A TechCrunch journalist tested Tovala's smart oven and meal-delivery system over two weeks to evaluate whether it truly delivers the convenience promised. Whilst the service provides genuine convenience and eliminates much of the cooking burden, it falls short of replicating the quality of skilled home cooking. The system addresses a real demand: convenience comparable to takeout without sacrificing the pleasure of eating freshly prepared food.

Tovala's offering combines pre-portioned meals with a connected countertop oven that automatically handles cooking by scanning QR codes. The standard oven retails at $299, with a Pro version at $349 including steam function, and can bake, broil, air fry, toast, and reheat. Meal plans range from 4 to 16 servings weekly, with single meals starting at $13.99 and two-serving meals at approximately $8.99 per serving, plus $10.99 shipping. The reviewer experienced mixed results: whilst some dishes like pineapple shrimp stir-fry performed well, meat dishes sometimes lacked the texture and crust that comes from traditional cooking methods.