Black & Decker 2.2 Cu. Ft. Countertop Microwave with Sensor Cooking (Stainless Steel)

I swapped my daily-driver microwave for Black & Decker’s big 2.2‑cu‑ft countertop model and lived with it for a few weeks in a busy family kitchen. The headline after that time: it’s a workhorse. It’s also unapologetically large, very fast, and stocked with features you’ll either appreciate or ignore depending on your cooking habits.

Design, size, and build

This is a full-size countertop unit with the footprint to match: roughly 24.4 inches wide, 19.6 inches deep, and 13.6 inches tall. Measure your counter depth and the swing of nearby cabinet doors before committing; it does occupy real estate and it’s heavy (around 50 pounds). The stainless front looks clean and modern, and the overall build feels solid for the price.

Inside, the cavity is spacious and practical. The glass turntable is large enough for a 13×9 casserole, oversized dinner plates, and family-size frozen meals. A bright LED interior light makes it easy to check doneness without opening the door. The door opens with a push-button rather than a handle; in my testing it released consistently and closed with a confident thunk.

Fit and finish are about what I expect from a mainstream countertop unit. The stainless trim will show fingerprints but wipes clean quickly. The interior is smooth and easy to clean—splatter wipes off the enamel walls without drama.

One quirk worth noting: the power cord is about 3 feet long. If your outlet isn’t close, you’ll need to plan your placement or avoid using an extension (manufacturers typically advise against it for safety reasons).

Capacity and power

At 1200 watts with 10 power levels, this microwave is fast. It boiled a mug of water notably quicker than my older 1000-watt unit and reheated dense leftovers (think chili or lasagna) with less mid-cycle stirring. The extra wattage is great for weeknight speed, but it does mean recipes and package directions calibrated for 1000 or 1100 watts may need small adjustments. I frequently used 80–90% power to match those directions and prevent overcooking delicate items. It’s an extra button press, but once you get into the habit it’s straightforward.

The evenness is helped by the generously sized turntable; edge-to-center temperature gradients were minimal on most foods. I did see the usual microwave caveats: soups reheat more evenly than dry starches, and large, dense items benefit from a quick stir or rest halfway.

Controls and features

The control panel is feature-rich. You get:

• Sensor cooking for automated reheating and steaming
• A full set of auto menus for common foods
• Time and weight defrost
• 10 power levels
• Express cook shortcuts
• A control-panel lock
• Mute mode to silence alerts

The button layout will appeal to people who like one-touch options, but at first glance it can feel busy. After a few days, muscle memory kicks in. Express cook is especially handy—tapping a number quickly kicks off a short timed cycle—and the sensor reheat covers a lot of everyday tasks.

Mute mode is a thoughtful addition. Default alerts are audible but not piercing; muting them at night is a small quality-of-life upgrade. The panel lock is easy to toggle and a must if you have curious kids.

Sensor cooking and defrost

Sensor functions are only as good as their algorithm and your container choice. Reheat was reliable for saucy leftovers, rice bowls with moisture, and soups. It was less consistent on low-moisture items like dry pasta or breaded cutlets, which is typical. For those, I had better results setting a manual time and stepping the power down to 50–70%.

Vegetable sensor steaming did well with broccoli and green beans in a vented container; cauliflower needed an extra burst. The important thing is to leave venting consistent so the sensor can “read” steam.

Defrost by weight is one of the strongest features on this unit. Chicken thighs, ground beef blocks, and fish fillets came out thawed but not cooked at the edges when I followed the prompts and flipped items at the beeps. If you typically “time defrost” on autopilot, it’s worth switching to weight-based—the results are better and more predictable.

Everyday performance and noise

This unit heats quickly and evenly, and it’s quieter than many full-size microwaves I’ve used. You’ll still hear fan and transformer hum, but conversation in the kitchen isn’t drowned out. The door’s latch is firm without being jarring. The LED interior light is bright enough to monitor bubbling sauces or rising steam without stopping the cycle.

For breads and pastries, microwaves are always tricky. There’s no specific “roll/muffin” preset here; I had the best luck restoring softness using 30–40% power in short bursts (15–20 seconds), covered with a paper towel to retain moisture. It’s a good example of where manual control beats presets.

Usability notes and maintenance

• Cleaning: The smooth interior and removable glass turntable make wipe-downs easy. Keep a damp cloth handy and steam-clean with a bowl of water and lemon if splatter dries on.
• Visibility: The window and LED lighting offer a clear view; I rarely had to open the door to check.
• Beeps and alerts: With mute mode on, it’s night-friendly. Without mute, alerts are reasonable and not repetitive.
• Learning curve: There’s a small one. The feature set is wide, and not all presets will match your exact preferences. After a week, I used a handful consistently—sensor reheat, express cook, and weight defrost—and ignored the rest.

Placement and ventilation

This is designed as a countertop unit. If you’re considering placing it into a cabinet opening with a trim kit, make sure to follow the manufacturer’s ventilation clearances and use an appropriate kit rated for the unit’s size and airflow. Starving a high‑wattage microwave of ventilation is a quick path to poor performance or failure. On a counter with open space around it, I had no heat buildup issues.

Because of the depth, check for overhang on shallower counters, and confirm the door can open fully without hitting adjacent hardware. The feet are stable and the chassis doesn’t slide when you press the door button.

Where it falls short

• Sheer size: If you have limited counter space or a shallow counter, the footprint can be a deal-breaker.
• Power mismatch with directions: Many packaged foods assume 1000–1100 watts. You’ll either run at 90% power or reduce time. Not difficult, but it adds steps.
• Busy control panel: Power users will love the options; minimalists might wish for fewer, better-labeled buttons.
• Short cord: At about 3 feet, placement flexibility is limited.
• Warranty: A one‑year limited warranty is standard for the category, but it’s still short for a major kitchen appliance.

Who it’s for

• Families or anyone regularly reheating large plates, casseroles, and batch-cooked meals
• Cooks who appreciate weight defrost and sensor reheat doing the heavy lifting
• People who want a fast, full‑size unit with room to grow into the features

Who should look elsewhere:

• Small kitchens, dorms, or apartments where counter depth and width are premium
• Users who prefer a very simple interface with only a few buttons
• Anyone wanting exact 1100‑watt matching without changing power levels

Recommendation

I recommend this Black & Decker 2.2‑cu‑ft countertop microwave for households that value speed, capacity, and a solid set of smart conveniences. It heats fast and evenly, the weight‑defrost and sensor reheat are genuinely useful, and quality-of-life touches like mute mode and a bright interior light make daily use pleasant. The trade-offs—size, a slightly busier control panel, and the need to occasionally dial power down to mirror 1100‑watt directions—are easy to live with if you have the counter space and cook for more than one or two people. If your kitchen is tight or you want a bare‑bones compact, you’ll be happier with a smaller, simpler unit. For everyone else, this is an efficient, capable microwave that earns its footprint.