Hey there, busy home cooks! If you‘re anything like me, you‘re always on the lookout for ways to make mealtime easier without sacrificing nutrition or flavor. That‘s why I was so excited to get my hands on the Tovala Smart Oven—the innovative countertop appliance that promises to simplify cooking with its scan-to-cook technology and chef-crafted meals delivered to your door.
I‘ve been using my Tovala for several weeks now, and I‘m ready to dish all the details. In this in-depth review, I‘ll cover:
- How the Tovala smart oven and meal delivery service work
- My honest take on the pros and cons
- What real customers are saying
- How Tovala compares to other popular meal delivery options
- Tips for making the most of your Tovala oven
By the end, you‘ll have all the info you need to decide if the Tovala is right for your lifestyle and budget. Let‘s get cooking!
What Is the Tovala Smart Oven and How Does It Work?
In a nutshell, the Tovala is a WiFi-connected countertop oven that pairs with a weekly meal delivery service to make home cooking as effortless as possible. The oven itself has a built-in barcode scanner and multiple cooking functions including baking, broiling, steaming and toasting.
Here‘s how it works:
- Pick your meals from Tovala‘s weekly menu of 16 options and choose a delivery day
- Receive a box of fresh, pre-portioned ingredients and scannable meal cards
- Pop the meal trays in the oven and scan the card
- The oven reads the barcode and cooks the meal automatically with the ideal settings
- Dig in and enjoy a home-cooked meal without any of the usual prep or cleanup!
Tovala‘s meals are designed by a team of chefs, including some from Michelin-starred restaurants. The focus is on healthy, whole ingredients: vegetables, lean proteins, whole grains and heart-healthy fats. Meal options cater to various diets like vegetarian, gluten-free, and low-carb.
Some of my personal favorite Tovala meals have been:
- Tamari and honey-glazed salmon with sesame broccoli and forbidden rice
- Ancho chile chicken with cilantro-lime quinoa and roasted carrots
- Cremini and spinach risotto with Meyer lemon and Parmesan
Yum, right? I love that I can enjoy gourmet-tasting meals with zero guesswork or grunt work.
Tovala Smart Oven Pros and Cons
Now I‘ll get into my honest assessment of the Tovala‘s strengths and potential drawbacks.
What I Love About the Tovala Oven
- Saves me hours each week on meal planning and prep
- Meals are flavorful, filling, and ready in 20 minutes or less
- Easy to use thanks to intuitive display and app notifications
- Compact design fits nicely on my countertop
- Versatile functions for cooking foil-pack meals, steaming veggies, making toast and more
- "Scan the Store" feature lets me cook certain Trader Joe‘s frozen meals perfectly
- Outstanding customer service and 100-day trial period
Potential Drawbacks to Consider
- Meals cost $12 per serving, more than groceries and some delivery services
- Oven‘s capacity is limited to 4 Tovala trays or a 4-lb. chicken
- Not all meals are smash hits (a few flavor misses in my experience)
- Many meals are high in sodium, so not ideal for low-sodium diets
- Can‘t use the oven to cook multiple Tovala recipes simultaneously
- Significant upfront investment of $299 for the oven (currently $99 with promo)
So while there‘s a lot to love about the Tovala, it‘s not the right fit for everyone. I think it‘s best for households of 1-2 people who highly value convenience and are willing to invest in a meal system. If budget is your top priority or you have a big family to feed, the Tovala may not be the most practical option.
Tovala vs. Other Meal Delivery Services
You might be wondering how Tovala stacks up against other popular meal delivery services. Here‘s a quick comparison:
| Service | Cost Per Serving | Prep Time | Cooking Method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tovala | $12 | None | Smart oven |
| Blue Apron | $8 | 25-45 min. | Stovetop, oven, microwave |
| HelloFresh | $9 | 15-40 min. | Stovetop, oven |
| Home Chef | $10 | 5-35 min. | Oven, microwave, grill |
As you can see, Tovala is pricier than the others by a few dollars per serving. But it‘s also the only one that requires zero prep and uses a smart oven for automated cooking. So it‘s a matter of weighing cost vs. convenience.
