TOSHIBA EM131A5C-BS Countertop Microwave Ovens 1.2 Cu Ft. 12.4 Removable Turntable Smart Humidity Sensor 12 Auto Menus Mute Function ECO Mode Easy Clean Interior Black Color 1000W

I bought this microwave oven because it was the featured product of Amazon. I have not been disappointed. It took me a little bit to get used to the door and how to open but it is second nature to me now. I like the clock and the way the timer resets itself to zero if you don’t finish your time. It is really user friendly.

A great unit - though smaller it fits everything I use it for, except taller coffee mugs. Love the sensor reheat - gets the food reheated throughout perfectly nearly every time - from soup to meats, to rice, etc. How does it do that? The one catch is people forget about the safety latch when opening and try to pull it, could be marked better or something.

Highly recommend. Purchased for my father who recently moved onto an assisted living studio apartment. Perfect size for him but would also be perfect in my home. Researched other microwaves. Very pleased with this purchase. Prompt delivery as promised.

I've had this device for about 2 weeks now and I have to say it has definitely worked out great. The controls are easy to use and understand. It is solidly built. The fit and finish is excellent. As some reviews mentioned, the sound level is more than my old microwave, but not as much as my old air fryer. I have a learning curve to get to know all of its capabilities, but I am very satisfied with it so far.

This thing is absolutely amazing!! It’s a big sized tank of a microwave.
When I was opening this, I felt like a kid on Christmas Day. Not only can I bake my cookies in this I can make freaking ribs!!! this thing is absolutely freaking amazing and I’ll definitely be buying this again if this one breaks

I'm no longer very mobile and got this one so I could cook upstairs when I can't get to the kitchen.

This works quite well for its size (whch fits the space i have for it upstairs) and cooks more evenly than the larger downstairs one.

I especially like that you can do two times/power levels in one go. Very nice for bringing water/rice to the boil and then letting it cook on 2 for the rice. Saves steps/pain!

Great size for an appliance that is atop the counter. Quiet. Simple to operate. I was Leary of the unit having a child lock door but I hardly know it’s there.

I've been using this for a few months and love it. The control panel is easy to read and it's quick to set the time in minute or half minute increments. I don't think you can beat this microwave for the price.

I was hesitant that my senior parents will have issue with adjusting to the new handle as you need to push it up to open. Turns out it was not an issue at all. They love it.

This is a great size and it’s easy to operate. The new safety door handle is a bit cumbersome but helps if there are kids. Unfortunately this is the second I’ve had to buy in as many years because the first one gave out and it is so affordable it wasn’t worth trying to repair. Would love a clock on it

Our microwave died with no warning, so we ordered this one the same night, it was here by the next day. Loved that and love our new microwave. Had to get used to pushing the button on the handle to open and it is slightly smaller than not old one but that has been a pleasant difference for counter space. Very pleased.

I bought this microwave for my grandma because it was recommended to me.

It works perfectly for seniors. It’s easy to use and clean. It has large clear buttons and a handle.

I’m very happy with this Toshiba microwave. It looks sleek and modern and fits perfectly on my countertop without taking up too much space. The stainless-steel finish gives it a premium look and is easy to wipe clean.

Performance-wise, it heats food evenly and quickly. I’ve used it for reheating meals, drinks, and simple cooking, and everything comes out perfectly heated without cold spots. The preset buttons are very convenient, and the controls are easy to understand and use.

I also appreciate how quiet it is compared to other microwaves I’ve owned. The door feels sturdy, and overall the build quality is excellent.

This microwave is perfect for everyday use and great value for the price. I would definitely recommend it to anyone looking for a reliable, stylish, and efficient microwave.

I have had this for more than 3 years now. When I first read the reviews, I was worried if I was making the right decision, but this microwave has been the best one I have ever owned, hands down! I never had one that had buttons for automatic cooking, that actually worked before this one!

The buttons are super convenient! I am shopping for a new air fryer at the moment and I realized how successful this purchase was, that I decided to come give it a reivew.

I give this Toshiba microwave 5 stars cuz I really do love it. I think a lot of reviews say it's loud, and maybe it is, but I've only had one other microwave and it was loud too so I can't comment on that. It doesn't bother me. The things I love
The size. It takes up little space on my limited counter top space but big enough inside to fit a full size dinner plate with room to spare.
I love the door latch that is as simple as grasping the handle at the top and it easily depresses to allow the door to open.
The button placement is quite intuitive and smart.
STOP/Cancel is very bottom right button and is RED so stands out beautifully from the very first time you use it.
Cook Time is directly above the "STOP/Cancel" button, so super easy to find even in the dark.
The START/ +30 Sec. button on very bottom left is super convenient.
I love that it has 1 press buttons for 1 minute to 6 minutes, clearly marked with a box around those numbers.
As for the Smart Humidity Sensor, well that is something beyond my limited knowledge of how microwaves work, so I haven't played around with that yet. The power on regular usage is very good.
I also love that when the timer goes off, soon as you open the door it shuts up.

