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Black+Decker EM031MB11 Review

This larger product did decently well but we don't think it quite matches the performance of the top-tier models
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Black+Decker EM031MB11 Review
Price:  $135 List
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Manufacturer:   BLACK+DECKER
By David Wise and Austin Palmer  ⋅  Jan 14, 2022
61
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#8 of 13
  • Heating - 40% 6.1
  • Frozen Foods - 30% 7.4
  • Defrosting - 20% 4.0
  • Ease of Use - 10% 6.8

Our Verdict

The Black+Decker EM031MB11 scored pretty well in the bulk of our tests, earning an above-average overall score in our best microwaves review. It delivered respectable performances in our heating and frozen foods tests and scored well in our user-friendliness metric. However, we were unimpressed by its defrosting performance, and overall we weren't impressed enough for this model to earn a spot in our kitchen.
REASONS TO BUY
Good at reheating
Does well with premade frozen foods
REASONS TO AVOID
Didn't defrost frozen turkey well

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards  Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Microwave
Top Pick Award
Best Microwave for Heating Frozen Food
Best Buy Award
Best Value Microwave
Best Buy Award
Best Microwave on a Tight Budget
Price $135 List
$126.55 at Amazon
$219 List
$219.10 at Amazon
$120 List
$115.53 at Amazon
$125 List
$124.95 at Amazon
$82 List
$81.99 at Amazon
Overall Score Sort Icon
61
82
76
64
55
Star Rating
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Bottom Line While this appliance did alright in our rankings, it just didn't match the performance of some of the better modelsA crowd-pleaser with robust performance in every aspect - you can't go wrong with this excellent applianceA full-size microwave that is a solid performer across the board with outstanding frozen food heating capabilityA middle of the road product for a reasonable price, scoring similarly to many others that were priced much higherIdeal for those on a budget or with limited space, but this model falls short in terms of premium build quality and high-level performance across our evaluated metrics
Rating Categories Black+Decker EM031MB11 GE JES1109RRSS Magic Chef MC110MB Panasonic NN-SB458S Comfee EM720CPL-PMB
Heating (40%)
6.1
7.3
6.4
6.2
5.5
Frozen Foods (30%)
7.4
8.3
8.7
6.7
4.3
Defrosting (20%)
4.0
10.0
8.0
7.0
7.0
Ease of Use (10%)
6.8
8.1
7.9
5.5
6.3
Specs Black+Decker EM031MB11 GE JES1109RRSS Magic Chef MC110MB Panasonic NN-SB458S Comfee EM720CPL-PMB
Measured 45 Sec Heating Temp Rise 83 F 71 F 106 F 89 F 67 F
Measured Weight of Defrosted Meat 6.9 oz 15 oz 12.5 oz 8.8 oz 11.8 oz
Average Temperature Difference 21 F 9 F 7 F 29 F 13 F
Measured Unpopped Kernels 21 37 23 8 192
Wattage 1000 watts 1050 watts 1000 watts 900 watts 700 watts
Measured Turntable Diameter 12.4" 12.4" 12.4" 10.6" 10"
Measured External Dimensions (WxHxD) 20.2" x 12.1" x 15.6" 20.6" x 11.9" x 16.6" 20.6" x 11.8" x 14.7" 19.1" x 11.5" x 14.8" 17.1" x 10.1" x 12.4"
Measured Internal Dimentions (WxHxD) 14.5" x 9.1" x 13.9" 13.0" x 8.4" x 12.4" 13.1" x 8.2" x 12.5" 13.9" x 8.1" x 12.4" 10.8" x 6.8" x 10.1"
Size 1.1 cu. ft 1.0 cu. ft 1.1 cu. ft 0.9 cu. ft 0.7 cu. ft
Child lock Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes

Our Analysis and Test Results

At 1.1 cubic feet, this model boasts a fairly large capacity. It also has one of the lower retail prices of the larger options, making it a decent choice if you want a full-sized microwave and are shopping on a reduced budget.

Performance Comparison


black+decker em031mb11 - even though it couldn't match some of the top products, this product...
Even though it couldn't match some of the top products, this product scored quite well in our evaluations.
Credit: Laura Casner

Likes


The Black+Decker EM031MB11 got off to a good start in our heating metric, reheating all three of our test types of food very well and delivering solid results in our side-by-side speed heating test.

black+decker em031mb11 - these three types of food all heated up relatively evenly.
These three types of food all heated up relatively evenly.
Credit: Laura Casner

This microwave evenly heated up the potatoes and green beans on our plate of leftovers to within 5°F of each other, although the sausages came out just a bit warmer. The canned soup and the two slices of pizza came out nice and hot, consistently heated to the correct serving temperature.

black+decker em031mb11 - both slices came out ready to serve.
Both slices came out ready to serve.
Credit: Laura Casner

The Black+Decker EM031MB11 also scored high in our tests of the manufactured frozen foods, impressing us most with frozen burritos and Hot Pockets. This appliance heated up the burrito's left, right, and center zones to within an average difference of 9°F of each other. It performed identically with the Hot Pocket, with our thermometers showing the same average difference.

black+decker em031mb11 - there was just a bit of a cool spot in the center but all three...
There was just a bit of a cool spot in the center but all three regions were well above serving temperature with the Black+Decker.
Credit: Laura Casner

We appreciate ease of use in our kitchen appliances, and this model had many of the convenience features we like. It has quick start features and a +30 seconds button that automatically starts the microwave. It also has decent internal lighting, and the preset functions seem to work very well.

black+decker em031mb11 - only a handful of kernels remained unpopped after using the...
Only a handful of kernels remained unpopped after using the “Popcorn” button.
Credit: Laura Casner

We used the popcorn function, which popped nearly all the kernels without burning any.

black+decker em031mb11 - unfortunately, this model didn't do the best in the defrosting test.
Unfortunately, this model didn't do the best in the defrosting test.
Credit: Laura Casner

Dislikes


Our biggest complaint about the Black+Decker EM031MB11 is its poor showing in our defrosting test. In this test, we used the recommended settings to defrost a one-pound square of frozen ground turkey. This microwave alerted us to flip the meat partway through the process, but it only managed to defrost just under 7 ounces of meat. It didn't cook any of the parts, but the remaining turkey was still relatively frozen and couldn't be broken up easily after we scraped away the completely defrosted parts.

black+decker em031mb11 - less than half of the turkey was successfully thawed.
Less than half of the turkey was successfully thawed.
Credit: Laura Casner

The Black+Decker EM031MB11 also didn't score very well in our heat map test, leaving the outer ring of marshmallow fluff almost completely raw, while the middle ring was darkened considerably.

There was a clear ring of marshmallow that got more heat than the...
There was a clear ring of marshmallow that got more heat than the rest.
The underside of the heat map made the hot zone very apparent.
The underside of the heat map made the hot zone very apparent.

This product only gave lackluster results when heating up the individual serving of pre-made lasagna. The temperatures varied considerably amongst the six different digital thermometers we used, with the most significant temperature gap being 47°F between regions.

black+decker em031mb11 - this model can be a decent bargain option as well.
This model can be a decent bargain option as well.
Credit: Laura Casner

Should You Buy the Black+Decker EM031MB11?


If you're hoping for a full-size microwave without a full-size price tag, this could be a good bet. However, performance-wise, we think that there are better options out there.

What Other Microwaves Should You Consider?


The Black+Decker EM031MB11 is a solid microwave, but it scored squarely in the middle of our tests. If you're looking for one of the best full-sized microwaves out there, we recommend checking out the Toshiba EM131A5C.

David Wise and Austin Palmer