BLACK AND DECKER Zero Point Seven Cu Ft 700W Countertop Microwave Oven Review for Daily Use
Why This Product Is Worth a Look
The BLACK+DECKER Countertop Microwave Oven offers a practical option for kitchens where counter space is limited. Its compact 0.7-cubic-foot capacity, straightforward controls, and common cooking presets make it worth considering for reheating leftovers, warming beverages, and preparing simple microwave meals.
Product Overview
The BLACK+DECKER Countertop Microwave Oven, model EM720CB7, is a compact stainless steel countertop microwave with 700 watts of cooking output. It is designed primarily for residential use, but its size can also suit dorm rooms, studio apartments, office break rooms, and secondary food preparation areas.
The microwave measures 17.3 inches wide, 13 inches deep, and 10.2 inches high. It weighs approximately 20.2 pounds and includes a removable 10-inch glass turntable. Its main functions include 10 power levels, six food presets, one-touch express cooking, time and weight defrosting, a kitchen timer, an LED display, and a child safety lock.
This model is best suited to basic daily tasks and single servings. It can handle coffee, soup, pizza slices, small dinner plates, popcorn, and many frozen snacks. Its small cavity and 700-watt output make it less appropriate for oversized cookware, family-sized meals, or high-volume cooking.
Design, Build, and Everyday Feel
The exterior combines stainless steel trim around the door with a dark cabinet and control panel. The overall appearance is clean and functional rather than decorative, allowing the microwave to fit into many kitchen styles without attracting too much attention.
Controls are arranged vertically on the right side. The LED display shows the clock, timer, and remaining cooking time. The keypad has a familiar layout, although available feedback indicates that the membrane buttons may require a deliberate, centered press.
Instead of a pull handle, the door opens through a push-button release near the bottom of the control panel. This keeps the front looking uncluttered, but the release can feel stiff. Because the appliance is relatively light and its feet may not grip polished counters well, pressing the door button may cause the microwave to slide backward.
The 10-inch glass turntable can accommodate many standard plates, mugs, and bowls. Wider rectangular trays or dishes with flared edges may touch the interior walls and prevent the turntable from rotating. The tray and roller ring are removable, which should make routine cleaning easier.
Key Features
Compact 0.7-Cubic-Foot Capacity
The small interior is intended for single servings and basic microwave-safe containers. Its main benefit is a reduced countertop footprint, especially in apartments, dorms, offices, or small kitchens. The tradeoff is that large plates and rectangular dishes may not fit or rotate correctly.
700-Watt Cooking Output with 10 Power Levels
The microwave provides 700 watts of cooking output and 10 selectable power settings. Lower settings can help with foods that need gentler heating, while full power works for common reheating tasks. As with many conventional microwaves, reduced power is produced by cycling the magnetron on and off rather than delivering continuous inverter-controlled power. Heating will generally take longer than it would in a 900-watt or 1,000-watt model.
Six Preprogrammed Food Buttons
Dedicated presets are available for popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetables, beverages, and a dinner plate. These buttons provide convenient starting points without requiring users to enter every setting manually. Results can still vary based on food weight, moisture, starting temperature, and container shape, so checking and stirring food remains important.
Express Cooking and 30-Second Start
Pressing a number from one through six starts the microwave at full power for the corresponding number of minutes. The 30-second control can begin a short heating cycle or add time to a cycle already in progress. These shortcuts are useful when warming a drink, reheating a small portion, or adding a little more time to a meal.
Defrosting and Child Safety Lock
The microwave supports both time defrost and weight defrost. These functions are convenient, but available feedback suggests that meat may begin cooking around the edges while remaining frozen in the center. The control lock helps prevent unintended operation when the microwave is within reach of children, although it does not replace adult supervision.
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What It May Be Like to Use
Based on the available product information, everyday operation should be relatively straightforward. The express number buttons and 30-second function reduce the number of steps needed for common tasks. The LED display is easy to read, and the familiar keypad layout should not require a long learning period.
In typical daily use, the 700-watt output should be adequate for warming coffee, heating soup, reheating pizza, making popcorn, and preparing smaller frozen foods. However, cooking instructions on packaged meals are often written for more powerful microwaves. Users may need to add time, stir the food, rotate the container, or let the meal stand briefly after heating.
Dense or layered meals may heat less evenly than small, shallow portions. A large bowl of chilled soup or a thick frozen meal can require several minutes and may contain both hot and cool areas. Breaking the heating process into shorter intervals should provide more control.
The microwave is generally reported to produce a restrained operating hum, although the turntable ring may occasionally create light vibration. The end-of-cycle alert may sound loud in a quiet room, and the supplied information does not indicate that it can be muted.
Opening the door may be one of the less polished parts of the experience. The push-button latch can require noticeable force, and the lightweight body may move on a smooth surface. Placing the microwave on a stable counter and adding suitable nonslip pads may help.
