I bought a Tovala in May 2020 to fulfill my terminally-ill husband's wish to own a toaster oven and my need to have easy meals for the two of us as I took care of his hospice care at home. The prepared meals I purchased from Tovala were big enough for me to give him half and me to eat the other half (along with a side salad since I was hungrier than he was). He had fun knowing he finally owned a "toaster oven." He loved hearing me read the manual and learn how Tovala uses steam, bake, and broil in the cooking cycle to toast his bread. One rule of thumb I encourage anyone to follow if you purchase a Tovala is to be ready to cut the cooking time of your food by at least 5 minutes. The Tovala overcooks pretty much everything! Even when you use the scan function and scan items from Trader Joe's.
I'm sorry for his illness, but I imagine the cherished memories you must have each time you use your oven. Thank you for sharing such a unique and heartwarming story.
Thank you. I have bought a food processor, stand mixer, air fryer and mandoline on your advise and now, not buying the Anova oven. I always recommend to anyone buying an appliance to look up ATK for advise. LOVE your reviews!!!!
My GE microwave from 2005 finally crapped out. At first ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxO_Bc204MGjxDl87cOKcdgaRhzSqGmv_g I was unsure because I was looking for something with the exact same features. Found it with this one. Interior space cavity was large, but the outside was smaller than my old one. I love the one-button push for 1-6 minutes, and the 30 second add or 30 second start. and MOST IMPORTANTLY, I love how you can adjust the power level during cooking. The reviews said it could not be done, but this marked all the other boxes. and happy to say, it does. I can hit 1 minute start, and change the power level from 10 to 5, 30 seconds in, without interruption. my favorite feature!
I’ve had my Anova oven for over a year now and absolutely love it. I’ve had zero problems with the app and don’t really understand how you could be confused by it. I use it for everything from frozen pizza to sous vide brisket and it works great. It has never damaged my wood countertop. I’m really baffled how you had a bad experience with it .
I've had the Anova oven for about a year now. Works great. Steam feature is nice when I bake sour dough bread. Big enough for family of four. Temperature is perfect. Verified with oven thermometer. Multiple heat source options. There is an app but I have never used it. Used app recipes to get some ideas. I like to use visual cues to determine when done.
The APO is overpriced, underrated, and owners report heaps of failures and problems. The cult following is baffling. Perhaps misery does indeed love company.
@@convincedquaker I don't have any problems with it personally. ETA I'm not sure if that qualifies as me being part of a cult following but implying that positive opinions of it are to get other people to buy it and be miserable with the purchase is a little extreme.
My first Anova Precision Oven had a cracked water tank, broken bottom seal, glitchy controls and eventually started throwing the breaker every time I turned it on. I just received my replacement but it appears they made some design changes since my first one.
I've had the June oven for years. it's absolutely incredible. I've probably used our main oven only a handful of times since getting the June oven which we use multiple times a day. The best part is you can create your own custom cooking program, so if someone in the house doesn't know how to cook a certain dish, they can simply just click on the custom program you created.
it seems to be sold out for year. i check their website every so often and its never available. im curious if they discontinued it or coming up with a new one
I love ATK. But the quick and superficial dismissal of the Anova is... questionable. I've got everything from a built-in GE Profile convection microwave, a Breville Smart Oven Pro, air fryers, a Frigidaire convection wall oven... And if whatever I'm cooking fits in the Anova, it gets cooked in the Anova. And I haven't found anything that won't fit in the Anova. It's a brilliant unit.
I know they are professional reviewers/chefs, but the Anova example definitely looks like they used the sous vide function but did not sear the meat afterward.
I’ve had my June for a couple of months and it is such a joy to use. I pretty much use it every day along with my Breville smart oven air pro. Having these two makes cooking fun.
@@WillGallagher1 if you want a smart oven and don’t want to pay for the June, I’d get the new Breville Joule, it is like the Smart Oven Air Pro with smart features. I like both of them, but I am using the June more as it does all the hard work (food temp, food recognition) .. For baking and roasting vegetables I use the Breville.
@@danielbonaparte8420 Hi, I like the new Breville Joule, the black w/orange looks amazing, but also consider tovala cuz the steam function, which one you would recommend? Does the steam function really makes roast chicken or rib significant difference?