Danger Alert please read before buying ,works great however there is electrical popping sound during heating and it scares us when it goes off during heating and am now trying to get full refund as **this is dangerous and I do not recommend this microwave**

The microwave itself is great, and the childproof handle is easy. You just push up the latch on the handle, and it opens easily. My problem is that I ordered the one with a dark interior. It even says it in the description. The model number is the same, so I'm guessing someone in the warehouse messed up.

Works beautifully and heats up my food evenly. What a game changer! I love it. The child lock is in the handle which makes it so easy to access as opposed to it being in the panel.

This is such a wonderful replacement for my little microwave that finally died after over 10 years. Now I have a microwave, air fryer, oven, etc… the 8 in 1; so many functions I don’t know if I will use them all! I love that it can do so many different things! It’s only me in the house, so I love the fact that I don’t have to use my big oven anymore (unless I’m making cookies). It is the perfect size for the space that I have! It is so handy; now I can move the other appliances off my countertop and save myself some space!
I found that the cook time is shorter with this than it was in my old microwave. That just goes to prove how much my old microwave was really dying at the end!
Other reviews said that there was a smell, I noticed it the first day or two I had it, but the smell is gone at this point. It was just that “new appliance” smell.
I thought the child lock opening for the microwave door was going to be annoying, and it was the first couple times I used it, but I am used to it now and it doesn’t bother me at all.
Other people said that they had a hard time reading the digital display. I have no idea what they’re talking about! I think it’s incredibly easy to read. It is bright, but it doesn’t matter. I’m not in the kitchen in the dark, and if I was, it might help me see so I wouldn’t have to turn the lights on!

I've gone through several microwaves in my life and this is my favorite so far. The child lock is really easy to use and they have an option for everything. You can combine defrosting and cooking into one microwave use with the settings and it's not obnoxious with beeping at you when it's done. It does make some noise but I wouldn't consider it loud at all. Cooks the food evenly and quickly. It was slightly bigger than my last one but still fit the counter space in my small apartment.

One of my favorite features is the smart humidity sensor, which takes the guesswork out of reheating. Food comes out evenly heated without being overcooked or dried out. The 12 auto menus are very convenient for common items like popcorn, pizza, and beverages, making it easy to use for the whole family.

We replaced our slightly larger countertop microwave after 8 years (the paint on the inside was flaking off) and went for the smaller size because we never used the old one to its capacity. The size of this one is more than enough to heat a dinner plate. The buttons are easy to understand, and the child lock isn't hard to operate. The technology seems to keep improving, because this one pops popcorn and heats food faster than our old inverter technology microwave. It's not noisy at all, and we're very happy with the microwave performance thus far.

Works well! I've been using it for six weeks with no issues. Works as well as my last microwave, which I loved. So far, a perfect replacement. Well lit and I like the handle, which is better than a push button that can get stuck (I just had to get used to pulling up on inner latch :-)

Tossed a bag of popcorn in and smashed the popcorn button. It cooked the 3.2 ounce bag in 1:50. At first I thought, no way it’s getting a perfect pop under 2 mins. 2:20 at best. Counted 13 unpopped kernels after it was done. Which is within tolerance. Plus there’s a good chance all the GMO’s and Round Up in the corn mutated a few. So all good.

We replaced our 7 year old Toshiba that was recently tripping its breaker and making weird noises with this newer Toshiba model. This model's features are very similar to the old one, reducing the learning curve. The performance is top notch and is not tripping any breakers. We got a great deal with Black Friday pricing, so it's also a great value. Would recommend!

This review could change in the future, depending on my experience going forward.

Have had this for a few days now. So far, it's the best microwave I've ever owned. I replaced a smaller 700 watt microwave, so naturally the extra wattage of this one makes reheating food, which I what I primary use a microwave for, so much more convenient. I like the sensor heating function although it doesn't work well for coffee or reheating mashed potatoes, but that was to be expected because the manual doesn't recommend the feature for liquids. It didn't mention mashed potatoes but I can tell you, that doesn't work either. However, using sensor heating for reheating meats is perfect. The microwave is very quiet. Seen a review on here from someone saying it was loud. Not sure what they're used to but this one barely makes a noise. My last microwave lasted 10 yeaars. We'll see how long this one lasts.

This microwave seriously saved our Thanksgiving! We found out our oven was broken the day before Thanksgiving and couldn't find any way to repair it. We air fried our vegetables. We baked our chicken breast. And prepared all other portions on the stovetop. I can't say enough about how great the air fryer, bake, and broil part of this is it all works flawlessly! I would highly recommend this microwave to anybody who wants to reduce the number of appliances on their kitchen counter. It toasts toasts it cooks pizza it does air fryer and we even baked a cake in it. It's doing a great job.

I was replacing an old Danby microwave I have cussed for the 10 years I had it because of the push-button opening. It was so hard to press that you had to use two hands to open the door. This one is an absolute joy to open. Disabled the lock on the keypad and the door actually has a handle. All you do is lift up on the button under the top side of the handle and VOILA-open door WOOHOO! If you are a household without children or, today, that rare household where children are watched closely while being taught not to touch things they shouldn't, this is the microwave for you. Does everything I need to do with a microwave which, honestly, isn't a lot but then again, I don't expect it to plan meals or balance my checkbook...