What Works Well
The compact dimensions make the microwave easier to place in kitchens with limited available space.
The express cooking buttons provide fast access to one through six minutes of full-power heating.
The 30-second control is convenient for small adjustments without entering a complete cooking time.
Ten power levels offer more flexibility than a basic full-power-only appliance.
The six presets cover common foods and drinks, with the popcorn program receiving particularly positive feedback in the supplied reference material.
The removable glass turntable and wipeable interior simplify routine maintenance.
The child safety lock reduces the risk of unintended control-panel operation.
Its stainless steel front trim gives the unit a neutral, modern appearance without making the design overly complicated.
Things to Consider
The 700-watt cooking output is relatively modest. Cold liquids, dense leftovers, and frozen meals will usually take longer than they would in higher-powered microwaves.
The 0.7-cubic-foot cavity is intended for smaller dishes. Large square plates, wide rectangular containers, and family-sized cookware may not fit or rotate.
Defrosting performance may be uneven, particularly with raw meat. Edges can begin to cook before the center has fully thawed.
The push-button door release may feel stiff. On smooth countertops, the force needed to open the door can cause the microwave to slide.
Thick or multilayered foods may develop hot and cold spots. Stirring, turning, and standing time may be necessary.
The completion alert can be noticeable in a quiet apartment or office, and there is no clearly documented mute option in the provided information.
The stainless steel appearance is concentrated mainly on the front trim. Buyers expecting a fully stainless steel cabinet should examine the design carefully.
Who Is This Product For?
This microwave is a reasonable choice for an individual, couple, student, renter, or office worker who mainly needs to warm beverages, reheat single servings, make popcorn, or prepare simple frozen snacks. It is particularly relevant when conserving counter space is more important than maximum cooking speed.
It may also work as a secondary microwave in a basement, break room, guest area, or small kitchenette. The simple controls can be helpful for people who prefer direct buttons over a complicated menu system.
It may not be the best choice for larger households, frequent family meal preparation, oversized dinnerware, or users who regularly defrost raw meat. Anyone who prioritizes fast heating may be better served by a larger 900-watt or 1,000-watt model.
Helpful Tips Before You Buy
Measure the intended counter area and leave appropriate clearance around the ventilation openings. The listed appliance dimensions do not include the additional open space needed for safe airflow.
Check the size of your usual dinner plates and containers. The turntable is 10 inches in diameter, and wide or irregularly shaped dishes may not rotate freely.
Expect to adjust package instructions written for higher-powered microwaves. Add time gradually rather than making one large adjustment.
For more even results, stir soups and beverages, turn food during heating, and allow a short standing period before eating.
Use short defrosting intervals for meat. Turn or separate portions frequently to reduce the chance of cooking the edges.
Place the microwave on a level, stable surface away from the counter edge. Nonslip rubber pads may help if the unit moves when the door release is pressed.
Remember that 700 watts refers to cooking output. Actual electrical input is normally higher, so the microwave should be connected to a suitable outlet according to its rating label and manual.
Common Questions
Is this microwave large enough for a standard dinner plate?
Many standard round plates should fit, but the 10-inch turntable limits larger or unusually shaped dishes. Measuring your regular dinnerware before purchasing is recommended.
Does it have one-touch cooking?
Yes. The number buttons provide one-touch cooking for one through six minutes at full power, and the 30-second button offers quick starting and time extension.
Can it defrost meat?
It includes time and weight defrost modes. However, available feedback indicates that results may be uneven, so short cycles and frequent turning are advisable.
Is it powerful enough for frozen meals?
It can prepare many frozen meals, but its 700-watt output may require longer cooking times than the package directions suggest. Dense meals may also need stirring or rotation.
Does the turntable come out for cleaning?
Yes. The 10-inch glass turntable is removable, along with the roller ring, for easier cleaning.
Does it include a warranty?
The supplied product information lists a one-year limited warranty. Buyers should review the current warranty terms and documentation for full coverage details.
Final Thoughts
The BLACK+DECKER Countertop Microwave Oven, 0.7 cubic feet and 700 watts, is a straightforward appliance designed around compact size and common reheating tasks. Its express controls, six food presets, 10 power levels, removable turntable, and child safety lock give it a useful feature set for everyday operation.
Its main limitations are equally clear. The small cavity restricts cookware size, the 700-watt output requires patience, and the defrost function may not thaw meat evenly. The stiff door release and tendency to slide on smooth counters are also practical concerns.
Overall, this model makes the most sense for a dorm room, apartment, small kitchen, office, or secondary food area where space efficiency matters more than speed. For single servings and basic microwave tasks, it provides a sensible balance of convenience and simplicity. Larger households and users who frequently heat dense meals may find a more powerful microwave to be a better long-term fit.
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