How much longer should I cook things in a 700-watt microwave?
Start with the time on the packet, check the food, and add time in short steps until it is hot all the way through. Many packet instructions are written for more powerful microwaves, so following them exactly here can leave food underdone, which feels like a weak microwave rather than a smaller one. The plus 30 seconds button turns each top-up into a single press, and stopping early to check is always better than overcooking.
Will a standard dinner plate fit?
Yes. The 10-inch glass turntable takes a normal dinner plate, even a fairly large one. That is exactly where very small microwaves fail: if the plate catches on the wall it stops turning, heating one side and leaving the other cold. Measure your own plates if you use unusually large ones, and note that tall bowls have less headroom than in a bigger oven.
Is the child lock worth having, and can I turn it off?
In a home with young children it is worth having. A child who can reach the buttons can start a microwave, and the hazards are real: scalding food carried across a kitchen, or the oven run empty. The lock disables the controls until a deliberate sequence is entered. If you do not need it, it can reportedly be switched off permanently with a short button sequence.
Can I turn the beeping off?
Yes. The mute function turns off the beeps, which COMFEE' highlights as one of the main features. That matters in a studio flat, a dorm, or a home where someone works nights.
What makes a microwave fail early?
Running it empty is a common cause and one you can prevent: the energy has to be absorbed by something, normally the water in food. With this model there is a specific trap: a thin protective film covers the whole case, including the vents, and leaving it on can cause a burnt plastic smell and trap moisture inside. Peel it all off before first use. Closing the door gently rather than slamming it also helps, since the door switches take a lot of wear.
How much space does it need around it?
Measure for 17.3 inches wide, 13 deep and 10.2 tall, then leave clearance around it and never block the vents. A microwave pushed hard against a wall or boxed tightly into a cupboard runs hotter than it should, which shortens its life. Check the door's swing too, since a compact microwave usually ends up somewhere tight, and the door pulls open rather than using a push button.