Heats food evenly, fits perfectly on our counter top and fits our Corelle dinner sized plates perfectly. The door handle has trigger finger feature to be depressed to open that I wasn’t expecting as I was used to an over the oven where you just pull the microwave open. No issue so far with use 2-4 times daily for 2 months. Color matches our stainless appliances perfectly. Contains the smell of the food well, although we haven’t put anything particularly smelly in it.

Our Farberware microwave conked out had gotten from Kohl's 8 years ago. It lasted a good long time. It was malfunctioning, it started spinning without even pushing a button.
We did not want to go without a microwave too long, its such an inconvenience.
Looked under reviews on Amazon and I tell you what those reviews really helped me out.
I decided on Toshiba, and it has been terrific!
Almost have had it a week. It's got stuff on there that I have to read up on. It's works great, sounds great. When you leave seconds on there after reheating something. It'll clear out on its own minutes later, which is very cool. The sound is fine, the turntable, the size, its all great! I believe most are having those childproof lock situation things and this is fine. What we have to do is make sure to press and lift up on the handle & it opens. Nothing complicated at all. I would definitely refer everyone to this microwave!

We got this to replace a multi-function microwave that had ceased to multi-function after just a year. This is just what was needed - a microwave that has enough power to heat foods quickly and isn't cluttered up with a lot of unnecessary functions. This oven is simple to use, has a large cooking space, and plenty of power. The interior is clean, white and brightly lit. A good reliable unit for those who just need the basic functions.

Love this air-fryer/broiler/microwave & it’s multi function. Microwave is not small but not huge. Comes with turning plate, two grill plates and two wire wracks, instructions and cooking guide. Love the look, love the spaciousness of the microwave, love the child safety handle button under the microwave handle and love how it heats food evenly in little time. Delivery was fast don't sleep on this product. So far so good!! I recommend this buy.

Wow - I'm impressed.
Some background so you know we're I'm coming from: Our Tappen digital microwave from 1993 finally died - if only all my appliances had this sort of life! It was a 1000 watts with a turntable, but nothing fancy beyond that. For 32 years it served us well but one of the high-powered diodes died. Time to replace it.

We didn't want a convection oven microwave combo, we already have a great convection oven. But I did want a microwave that used Inverter technology and had a few additional sensors. For me, it came down to a Panasonic or the Toshiba. They had nearly identical features, stats, and comparable dimensions. The deciding factor was the door handle - we wanted a door with a real handle, not one of the "push-button, pop open" doors. The Toshiba fit all criteria.

The model we chose was the Toshiba ML-EM45PIT In black stainless trim. 1250 watts, inverter technology, temperature AND humidity sensors and several built-in cooking algorithms. This thing is practically silent. The first time we fired it up with a mug of water we both worried that we'd received a defective unit. But, in 20 seconds we had a steaming mug of water. It worked.

Our second test was a medium-sized potato. For this I just pierced the skin a few times, placed it on a small ceramic plate and simply pressed the "potato" button. It didn't ask the size, it just put some numbers on the screen and the moisture sensor indicator lit up. In four minutes that oven stopped, I left the potato alone in the oven for another minute with the microwave off, then took it out. It was as close to great as I've ever seen from a microwave. No burning, perfectly cooked with only one tiny dry area. 9 out of 10 - I pressed one button and the microwave did the rest; the result was good.

Next up was microwave popcorn. We don't eat it much, but I was in an experimenting mood. The oven has a popcorn button, you press it once for 1.75 oz size, twice for 3.0 oz size, and a third time for a larger size that I don't remember. Of course, ours was 2.5 oz and didn't fit any of those choices. So I selected the 3.0 oz size and figured I'd stop the oven when the popping stops. That ended up being 2 minutes - the popcorn was perfect with only 3 unpopped kernels and no burning whatsoever. I was impressed. 7 out of 10, nice job - but I did have to stop it myself.

My last experiment was reheating a plate of food - leftovers. The big size comes into it's own here; it easily fits a large dinner plate. The oven has a sensor-driven "reheat" button that uses a temperature sensor to automatically adjust the cooktime and power. The manual says not to open the oven part way or it will throw off the temperature sensor ...so I didn't. I just let the oven do it's thing. The plate came out pretty good, all of the food was reheated, even without stirring or futzing - though some parts were not as hot as I would have liked. Another 10 seconds on high fixed that problem. 8 out of 10, the automatic setting was impressive, but I like my food very hot.

Overall I'm impressed. The intelligent features and sensors are very nice and do a fairly good job - but they are not perfect. The inverter claims to be more even heat, that seems to be the case - but remember, my point of reference was a 32-year-old microwave. Still, it does appear to cook evenly. Appearance is subjective but I like the dark stainless. The real door handle is a winner for me... I hate those push-button doors. It's powerful! that 1250 watts shines when you want to heat water in very little time. Operationally - the thing is practically silent. Normally you hear fans, or a motor turning the turntable, but you really have to strain to hear those things with this Toshiba. Honestly, it's the biggest talking point in my house is how nearly silent it is. I guess our life just isn't that interesting! Recommend the Toshiba, and I do recommend the inverter technology. I can see a difference.

