I Tried the 6-in-1 Oven That Comes With Its Own Meal Service and I’m Never Grocery Shopping Again

What I Tested...

• Tovala Smart Oven Pro ($349)

  • You can try it risk-free for 100 days at $119 when you sign up for a 6-week meal plan.

Why I Tested...

How I Tested...

I tested six different meals in the Tovala 6-in-1 Smart Oven Pro over the course of one month. I took notes on meal delivery, setup, ease of use, cooking speed, taste, menu variety, and tech specs. 

Test Results...

• Meal delivery. All six of my meals came clearly labeled with what was inside, including the total amount of servings. Inside each box, you’ll find every single ingredient you’ll need, individually wrapped and airtight. You’ll also find an insert with a list of trays needed (either the oven’s air fry basket, wire rack, or sheet tray), prep instructions, cooking notes, and a QR code for scanning. All of the food came in an insulated box and arrived before my expected delivery date. 

• Oven set-up. The initial setup is a bit of a process, since you have to connect your oven to Wi-Fi and then download the Tovala app. It took about 10 minutes to get it connected, so I would recommend doing this before you’re setting up to cook if you’re tight on time. On the app, you’ll follow a few step-by-step instructions to set up your oven, and you’ll be notified when it’s online and ready for use. 

• Ease of use. After setup, the 6-in-1 oven is extremely simple to use. All I had to do was open one of my meal boxes, follow the prep instructions, and scan the QR code. The machine then takes care of the rest. As far as prep goes, the majority of the “work” comes from either adding a few teaspoons of water, stirring ingredients, or simply arranging the oven-safe foil tins on the designated tray or rack. The app is a great resource for browsing new recipes, answering questions, and connecting directly with customer service. You can also set up push notifications so your phone will notify you once the timer goes off and your meal is ready. However, I didn’t really feel the need to use my app at all after setup. 

• Cooking process. Every menu item is ready to eat in about 25 minutes or less. There was very little prep and virtually zero cleanup. The best part of this oven is arguably the scanning feature. Once you scan the meal’s QR code, the oven will adjust the cooking setting (e.g. broil, air fry, bake, toast, roast) needed for the recipe. All you have to do is press “Start.”

• Taste. A few of my favorite recipes were the meatballs and tortellini and the parmesan-crusted chicken. Both tasted as if I had made them from scratch (only better). I don’t think I’ve ever experienced this much flavor from a meal delivery service. All the recipes are well-balanced, with a good mix of protein, veggies, and a starch. They don’t skimp on the sauces and the portions are very generous. While I appreciated the lower calories, the amount of sodium gave me pause. If you are on a low-sodium diet, I would not recommend any of their meals that aren’t labeled “lower sodium.” 

• Menu variety. Another area of expertise for Tovala. They have a rotating menu of 45+ chef-crafted meals every single week. You can also filter the menu based on your preferences, like GLP-1 balanced, vegetarian, carb-conscious, and gluten-friendly recipes. Unfortunately, they don’t have vegan options at this time. 

• Oven specs. The oven itself is about the size of a large microwave, so it does take up a decent amount of counterspace. However, given that I’ve officially replaced my toaster (and, in many ways, my oven), I didn’t think it was too large. It’s also extremely quiet, unlike other multipurpose ovens I’ve tested in the past. You can’t really hear it when it’s on. Thankfully, it has a loud beep that goes off when your meal is ready.

Sidenotes...

• Delivery plans. Some have described this product as a smart oven that comes with a meal delivery service. Others, a meal delivery service that provides its own oven. The reality? Both are true. When shopping for your oven, you’ll be asked to fill out a free quiz to set up your meal plan. You can choose to receive anywhere from four to 16 meals per week, and browse through options based on your personal preferences. It’s very customizable overall, and with such a large rotating menu, there’s a little something for everyone. Picky eaters included. 

• Price. This is expensive, but when you think of it as several appliances in one, the cost evens out. The Smart Oven retails at $299, but you can try it risk-free for 100 days for $69 when you sign up for a 6-week meal plan. The Smart Oven Pro retails at $349, but for those 100 days, you can try it for $119 with the same 6-week meal plan. The main difference between the two ovens is that the Pro version has a steam option that makes for juicier meats. The meals start at about $9.99 each, but prices may vary depending on your plan. You can choose any number of meals during your 6-week plan, and you have 6 months to complete your 6 weeks of orders with the option to skip at any time. If you're not 100% in love, you can return it anytime within your first 100 days no questions asked.

The Fine Details...

• Tovala Smart Oven ($349)

  • Try it risk-free for 100 days at $119 when you sign up for a 6-week meal plan.

• Tovala Smart Oven Pro ($299)

  • Try it risk-free for 100 days at $69 when you sign up for a 6-week meal plan.