croûte and dauphinoise potatoes.

His products are stocked in high-end supermarkets and stores, including Selfridges and Waitrose.

It may seem bizarre that someone who built his entire business around customers opting for a quick fix, but Bigham has a good reason to justify his views.

No microwaves for Charlie Bigham. (Instagram/@charliebighams)

In a new interview with The Times, Bigham insisted on calling his products 'prepared meals' rather than 'ready meals', saying the Charlie Bigham dishes are to be heated in an oven to be enjoyed at their best.

When elaborating on his aversion to microwaves, the entrepreneur explained that, unlike oven cooking, microwave cooking doesn't make the food 'bubble'.

Bigham also weighed in on the air fryer fad, deeming the relatively recent appliance a 'con'. According to the food magnate, air fryers are nothing more than a 'little oven with a big fan'. He also maintained that certain dishes, like lasagne, are cooked best in a traditional, hot oven.

The pieman then confessed his disdain of the phrase 'ready meals', clarifying he had envisioned his company to be something different from the typical idea of ultra-processed food.

"I hate ready meals," he said.

"Ready meals are something you put in a microwave, they're full of additives and preservatives and they're not very nice.

"I set up the business to be not a ready meal.

"However, people will quite reasonably say you're in that sort of category, and it's a challenge to us."

Charlie Bigham's was founded back in 1996. (Instagram/@charliebighams)

If you more than occasionally indulge in a microwave meal, however, you may want to consider resorting to this cleaning hack to keep your kitchen appliance in tip-top condition.

Together with the turntable and the inside of your microwave, it is essential that you also clean the vents on the bottom of your appliance.

Repeated use causes the vents to be encrusted with grease, but a thorough rinse or even a dishwasher trip should do the trick and restore them to their former, shiny glory.