ATK is usually my gospel for reviews but I feel this review was very superficial and WAY off on many aspects. I have the Anova, Brava. ( for 3 years) and Tovala ( I have 3 and have gifted an additional 2 ). Let’s start with Tovala. Really works well. The Reheat function is outstanding and I use it multiple times a day. It often sells for $99 ( with the meal plan delivery for 6 weeks ) and right now it is $49 with the meal plan. The meals aren’t inexpensive but very tasty and convenient. It also recognizes and scans the code for many Trader Joe’s and other items. You can easily fit in a spatchcocked chicken. The comparison of the water used is somewhat misleading. Yes, it does only use a cup of water. The Anova uses distilled water but that tank of water lasts forever. So it’s not a drawback at all. I have had great success with everything the Anova has cooked and baked and I love the app and temperature probe. So I’m not seeing the issues that the reviewers found. I don’t make ribs so I can’t comment on the success of ribs in any of the items. Chicken doesn’t take forever. And chicken cooked with steam and convection are outstanding in any oven which utilizes steam as long as you get that skin crisp at the end. The Anova is the largest of these ovens and has a large footprint ( so you need to have the counter space to put it as opposed to some of the others which are toaster oven sized. ) But you can fit a LOT in it as well as large items ( turkey). Brava does some things exceptionally well. There are some features in the app that I wish they would fix and the display screen on the top of the oven is awkwardly placed unless you are 6 foot tall. Some of the pluses are their searing functions which produce excellent crispy results. The app is constantly being updated with lots of recipes constantly updating with a great support network. Disadvantage: The cost needs to be taken into account. By the time you have purchased all the necessary pans and chef’s cast iron casserole dish ( which are all excellent and well designed btw ) you are looking at $1500.
I got my Anova a year ago when my Breville Smart Oven kicked the bucket and I use it all the time for steam/sous vide, baking/roasting, and broiling . I use it to cook chicken, ribs, roasts, jalapeño poppers, and to finish off my smoked meats indoors where I can more conveniently monitor it. The only downside I have noticed is that it is not easy to make toast, but I have a cheap little toaster oven for that.
@@InspiredScience Technically, I think the sous vide setting is just heavy steam cooking because it is not under vacuum, but you do get similar results. It’s more convenient and takes less time in the Precision Oven than when I use my immersion circulator and I can cook larger cuts of meat in the oven than I can with the stick. No bags needed. One other thing I like about the oven is that you can seamlessly transition to a browning mode once you reach your target internal temperature, so you don’t have to use a secondary appliance, be it stovetop, grill, flamethrower, or whatever.
Vacuum packing is irrelevant for sous vide cooking (despite the name). The poster child for sous vide is the sou vide egg (no vacuum), and many people sous vide their steaks in Ziplock bags (no vacuum). And surprise, surprise, there is typically no decreased pressure in a vacuum sealed bag, once it is sealed (physics). What is important is precise temperature control, particularly at low temps, and particularly over longer periods of time. Also, although dry air transfers heat slowly (conventional oven), air saturated with water (100% relative humidity) transfers heat almost as fast as direct contact in a water bath. You can also assume that the relative humidity inside a sous vide bag is 100%. Hence a combi oven like the Anova set to 100% RH exposes the food to the same conditions as inside a sous vide bag. So you can sous vide without a bag in a combi oven like the Anova (of course you can use a bag if you want to). It works almost as fast as a water bath, so much so that there is really no point in changing anything in the recipe when moving from sous vide in a water bath to sous vide in a combi oven (sous vide eggs would be the only exception, since they are not cooked to equilibrium like other sous vide dishes). More on r/combisteamovencooking group on Redd. Cheers
@@bostonbesteats364 - It's clear you're attempting to skew people interested in Sous Vide to Combi. So many incorrect understandings, albeit supported by correct science. Much the same way conspiracy theorists take valid events/science, yet twist them to create an alternate reality. The value of Sous Vide is not speed as you claim. The importance of vacuum bags in SV is not negative pressure as you suggest. Use of Zip-Lok bags does invalidate the principle of less air (air being an excellent insulator; the reason it's crucial to expel air from the Zip-Lok).
@@InspiredScience lol, for someone who doesn't even realize that most sous vide cooking in fine dining restaurants is done in a combi oven you use big words #clueless #blocked
I have the Tovala. It definitely works without the internet (all features except the obviously "smart" like the smart scan feature or the preset "recipes" in the app). I'm pretty sure most of them do. It really is wonderful since it's compact, heats quickly, and the steam cooking really makes everything ntaste better (like reheated pizza or toast is just so much better). I've got a big beautiful, gas oven with convection (essentially just a big air fryer) but because of various reasons including air quality and gas prices, I use the Tovala way more. Thankfully, it usually comes out on par or better than in my semi-fancy gas range oven.
