REASONS TO BUY
Quiet
Solid defrosting
Versatile
Doubles as an air fryer
REASONS TO AVOID
Inconsistent frozen food cooking
GE GCST10A1WSS Review
An affordable convection microwave that delivers tasty results with added cooking versatility, including convection cooking and air frying
Credit: Natalie Kafader
By Lesley Robinson ⋅ Senior Review Analyst ⋅ July 7, 2025
Contributions From: Mallory Paige
RELATED: The Best Microwaves of 2025
Our Verdict
The GE GCST10A1WSS stands out in the crowded microwave market by offering combination cooking capabilities at an affordable price point. During my extensive testing, this model proved itself as a versatile kitchen companion that goes beyond simple reheating. The addition of convection and air frying modes makes it particularly appealing for those looking to maximize counter space without sacrificing cooking options. While it delivered respectable heating performance that places it in the upper tier of microwaves we tested (especially when cooking delicious easy-mac and lasagna), there were some inconsistencies in temperature distribution that kept it from achieving top marks. The defrosting capabilities particularly impressed, handling frozen meats with precision and avoiding partially-cooked edges.
Our Analysis and Test Results
The GE GCST10A1WSS is a solidly versatile microwave that does a beautiful job of cooking pasta dishes.
This combination microwave is affordable and effective.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Heating Performance
The heating capabilities of any microwave form the foundation of its usefulness, and I put the GE GCST10A1WSS through comprehensive tests to evaluate how well it handles this core function.
The GE heated, gooey, mouthwatering macaroni and cheese.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Pizza Heating
The pizza reheating test revealed both strengths and weaknesses. After 45 seconds of heating two slices of cold cheese pizza, I recorded temperatures ranging from 100°F to 165°F across the surface - indicating fairly uneven heating. During the taste test, I noticed that the cheese softened but never achieved that satisfying molten stretch we all crave.
The GE does a decent job of warming pizza with tasty, softened cheese, though the dough quickly became stale.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
On the positive side, the pizza cooled quickly enough to eat immediately, though the crust became disappointingly hard and the overall texture turned greasy. These results reflect the microwave's tendency toward uneven heating, which aligns with the cool center spot we observed in the heat mapping test.
The cheese on my reheated pizza warmed, but never got fully melty and had noticeable hot spots.
Heat Map Test
Using our standardized heat mapping test with marshmallow creme spread evenly across parchment paper, I discovered that this model creates a distinctive heating pattern with a few concentric rings. The infrared imaging revealed that the hottest zone forms around the outer edge of the turntable, with a noticeable cool spot persisting in the very center.
The outer edges of our heat map are noticeably hot.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
Heating Speed Test
In our speed heating test, where I heated 125 mL of refrigerated water for 45 seconds, the GE managed to raise the temperature by 84 degrees Fahrenheit, from 44°F to 128°F. This performance earned it a respectable score that places it solidly in the middle of the pack among the 12 microwaves we tested. While it didn't match the lightning-fast heating of our top performers, it certainly outpaced many budget models.
The GE GCST10A1WSS would do an acceptable job of reheating tea or coffee in under 45 seconds (without burning your mouth).
Credit: Natalie Kafader
Frozen Foods
I tested the GE GCST10A1WSS with two frozen food staples: lasagna and Hot Pockets. For the lasagna test, I used a two-pound frozen lasagna, following the manufacturer's instructions for 1100-watt microwaves: 10 minutes at full power, then 9 minutes at half power.
The results were encouraging from a food safety perspective. The lasagna reached proper serving temperatures across all zones, with the center hitting 172°F. The cheese was perfectly melty, and the sauce warm and savory, though the bottom of the dish was a little watery, indicating that it may need to be cooked a bit longer.
