BLACK+DECKER EM031MB11 microwave: features, specs and who it suits

The BLACK+DECKER EM031MB11 is a countertop microwave with a 1.1 cubic foot interior and 1,000 watts of cooking power. It's built for the jobs most kitchens hand to a microwave every day: reheating leftovers, cooking frozen meals, making popcorn and defrosting. Here's what its specs mean and what to measure before it goes on your counter.

What 1.1 cubic feet and 1,000 watts mean

Microwave capacity is quoted as interior volume. At 1.1 cubic feet (about 31 litres), this is a mid-size model. Compact microwaves usually sit under 1 cubic foot and full-size ones start around 1.5, so it lands in the middle.

Output power is the figure that shapes cooking times. A 1,000-watt oven heats noticeably faster than the 700-watt units often found in compact models, so packaged-food instructions written for a range of wattages will usually point you to the shorter times. BLACK+DECKER also gives an input power of 1,600 W. That's what the microwave draws from the wall; the 1,000 W is what reaches the food, and the difference is lost as heat in the electronics.

Presets, power levels and express cooking

Six one-touch buttons cover popular foods: popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetables, beverages and a dinner plate. Each one cooks or reheats that food with a single press.

For everything else there are ten power levels, up to the full 1,000 W. On most microwaves, lower power levels work by switching the magnetron (the part that produces the microwaves) on and off in cycles, which gives food time to heat through more evenly. That helps with defrosting and with warming dense dishes. There's also a defrost function, and express cooking starts 30 seconds of cooking with one press. BLACK+DECKER says the oven heats and defrosts evenly, without overcooking.

Display, timer and child lock

A large LED display shows the clock, a countdown timer and the cooking time remaining, and there's a separate kitchen timer function.

A child safety lock is included. On most microwaves, this kind of lock disables the keypad until it's switched off again, so a curious press of the buttons won't start the oven. An interior light lets you check on food through the door, and a push-button door release opens it, which is handy when one hand is holding a plate.

Turntable and dish size

Inside, a removable 12.4-inch (31.5 cm) glass turntable rotates the food so it heats more evenly. Many dinner plates are 10 to 12 inches across, so most standard plates should sit on it, but very large platters or oval dishes may catch the side walls as they turn. It lifts out for washing.

Size and finish

The microwave measures 20.6 x 14.8 x 11.8 inches (about 52 x 38 x 30 cm). The door frame is stainless steel and the body is black. It's designed for 60 Hz mains power, as used in North America.

Countertop microwaves need some breathing room around their vents. The manual gives the clearances to leave at the sides, back and top, and it's worth checking these against the space under your upper cabinets.

Who it suits

It suits a home kitchen where one mid-size microwave handles snacks, leftovers and frozen meals every day. It's a straightforward microwave rather than a combination oven: there's no grill or convection mode among its features.

What to check before you buy

• Counter space: 20.6 x 14.8 x 11.8 inches, plus the vent clearances in the manual and room for the door to swing open.
• Your dishes: measure your largest plate or baking dish against the 12.4-inch turntable and make sure it can turn freely.
• Electrical supply: it draws 1,600 W, so a kitchen circuit already shared with a kettle or toaster may trip if everything runs at once.
• Features you use: check that the six presets match what you cook, since there's no grill or convection function.
• Power standard: it's built for 60 Hz North American power.

The short version

• A mid-size 1.1 cu ft countertop microwave with 1,000 W of cooking power (1,600 W input).
• Six one-touch presets, ten power levels, a defrost function and 30-second express cooking.
• LED display with clock and timers, a child safety lock, an interior light and a push-button door release.
• A removable 12.4-inch glass turntable; the oven measures 20.6 x 14.8 x 11.8 inches.

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