Black & Decker 1.1 Cubic Feet Countertop Microwave

A straightforward, capable countertop companion

I put the Black+Decker 1.1 cu ft microwave through everyday chores in a busy kitchen: reheating lunches, steaming vegetables, softening butter, and the occasional popcorn night. It’s a no-nonsense unit with real power for its size, and it gets the fundamentals right often enough to be useful. That said, a few quirks—especially around noise and the door mechanism—kept it from being truly set-and-forget for me.

Design, footprint, and capacity

At 20.2 x 16.1 x 12.1 inches and about 37.7 pounds, it’s a compact, stable countertop unit that fits easily beneath standard upper cabinets and doesn’t hog prep space. The 1.1 cubic foot interior takes a full-size dinner plate without fuss, and the removable turntable makes it simple to swap between everyday reheats and bulkier tasks like steaming a bowl of vegetables. The black exterior looks neat and uniform, though it shows fingerprints more than some stainless options; a quick microfiber wipe keeps it presentable.

Build quality is generally solid for the class. The door closes with a confident thunk and the hinges feel aligned. The feet grip adequately on stone and laminate counters, and the ventilation pattern along the sides and back kept things cool during longer cycles.

Controls and day-to-day operation

The interface is familiar: membrane buttons, a bright LED display with clock and timer, and a 30‑second express cook that quickly became my most-used control. Ten power levels let me drop to 70% or 50% when cooking delicate items, and there’s a child lock that works as expected. Auto-menu presets cover the usual suspects (think popcorn, beverages, potatoes, frozen vegetables, and pizza), and time/weight defrost is on board when you need to thaw more precisely.

I appreciate that the display is large and legible across the room. The keypad layout groups frequently used functions logically, and you can stack time in 30‑second increments on the fly. If you microwave a lot of leftovers, those small conveniences add up.

Heating performance

With 1000 watts on tap, this microwave feels punchy for its footprint. In everyday use, power levels are true to label: high power is genuinely quick, and mid-range power is gentle enough to keep soups from erupting. A room‑temperature mug of water reached steaming just shy of two minutes, and a bowl of oatmeal that routinely overflows in weaker models stayed in check at 70% power for two minutes, then a 30‑second finish.

Evenness is good for the category. The turntable rotation and cavity design tend to avoid scorching hotspots on the outer edges of a plate, and I saw fewer “cold centers” in burritos and leftovers than I expected. You’ll still want to stir liquids and rotate large items mid-cycle for best results, but that’s par for the course at this size and price.

Reheating and presets

For basic reheats—pasta, rice bowls, stir-fries—the reheat function lands in the right ballpark without turning everything to rubber. I liked using 60–70% power with a silicone lid or damp paper towel; moisture retention improves noticeably, and textures hold up better. Popcorn preset performance depends on the bag, like most microwaves, but once I dialed in the right time for my preferred brand, it popped reliably with minimal scorch.

The beverage preset is consistently useful for warming a coffee without boiling it to bitterness. Pizza reheat is fine in a pinch; I still prefer a skillet or toaster oven for crispness, but the microwave’s mid-power cycle kept slices from turning leathery.

Defrosting

Time and weight defrost options are both present, and they did a respectable job with chicken thighs and ground beef. As with many 1000‑watt units, the edges can start to cook if you let it run too long without attention. My workflow: start with the weight defrost program, break and flip halfway, then finish at 30–40% manual power for another minute or two. That approach kept ice crystals at bay while avoiding gray, cooked edges.

For bread and pastries, short bursts at 30% power prevented the dreaded sogginess. It’s not a miracle worker, but with a little attention you can go from freezer to prep-ready quickly.

Noise and vibration

Here’s where the experience stumbles. Beyond the typical hum of a magnetron and fan, this unit introduces a noticeable metallic vibration at certain frequencies. On my stone countertop, it sometimes produced a rattly resonance, particularly on high power. It’s not ear-splitting, but in a quiet kitchen it’s hard to ignore.

I was able to tame a fair bit of the noise by placing the microwave on a thin silicone or cork mat and ensuring the turntable ring and wheels were seated properly. Repositioning the unit so the rear feet didn’t bridge a grout line also helped. Still, compared to the quietest models I’ve used, this one is on the louder side. If you share open space with a home office or a sleeping baby, it’s worth noting.

Door and ergonomics

The push-button door release is functional but stiffer than I’d like. I often found myself bracing the unit with my other hand to keep it from scooting backward when opening. Non‑slip pads under the feet improved the situation significantly, but the spring tension feels high out of the box. The latch action itself is positive and secure, and closing is smooth; it’s the opening force that could use a lighter touch.

The handleless design is space-efficient and clean visually, but if you open the door dozens of times a day, the stiff button may become a minor annoyance.

Cleaning and maintenance

Daily upkeep is painless. The interior wipes clean easily with a damp cloth, and the removable turntable and ring fit in a dishwasher. Steam-cleaning splatters—heating a bowl of water and vinegar—worked quickly, and the door gasket didn’t trap debris. The exterior membrane keypad responds well to a soft, soapy cloth and resists the peeling edges that some cheaper panels develop over time.

I also appreciate that the display clock doubles as a simple kitchen timer even when the microwave isn’t running—handy when you’ve got something simmering on the stove.

Verdict and recommendation

This Black+Decker microwave nails the basics: compact footprint, real 1000‑watt power, ten usable power levels, straightforward controls, and a set of presets that actually save time. It reheats evenly, handles defrosting with a little technique, and is easy to clean. For most day‑to‑day kitchen tasks, it does the job without ceremony.

Two caveats temper my enthusiasm. First, it’s noisier than many peers, with occasional metallic vibration that may bother sensitive ears. Second, the door release requires an assertive push, enough that the unit can slide unless you stabilize it or add non‑slip pads. Neither is a deal-breaker, but both are noticeable in regular use.

Recommendation: I recommend this microwave to anyone who prioritizes strong, reliable performance and a compact form over hushed operation and plush ergonomics. If your kitchen tolerates a bit of extra buzz and you don’t mind adding a non‑slip mat to tame the door push, you’ll get a capable, straightforward workhorse that heats quickly and predictably. If quiet operation and feather‑light controls are high on your list, consider alternatives with softer door mechanisms and better acoustic damping.