If you are looking for an affordable, reasonably small microwave oven for your home or office then the Toshiba EM131A5C-SS is likely on your list. Here is our full review of this model after having bought and tested it.
Toshiba EM131A5C-SS Microwave Details
- Stainless steel exterior
- Handle for easy opening
- Small size
- Pre-programmed sensor mode for popular food items, like vegetables and potatoes
- 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
Toshiba EM131A5C-SS Dimensions
Toshiba EM131A5C-SS is a top pick for a small to medium-sized microwave because it isn’t too tall or too deep (width tends to be less of a problem for most kitchens).
- External Dimensions: 20.5 x 17.1 x 12.8 inches (Width, Depth, Height)
- Internal Dimensions: 13.0 x 15.0 x 9.5 inches (Width, Depth, Height)
- Internal Volume: 1.2 cubic feet
There is a 12.1 inch glass turnable inside, which is a lot of size for such a reasonably sizes microwave. This means it uses space efficiently.
Toshiba EM131A5C-SS Price
This microwave oven was purchased from Amazon.com for $107.99. The price will vary based on the individual buyer and when it is purchased.
It is also sold at Walmart, Home Depot, and other retailers. The price will typically range from $97 to $120.
Toshiba EM131A5C-SS Performance
In our testing the Toshiba microwave has performed extremely well. It has a high power level so larger items heat up with easy. Things like soups and mashed vegetables — items with a high level of density — heat evenly and what seems to be a predictable rate. Cups of coffee and other liquids heat nicely as well, with no huge or unexpected temperature spikes.
A one-minute microwave heating can be done with a single button push. This feature is convenient, but standard at this point. A one-minute cycle is ideal for warming a small plate of food right out of the fridge to an good temperature for eating. One minute is too long for a single cup of coffee or tea, so you can choose to pull the item early or lower the power setting.
As expected, we had no safety concerns while testing a wide variety of microwave-safe containers. The microwave emitted no strange noises or anything that would raise any sort of alarm.
The machine is very stable so when putting the handle there was no concern that that microwave would be unsettled or pulled from the shelf. The handle is actually very convenient and a great alternative to simply pushing a button to open, though it does take up some space.
Verdict
While this isn’t as small as some other microwaves in its price class, the Toshiba EM131A5C-SS offers consistent powered and a good-looking exterior. It’s easy to use and has no surprises in store for us.
The Toshiba EM131A5C-SS lacks high-end features, smart technology (like Alexa or smart home integration) or any sort of frills, but that’s exactly what most buyers at the $75-$150 level want — a simple microwave that does its job well.
Alternatives To The Toshiba EM131A5C-SS
Other microwaves that people investigating the EM131A5C-SS might consider are…
- Toshiba EC042A5C-SS: This $190 microwave uses a very similar exterior design but adds convection cooking so it can bake and roast in addition to microwave. This one is a good deal larger (22 x 21.5 x 13 inches) and as a 1000 watt of microwave power instead of 1100 watts.
- Black & Decker EM720CB7: This Black & Decker is in a lower price category so you lose out on the nice handle and both the button array and display are throwbacks to designs from 10 years ago. This microwave is a lot smaller (17 x 13 x 10 inches) but you only have 0.7 cubic feet inside and a power level of 700 watts. This is a good pick for very small spaces.