In a sea of meal delivery subscriptions, Tovala is different. Instead of simply signing up and getting food sent to your doorstep, the barrier to entry here is higher: you have to purchase the Tovala smart oven which scans your meals and pulls cooking instructions from the cloud.
If you've ever had mediocre results microwaving or baking a frozen meal, you can probably understand the draw here. Tovala recipes are designed and prepped by chefs, and the meals are shipped fresh. The oven is the final step that ensures your food is cooked just so and that all the work that goes into creating the meal truly pays off. Using a combination of cooking techniques, the Tovala oven cooks your meal perfectly; all you have to do is scan the provided QR-code, place your meal in the oven, and press start.
In this Tovala review, we'll give you everything you need to know about this oven/meal kit subscription hybrid. We'll take a look at the cost, food, packaging, value, and convenience to help you determine if Tovala is right for you.
This box was sent to us at no cost for review. (Check out our review process post to learn more about how we review boxes.)
Tovala Pros & Cons
Pros
- Hands-on cooking time is practically zero.
- Meals are ready in 20 minutes or less.
- Tovala food is fresh, never frozen.
- The oven can be used for non-Tovala meals.
- You can try risk-free with Tovala's 100-day trial.
Cons
- There's a significant upfront investment.
- 2.4 GHz WiFi and a smartphone are required.
- Tovala's meals do not support all special diets.
What Is Tovala?
Tovala is not your standard meal delivery service. In order to enjoy Tovala's delicious meals, you'll need to purchase the Tovala Smart Oven. The meals and oven are specially designed to work together - each meal is scanned by the Tovala smart oven which utilizes several different cooking techniques. On the flip side, if you want the oven but not the meals then that's no problem. By no means are you required to be a long-term subscriber and the oven is a great piece of machinery that stands alone.
If you do decide to sign up for the Tovala smart oven AND the meal delivery service, keep in mind that you're signing up for a recurring subscription. When you join Tovala, you'll need to choose a meal plan and personalize it. After you provide your dietary preferences, Tovala will automatically pick meals for you each week that fit your style of eating. However, you can always log in, override your auto-picks, and hand-select your own meals. In your account portal, you'll also be able to skip shipments or cancel your subscription.
Tovala Cost
When you sign up for Tovala, you'll need to decide if you want the entire Tovala experience (oven + meal kits) or just the oven. While it's absolutely possible to purchase the oven on its own, we recommend trying the meals too. If you think you'll enjoy them and are willing to commit to 6 deliveries in the first 6 months, you'll receive significant savings on the cost of a Tovala oven. The Tovala Smart Oven costs $249 if you don't commit to its meal delivery service. However, if you sign up for at least 6 meal deliveries within 6 months it only costs $49. You can also upgrade to the Tovala Smart Oven Pro which features restaurant quality steam for only $20 more.
Once you have the Tovala smart oven, you can sign up for weekly meal deliveries. Prices for weekly meals start at $9.99 per serving, but most cost around $12.99. You can order as few as 4 meals per week or as many as 16 meals per week. Regardless of the plan you choose, shipping is always $9.99. Tovala's meals are preservative-free, shipped fresh, and last for between 3-7 days in the refrigerator.
Tovala Shipping
Tovala currently ships to the contiguous United States. Once you place your order, your Tovala smart oven should arrive within 2-5 business days. Meal orders are placed every Wednesday at 6PM CT for delivery the following week. Delivery days vary by area, but most subscribers will have several options to choose from. You can change your preferred delivery day at any time and you don't have to be home when your order arrives. From the box to the materials that keep the meals safe in transit, Tovala's packaging is 100% recyclable.
