Toshiba EC042A5C-SS combines microwave and convection cooking for optimal results. Choose from ten power levels up to 1000 watts and convection cooking from 170 to 425 degrees F. Program up to three favorite time and power combinations for additional one-touch convenience. The Stainless Steel exterior looks good in any kitchen and is easy to clean. Reveal more in Toshiba EC042A5C-SS countertop microwave oven with convection review.
Key features – Toshiba EC042A5C-SS
- 6 quick set menu buttons with 11 power levels
- Blue LCD display
- Child safety lockout feature
- Sensor cooking and reheating functions
- 30 second express cooking feature
- Kitchen timer/clock
- Weight and time defrost
- Removable glass turn table
Specs – Toshiba EC042A5C-SS countertop microwave oven with convection review
| General | |
|---|---|
| RATED VOLTAGE | 120V~ 60Hz |
| RATED INPUT POWER(MICROWAVE) | 1500W |
| RATED OUTPUT POWER(MICROWAVE) | 1000W |
| RATED INPUT POWER(CONVECTION) | 1400W |
| OVEN CAPACITY | 1.5 cu.ft. |
| TURNTABLE DIAMETER | ∅13.6 inch |
| Dimensions | |
|---|---|
| PRODUCT SIZE(L*W*H) | 21.73×21.38×12.83 inch |
| PACKAGE SIZE(L*W*H) | 24.98×23.52×16.19 inch |
| NET WEIGHT | Approx. 44.75 Lbs |
| GROSS WEIGHT | Approx. 50.55 Lbs |
Toshiba EC042A5C-SS countertop microwave oven with convection comparison
| Toshiba 1.2 Cu.ft Microwave with Sensor | Toshiba 1.3 Cu.ft Smart Microwave work with Alexa | Toshiba 1.5 Cu.ft Microwave with Convection | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Capacity | 1.2 Cu.ft | 1.3 Cu.ft | 1.5 Cu.ft |
| Color | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel | Stainless Steel |
| Power | 1100 Watts | 1100 Watts | 1000 Watts |
| Compact size(W*D*H) | 20.5 x 17.1 x 12.8 inch(W*D*H) | 20.4 x 16.6 x 12.4 inch | 21.8 x 21.5 x 13.0 inch |
| Preset Recipes | 12 | 23 | 21 |
| Sensor Cooking | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Convection | – | – | ✓ |
| Work with Alexa | – | ✓ | – |
| Sound On/Off Option | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Turntable(Diameter) | 12.4 inch | 12.4 inch | 13.6 inch |
Toshiba EC042A5C-SS review
The Toshiba EC042A5C-SS countertop microwave oven with convection review is quite a brilliant masterpiece for the kitchen.
From afar, it looks like a replica of the small Toshiba EM925A5A-BS Microwave Oven but on close observation, there are a few glaring differences. The unit is available in two color options; black stainless and stainless steel.
The stainless steel interior is a particularly nice touch, we found it was quickly and easily cleaned in between dishes. Since it was first in line for testing you can bet we made a good mess of things a couple of times.
Both colors blend flawlessly with any kitchen irrespective of the kitchen’s interior décor. We tested the black stainless variant in a white kitchen and it sat nicely on the countertop, a few inches away from a 36” Samsung induction cooktop (Toshiba EC042A5C-SS review).
This convection microwave effectively combines the best of both worlds to bring to you the freshest dishes.
It packs a ton of features under its hood. The unit measures just 21.8” x 21.5” x 13” (WDH) and comes with a 13.6” turntable. We love the large-sized turntable – you’ll love it too.
The features you’ll find on this Toshiba convection microwave include sensor cooking function, an auto menu for quick cooking, reheating function, one-touch start buttons, etc. The auto menu is located just above the keypad buttons on the right side of the unit.
Available presets are the auto bake, favorite, warm hold, auto defrost, time defrost, sensor cook, auto roast, popcorn, and sensor reheat. There are also three buttons that help you switch modes between convection oven, microwave or a combination of both (Toshiba EC042A5C-SS review).
We love the numeric keypad. It’s responsive and can be used to increase the temperature of the unit. There are 10 power levels on this unit and the unit requires just 1000W of power to work.
Internally, there’s a grill rack for use when you select convection mode. An LED light brightly illuminates the interior of the unit when the door is opened.
As for opening the door, it’s a breeze and doesn’t shift the microwave. Besides, you can easily open the door of the unit with gloves on.
Best alternate of Toshiba EC042A5C-SS countertop microwave oven with convection
Sharp Over-the-Range Convection Microwave
The Sharp convection microwave is a lifesaver in many ways. For homeowners with less space on their kitchen’s countertop, there couldn’t be microwave better than this one – a combination of a microwave and a convection oven. The unit looks simple and is easy to use.
It costs twice as much as our overall best convection microwave and it doesn’t have all the bells.
Nevertheless, we appreciate the fact that the unit can sit nicely over the range and save us some space on our already cluttered countertop. The unit measures 19” x 20” x 23” and it is available only in stainless steel variant.
We love how the unit blended nicely with the white background of the kitchen it was placed in. There is limited space internally as the unit has a capacity of 1.1 cu. ft. only.
It is also worthy to note that the unit has a power requirement of 850W. This is the lowest power we’ve seen so far in the course of our review. Nonetheless, the power is sufficient enough to be used for a plethora of activities.