UPDATE 4-November-2025:
Now we've had this Toshiba ML-EM45PIT for about a month and a half. I have to say, we still love it. HOWEVER, this thing is powerful... maybe too powerful. We've learned there are very few things we can actually cook on high for amount of time without it absolutely irradiating it. It's not a bad, we simply select 80 or 90% power and things cook very well. But whenever any packaged food calls for xx-minutes on "High", we adjust it for the same amount of time on 80 or 90% power to get good results. The defrost feature is adequate, but nothing more. The oven is still super-quiet, it still amazes us how quiet this thing is ...it's spooky. Nevertheless - still recommended. It's a great microwave.

After 5 years, 1 month, and 3 weeks of daily use, our favorite kitchen appliance has bit the dust. After we stopped crying and said thank you to our dear friend for its years of service, we searched our Amazon purchase history and were elated to see this microwave is still available for purchase. It will be a long two days without it, but we're excited to welcome Toshi Junior to the family.

Why are we repurchasing this Toshiba countertop microwave? Until today, it worked perfectly every time, heating food evenly and maintaining its power over the years. It's a nice size. I would consider this full sized (I've never not been able to fit something in it), but it's compact enough to fit on a shelf in our pantry. It's simple to use, the buttons make sense. The glass turntable is nice and easy to clean. The interior never stained even with a certain family member never covering their dish and splattering sauces everywhere on a regular basis. And it's a great value.

Highly recommend.

Update: The new microwave arrived. I literally clicked "purchase again" from my order history, so we expected to receive the same product. It's slightly different. A little smaller. The handle operates differently (you can't just pull the door open anymore) and the add 30 seconds button doesn't work the same as on the older model. We find this irritating, but if you're not used to the old function, you might not find the new limitation annoying. We still endorse this microwave. It's a good value and it works well. Hopefully this one lasts at least 5 years like the last one did.

This oven checks ALL of (at least my) microwave wanted-feature boxes.

I bought this Toshiba to replace a Panasonic oven that developed an unrepairable fault in its membrane-switch control panel. (You can't avoid membrane switches, unfortunately. They're universal in almost everything at this point. Microwave ovens, stovetops, refrigerators, you name it. They're all membrane switches unless you can afford semi-pro level gear.) I chose Panasonic at the time because I wanted inverter power control, and only Panasonic had it then.

Since then, apparently Panasonic's inverter patents have expired. And that is why I was able to find this Toshiba oven, which, while a very little smaller than the one it replaces. hits ALL THREE of my top three most-wanted microwave features:

— It has inverter power control instead of just duty-cycling the magnetron to PRETEND to be able to vary its power.

— It has moisture-sensor smart cooking and reheating so that you don't HAVE to know how long to cook something for.

— And it has AN ACTUAL DOOR HANDLE instead of an unreliable push-button to open the door.

I HATE those pushbuttons. They invariably start sticking after a while, and then opening the door becomes a two-hand task, because you need one hand to push the stupid button and one to pull the door open. With the Toshiba, opening the door takes one hand, EVERY time. It's easy, positive, and certain. No more hammering (and swearing) at the button.

As a BONUS, the pre-programmed feature that we most commonly used on the old oven, after sensor reheat — sensor-cooking frozen vegetables — is right on the front panel, so now it's two button presses (FRZ VEG, START) instead of eleven. Also, it's extremely quiet.

The one minor complaints I have about this Toshiba oven is that it takes a little while to master the feel of its membrane-switch front panel. But face it, you're never going to find a microwave oven that doesn't have membrane-switch controls, unless you buy a commercial-kitchen model that just has two knobs and no fancy features at all.

This is about as close as you're ever likely to find to the perfect microwave oven. I salute you, Toshiba.

IMPORTANT UPDATE:

Pray that you never have a problem with it, because Toshiba outsources their customer service to an outfit called NIDEA. If Nidea decides that your problem requires a return or refund to resolve it, they will send you a document containing instructions for finding and printing your Amazon full invoice via steps that DO NOT EXIST, because their document is YEARS out of date and neither amazon.com, nor the Amazon mobile app, nor the Amazon order confirmation email, looks like that any more. You won't be able to convince them of this. They won't understand. They'll just keep sending you the same instructions that you cannot follow because the links and menus that they tell you to follow physically do not exist.

Kitchen remodeling. Installed cabinet opening for portable microwave came out 3/16" too small for a Microwave I already owned. No choice but to get one that was slightly smaller. This Toshiba unit is 3/8" less wide than the former one, and fits beautifully. What impressed me right off? In-handle door unlock, user interface (eg 30 sec = Start button). Well thought out product, worth every penny.

Hey folks! I just picked up the TOSHIBA EM131A5C-BS Countertop Microwave Oven, and I’m pretty stoked about it.

First off, the size is spot on. At 1.2 cubic feet, it fits nicely on my countertop and can handle everything from reheating leftovers to cooking a good ol’ frozen pizza. That 12.4" removable turntable is a bonus because it makes sure everything heats evenly. Plus, it’s super easy to clean—just pop it out and give it a wash!

