Toshiba Countertop Microwave 

Spacious and quiet microwave oven

Microwave ovens are a mature technology, and it can seem that one microwave performs as well as any other. There are still key differences, however, not just in power and speed, but in size, technology and ease of use.

Microwave ovens can be classified as built-in, over-the-range (OTR) or countertop models. Countertop microwaves are some of the easiest to install and use and can be moved around more conveniently than built-in and OTR models.

The Toshiba 1.2 Cubic Foot Countertop Microwave (model ML2-EM12EA(BS)) is a countertop microwave with up-to-date styling and features. It proved superior to older microwave models in BestReviews testing.

Testing the Toshiba Countertop Microwave 

The BestReviews Testing Lab strives to investigate every claim the brand/manufacturer makes about the product. For this article, the Testing Lab replaced an older countertop model with the Toshiba Countertop Microwave and examined its performance, speed and features, as well as the quality of its results over a period of time in a variety of scenarios.

What is the Toshiba Countertop Microwave?

The Toshiba Countertop Microwave is a 1.2 cubic foot, 1,100-watt countertop microwave oven equipped with Smart Sensor technology. This technology aims to improve the quality of food cooked or reheated in a microwave oven by monitoring moisture and temperature levels. The Toshiba Countertop Microwave takes up 2.43 square feet of counter space with a 12.4-inch turntable to fit standard dinner plates or small platters.

To see how the Toshiba stacks up against comparable microwave ovens, check out our roundup of the best countertop microwaves.

Toshiba Countertop Microwave price and where to buy

The Toshiba Countertop Microwave model with Smart Sensor costs $164.99. It's available (often at a discount) from Amazon and Wayfair.

How to use the Toshiba Countertop Microwave

The Toshiba Countertop Microwave is as straightforward as any microwave oven to use. Food to be heated is placed on its turntable on a microwave-safe plate or bowl. 12 built-in programs can be chosen depending on the food being heated, or a manual program of duration and power level may be inputted using the numeric keypad, which features automatic one- to six-minute reheating, based on the respective keys. Fully automated and sensor-based reheating programs take away some of the guesswork.

Toshiba Countertop Microwave benefits

Effective sensor

The Toshiba Countertop Microwave features a smart sensor to monitor food as it cooks. By tracking moisture and heat, the Toshiba heats foods more evenly with less chance of drying out or scorching compared to non-sensor microwaves. The sensor cook function allows the Toshiba to excel at foods that may not often reheat well in a microwave, including pizza, vegetables and leftover dinners.

Spacious interior

The Toshiba Countertop Microwave is 12.8 inches in height, which is taller than similarly sized microwaves. While its 12.4-inch turntable comfortably fits a 12-inch frozen pizza or a 10-inch dinner plate, its spacious interior also made it easier to clean after testing.

Speed

Cooking times were quick and thorough with the Toshiba Countertop Microwave in comparison to older, weaker microwave models. Its 1,100 watts of power quickly and completely popped a bag of popcorn in three minutes during testing. Frozen meals thawed in a short amount of time. The Toshiba has a convenient add-30 increment button that proved effective for a wide variety of reheating jobs.

Quiet operation

The Toshiba Countertop Microwave was among the quietest models tested by BestReviews. During operation, it was surprisingly quiet compared to older microwave models. It also has the capability of muting its beeps and alerts completely, a convenient feature for late nights and early mornings.

Convenient controls

Toshiba Countertop Microwave’s controls are clear to see and press. The controls are easily navigable and have convenient features for easy access, such as 1-pound defrost, soften/melt, frozen pizza, frozen entree and more. Additionally, it has a memory function that can store a frequently used custom setting for one-button activation.

Attractive design

The Toshiba Countertop Microwave boasts modern styling. The ML2-EM12EA(BS) model comes in black and stainless steel, which looks elegant and futuristic in a typical kitchen, with rounded corners and diamond-cut detailing that add a sense of contemporary style.

Eco mode

An energy saving eco mode dims the Toshiba Countertop Oven’s display, reducing standby energy use considerably. It can be activated with the push of a button.

Toshiba Countertop Microwave drawbacks

Lacks inverter

Inverter technology is found in many new microwave models. An inverter allows a microwave oven to heat food more evenly than non-inverter microwaves. The Toshiba Countertop Microwave ML2-EM12EA(BS) is a model without an inverter, but its smart sensor makes up for this lack to produce desirable results.

Occupies counter space

The Toshiba Countertop Microwave shares a drawback with all countertop microwaves in that they take up space on a kitchen counter. Toshiba’s 2.43 square foot footprint is not excessive, but it is somewhat deep relative to its width, minimizing space in front of its door. Its height and 12-inch overhead clearance requirement may limit its placement relative to overhanging shelves. One solution would be to place it on a microwave cart.

Should you get the Toshiba Countertop Microwave?

The Toshiba Countertop Microwave performed well in testing. While it lacks an inverter as found in other microwave ovens, its quiet, speedy performance and convenient controls make it a highly recommendable model for anyone who frequently reheats food and doesn’t want a built-in or over-the-range microwave oven.