As usual, you will find the control buttons for this microwave on the right side. A plethora of buttons abound, each providing you with the necessary functions for making your dish.
The modes are separated, so you can microwave separately or use the convection function separately.
Some of the auto cooking menu available on the unit include defrost, sensor reheat, sensor popcorn, preheat, slow cook, low mix bake, etc.
We weren’t surprised to find the broil function on this unit. Apparently, the manufacturers included it because of its price tag. So if you want to do some broiling, this unit is up to the task. You can also bake your confectioneries using this microwave as there is also a bake function.
Furthermore, there is a keep warm setting which we found very useful for mildly warming food. To the bottom of the cooking function keys are the numeric keys which control cooking times as well as temperature and power levels.
Samsung MC11K7035CG 1.1 cu. ft. Convection Microwave
Tight on a budget but still, want to get a convection microwave for your kitchen? Don’t worry, we found one you’d really like – it’s the Samsung MC11 convection microwave. There’s little you can put into a microwave with 1.1 cu. ft. of internal space, but that’s what you get for such a low price.
The unit comes in a black stainless steel finishing and has an enamel and ceramic interior. It does look glossy but would have been better if Samsung added some chrome accents here and there.
Samsung equipped this unit with 1300W of power instead of the chrome accents. We noticed that a handle is absent. The door folds down from the top, giving you access to the interior.
The interior is fairly large although we think Samsung could have done more. As expected, there are a plethora of features to make your cooking easier.
Some of the features present include an eco-mode. The eco-mode is aimed at attracting people who love products that are energy efficient.
In addition to the eco-mode, there is a sensor cooking function as well as the auto cook options. Similarly to the Toshiba EC042A5C-SS Microwave, we reviewed above, this Samsung convection microwave has separate buttons for selecting the desired cooking modes.
There is a power grill in the unit that even enhances the spread of heat to your food. It reduces cold spots on food significantly and induces the browning finishing on most foods.
The beeps on this unit are audible enough but cannot get on your nerves as we saw in some microwaves we’ve tested so far.
If you’re used to microwaves with numeric keypads, you won’t like the absence of numeric keypad on this unit. However, the dial is smooth and easy to use. In just a few hours, you’d have learned how to use it to achieve your cooking goals.
GE Profile PEB9159SJSS 22″ Countertop Convection
We selected the GE Profile Convection Microwave as our premium choice. It doesn’t have all the necessary bells and whistles, but it does have enough features to get us through our cooking activities.
Honestly, we felt this GE Profile convection microwave is underpowered, given its high price. For a unit that sells for more than half a thousand, it surely needs to have some great specs – unfortunately, that’s lacking.
However, this doesn’t impede its functionality.
The unit has a stainless steel interior and exterior. It measures 22” x 20” x 13” (WDH) and has a 13.5” turntable inside. The internal capacity is pegged at 1.3 cubic feet.
As usual, you’ll find the control panel on the right side of the unit. Here, you’ll see a plethora of options and menus that make cooking with the microwave easy.
To the top right corner sits the display screen and directly below it are the auto cook buttons such as popcorn, warm, beverage, sensor cook, auto defrost, broil, convection roast, and bake options etc.View Features and Pros/Cons
The numeric control buttons are nicely laid out and are responsive, to say the least. These buttons also control the temperature settings of this GE convection microwave.
In all, it should take you a couple of minutes to get used to the controls in contrast with control knobs which can take a couple of hours.
This GE convection microwave is available in another model which many say is more equipped than this particular model.
We didn’t get to test and review that model which is referred to as the Café model.
There are 10 power levels on this unit and surprisingly, the unit has a 1000W power requirement. Not bad, however, the Samsung unit we reviewed earlier had 300W more power at a lesser price.
Buying guide
Here are a few things to keep in mind as you shop.
Location: Countertop microwaves are designed to take up precious counter space, but when that’s all you have to give up, it’s your best and only option. Over-the-range models fit over your stove and take the place of a range hood. If you have space, they’re great, but they’re also usually more expensive. Built-in microwaves can be tucked into a cabinet, but they’re probably best for large kitchens where drawer and cabinet space is not at a premium.
Wattage and size: Most microwaves pack anywhere from 600 to 1200 watts in power. Larger, more expensive machines cook faster, while smaller, less expensive options will still get hot enough to heat most things. However, they probably won’t cook as evenly. Size and wattage usually go hand in hand, but size is its own consideration based on where your microwave will fit.
Presets and controls: Good Housekeeping suggests finding a microwave with a whole host of presets, but those can often be faulty, and add confusion to the interface. I’ve often opened the microwave after using a preset and found either half-frozen mush or worse still, utter devastation. It’s often in your best interest to choose your own time and power settings. We recommend going with short intervals so you don’t overheat your food.
Convection and inverter: Convection microwave ovens blow air into the microwave so that heat is distributed more evenly, making them the most consistent and reliable option. However, they’re usually more expensive. Microwaves with inverters can run at partial power while maintaining an even temperature, while other microwaves just pulse on and off, allowing the temperature to vary. Like convection ovens, inverter microwaves are a little more expensive but worth the extra money if you tend to cook in your microwave a lot or draw butter or chocolate regularly enough.