Of course, the food quality and variety are important factors too. In my experience, Tovala‘s meals generally taste like something I‘d order at a restaurant: fresh, flavorful and satisfying. However, Blue Apron and HelloFresh offer more recipe options and global cuisines.
Tovala Customer Reviews and Ratings
To see how my Tovala experience compares to other customers, I scoured some popular review sites. Here‘s a quick rundown:
- CNET: 8.2/10 – "An easy recommendation" for convenient cook-at-home meals
- Reviewed.com: 8.6/10 – "Takes the work out of prepping a wholesome meal"
- Trustpilot: 2.6/5 (but only 37 reviews)
- Sitejabber: 4.6/5 (but only 26 reviews)
On Tovala‘s own site, the smart oven system earned 4.6/5 stars from over 4,000 reviews. Customers rave about the tasty meals, easy cooking process and time savings. The handful of negative reviews cite problems with delivery and dissatisfaction with some recipes.
Some standout reviews from long-time Tovala customers:
"I‘ve had my Tovala oven for over a year now and it‘s become an indispensable part of my kitchen. I love the variety of meals and how convenient it is to eat well without all the shopping, chopping and cleanup." – Rachel P.
"Tovala has been a game-changer for my wife and me. We both work full-time and often get home too exhausted to cook. With Tovala, we can enjoy a fresh, home-cooked meal in less time than it takes to order takeout." – Mike A.
About the Tovala Company
I always like to know a bit about the companies behind the products I use. So here‘s the scoop on Tovala:
The Chicago-based startup was founded in 2015 by David Rabie and Bryan Wilcox. The idea came to Rabie when he was a busy grad student struggling to eat well. He teamed up with Wilcox, a former Warden engineer, to develop a countertop oven that would simplify home cooking.
After a successful Kickstarter campaign in 2017, Tovala started shipping its first smart ovens and meals. The company has since expanded its menu, added a mobile app, and partnered with grocery brands like Trader Joe‘s to make the oven more versatile.
Tovala‘s mission is to "make it easier for people to eat better." The company sources ingredients from trusted suppliers and designs its recipes and packaging to maximize freshness and reduce waste. Tovala has served over 3 million meals to date.
Fun fact: The name "Tovala" is a combination of the Italian word for table (tavola) and the Hebrew word for good (tov). Pretty fitting for a company that‘s all about making good food more accessible!
Tips for Using Your Tovala Oven
Before I wrap up this review, I want to share a few tips I‘ve learned for getting the most out of the Tovala oven:
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Customize the meals to your liking by adding your own sauces, spices or toppings. I like adding a sprinkle of red pepper flakes to pasta dishes.
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Stock up on Tovala‘s oatmeal cups, egg bites and heat-and-eat soups for easy breakfasts and lunches.
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Check the app for new "Scan the Store" additions and user-submitted recipes. The options are always expanding!
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Give your oven a quick wipe-down after cooking to prevent grease buildup. You can also run the self-cleaning cycle every few weeks.
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Experiment with using the oven‘s functions to cook your own recipes. I‘ve made everything from banana bread to beef jerky in my Tovala!
The Verdict: Is Tovala Right for You?
Phew, that was a lot of information! If you‘ve stuck with me this far, you‘re probably wondering if the Tovala smart oven is right for you. Here‘s my take:
The Tovala is an excellent choice if:
- You want to eat better but struggle with meal planning and prep
- You value convenience and don‘t mind paying a bit more for it
- You have a small household and minimal countertop space
- You enjoy trying new recipes and cuisines
The Tovala might not be the best fit if:
- You‘re on a tight food budget
- You have a large family or entertain often
- You have strict dietary needs like low sodium
- You prefer total control over ingredients and cooking methods
Of course, the only way to know for sure is to try it yourself! With Tovala‘s 100-day trial period and responsive customer service, you can see how the oven fits into your lifestyle risk-free.
As for me? My Tovala oven has earned a permanent spot on my countertop. It‘s saved me countless hours in the kitchen and introduced me to some truly delicious meals. While it‘s not the cheapest option out there, I‘ve found the convenience and food quality to be well worth the cost.
So what are you waiting for? If you‘re ready to take the stress out of mealtime without sacrificing nutrition or flavor, give Tovala a try. Your taste buds (and your busy schedule) will thank you.