Now, let’s talk price. This microwave is a steal! For all the features it comes with, I was pleasantly surprised at how affordable it was. With 1000 watts, it heats things up quick, which is perfect when you're in a rush (hello, busy weeknights!). The smart humidity sensor and those 12 auto menus are handy, too—just press a button and let it do the work!

I also appreciate the ECO mode, which helps save a bit on energy when it’s not in use. And the easy clean interior? Huge win for keeping things tidy!

Overall, I highly recommend the TOSHIBA EM131A5C-BS. If you need a reliable, spacious, and budget-friendly microwave, this one’s definitely worth checking out. Be blessed!

I’ve been using the Toshiba EM131A5C-SS 1.2 cu ft microwave for a few weeks, and it’s become a kitchen favorite. Its intuitive digital panel and smart humidity sensor take the guesswork out of heating, so whether I’m steaming vegetables or reheating leftovers, it gets the job done perfectly—no overcooking. The mute function is a subtle touch that stops beeps from disturbing late-night snack prep, and the easy-clean stainless steel interior wipes down in seconds. It is bright and durable. It doesn’t smell and isn’t a fire hazard.

The 12.4″ turntable fits most dishes, and the 1000W power means everything zaps quickly and evenly. I love that the ECO mode quietly saves power overnight, and the sleek silver design looks modern on my countertop. If you’re after a microwave that blends smart features, solid performance, and clean styling, this Toshiba model is a standout choice.

Love the microwave. The first day I didn't love how you have to push up on a tab (your pointer finger) to get the door to open, but by the 3rd day, I don't even think of it, and it seems super easy to me now and not an unnecessary pain. It looks great and heats super well. While it's running, I can feel air coming out the left side for venting. The only problem was that when you push the buttons, the right side of the microwave holds pretty still, but the left side could slide back sometimes, like when you yank open the door. So I looked for a silicone mat like others have. Instead I found these gorilla grippers, and now the thing won't budge! It's absolutely perfect!! Love the whole set-up, and the clock light is nice and bright.

The best microwave/airfryer/toaster oven! I live in an apartment where counter space is limited, but I love having a toaster oven for quick reheats or quick cooking. I decided to replace my microwave and my toaster oven, and found this one that literally has both options. I was able to save space and I love that there’s so many functions included. Definitely convenient for an apartment. Works great, food gets super hot, love that there’s an odor feature too. A bit tricky to understand at first, but after a while the features become easy to use. It is large so we have it sitting on our bar where our microwave used to be rather than on our counter, but it fits the space nicely. I use it to bake things more than my old oven tbh. I’ve had it for about 2 months now, and once i graduate and hopefully own a home in the future this will definitely come with me (if it lasts lol)

I moved recently and decided to upgrade my microwave. Amazon has the payment plan and I was replacing a lot of small items, so why not take advantage of Amazon’s help to reduce all my moving expenses.
So I finally bought a real normal microwave; one that has 1000watts vs my smaller past purchases.
So, here’s my thoughts:
1. Thank you Amazon for the payment plan!
2. This is a quality name and product!
3. It’s solid and heavier than smaller brands
4. It arrives UPS but Amazon had the factory box in an Amazon box so nothing was missing or damaged
5. It’s nice a wide and deep
6. I love the door trigger for opening and closing
7. Great preset controls
8. Heats really well so maybe some caution until you get use to how long it takes to do its task
Overall a positive 5-star!
Now this is less than 30 days so lets see what six months from now brings
Affordable; solid performance; quality name brand

THE BEST MICROWAVE EVER!!! Thanks to the people who own it answered my questions on how it works helped me to purchase this new microwave - our previous older Panasonic Microwave stopped working. We first purchased another Panasonic but that was a big mistake - it locked the child lock every time we used and had to unplug the power to open it, the steps to disable did not work, plus the Panasonic exterior got so hot with only 1 minute heating up water almost burnt my hands. We had to return it. I am so glad we purchased this TOSHIBA - it is little smaller but it fits great in our cabinet area!! Good Job TOSHIBA, never change. GREAT WONDERFUL PRODUCT! I RECOMMEND IT HIGHLY!!! BEST EVER!

Our over the range $600 microwave finally died after 7 yrs so I broke down and got this one, because this busy household can't go a day without one. I love the 30 second button. Pop your food in, press the 30 second button once for 30 seconds or if you need more time you press it once for each additional 30 seconds. Super quick for us lazy folks. Cooks food fast and doesn't make bread hard. I'm not sure I can say that about our expensive one. This is a great deal, as I saw the exact Toshiba Microwave in a popular retail store for $50 more. It has lots of preset buttons , although I've not used them all. Potato, rice, frozen pizza, veggies, frozen entree, sensor reheat, soften/melt, custom cook, popcorn, 1hr defrost, and more. Includes a timer button and a favorite button as well. The black and chrome design is aesthetically pleasing and goes well with our all stainless steel appliances. It was easy to set up, and comes with a glass turntable. You can even mute the beep sound it makes every time you press a button. Nice for those early mornings when hubby is sleeping and I don't want to wake him with the sound of the microwave beeping. I definitely recommend this Toshiba Microwave. Don't think twice , it's a great price.

