Artichokes are the edible immature flowers of a cultivated thistle. There are more than 50 varieties of globe artichokes (the "true" artichoke not related to the Jerusalem artichoke, which is a tuber) ...

Do you fancy an artichoke, but the thought of waiting half an hour in front of a saucepan puts you off? Good news: there's a quick, easy and often overlooked solution... the microwave. Yes, you can ...

You've snapped up some lovely artichokes at the market... but once you're in the kitchen, you're in doubt: how do you cook them properly? How long to cook them? Should they be prepared beforehand?