Toshiba is a popular brand across the United States, and the company’s electronic appliances are well known for their good quality and durability. The Toshiba EM131A5C-SS is one such appliance that offers incredible value and is easily one of the best microwaves you can buy for your home.
This countertop appliance sports a sleek and modern design that will complement any kitchen décor while offering a wide range of features that make cooking and reheating food a breeze. It has a capacity of about 1.2 cubic feet and is quite powerful at 1100 watts. This means your food gets cooked much faster than you could with any other microwave with lower wattage.
The EM131A5C-SS comes with a special feature that allows it to estimate how long to cook food and at what temperature thanks to its smart sensor. While it isn’t the fastest microwave for cooking your food, it still does its best. But how does the Toshiba EM131A5C-SS microwave oven with a smart sensor perform when put to the test? More importantly, how does it differentiate itself from similar microwaves from other manufacturers such as Panasonic and others?
Key Features
The Toshiba EM131A5C-SS microwave oven boasts a 1.2 cubic foot capacity, which makes it suitable for heating up and cooking different dishes, from small snacks to large meals. It also has a large interior capacity, big enough to accommodate most standard-sized plates and bowls, and the 12.4-inch turntable allows you to heat and cook even big-sized pizzas among other meals.
As mentioned, the EM131A5C-SS comes with the Smart Humidity Sensor which automatically detects the humidity level of the food and adjusts the cooking time and power accordingly. This feature is very useful as it ensures that your food is cooked or reheated evenly to perfection, without overcooking or drying out.
The Toshiba Microwave Oven EM131A5C-SS also comes with 12 auto menus, which provide preset cooking times and power levels for most dishes such as popcorn, potatoes, pizza, and vegetables. With these presets, you no longer have to do guesswork when cooking and it ensures consistent results every time.
Another useful feature of this appliance is the One-Touch Start button which allows you to start cooking or reheating your food with just a touch of a button. The control panel is simple and easy to navigate and features a digital display that shows the remaining cooking/heating time.
Toshiba EM131A5C-SS Specs
- Stainless steel exterior
- Easy opening door handle
- Compact countertop size
- Pre-programmed sensor modes for defrosting and cooking food
- One-touch popcorn setting
- Auto Defrost mode
- Child safety lock
- Built-in clock
- 10 power settings (1100 watts maximum power)
- One-touch 30-second button
- Smart Sensor
- Bright Digital Display
Design and Build Quality
As expected of microwaves at this price point, the EM131A5C-SS looks modern and stylish, and will certainly look great on any kitchen countertop. The exterior is made of stainless steel, which gives it a sleek and polished finish, while the interior is lined with a durable and easy-to-clean enamel coating.
Like its predecessor, the Toshiba EM131A5C, the latest incarnation features a door handle with an ergonomic design and easy to grip, and the door itself gets a smooth and quiet opening and closing mechanism. The control panel is located on the right-hand side and features clearly labeled buttons and a digital display.
Toshiba is known for durability and longevity, and on this microwave oven, those standards are maintained. In addition to being durable, the Toshiba EM131A5C-SS is lightweight (34.6 pounds), which makes it easy to move around the kitchen or store away when not in use.
Performance
The spacious 1.2 cu. ft. The interior offered by the Toshiba EM131A5C-SS microwave isn’t as much as that of the Panasonic NN-SN966S, but it’s still ideal for large family meals. Although if you need something with a larger 1.8 cu. ft. capacity, then the FRIGIDAIRE FFMV1846VS microwave oven is a great alternative. With the Toshiba, its turntable diameter of 12.1 inches means you can have large dishes in there, and if you’re not a fan of microwave beeps, you can turn it off by simply long pressing the number 8 button for about 5 seconds.
The EM131A5C-SS microwave uses inverter technology to properly cook food while regulating energy consumption, and it comes with 10 power settings for you to choose from. If you prefer speed, then you’ll find the one-touch start function very useful. If you’ve not used this feature on other microwave ovens though, it might take some time to get used to.
Perhaps the main advantage of the Toshiba Microwave Oven EM131A5C-SS is its ease of use. The control panel is user-friendly and intuitive, with well-labeled buttons and a digital display that shows the remaining cooking time. The Smart Humidity Sensor and 12 auto menus make cooking and reheating food pretty straightforward, as you don’t need to manually adjust the cooking time and power. Simply select the preset menu or use the One-Touch Start button to start cooking or reheating your food.
Finally, cleaning and maintaining this microwave oven is very easy. To clean the interior, simply wipe it down with a damp cloth or sponge. For tougher stains or food debris, use a mild detergent but avoid abrasive sponges or cleaners, which might scratch the enamel coating. The turntable can be easily removed for cleaning and is dishwasher safe. The exterior of the microwave can also be wiped with a damp cloth to remove any dust or fingerprints.
Bottom Line
The Toshiba EM131A5C-SS Microwave Oven is a decent appliance for anyone looking for a reliable, easy-to-use, and efficient microwave oven for their kitchen. It comes with a large capacity of 1.2 cubic feet and a 12.4-inch turntable, meaning it can accommodate a wide range of food items, from large casserole dishes to small bowls of soup.
In addition to the large capacity, the Smart Humidity Sensor technology is a standout feature that ensures your meals are perfectly cooked every time. To that, add 12 auto menus and you have the convenience of various cooking options in your kitchen. Using the microwave oven is a breeze thanks to an intuitive control panel that’s user-friendly and the stainless-steel exterior is stylish and modern.
Overall, the Toshiba EM131A5C-SS is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable and convenient oven that looks great on the kitchen countertop and delivers excellent results every time. With its fantastic feature set, high-quality construction, and sleek design, this microwave oven is an excellent addition to your home kitchen.
Recommended Configuration
TOSHIBA EM131A5C-SS Countertop Microwave Oven, 1.2 Cu Ft with 12.4" Turntable, Smart Humidity Sensor with 12 Auto Menus, Mute Function & ECO Mode, Easy Clean Interior, Stainless Steel & 1100W
$140.61 in stock
7 used from $87.49
The Review
Toshiba EM131A5C-SS
The Toshiba EM131A5C-SS is an excellent choice for anyone looking for a reliable and convenient oven that looks great on the kitchen countertop and delivers excellent results every time.
PROS
- Easy to use
- 12-sensor cooking menus
- 1100 Watts of power for fast cooking
- Has a Door handle instead of a button
CONS
- Too big for small kitchens
- Preset heat times are too aggressive
Review Breakdown
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EDITORS RATING