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Tovala Meals
Tovala offers over 30 chef-crafted meals per week to choose from. All of the meals are made from preservative-free, fresh food and last for between 2-7 days in the refrigerator. The meals rotate weekly, but here are some examples of Tovala Classics:
- Togarashi-Crusted Chicken Breast & Sweet Soy Udon
- Panko-Crusted Chicken Breast with Mac & Cheese and Sweet BBQ Sauce
- Creamy Bacon & Spinach Tortellini
Cooking Tovala meals is a piece of cake - cooking instructions are communicated to the machine via a QR code that comes printed on each meal. When you're ready to eat, all you do is press the "scan" button on your oven, hold up the code so it can be read, pop your meals in the oven, and press "start." The Tovala smart oven will automatically set the timer and bake, broil, and/or steam your meal according to the recipe. Clean-up is easy, too. You can recycle the provided baking trays or wash and reuse them.
Theoretically, you could sign up for a Tovala meal subscription and cook the food in your own home oven; however, this is not recommended. The Tovala oven uses a combination of cooking techniques to make sure your meal is cooked properly. Meals do not come with separate instructions and success in your own oven is not guaranteed.
Every week, Tovala offers at least 3 gluten-free meals and 2 vegetarian meals. Tovala specifies nutrition information, allergens, and dietary meal tags both on their website and on the back of each meal. Caloric value varies by meal, but most meals contain between 400-800 calories.
A Closer Look At The Tovala Smart Oven
The Tovala smart oven measures 18.5"(L) x 12.32"(D) x 11.75" (H). It fits nicely on the countertop, and it's comparable in size to your standard toaster oven. The interior space is large enough to cook a 4-pound chicken, a 10" pizza, or 4 Tovala meal trays. All smart ovens include an air fry basket, sheet tray, and oven mitt.
When it comes to cooking Tovala meals, this machine really shows off its brilliance. All you have to do is scan the QR code that comes with the meal, put the trays in the oven, and press start. You can then sit back and wait for a push notification to come through on your phone telling you the meal is ready to eat. But the "smart" part of the Tovala smart oven doesn't stop there.
According to Tovala, "You can use the oven to do any cooking you'd normally do in your conventional oven. You can also steam, toast with 5 settings, reheat, cook from the app's library of recipes, and Scan-to-Cook hundreds of brand name grocery products—like Eggo® Waffles and Pop-Tarts®!" You can "scan-to-cook" lots of different brands, and this feature has worked like a charm. You can make pizza, Pop-Tarts, crescent rolls, Bagel Bites, and meals from Trader Joe's all with a quick scan of the product barcode.
You can also use the Tovala app to communicate cooking instructions to your oven. If you enjoy cooking from scratch, you'll find a number of recipes in the Tovala app that you can make at home using your own ingredients. The app provides recipe instructions that help you prep your meal, and when your food is ready to cook you can press a button in the app that will send specific cooking instructions for that dish to your Tovala smart oven.
My Tovala Reviews - My Thoughts on the Oven, Meals, and Overall Experience
Tovala Oven
Let's talk about toast. Both my husband and I eat toast pretty regularly, so that's a decent chunk of what we use our toaster oven for. It made sense to start with a basic "toast test." Tovala's toast setting allows you to choose your level of toastiness, from 1 (light) all the way to 5 (very dark). I'm probably a 2 or 3 kinda gal, and my husband is a 4. My expectations for this test weren't crazy. Really, I was just trying to set out a basic challenge that would allow me to try out the Tovala smart oven. I mean, toast is toast, right? Wrong. This machine makes awesome toast.
Because Tovala uses a combination of heat and steam when cooking, every piece of toast (light or dark) is perfectly toasted on the outside and nice and soft in the middle. No brittle, dry toast here, folks. It might seem like a small thing— and I even feel kind of silly making a big deal out of it— but this alone has added a little bit of joy to my morning routine. I seriously love the toast that comes out of my Tovala oven.
When I first received the Tovala smart oven, I wasn't sure it would live up to the hype. I was perfectly happy with my standard, run-of-the-mill toaster oven, and I wondered if this might just be the same thing with flashier lights. I am so pleased to tell you I was wrong. The scan-to-cook function is clever and useful, but bells and whistles aside, this is just a fantastic cooking machine. The Tovala steam function is a real game-changer. This oven makes great food.