Hello there! I am glad I got to review your video and I am also glad that you chose the June oven as your favorite out of all of the different smart ovens. I might note and report that the brava, that which I see you also reviewed, is just as pricey as the June oven, as that there are different models of the June oven costing as high as $1299. That where is the brava, smart oven, if you include all of the accessories and additional accessories, is around $1300. With that said, you are inspiring me to maybe perhaps come up with a smart oven, that which has the technologies of both the brava oven, and the oven. Let me tell you why. First thing I probably want to say, is I don’t know if you helped Develop or invent equipment for the kitchen or if you just reviewed and tested equipment that is already out on the market. But that there are two different things I like about the brava. The first of that which, is that there are over thousands of different recipes to choose from , second, because it uses heat lamps, that the heat lamps actually serve two different purposes. They’re great for keeping food warm after it has been cooked and that they are also great for that miard look you get on meet when it is done. so once again, if there was an oven that had the technologies of the brava, as well as the technologies of the June, that would be the way to go for me. The only extra thing I would add, then unfortunately, neither oven has, is a rotisserie for rotisserie chickens and rotisserie turkeys. the only drawback I see with the June oven, is that there are not as many recipes to choose from and try there with the brava, even though it appears to me that the June oven allows you to add even more, if you come up with your own. I’ve never known anyone to have their eyes burn or hurt when they open up the door of the brava. I was told that the heat lamps turn off somewhat and that they stop cooking when you open the door to the brava. I would like to note and report that they currently only have one model in stock and only one model, as that there have not been any updates or any additional models. The first model is always , a test model or trial model if you will. If there’s just one thing I know about new products of any kind, the first is always trial and error. I would encourage you to email a certain person that who is vice president of marketing and sales for brava. His name is Travis Rhea. his email address simply is travis@brava.com. And as a matter fact, I will share this video with him so he could see what your concerns are. I’ve already emailed him twice, and he responded to my first email and I responded to him with regards to how we can make the brava, also a rotisserie. But in watching your video, I can’t help with that wonder if we can combine both the brava technology and the June technology plus my idea of the rotisserie. The final thing I want to say, is that the brava was in private hands for the first year of its development. but that the financial end of things, particularly when it comes to getting the product out to consumers, is handled by a company called The Middleby Corporation, that which provides kitchen equipment and appliances for both the commercial kitchen and the home kitchen. I don’t know if their name rings a bell. But if you would like their website, it is WWW.middleby.com and among their many different brands and subsidiaries, is brava! June oven on the other hand, is a brand and subsidiary of Weber grills. I never known of food having to be placed in a certain designated position on a tray. That seems just kind of, counteractive to what I heard. But nevertheless, I will pass this video along to Travis and I gave you his email address so that all of you at America’s test kitchen can reach out to him as well. If anyone is interested in helping me come up with a better product, which I think should have a rotisserie, which is my plus technologies from both brava and June oven, my email address is hodgepodge 778@gmail.com and I’m sorry if my comments were long-winded, but that I thought in Bravas‘s defense, I would explain that why I like the brava even though I would add I don’t own one yet. I don’t own any smart oven for that matter except maybe a smart air fryer. Thank you for hearing me out.
the breville ovens while branded as smart don't actually have any smart features like these new high tech appliances. they are just an amazing toaster oven.
Had the Tovala for a while now and really like it. It does meat so well because of the steam. Keeps them juicy. Just did a 3lb turkey breast for Thanksgiving and it did great.
The Anova Precision Oven is incredible if you know how to cook and use it. I honestly do not know the last time I used our built in oven it is that good. June sounds great for people who don't know how to cook. Presumably the editors of ATK know how to cook so their dismissal of the Anova barely talking about it is weird. Also, don't talk about a big water tank like it's a bad thing?! 1 cup of water in the other one, do you have to fill it every cook?
Surprised to see the Anova do so badly. Ive had one for a while, and I find it pretty remarkable. I have the 240v Euro version, which seems to heat up quicker than the US version, maybe this would explain why you had problems with cooking time, but I certainly don't have that issue. The app isnt perfect, but there are only one or two things I dont like about it. Initially connected it to the wifi was an absolute pain, took ages, kept going wrong, but once it connected, it stayed perfectly fine ever since. The steam coming out the bottom has not caused any problems for me, but I guess it has to come out somewhere. I love it, I use it every day, and everything I cook in it, it does perfectly.