Purchase 11/2022 Reviewed 2/2024. One+year review. Model: EM131A5C-SS. Very pleased with this purchase. Was afraid after reading reviews what condition this might arrive in but as you can see from pics. this product arrived well packed inside a separate box from the actual product box. No damage. Features I like:
1. Definitely #1 on the list is the sensor keys that allow the m/wave to sense how long to cook the food, most of the time I cook frozen packaged meals & this m/wave will determine how long no matter what the package instructions say with regard to the m/wave wattage. So It will adjust the time whether the instr. are for a 1200 or 800 watt instructions -- no more trying to convert the time to set the timer - M/wave does it for you.
2. With regard to the sensor keys, I can also cook different frozen items on one plate, like vegs with a frozen entree & make my own meal combos & it again determines time for food to reheat properly.
3. I do what is called mug meals - add ing. to a mug, heat/steam, add more ing. & have a nice single serving meal. I've done spaghetti/meatballs, phillycheese steak, soups, omelets, all kinds of individual meals in this & they've turned out properly cooked & not overdone. You can set the cooking time from 30-60 sec. at a time.
4. The m/wave is not excessively loud. It beeps when done. Nice large turntable inside, the whole inside is large so putting a large item inside is possible. I am not a fan of the short electric cord - these are meant to be plugged into a countertop outlet, I have mine on a steel worktable but fortunately my outlets are a bit above the floor so it reaches. Cord is about 4ft long. It is not a small m/wave but Possibly a medium sized one. Anyway, I like it.

Looks ok, except for the keypad. It's almost comically dim unless there is light shining on it. The buttons also take an accurately placed, deliberate press, exacerbating the problem. I ended up buying some
sticker dots to paste onto the keypad so I'd know where to put my finger.

After extensive research and reading many reviews we bought the TOSHIBA ML-EM45PIT(BS) Countertop Microwave Oven with Inverter Technology, 1.6 Cu.ft, 13.6" Turntable, 1250W
Our evaluation is
1- The not so good display that is high on style and low on visibility. Numbers and functions grayed out to blend in but not every one has a twenty something eye sight. During the day it is fine in most cases, at night you have to focus to see it. A simple low tech hack we did was to add two colored yellow and red dots at the cook time and start button that helped a lot! As you can see in first foto

2- The size is awesome having come from 1 Cft to this 1.6 Cft (calculations comes up to 1.57 close enough). Our old Sharp 1 CFt Carousel Microwave had a turntable of about 11” and this one has it at 13.6” good enough for 99% of what we need. Both turntables are overlaid on top of each other as you see in the second foto

3- Inverter technology works! It actually starts high then tailors the wave power downwards. Standard Microwaves control power by on off switching thus less controllable and less smoth transitions. We Defrosted two t-bone 🥩 steaks to perfection with zero over heating and no burnt marks. If the weight is 4 pounds for example I suggest entering it less at 3 pounds until you have experience with it.

4- Sensor functions worked great: we tried Reheat drinks and plates, frozen vegetables, and baked a potato all with excellent results. A tip put a timer till you feel comfortable that you are not over doing things. Also never use sensor functions on very small portions as the machine sensors will not have enough steam and heat to work with and it can burn the small food portions.

5-We decided against the extra functions of air frying, convection oven , broil etc … to avoid smells and for ease of cleaning. We let the Microwave be a microwave for the daily uses only.

We wanted to knock a star due to low controls visibility, but being an excellent Microwave for what we need, for a reasonable price, we kept it at 5 ⭐️

It was just was delivered last evening, so the only thing we used it for so far was a fast after-supper cheat- s'more😜 Our 1300w Panasonic was old but this one heats things much faster!
When you buy something new, you don't expect damage, but this one has the dent in the door handle (2nd picture) The box was perfect, so this happened at the factory. I guess Quality Control has gone to pot too! Not worth the hassle of sending it back. Also, after removing the protective plastic off the keypad area, the REAL plastic is wavy & has a bulge about the size of my pinky going vertical on the panel closest to the handle. Things just aren't made the way the used to be. :( I know, you get what you pay for, but $144.00 is still a lot to many people.
It looks nice besides those two disappointing surface irregularities,but works very well so far, it looks so much easier to clean than my last one AND so good to have a light inside again.

I like it a lot, efficient and very well made, I got lucky with this unit despite some of the negative reviews

The pad is quite well made and very simple to ise with lots of features and functions

The only con I have right now is that at nights you can't see the numbers or the symbols in the keypad be cause it lack some better design for the font or some sort of backligh to know wich buttons are you trying to press

3 months of use so far and it has been a great experience

Very nice microwave, like all the features especially the mute function, but agree with another reviewer regarding the difficulty reading the control pad at counter level. The control functions and keypad numbers are very faint, would be much better if pad was back-lit or printing was brighter. Perhaps Toshiba could supply a template to overlay pad to make it easier to read.

