BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 Digital Microwave Oven Review

BLACK+DECKER is a reliable brand for household products and kitchen appliances which has been established over a century ago. When it comes to the microwave oven, you can count on the BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 that provides you with an extra hand for cooking and reheating. Coming with plenty of features, you will find the microwave is useful to help with the daily food prep.

The countertop microwave oven boasts a compact design to help save space on your countertop. Featuring pre-programmed buttons, you can cook popular foods such as veggies and pizzas with ease. As with other modern microwave products, it also features a child safety lock that helps keep your children out of danger. Overall, it has more things to like than to dislike.

BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 Design: Compact and Stylish

I was so amazed how a small countertop microwave can make a statement in the kitchen. This appliance is perfectly designed to fit any kitchen styles, ranging from modern to classic. Round edges accentuate its sleek and clean look, not to mention the stainless steel exterior that looks great for any cooking space.

Measuring 17.3 inches wide by 13.0 inches deep by 10.2 inches high and weighing 24.1 pounds, this small unit is a great space-saver. Despite its small exterior dimension, it has quite ample internal dimensions at 12.05 inches wide, 11.97 inches deep, and 8.11 inches high. With 0.7 cu ft capacity, the microwave is suitable for a small family.

At a glance, the exterior design of this microwave reminds me of the Kenmore 70923 countertop microwave, though BLACK+DECKER’s comes in a smaller size. This unit comes with slight stainless steel frames and black inner frames that create a nice combination to the appearance. The large touchpad serves as a control panel which helps control the operation as desired.

The microwave comes with a pre-programmed menu which can be found on the panel. There are six different food choices that you can cook or heat without inputting your own time estimation. It supports optimum heating for the best taste and cooking time. Additionally, you won’t find any grip or door handle as it features a push-button door for easier access.

Value-for-Money Features

If you want to be a smart buyer, you should do a little research to figure out the features that will be useful. BLACK+DECKER countertop microwave is specifically designed to upgrade your cooking experience, thanks to a variety of features that makes this unit value for money. Here’s a list of features you can enjoy from this microwave.

1. Pre-programmed menu

Who says heating pizza is easy? When you heat too fast, you can still feel the cold taste especially in the middle. But when you add a few more minutes, the pizzas get burnt. Thankfully, the EM720CB7 comes with a pre-programmed menu for popular foods such as popcorn, potatoes, pizzas, and veggies. With this feature, no need to set the time by yourself.

2. 10 power settings

The microwave oven features 10 power settings with low wattage up to 700 watts. Different power levels support optimum heating for different kinds of foods. Simply choose the desired power level and let the microwave do the job for you.

3. Express cooking

The BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 boasts express cooking that enables you to set the time from one to 6 minutes. All you have to do is press the right number. Anytime you want to stop the process, simply touch the Stop button. It gives you full control of the cooking progress.

4. Defrost

The microwave oven offers two defrost options—weight defrost and time defrost. Whether you want to thaw frozen meats or veggies, simply input the weight and time you want to defrost and the microwave will do the rest. Unlike Toshiba’s microwave that comes with 1 pound auto defrost, this unit only provides custom defrost.

5. Clock and timer function

The EM720CB7 is equipped with a large LED digital display that supports the clock as well as the timer function. When cooking or heating is on progress, the LED will display cooking remaining time and countdown timer. It can also display a clock so you won’t be late to prepare the dishes.

6. Removable turntable

Another versatile feature I found from this microwave oven is the removable turntable. Aside from being easy to clean, the turntable offers optimum and even heating for the best taste. The small unit is able to accommodate a 10 inches glass turntable for more food capacity.

7. Child safety lock

As a mother, I really appreciate that the manufacturer embedded a safety feature for kids. With child safety locks, this appliance won’t harm your kids even when they play with the buttons. Despite its safety feature, it’s necessary to keep the unit out of reach of children.

BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 Pros and Cons

The manufacturer has been established since 1910 and it knows well how to meet your demands for an engaging cooking experience. The EM720CB7 is a high-quality product with ease-of-use features that enable you to prepare the dishes within minutes. Despite its convenience, the microwave oven has several things you may dislike.

BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 Pros

• Pre-programmed menu

You’ll love how this microwave provides you with convenient cooking, thanks to a pre-programmed menu that works well to cook or reheat popular foods. It can easily handle popcorn, pizza, potatoes, and veggies without your intervention. Simply press the right button and wait for the microwave to adjust the power for the best cooking result.

• Stylish design

As a new kitchen appliance can make or break the whole kitchen interior, this countertop microwave is quite safe for any kitchen style. Thanks to the premium design and stainless steel finish that makes this product more expensive than it should. Additionally, it features a space-saving design that allows you to save a lot of space on the countertop.

• Affordable initial cost

Price matters. You might need to purchase a versatile microwave without breaking the savings. In this case, the EM720CB7 can be a great choice as it’s available at an affordable price. Each unit with 0.7 cu. ft. capacity costs no more than $80, allowing you to save the money for other purposes.

• Safety feature

Every mother, including me, knows well how a safety feature can make a specific appliance look much more attractive. This child-lock feature helps protect your children from danger. Even though they press the buttons randomly, this feature keeps the unit safe and well-maintained.

BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 Cons

• Lack of auto defrost feature

The EM720CB7 does not support the auto defrost feature. Instead, you need to input the information by yourself. It comes with two defrost options, including time and weight. Simply press to the right button for both time and weight and let the unit do the rest.

• Very lightweight

A lightweight microwave is quite risky, especially when opening the door. Sometimes, I have to hold the upper side in order that the unit won’t run forward. Fortunately, this microwave uses a push-button instead of a handle or grip. The button enables you to open the door much easier than a conventional door handle.

• Hard to read touchpad

When your kitchen is dark or has dim light, it’s rather hard to read the touchpad. Black background and greyish-white lettering is not that flashy to allow you to read in the dark. You have to really focus and concentrate, especially if you’re not yet accustomed to the buttons. Sometimes, it requires additional light to read the control panel.

Conclusion

The BLACK+DECKER EM720CB7 is a fully-featured microwave oven to complement your kitchen. The small size makes it fit nicely on your countertop without consuming a lot of space. The microwave unit offers myriad features to help you with cooking and heating tasks. Thanks to its 0.7 cu ft capacity and low wattage that makes it suitable for a small family, studio apartment, or even RV.

Purchasing the EM720CB7 never goes wrong as it has useful features to help you prepare foods either for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. It has minor drawbacks to dislike such as lack of auto defrost and rather invisible control panel. But overall, this countertop microwave oven is worth the thought. If you need a versatile microwave at an affordable price, simply mention this product.