I think the issue here is they were treating it like a smart oven and it is most certainly NOT. It's meat to be a home version of a professional combi oven where YOU are in control and set it accordingly. Functionally their pick would just end up with me having to constantly mess around with custom programs which feels like would be more fiddly than the Anova which gives you the direct control right on the front.
My wife and I have a Tovala and have overall been pleased with it. It's $300 to just buy it, but it's very frequently on sale. The sale price is usually $100 but can be as low as $50 for special occasions like "Black Friday". The catch on the special price is that you have to commit to buying a certain amount of their meals, but my wife and I liked the meals and kept buying them after we no longer had to. We really like using Tovala as a toaster; it's slow, but the steam combined with the heating elements seems to make really nice toast. And we found that Tovala worked really well for steaming corn on the cob; no need to boil the corn in a large pot.
@@hxhdfjifzirstc894 You do have the option to buy a Tovala for full price and just use it as an appliance. It's about half the price of an Anova steam oven. Get it or not, nobody's paying me to shill for Tovala. We just happen to have one and we like it. We use it all the time. By the way, Tovala came out with a new model that costs $50 less and omits the steam features. I wouldn't get that. If you want a Tovala, get the one with the steam; don't settle for less.
I also bought a Tovala. It recently started prompting to add water, even when the water reservoir is full, so the steam function no longer works, and it will no longer run a clean cycle. I contacted Tovala about the issue, and their suggestion was to buy a new one. It seems they know their ovens have a design flaw. I suggest buying a different brand.
I loved my June. Had 3 of them. They all failed miserably. Too expensive and they’ve been sold out for a year now. Love my new Tovala. Better cooking and way more affordable.
This is the first review which didn't like Anova, I've heard only good things about. Been considering buying it for its steam and "sous vide" features, and exact temperature control.
Hey, ATK- You failed to test the most popular countertop ovens - Breville and Wolf. I’ve had and recommend both over all of the ovens you tested. Personally, I prefer not to scroll through my phone. The Wolf’s maximum temp is 450F. In my small house I use the counter oven for everything. It works better and faster as a toaster, air fryer, pizza oven, and oven.
@@whenwherewhatwhywhoHow So, I just tested the Timer question. When the timer goes off there is an alarm and the display flashes. Both happens continuously for the five minutes I gave it before I couldn't take the alarm noise any further. The temperature did not turn off until I pressed STARTSTOP. It would be difficult to ignore the alarm sound.
I have the Brava and it's great, it's easy to prepare a full meal on one tray and I've never had a problem chopping and arranging food for the appropriate zone. Also, no idea why she says you can damage your eyes opening the Brava during a cook, the lights turn off automatically when you do. But you can watch your food cook on the Brava display or through your phone anyway, so there's no need to open the Brava.
As with any smart appliance that calls back to servers the customer does not control, what happens if June goes out of business and their servers shut down? Does the core of the functionality remain (just without future updates) or does it have to call the server whenever you cook for any of the smart functionality to work?
Once again, Lisa to the rescue! As a bread fanatic, he anovas steam function was taunting me for months. But my hero flew in and saved me $600. Thanks Lisa!
Anova is great for bread, phenomenal actually. I had mine for almost three years and I'm still a big fan. I am baffled by their results, would be cool if they mentioned on what settings they cooked food like that. Because there were clearly some mistakes. And app is very easy to understand.
This looks like the perfect oven for those who would like to learn how to cook. Also for those who find cooking/baking stressful. Thanks for the review!
@@chestyvulvathe Anova Precision Oven is actually quite big (I have one)… I wouldn’t recommend it for small spaces. My Breville Smart Oven Pro is great for small spaces though.
Seems like massive user-error for the Anova oven. The heat transfer you get by adding some steam speeds up cooking HUGELY, we rarely bother with our wall oven anymore. Sure, it's not a hand-holding "smart" oven, but the app gives you fantastic control of everything rather than leaving it up to some black-box programs. It's basically a domestic (and affordable) version of a professional combi-steam oven (like Rational), not a glorified toaster oven. Not really a fair test.
