Not every kitchen has room for a microwave the size of a small suitcase. Dorm rooms, office break rooms, RVs, apartments with galley counters, and a surprising number of home kitchens all need something that does the same everyday jobs without claiming half the counter. The BLACK+DECKER 0.7 cubic foot countertop microwave was built for that reality. It is a genuinely compact stainless steel microwave that still carries the push-button door and the safety features of the larger BLACK+DECKER models. I spent three weeks using it in a tight kitchen corner, and this review is the honest account of what a 700 watt microwave can and cannot do.
Before the details, the standard note. This article contains affiliate links, and if you buy through one of them the site earns a small commission at no extra cost to you. That commission does not change what I test or what I recommend. The microwave reviewed here was used daily in a working kitchen.
The 0.7 cubic foot model is the entry point of BLACK+DECKER's countertop lineup, and it makes its choices clear from the start. It saves space and money, and it trades some wattage and interior room to do it. The rest of this review covers the design, the real performance at 700 watts, and exactly who should buy it.
Design and Build
The microwave follows the house style, a stainless steel body with a flat, push-button front and no handle. The door opens with a single press and stays stable once released, and the flat surface keeps the appliance easy to clean and easy to place in tight corners. It is genuinely small, noticeably more compact than the 0.9 and 1.1 models, and it fits on counters where the larger units would dominate the whole surface.
The control panel is simple and clear, with a digital display and a straightforward layout that does not crowd the buttons. The interior is a modest cavity with a glass turntable, and it handles a standard dinner plate, a soup bowl, and most single-serving frozen meals. Large plates and casserole dishes do not fit, which is the honest reality of the compact size, and the interior is best matched to everyday single meals rather than family platters.
0.7 Cu Ft Microwave" width="1200" height="800" loading="lazy" style="height:auto">Key Features
Despite the small size, the 0.7 model keeps the features that define the BLACK+DECKER countertop range. The push-button door opens with one hand, which is useful when you are holding a plate and a drink. The control panel includes the ten power levels that give real control for defrosting and reheating delicate foods, and the child safety lock disables the keypad until a specific sequence unlocks it, a feature that matters in a dorm or any home with young children.
The model also includes the same stainless steel finish as the larger units and the glass turntable that rotates food for even heating. There is a kitchen timer, a clock, and express start functions. The feature set is not as deep as the larger models, which add the six auto cook presets, but for a microwave this small, the ten power levels and the defrost function cover the essential ground.
Real-World Performance
The honest question with any compact microwave is whether the lower wattage spoils the experience, and the answer after three weeks is a qualified no. Reheating a plate of leftovers took a little longer than a 1000 watt unit, typically fifteen to thirty seconds more for a dense serving, but the food came out warm and evenly heated. For single servings and everyday meals, the difference is noticeable but not frustrating.
Defrosting worked better than I expected at 700 watts. The lower power actually gives the defrost cycle a softer touch, and a small package of ground beef thawed without cooking the edges. The power cycling kept the process gentle, which is a real strength of a lower wattage unit for this specific task.
Popcorn, coffee, and simple reheating tasks all handled well. The turntable kept heat moving, and a mug of coffee warmed without boiling over. The interior light is modest and the beeping is on the loud side, the same minor complaints as the larger BLACK+DECKER models, and the stainless front shows fingerprints like any stainless appliance.
The footprint was the standout. The 0.7 model fit into a corner of the counter that had previously been dead space, and it left the main work surface completely free. For a dorm, an office break room, or a small apartment, that small footprint is the entire point, and the microwave does not feel like a toy despite the size. The push-button door deserves a specific note, because it is the part of a microwave people touch most. Over three weeks of constant opening and closing, the release stayed crisp, the door never sagged on its hinge, and the flat front kept wiping down to a single pass of a cloth. For a budget model, that consistency is reassuring, because it suggests the mechanism will still be working a year from now rather than wearing out after the first heavy season of use.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Small footprint fits tight counters and corners
- Push-button door opens easily with one hand
- Ten power levels for controlled defrosting
- Child safety lock on a compact budget model
- Stainless steel finish at a low price
- Gentle defrosting thanks to lower wattage
Cons:
- 700 watts reheats more slowly than larger models
- Interior cannot fit plates larger than standard size
- No auto cook presets on this model
- Interior light is dim
How It Compares
The 0.7 cubic foot model is the compact end of the BLACK+DECKER range, and the choice between it and the larger models is mostly a question of space and cooking volume. The table below lines up the three.
| Feature | 0.7 Cu Ft | 0.9 Cu Ft | 1.1 Cu Ft |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power | 700 watts | 900 watts | 1000 watts |
| Footprint | Smallest | Medium | Largest |
| Auto cook presets | No | Six | Six |
| Push-button door | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Child safety lock | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Best for | Dorms, offices | Small kitchens | Families |
If you have almost no counter space, the 0.7 model is the one that fits, and it does the everyday jobs well enough that the lower wattage rarely feels like a real sacrifice. If you have even a modest amount of space, the 0.9 model adds the auto presets and 900 watts for a small footprint increase. You can check the current price of the BLACK+DECKER 0.7 cu ft microwave on Amazon to compare it against the larger models.
Who Should Buy It
Buy the BLACK+DECKER 0.7 cubic foot microwave if you live in a dorm, work in an office, travel in an RV, or cook in a kitchen where counter space is genuinely scarce. It is also a sensible pick for a second microwave in a basement or guest room, and for anyone who wants a cheap, compact way to heat single servings without surrendering the whole counter.
Skip it if you regularly heat large dishes or full family platters, because the interior will not fit them, or if you want the fastest possible heating and the preset conveniences, because the 0.9 model is worth the extra space. For small spaces and light duty, this is an honest and affordable choice.
How We Test
I used the BLACK+DECKER 0.7 cubic foot microwave for three weeks in a kitchen corner with very limited counter space. I reheated leftovers and single-serving meals, defrosted small cuts of meat, warmed beverages, and popped popcorn, using the ten manual power levels for a range of tasks. I recorded how long common jobs took compared with a 1000 watt unit and how evenly heat spread across the plate.
I did not run the microwave in a lab or measure its power consumption, and I used ordinary household cookware. For a broader look at compact microwaves and what to expect from lower wattage, CNET's guide to the best microwaves covers the essentials. The BLACK+DECKER 0.7 cu ft microwave listing on Amazon shows the current price and full specifications.
BLACK+DECKER 0.7 Cu Ft Microwave: Questions People Ask
How small is the 0.7 cu ft microwave?
The 0.7 cubic foot model has a compact footprint of about 17 inches wide by 12 inches deep, making it one of the easier countertop microwaves to fit on a busy counter.
Is 700 watts enough to cook food?
Yes, 700 watts reheats meals, melts butter, and defrosts frozen items well, though larger dishes may need a little more time than a higher wattage model.
Does the 0.7 cu ft model have preset cooking buttons?
The basic model keeps the controls simple with straightforward one-touch settings and a manual timer, so there is less to learn on the keypad.
Who is the 0.7 cu ft microwave best suited for?
It suits dorms, offices, RVs, and small kitchens where counter space is limited and the microwave handles light daily tasks rather than family-sized cooking.
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases.
