The objective of the research study was to assess, on the basis of the authors’ own research and the GUS (Central Statistical Office in Poland) data, the use of microwave ovens by Polish consumers. The questionnaire survey was conducted on a random sample of 250 respondents. In the study, several methods were used to statistically analyse the results, including a cluster analysis. Thus, it was possible to perform an in-depth analysis of the results obtained. A significant increase was found in the number of households in Poland equipped with microwave ovens. The respondents had a microwave oven during the passed 4 years (median). A significant reduction in the price of microwave ovens price contributed to this fact as did social and economic changes in Poland. The majority of respondents (ca. 80 %) used the microwave ovens they had. A major percentage of respondents (46 %) used microwave ovens on a daily basis or several times a week, mainly to heat food (73.2 %) or, less frequently, to defrost and cook. Primarily, main course dishes and appetizers were prepared in the microwave ovens, whereas soups and desserts were made significantly less frequently. The type of the prepared dishes depended significantly on the age and education of the respondents; though, the respondents’ place of residence had no impact on it. The consumers valued microwave ovens for: streamlining the kitchen work, comfort and speed of preparing meals, and ease-of-use. The largest group of respondents rated the quality of the prepared food as good or average, and the taste of dishes as worse than that of the traditionally prepared dishes. The vast majority of respondents (73.6 %) considered the microwave oven as being safe for health. A small percentage of respondents feared radiation and the risk of developing cancer diseases.