I upgraded my older Breville smart oven to the Breville Joule Air Smart Oven. I think it is wonderful! The recipes are quite good. It transmits the cooking status in real time to your phone. They have recipes where the oven automatically changes temperature and/or time for specific steps in the recipe. It is pretty quiet to run. There are 3 good-sized knobs to control function (broil, bake, air fryer etc.), temperature and time. Very easy to use. Nice interior size. Very happy with it.
The problem with the June is the app. You have to be wifi connected, you have to have an account, you have to pay for a subscription to get any of the features you paid for... It's just not worth it. If June went the more open route with it then I'd probably get one...
I got the Tovala because they had a special on it. But I winded up returning it because it’s too small. Then I got the Anova, which was a pain to teach my parents on how to use it… but this Anova works great on steak and ribs. I, however, use a sous vide gun to blow torch the meats. I tried searing it using the Anova oven itself, and no it’s not very good. It’s awful as a steamer though on some things. I tried steaming soup dumplings and dim sum and, well, how do I put this. After steaming at a full 100% for 12 minutes, it’s still partially raw. So I put them back in and steamed for another 12 minutes. Still raw. So I did it again, and raw again. So I brought out the steam basket and and steamed them on the stove top… but steamed cod or salmon, it works pretty well. Steamed egg is also pretty good on the steam oven. Essentially I think you can’t steam dumplings on the Anova. Long story short, use the Anova steam oven to bake baking goods and as a sous vide oven without a water bath.
I want an oven that can adjust the pressure for baking at high altitude. I also like that adjustable steam feature for baking bread. What is the maximum temperature of these ovens when making pizza?
very helpful review, I have the June oven and I stumbled across the brava oven which peaked my interest, I thought to myself, do we have a new king of smart countertop ovens? I had to see what I could find out about it. I appreciate the very helpful real world info. I'll just keep enjoying my June.
My wife and I have a Tovala, but also have a Breville Combi-Wave 3 in 1 microwave/convection oven/air fryer. So far we are only using the Breville as a microwave. I have experimented a tiny bit with its air fryer features to reheat fried potatoes. Tovala has a software update that adds air frying features. Maybe someday someone will make a microwave with convection cooking, air fryer cooking, and steam cooking all in one.
We have this as well, the "fast combi" mode works really well for baked potatoes in about half the time as the conventional bake but with a nearly identical result. I'll have to check out my tovala and see if I have/can get the update yet. I like that for its steam function as well but in my experience the breville bakes better/more evenly as well.
Appreciate the review, but even with a newly remodeled kitchen I cannot see using the counter space for any of these. We had a toaster oven before which was nice, but our GE Cafe range is quick and efficient even if it does not have a camera to watch my food cook. A $30 toaster that I can put away when I don't need it is perfect.
10 years from now, is the app still going to work? How long will they support & update the app? When the display on the oven fails due to heat, how long will replacement parts be available, if they sell parts? More likely this will be obsolete in a few years & disposable. No thanks.
I love using a countertop oven as a solo cook. I love technology, but do we really need this and how well do the computer components hold up under heat?
I've used a June, Tovala, ANOVA, and Brava. I only kept the last one. I wish the ANOVA could do good steam toast. I wish the Brava had a steam feature. I wish the June did zoned cooking.
I've been eyeing the anova for a couple of years but it's a shame it's not any good. Though cooking with steam might not be good enough of a gimmick to warrant a large, hot appliance in a small kitchen. ATK clearly has some kind of deal with June here but I couldn't ever justify that price. It must be meant for upper class urban types in tiny Manhattan apartments
I have an Anova and never use my main oven anymore. Don't listen to this review, but there is a learning curve. Once you get used to it, it's the best. Oh, and it doesn't steam up the kitchen.
I found a referral code offering the Tovola oven at $49 with a $50 meal credit. I followed the link, said I could buy it for that price and no…the price changed right before my eyes. False advertising!!! I wouldn’t trust company at all!
damnit, I just bought the breville airfry microwave for my motorhome (good to see the Panasonic fail, that was my first choice but he breville was the first to hit ausralia jus this month) but that june oven IS AMAZING
I don’t know… I’ve had the Anova since May 2021 and I haven’t turned on my convection oven since. It heats up so quick and everything comes out banging. The app is very easy to use and has great recipes and methods to cook a number of ingredients. Also has a baking steel made for it. Highly recommended. Failed review.
