I tried Tovala’s smart oven for two weeks — here’s whether it beats takeout

A reviewer tested Tovala’s smart oven and meal-delivery service for two weeks, finding it convenient and effective for busy nights though not a full substitute for high-quality home cooking. Some dishes—particularly certain meats—fell short on texture, while others like a pineapple shrimp stir-fry delivered satisfying results with minimal effort.

By AI Newsroom· Reviewed by Pranav, Founder & Editor-in-ChiefPublished about 11 hours agoUpdated about 2 hours ago0 views

I tried Tovala’s smart oven for two weeks — here’s whether it beats takeout

Why It Matters

The product targets consumers seeking a middle ground between takeout and cooking by pairing pre-portioned fresh meals with an oven that automates the cooking process. Its grocery-item recognition feature broadens the oven’s usefulness beyond the company’s own meal kits, which may affect buyers’ long-term value assessments.

Key Facts

Test duration: Two weeks
Oven models and prices: Regular oven $299; Smart Oven Pro $349 (adds steam function)
Cooking modes: Bake, broil, air fry, toast, reheat (Pro adds steam)
Meals offered weekly: More than 45 meals
Meal plan sizes: 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, or 16 meals per week

Tovala combines a countertop smart oven with a subscription meal-delivery service that sends mostly prepped, portioned meals designed to be finished by the oven with minimal user intervention. Users scan a QR code from the companion app, after which the oven follows programmed steps—changing temperature and mode automatically—to cook the dish. The regular oven lists for $299, while a Smart Oven Pro, which includes a steam function, costs $349.

During a two-week trial, the reviewer found the system delivered strong convenience, particularly on nights when cooking from scratch wasn’t appealing. Several dishes came out well without extra effort; the pineapple shrimp stir-fry was singled out for its well-cooked rice and flavorful sauce. The reviewer emphasized that the product’s main draw is saving time and reducing hands-on steps like chopping and multi-appliance coordination.

Meat textures were the most frequent shortcoming. Steaks lacked the seared crust some home cooks prefer, leading the reviewer to finish a steak in a pan to improve browning—an extra step that undermines the hands-off promise. Other menu items did not present the same issue, illustrating variability across the weekly selections.

Beyond company meals, the oven can recognize certain grocery-store products via barcode scanning, automatically selecting cooking settings for compatible items like frozen waffles. That capability, the reviewer noted, enhances the oven’s utility even if users stop subscribing to Tovala’s meal plans. Pricing on meals starts at $13.99 for single servings, with two-serving meals beginning around $8.99 per serving ($17.98) plus a $10.99 shipping fee; family-sized meals start at $35.96.

Tovala’s meal plans are offered in several sizes (4–16 meals per week) and can be skipped, paused, or canceled. The reviewer concluded that while the oven will not replace the quality of a well-prepared home-cooked dinner, it represents a compelling alternative to takeout for people seeking convenience. Tovala products ship to most U.S. states but not Alaska or Hawaii, and the oven is available through the company’s website and Amazon.