TOSHIBA Countertop Microwave Oven, 1.2 Cu.Ft, 1000W, Stainless Steel

Why it's worth it

The Toshiba EM131A5C-SS is 1.2 cubic feet and 1000 watts with Smart Sensor Technology, six preset menus and 10 power levels. It's one of the most widely owned countertop microwaves in the U.S., and it does the everyday jobs without fuss.

Sensor cooking used to be a premium feature, and this is the clearest proof it isn't anymore. Wirecutter's reporting found sensor cooking has become common in the budget tier, a feature that was reserved for far more expensive models five years ago. That's the whole argument for this Toshiba: you get the function that most improves reheating results, in the least expensive unit here.

The basics are all present. Ten power levels, weight and time defrost, a clock and kitchen timer, six presets for pizza, vegetables and sensor reheat, plus one-touch start that runs one to six minutes at full power. A 12.4-inch glass turntable handles dinner plates and most everyday containers. Nothing exotic. Nothing missing either.

From our review of 5 countertop stainless steel microwaves, by David Sinclair, Managing Editor

What we like

• +Sensor cooking used to be a premium feature, and this is the clearest proof it isn't anymore
• +The basics are all present
• +At 1000 watts it's the least powerful pick, and you'll notice it when boiling water or cooking something from raw
• +The sheer number of people using this thing is its own kind of evidence

What to know

• –No inverter. Power levels below 100% work by cycling the magnetron on and off, so defrost and low-power reheating won't be as…
• –The countdown kitchen timer blocks the microwave from being used while it's running, which trips people up