I bought a Tovala in May 2020 to fulfill my terminally-ill husband's wish to own a toaster oven and my need to have easy meals for the two of us as I took care of his hospice care at home. The prepared meals I purchased from Tovala were big enough for me to give him half and me to eat the other half (along with a side salad since I was hungrier than he was). He had fun knowing he finally owned a "toaster oven." He loved hearing me read the manual and learn how Tovala uses steam, bake, and broil in the cooking cycle to toast his bread. One rule of thumb I encourage anyone to follow if you purchase a Tovala is to be ready to cut the cooking time of your food by at least 5 minutes. The Tovala overcooks pretty much everything! Even when you use the scan function and scan items from Trader Joe's.
Thank you for the heartwarming story.
Thank you for sharing, Jennifer.
Thanks for this beautiful heart warming story
❤
I'm sorry for his illness, but I imagine the cherished memories you must have each time you use your oven. Thank you for sharing such a unique and heartwarming story.
Live in an old Ozarks dump. Don't have a kitchen. Mostly cook outdoors. Have a Breville Smart Oven Pro. I like it.
Thank you. I have bought a food processor, stand mixer, air fryer and mandoline on your advise and now, not buying the Anova oven. I always recommend to anyone buying an appliance to look up ATK for advise. LOVE your reviews!!!!
My GE microwave from 2005 finally crapped out. At first ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxO_Bc204MGjxDl87cOKcdgaRhzSqGmv_g I was unsure because I was looking for something with the exact same features. Found it with this one. Interior space cavity was large, but the outside was smaller than my old one. I love the one-button push for 1-6 minutes, and the 30 second add or 30 second start. and MOST IMPORTANTLY, I love how you can adjust the power level during cooking. The reviews said it could not be done, but this marked all the other boxes. and happy to say, it does. I can hit 1 minute start, and change the power level from 10 to 5, 30 seconds in, without interruption. my favorite feature!
I’ve had my Anova oven for over a year now and absolutely love it. I’ve had zero problems with the app and don’t really understand how you could be confused by it. I use it for everything from frozen pizza to sous vide brisket and it works great. It has never damaged my wood countertop. I’m really baffled how you had a bad experience with it .
Agreed, I love my Anova oven. Contrary to their review I find my oven cooks food even faster (and better) than any other smart ovens I’ve used.
“What am I, chopped liver?!”
Breville
I've had the Anova oven for about a year now. Works great. Steam feature is nice when I bake sour dough bread. Big enough for family of four. Temperature is perfect. Verified with oven thermometer. Multiple heat source options. There is an app but I have never used it. Used app recipes to get some ideas. I like to use visual cues to determine when done.
Same. I love my Anova and use it all the time. It isn't perfect, but I feel like ATK was a bit hard on it.
The APO is overpriced, underrated, and owners report heaps of failures and problems. The cult following is baffling. Perhaps misery does indeed love company.
@@convincedquaker I don't have any problems with it personally. ETA I'm not sure if that qualifies as me being part of a cult following but implying that positive opinions of it are to get other people to buy it and be miserable with the purchase is a little extreme.
My first Anova Precision Oven had a cracked water tank, broken bottom seal, glitchy controls and eventually started throwing the breaker every time I turned it on. I just received my replacement but it appears they made some design changes since my first one.
I have the Anova oven. Works great. Roast Chicken came out perfect, air-frying, dehydrating, and proofing all work just fine.
I've had the June oven for years. it's absolutely incredible. I've probably used our main oven only a handful of times since getting the June oven which we use multiple times a day. The best part is you can create your own custom cooking program, so if someone in the house doesn't know how to cook a certain dish, they can simply just click on the custom program you created.
it seems to be sold out for year. i check their website every so often and its never available. im curious if they discontinued it or coming up with a new one
@@PhatAssObese I'd send them an email and ask. I remember I emailed them once and they responded pretty quickly.
Lisas reviews (in this style) is why we keep watching this channel
I am usually a fan of these testings, but I am not convinced this one was fair. Please don’t make me stop watching 😮
I love ATK. But the quick and superficial dismissal of the Anova is... questionable. I've got everything from a built-in GE Profile convection microwave, a Breville Smart Oven Pro, air fryers, a Frigidaire convection wall oven... And if whatever I'm cooking fits in the Anova, it gets cooked in the Anova.
And I haven't found anything that won't fit in the Anova. It's a brilliant unit.
I know they are professional reviewers/chefs, but the Anova example definitely looks like they used the sous vide function but did not sear the meat afterward.
Breville top of the line. I worship it ❤.