Update:
Found a solution to light up the control pad, got a small magnetic light. ;-)

I enjoy using this microwave oven overall. The main complaint I have is the Darkness of the control panel. My previous ovens would light up as soon as I touched on key so I could see the selection panel to punch in what I wanted. This oven requires me to use a little flashlight to be able to see what keys I need to push to heat what I have in the oven. (Edit) A few days after posting this review, I called the MFG. and they were very sorry I was having this issue and advised this is not normal or correct. He advised me to call Amazon to have it sent back. I did and Amazon was also very helpful in informing me how to return the oven at no charge and them sending me a new one very quickly.

Purchased as a refurbished unit first but it did not heat. Purchased second unit new but it arrived damaged (dented). This unit did not look the same as the unit pictured in the listing (see photo). After speaking with Toshiba they assured me that the unit I received even though it has a different keypad and a different name (Origin Inverter) did in fact have the same features. The third (replacement) unit arrived in good condition. It was the same Origin Inverter unit as previously received. I like the keypad that is pictured in the listing better but as long as it has the same features and has a handle which was a key factor for us since the button on our old microwave only worked half of the time. So far so good. Just be aware that what you receive may not look like the listing photo.

Allow me to paint you a story of our time before this microwave.
My husband and I have gone through exactly 2 microwaves in our 11 year relationship before landing on this one. Our first was a tiny thing made in 2004 that could barely manage cup o' noodle. It finally died sounding like the cries of a thousand whales back in late 2017. It had a good long life of burnt popcorn and cold reheated food.

We went without a microwave because we were dirt broke at the time from finally becoming homeowners (oof our savings), and then my in-laws graced us with their microwave that *they* had gotten as a wedding gift in Canada in.. 1988. I used to say that the microwave was almost as old as I was until we found the manufacturing date was April 1988. Dang, the microwave was now officially one month older than me. Still had to deal with uneven cooking, burnt popcorn or half popped bags, and a defrost function that only seemed to work half the time and literally cook the food the other half. This beast of a microwave is an enigma in the fact that it has somehow survived all these years without even needing anything replaced. Honestly the microwave still "works". I can relate heavily to this microwave.

After the last few years of me completely swearing off of trying to make microwave popcorn, my husband complaining about even more burnt popcorn and unpopped kernels at the same time, I finally asked if we could manage to scrape some money together to get an actual working microwave. After much debating, I was tasked with researching a good microwave that was big enough and mostly inexpensive enough. I had heard a bit about this microwave and a few others and ultimately decided on this one. The price was right, the size was perfect, the functionality was great, being able to turn off literally all the beeping was fantastic. Unfortunately the first one we got was mostly DOA and it was really disappointing, especially since I had to move a microwave that I'm sure weighed about 50lbs, I wish I was joking. Amazon took care of the return and replacement real easy and quick, and the new-new microwave came today.

The first test was popcorn. Oh boy. Since everyone says "don't use the popcorn button", I definitely didn't. Unfortunately the microwave did burn the bag of popcorn at full power. So, I decided to actually use the popcorn button. I hit the popcorn button twice (setting for a 3oz bag) just to make sure it would have enough time to heat up and pop. Oh boy. I was not prepared for what happened. The popcorn actually popped! And it only took maybe a minute and a half! No burnt popcorn *and* most of the kernels were popped. Our toddler rejoiced that mommy had actually popped a bag of popcorn, "Yay! You did it mommy!"

Second, I defrosted a 1lb package of frozen ground beef. Woo, that was a breeze. Set the defrost for the weight and let it go, though it did warm the edges a bit too much but it was quick and didn't cook it like our last microwaves.

Third and most terrifying. Before this microwave, I had gotten used to putting a mug of coffee/tea/water/whatever to heat/reheat for a minute or more and it not even being hot-hot. I stuck a mug of water (with a few tapioca pearls in it) in the microwave to test and set it for one minute, after a short time I glanced into the microwave and discovered it was actually boiling. A very loud proclamation of "Oh my god!" rang from myself in the kitchen. I promptly called my husband over to also observe what the mug of water was doing. He also loudly proclaimed "Oh my god!"

In short: I can't believe what I used to consider "normal" for a microwave. This one is more than leaps and bounds better than what we "had to just deal with" in a time of penny pinching and saving money. We're finally mostly comfortable and were in desperate need of a good quality microwave.

In very short: I love this microwave.

I bought this microwave to replace a very old microwave that had issues. My old microwave's keypad was failing and the paint on the inside was badly rotting away. So it was time to buy a new microwave.

I also purchased a microwave plate cover to protect this new microwave from splatter. The splatter is what caused my old microwave's paint to chip away. If you have food splatter (like pasta sauce) inside the microwave, then you turn the microwave on. You'll cook the paint job. Over time the paint will start to chip away.

So i bought this plate cover and so far it's keeping the microwave clean:
(i included a photo of the plate cover inside the microwave)
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07KVK337M/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o07_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Pros:

- Cooking -
It cooks really well. I was surprised to find out this cooks a bit better than my old microwave. Seems to cook more evenly. Cooks just as fast as my old microwave (similar wattage)

My old microwave: 1,000 watts
This Toshiba: 1,100 watts

- Touch pad (East To Use) -
Nice simple touch pad. It works well. Lots of quick touch options. The "One touch start" is great, press 1 for 1 minute, 2 for 2 minutes, etc... good for older people. Not complicated to figure out.

- Instruction Label -
It has a label on the inside the microwave with info / instructions for cooking different things (defrost, melt, popcorn, etc) so you have that info available to you anytime.

- Noise Level (Cooking noise) -
It does make noise like all microwaves do but the noise it makes is actually pretty quiet. Much more quiet than my old microwave.

The noise it makes is an odd buzzing noise when you turn it on to cook. At first i thought that buzzing noise it was making was a bad sign but that's just the noise it makes. Not an issue. Just a new sound to a different microwave.

- Keypad Beep noise -
You can turn off the beep noise of the keypad. I turned it off to test it, it works. But i turned it back on just because i then realized i enjoy hearing the beep noise feedback.

- Child safety -
There is a safety option, at first i thought if i activate it, it would prevent the door from opening but that's not how it works. If you activate it, you can still open the door. But the microwave won't function until you turn off the lock via the keypad. A little lock icon will appear on the LCD screen to let you know it's locked.

So after every time you finish using the microwave you will have to turn the lock option on. When you want to use it, turn lock option off. If you have kids it might be worth the extra steps to lock / unlock it, otherwise it's not worth using.

- Microwave color -
It looks stylish. Especially if you have black / chrome around the kitchen. It's also fine with white also.

Cons:

- The stainless steel on the door is a "finger print magnet". If you touch it, it will create smear marks. The handle has the chrome also.
(i included a photo of that)

- Color options -
One thing i noticed when trying to buy a microwave. The color options are very limited.

I do wish this microwave had more color options. I originally was hoping to get a 100% white microwave or at least get this same color microwave but have the black be in the color of white or even 100% silver but it's not an option. It's fine though. It still looks pretty good.

- Clock -
Not really a huge complaint, but if you unplug the microwave, the clock gets reset automatically. I think this is an issue with all microwaves. Would be nice if it could save the time when not plugged in. Because if you accidentally unplug it, then you have to set the time again.

Summary:
I haven't fully tested ALL the cooking features. But for basic everyday use of quickly heating / cooking things, it works well, cooks well. Great microwave. Worth spending money on as it's an investment that should last for many years.

I liked this microwave at first, but I'm questioning its quality now. Its quiet and nice looking, but when I started cleaning it, I discovered a flaw that makes it much less safe. If you lift up on the door, it triggers a relay that starts the microwave. It doesn't start while opened but grabbing the handle or the base of the door both start the microwave.
A hair trigger relay should not be so close to a moving object.
The rest of its good so far.

After 18 years, it was time to put the old microwave to rest. I wanted something that would fit in the under-counter cabinet, with a stainless steel look, and that didn't sound like an airplane taking off. ✅, ✅, and ✅.

The Toshiba EM131A5C-SS Microwave Oven has 1100 watts of power, has 10 power levels, has 1.2 cu. ft of interior space, a turntable inside like a pie carousel, runs on an energy savings eco mode $$, and is stainless on the door and control panel, and is black on the other 3 sides.

This machine cooks fast, is very quiet, has lots of extra features, and was not difficult to learn to use. Many reviews mentioned it not running or having problems after just a few weeks. Well, I saved the box just in case but I had no problems whatsoever. Out of the box, up on the shelf, plugged her in and 6 months later she's still all good.

Definitely recommend this brand/model for sure!!

TIME SAVER: Looking for a way to reduce microwave splatter? This is the Amazon web address for a weighted microwave splatter net. Lay it over the bowel and the mess stays inside. See the pic on my review as well.

I'm very happy with this microwave. Two things I was disappointed by: a) the cover on the buttons within only a month of owning has warped a little just from pushing the buttons. b) the door didn't line up properly from straight out of the box.

Overall this is a great product and I love the feature to turn off the noise. I didn't realize how much I found the beeping of microwaves annoying until I turned it off on this one and appreciated the quiet. That wasn't something on my list that I cared about before I bought, but now it will be.

I've used for about 4 months just about every day. I primarily use for thawing meats, heating up leftovers, making oatmeal. Only used for popcorn once so far. I have not tried out all the features available.

The last thing I want to do is leave home and shop for a microwave oven. I don't really want to spend much time doing it from my home computer. Researching appliances bores my pretty quickly. Alas my old Kenmore microwave bit the dust. I had no choice. The Toshiba presented the same physical dimensions and cooking wattage as the old Kenmore. Like the old Kenmore, the Toshiba has a handle for opening the door not a button. That's what I wanted. With boredom setting in, I pulled the trigger for the $99.00 black and stainless steel Toshiba 1100 watt microwave oven. Within a day and a half UPS delivered the oven to my porch. The new Toshiba presents a typical button layout and functions as expected. It does seem to warm things quicker than the old 1100 watt Kenmore. The old Kenmore microwave oven lasted for over ten years hopefully the Toshiba will do the same. Amazon simplified this rather mundane process. I am pleased.