I'm a single, oven-less, 33-year-old living in New York City with minimal kitchen space (and minimal cooking experience), so when I heard that Tovala, our best meal delivery service for singles was running a special Labor Day offer, I knew I had to try it. The service is known for its perfectly portioned, single-serving meals and simple cooking directions.
Right now, the meal delivery service is offering customers a free smart oven when they purchase a certain amount of meals within a six-month timespan. Let's break down our experts' (and my!) thoughts on the service and how you can score a smart oven for zero dollars, too.
How to get a Tovala Smart Oven for free
According to Tovala, new customers who commit to purchasing six weeks of meals within six months will receive a countertop smart oven free of charge. When it's not on sale, the oven is usually $299. Note that this offer expires September 1.
The meals, on the other hand, vary in price; some single-serving portions range from $10 to $13 per dish (depending on the ingredients)—but you can also opt for two-serving meals and adjust your orders as needed, according to the brand. You'll have the choice to order between four and 16 meals per week.
That being said, if you order six weeks of meals, the smart oven will basically pay for itself with time. For example, four $10 meals per week (for six weeks) will cost roughly $240. That's still less than the original price of the smart oven.
What meals are included in this offer?
Typically with Tovala, you select your meals ahead of time from a weekly menu. Some sample meals include: coconut-crusted salmon and white rice, southwestern chicken breast with creamy fire-roasted corn tortellini, a shrimp salad sandwich, and more.
Why we like the Tovala Smart Oven and meal service
Again, the Good Housekeeping Institute is familiar with Tovala meals. In fact, after testing over 50 meal delivery services, Tovala made our list of top contenders—and our team praised the brand's variety of dietary options and "minimal" prep time required to cook. In fact, Nutrition & Fitness Lab Director Stefani Sassos mentioned that she "was amazed by how consistently and perfectly cooked each meal came out."
Our testers particularly liked the convenience and easy-to-follow process. "You don’t have to wash any pots or pans, everything is pre-portioned for one, and honestly, the meals I received were delicious," one tested shared. Another said, "It feels like takeout but I like that you make it yourself at home. Instructions are really easy to follow too."
It's important to note that while several staffers tried and loved Tovala, some did notice packaging issues (not enough ice packs) and found the poultry was rubbery at times.
I, personally, received my smart oven yesterday and have only used it one time before writing this article—but I can confidently say I had a pleasant set-up (and cooking!) experience Night 1.
After propping the oven onto my teeny, tiny countertop, I plugged it in and began the process of connecting the appliance to WiFi and downloading the Tovala app on my phone. Once everything was in place, I scanned the QR code affiliated with my salmon dish, and the cooking process began.
FYI, each meal has a QR code printed onto its box that—when scanned—tells the oven how long it should bake your specific dish (and at which temperature).
In less than 15 minutes, my salmon was perfectly—and I mean perfectly—cooked, and I was able to dress it with sauces and veggies that were included in the meal package. Quite frankly, I'm excited to cook dinner with the Tovala tonight.
Amanda (she/her) is a writer and editor covering deals, trends and sales. She has almost a decade of experience in digital journalism, including more than five years in e-commerce at brands like Bustle Digital Group and TODAY. Amanda has a bachelor’s degree in communications with a concentration in journalism from Ramapo College of New Jersey. When she’s not working, you can find her writing songs.