The GE cooked up a tasty lasagna.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
The Hot Pocket test revealed a bit more about the microwave's heating inconsistencies. The ends were noticeably overcooked, with the sauce appearing dried out and the crust turning tough and chewy. Meanwhile, the center remained disappointingly cool, with cheese that stayed somewhat solid rather than achieving that molten, stretchy consistency that makes Hot Pockets appealing. I recorded a significant 32-degree difference between the hottest (194°F) and coolest (160°F) sections after the recommended cooking time.
The Hot Pocket was incredibly hot around the edges and slightly overcooked.
This uneven heating pattern aligns with what I observed in the heat map testing — the cool center spot creates real challenges when cooking items that need consistent temperature throughout. While the GE GCST10A1WSS gets food to safe eating temperatures, the quality and enjoyment factor suffer compared to more evenly heating units.
Defrosting
The defrosting capability of the GE GCST10A1WSS proved to be one of its strongest features during my testing. I used a fully frozen one-pound block of ground beef for this evaluation, selecting the weight-based defrost setting that accommodates up to 5.9 pounds.
The microwave performed exceptionally well, with the defrost cycle including helpful audio prompts to turn the meat partway through the 7-minute and 8-second cycle. By the end of the process, nearly all of the ground turkey was properly defrosted, and I could easily poke my finger through most of the block. Only a tiny section remained frozen, and the surrounding meat could be easily scraped away.
What impressed me most was that none of the meat showed signs of cooking during the defrost cycle — a common problem with less sophisticated defrosting systems. The microwave's sensor technology and automatic power adjustments kept the meat at the perfect defrosting temperature without crossing into cooking territory. This performance puts the GE GCST10A1WSS at the top tier for defrosting capabilities among the microwaves I've tested.
Presets
The GE GCST10A1WSS comes equipped with nine preset functions, offering solid convenience for common cooking tasks. The unit includes dedicated one-touch buttons for numbers 1 through 6, which provide quick-start functionality in one-minute increments. There's also a handy 30-second add button for extending cooking times on the fly.
The food-specific presets cover the essentials: potato, popcorn, pizza, and reheat functions. Beyond basic microwave functions, this unit also includes convection, air fry, combi, and broil modes, making it more versatile than many competitors. Additional control buttons include set clock, timer, cook time, and power level adjustments.
The GE is simple to use and packs alot of features into one package.
Credit: Natalie Kafader
For my popcorn preset test, I used a 3.2-ounce Pop Secret butter bag, selecting the 3.5-ounce setting since it was the closest match. The microwave ran for 2 minutes and 15 seconds — about 10 seconds longer than I would have preferred if cooking manually. While most of the popcorn came out well-popped and tasty, a few pieces had a slight burnt taste, and the overall batch was somewhat drier than ideal. However, only 12.7% of the kernels remained unpopped, which is quite good compared to other units I tested.
The popcorn was slightly overcooked, but had very few unpopped kernels.
Credit: Lesley Robinson
All told, the preset system adds a ton of user-friendliness to this unit, and we love the breadth of options available. Though, the popcorn setting could benefit from slightly more conservative timing to avoid overcooking.
Should You Buy the GE GCST10A1WSS?
For those seeking a spacious and powerful microwave that excels at handling frozen foods with precision, this should undoubtedly be on your short list of options, especially if you're looking for a versatile convection microwave for less than $300. It exhibited near-perfect performance in our defrosting assessments and consistently delivered uniform heating across a variety of foods. Nonetheless, individuals with more compact kitchen spaces might want to explore alternative options.
What Other Microwaves Should You Consider?
If compact size is your primary concern and you just need something for reheating leftovers or your morning coffee, consider the Farberware 700W 0.7 Cu Ft. It delivers more consistent heating in an even smaller package. For those interested in a convection microwave with air frying, broiling, and baking but want something that excels more at making tasty frozen snacks and leftovers, the Panasonic HomeChef 4-in-1 is a great, but much pricier, alternative.
Side-by-Side Comparison
Compare GE GCST10A1WSS versus top competing products:
—Lesley Robinson and Mallory Paige
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