Tovala Meals
The food is really tasty! The pre-prepared dishes were the highlights for me, but all of the food was good. It's clear the meals are thoughtfully designed, and the meals + oven combo allows for feats of cooking that other delivery services could simply never pull off. My favorite meal was the Creole Tomato-Braised Chicken with Freshly Baked Biscuits. The biscuits themselves were fantastic. (You can't really beat freshly baked biscuits.) The Creole Braised Chicken was delicious, too, and the flavors were surprisingly bold. The dish was savory and a little spicy. When I first looked at the portion sizes, I wasn't sure the ratio was quite right. Initially, I thought I might prefer just one biscuit and more stew, but I ended up being very happy with the meal just the way it was.
My husband loved the Sweet Corn, Mushroom & Goat Cheese Pasta with Basil Vinaigrette, and I agreed the flavors were on point. He felt the portion size might be a little on the small side, but he thought it was delicious. The Smoky BBQ Salmon with Roasted Fingerling Potatoes wasn't my favorite flavor-wise, but I was impressed that both the salmon and potatoes came out perfectly cooked in the same amount of time.
Overall Thoughts
I've tried A LOT of meal subscriptions in my day, but never a service quite like this one. I won't lie, I was initially skeptical. Requiring a special oven to cook meals seemed... pretentious. But the truth is that I fell in love with the Tovala smart oven and enjoyed the convenience of the smart scan-to-cook meals. I use my Tovala every single day for all kinds of different things (not just the Tovala meals), and I'm obsessed with it.
Tovala Reviews by MSA Readers
Want another opinion? Here's what several MSA readers had to say about this smart oven and meal delivery service:
I live alone (with my 4 dogs) and waste so much food when I do traditional grocery shopping. I also HATE to cook. I don't get home from work until around 6 and have no energy left for preparing meals and then waiting for them to bake/cook, etc. I LOVE Tovala. The meals are just the right size for me -- I'm never hungry and it's helped to control overeating for me. I highly recommend. - Cindy
I’m single, and this works out great. It’s the only meal service that has single portions. I don’t have left overs…. I don’t have half opened jars of pesto, marina, alfredo, etc. littering up my small fridge because I don’t need to buy a whole jar just to make one thing...I find the portions to be quite large, actually…. especially the veggie/rice bowls. I’m always full after, and don’t need to supplement. Plus, this has really pushed me to try more adventurous things. Seriously…. before Tovola, I would eat a couple spoonfuls of peanut butter, maybe a yogurt…. and that was dinner. I’m tired. I work freaking hard. This was a game changer for me. - ESPII
I LOVE everything about the Tovala oven and meals. I’ve had it for four weeks now and am very impressed. I’m a picky eater but I haven’t found a bad meal yet. I’ve even tried some things I had never eaten before and loved those, too. I rave about Tovala to my friends and am so happy with the food choices, quality, and restaurant-worthy taste. - Donna Zee
I absolutely love the Tovala. I have never tried their meals but I use it to cook/bake/steam my families every day meals. You could easily cook for a family of 3-4 depending what you are putting in there. But this thing is a game changer. You don’t even have to heat up your whole house in the summer time when you want to bake something. I have a convection gas oven and this Tovala manages to do a much better job. Also I love that I can store barcodes for future cooking. It just saves me alot of time and money as well. I didn’t buy this for the meal plan I bought it to save me time cooking for my family (which it has). - Elisabeth Berlowitz
I have had my Tovala for a couple of years now and it is great. I did the food service for about a year and meals were tasty but felt a little expensive for the portion... I use it now for my own food and appreciate that Tovala gives quite a few good recipes. - Connie
I use it with food bought at the store. It’s so nice to just scan a barcode and hit start. I’ve also cooked lots of fresh meals in it as well. I’ve completely gotten rid of my microwave. - Kathy Langenfeld
Is Tovala worth it?
We've covered a lot of info in this Tovala review, but one big question remains: is Tovala worth it? Let's get the most important thing out of the way first: Tovala is truly unique in the subscription box world, and there's really nothing like it yet. Tovala meals are specially designed to be cooked in the Tovala oven, and this comes with both pros and cons.
On the plus side, the entire experience is high-tech and very cool. You scan a meal, pop it in the oven, and sit back and wait for your meal to be ready. The meals are tasty, and the programmed instructions allow things like stews and biscuits to cool side-by-side perfectly. The technology works. Of course, the biggest negative is that if you want to subscribe to Tovala's meal service, you'll need to buy a special oven, which is a substantial additional expense.
As such, this subscription might be best for those who are already in the market for a smart oven and want the added bonus of an accompanying meal delivery subscription. But despite the barriers to entry, there's a lot to love about Tovala. The meals are tasty (though a little on the small side), and the oven is great. Meals aside, the Tovala oven is a great machine that is sure to add a lot to any kitchen. The convenience of this oven + meal delivery combo is a thing of beauty, and if you're looking to purchase an oven and also want meals delivered, Tovala is an excellent option.
Ready to subscribe? Make sure to sign up using our coupon below to ensure you get the best deal.
Tovala Alternatives
There's nothing quite like Tovala, but if you want just a smart oven or just a meal delivery service, there are a few competitors that might be a better fit.
Tovala vs. Home Chef
Home Chef is a meal kit delivery subscription that provides delicious, crowd-pleasing meal kits to cook at home. Recipes can typically be made in around 30 minutes, and most meals can be customized. While this can increase the cost, it's a simple way to double up on protein or swap ingredients. With Home Chef, you can tweak the recipes to feature a different protein, double protein, or even meat-free protein. Home Chef meals serve two or four people, so they're a natural fit for couples and families. Thus, Home Chef is the preferable option for those who want to cook recipe-based meals and need extra portion sizes and/or customization.
Tovala vs. June Oven
If you're just looking for an oven, June Oven is a smart oven with lots of bells and whistles. The June Oven starts at $899, with the premium version costing upwards of $1,299. However, it doesn't come with its own meal subscription. While Tovala is a great oven with lots of features, the June Oven is super high-tech. It can bake, warm, toast, broil, reheat, slow cook, dehydrate, proof, air fry, and stone fry pizza (just to name a few). Its touchscreen display is intuitive and futuristic, and the June app allows you to preheat the oven, adjust the cooking time and temp, and even watch a live-feed video of your food cooking— all without leaving the sofa.
Tovala FAQs
What is Tovala?
Tovala is a meal subscription that consists of a smart oven, an app, and meals that make cooking as simple as scanning a QR code. Basically, you purchase the Tovala oven which cooks Tovala meals via WiFi. You choose a meal plan based on how many meals you want to receive each week and each meal is designed to perfectly pair with the smart oven.
How much is a Tovala oven?
The Tovala Smart Oven Pro is $299. However, you'll save $150 when you agree to order meals 6 times.
How much are Tovala meals?
Meals start at $9.99, but most cost around $12.99 and can cost upwards of $20.98.
How are Tovala meals delivered?
Tovala Meals are sent via Veho, UDS, OnTrac, UPS, or FedEx in an insulated box with ice packs. Meals are shipped in transit for either 1 or 2 days depending on your location.
Where are Tovala meals made?
They are made in either the Chicago or Salt Lake City-based production kitchen.
How big is the Tovala oven?
The exterior dimensions of the Tovala Smart Oven Pro are 18.5" (L) x 14.32" (D) x 11.75" (H) (with handle). Its interior dimensions are 12.75"(L) x 11" (D) x 8" (H). The total weight is 20.9 lbs.
How much is Tovala per month?
If you select a meal plan that serves 8 meals per week, you can expect to pay at least $359 per month (starting price of each meal is $9.99, with a weekly shipping cost of $9.99).
Can you cook regular food in a Tovala oven?
Absolutely! The Tovala oven can be used just like a regular oven.
Are Tovala meals fresh or frozen?
The meals are fresh and shipped over ice.
How long do Tovala meals stay fresh?
The meals last anywhere from 2-7 days after delivery.
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