This article describes a facile, solution-based preparation of stable uniform nanoparticles of silver, which can be used as seeds for the synthesis of non-spherical nanoparticles and composite structures. The environment-friendly procedure involves the reduction of aqueous AgNO₃ with glucose under microwave irradiation. The effects of a reducing-agent nature (glucose, ascorbic acid, or their mixtures), initial concentrations of glucose and AgNO₃, pH, time of reaction have been investigated, and optimal synthesis conditions have been found. The products obtained were characterized by UV-viz absorption spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), atomic-force microscopy (AFM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS).