Is the Toshiba EM131A5C-BS Microwave Worth It?
By Maya Bennett, kitchen & home · updated 2026-07-26
Worth it if you're tired of guessing at the timer
Worth it, if you reheat and defrost more than you cook
around $135price at time of review — check Amazon for current
- Worth it ifYou reheat and defrost more often than you cook from scratch
- Skip it ifYour current microwave already has a reliable sensor
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Picture pulling a bowl of last night's soup out of the microwave, steam curling off the rim while the middle sits stone cold. You stab the timer buttons again, guessing at another thirty seconds, and either scorch the edges or leave the center lukewarm. That guessing game is exactly what a toshiba microwave with a humidity sensor is built to end.
Here's the bit worth understanding before you buy one. Inside the cavity, a humidity sensor is quietly reading the steam your food gives off as it heats, rather than just running a blind countdown. As moisture rises, the sensor tracks how fast it's building, figures out how much water is left to cook out, and adjusts the power and time on its own instead of you guessing at fixed minutes. That's why a bowl of vegetables and a mug of coffee don't get treated the same way, even though you never touched a dial. Layer on the six preset menus, pizza, popcorn, sensor reheat and the rest, and you're not choosing a power level and a time anymore, you're choosing a food and letting the sensor handle the arithmetic. Ten manual power levels still sit underneath for anything that doesn't fit a preset, defrost works by weight so a frozen chicken breast doesn't turn to soup at the edges before the middle thaws, and the 12.4 inch turntable is wide enough that a dinner plate actually clears the walls.
So the real purchase here isn't wattage or a bigger window, it's not having to think about your food while it cooks. You're buying back the thirty seconds you'd otherwise spend guessing, and the sensor is why the same machine can handle a delicate defrost and a full boil without you touching a button twice.
Worth it if
- You reheat and defrost more often than you cook from scratch
- You're tired of guessing at timer settings for different foods
- You want preset menus that take the thinking out of common meals
Skip it if
- Your current microwave already has a reliable sensor
- You mostly just heat coffee or water for a minute at a time
- You need a compact unit and don't have counter space for a 12.4 inch turntable
If you already own a microwave with a working humidity sensor, or you only ever heat coffee and leftovers for a minute at a time, this won't feel like much of an upgrade.
If you reheat and defrost more than you cook from scratch, and you're tired of babysitting a timer, this is a quiet yes at its price point. If you already own a microwave with a good sensor, or you only ever nuke a mug of coffee, save your money here. Either way, the sensor is the whole story with this one.
Check price on Amazon · around $135 or Add it to your Amazon cart to sit on it
Before you go
How long should a Toshiba microwave last?
Most countertop microwaves, including this one, are built for roughly five to ten years of typical daily use; how long yours actually lasts depends more on how many cycles it runs and how the door seal and turntable get treated than on the brand name.
Is Toshiba a good make of microwave?
Toshiba is a mainstream, mid-range brand that puts its effort into practical features like this humidity sensor rather than premium styling, which makes it a sensible pick if you want smarter cooking behavior without paying for extras you won't use.
Full spec sheet
| Brand | TOSHIBA |
|---|---|
| Product Dimensions | 14.6"D x 20.6"W x 11.8"H |
| Color | Black Stainless Steel |
| Capacity | 1.2 cubic feet |
| Special Feature | ECO+Mute, Humidity sensor |
| Recommended Uses For Product | Residential |
| Installation Type | Countertop |
| Wattage | 1000 watts |