We are on our second one.
We love it too!
I have two Brevilles myself. I bet they release one with an app soon.
@@Spacecadet0730 I like that it’s not an app. Just one more thing that could go wrong.
They just released the “Joule”. It’s internet connected. Wish ATK would have reviewed it here.
I’ve had the June for years now…. Can’t imagine life without it.
Yeah but I like the fact that brava can make any full course meal.
I’ve had my June for a couple of months and it is such a joy to use. I pretty much use it every day along with my Breville smart oven air pro. Having these two makes cooking fun.
I was debating if I want a June or Breville Smart Oven Air Pro… which do you like better//which do you feel gives better cooking results?
@@WillGallagher1 if you want a smart oven and don’t want to pay for the June, I’d get the new Breville Joule, it is like the Smart Oven Air Pro with smart features.
I like both of them, but I am using the June more as it does all the hard work (food temp, food recognition) ..
For baking and roasting vegetables I use the Breville.
@@danielbonaparte8420 Hi, I like the new Breville Joule, the black w/orange looks amazing, but also consider tovala cuz the steam function, which one you would recommend? Does the steam function really makes roast chicken or rib significant difference?
ATK is usually my gospel for reviews but I feel this review was very superficial and WAY off on many aspects.
I have the Anova, Brava. ( for 3 years) and Tovala ( I have 3 and have gifted an additional 2 ).
Let’s start with Tovala. Really works well. The Reheat function is outstanding and I use it multiple times a day. It often sells for $99 ( with the meal plan delivery for 6 weeks ) and right now it is $49 with the meal plan. The meals aren’t inexpensive but very tasty and convenient. It also recognizes and scans the code for many Trader Joe’s and other items. You can easily fit in a spatchcocked chicken.
The comparison of the water used is somewhat misleading. Yes, it does only use a cup of water. The Anova uses distilled water but that tank of water lasts forever. So it’s not a drawback at all. I have had great success with everything the Anova has cooked and baked and I love the app and temperature probe. So I’m not seeing the issues that the reviewers found. I don’t make ribs so I can’t comment on the success of ribs in any of the items. Chicken doesn’t take forever. And chicken cooked with steam and convection are outstanding in any oven which utilizes steam as long as you get that skin crisp at the end. The Anova is the largest of these ovens and has a large footprint ( so you need to have the counter space to put it as opposed to some of the others which are toaster oven sized. ) But you can fit a LOT in it as well as large items ( turkey).
Brava does some things exceptionally well. There are some features in the app that I wish they would fix and the display screen on the top of the oven is awkwardly placed unless you are 6 foot tall. Some of the pluses are their searing functions which produce excellent crispy results. The app is constantly being updated with lots of recipes constantly updating with a great support network. Disadvantage: The cost needs to be taken into account. By the time you have purchased all the necessary pans and chef’s cast iron casserole dish ( which are all excellent and well designed btw ) you are looking at $1500.
I got my Anova a year ago when my Breville Smart Oven kicked the bucket and I use it all the time for steam/sous vide, baking/roasting, and broiling . I use it to cook chicken, ribs, roasts, jalapeño poppers, and to finish off my smoked meats indoors where I can more conveniently monitor it. The only downside I have noticed is that it is not easy to make toast, but I have a cheap little toaster oven for that.
I'm trying to imagine how to cook sous vide in an oven?!
@@InspiredScience Technically, I think the sous vide setting is just heavy steam cooking because it is not under vacuum, but you do get similar results. It’s more convenient and takes less time in the Precision Oven than when I use my immersion circulator and I can cook larger cuts of meat in the oven than I can with the stick. No bags needed. One other thing I like about the oven is that you can seamlessly transition to a browning mode once you reach your target internal temperature, so you don’t have to use a secondary appliance, be it stovetop, grill, flamethrower, or whatever.
Vacuum packing is irrelevant for sous vide cooking (despite the name). The poster child for sous vide is the sou vide egg (no vacuum), and many people sous vide their steaks in Ziplock bags (no vacuum). And surprise, surprise, there is typically no decreased pressure in a vacuum sealed bag, once it is sealed (physics). What is important is precise temperature control, particularly at low temps, and particularly over longer periods of time. Also, although dry air transfers heat slowly (conventional oven), air saturated with water (100% relative humidity) transfers heat almost as fast as direct contact in a water bath. You can also assume that the relative humidity inside a sous vide bag is 100%. Hence a combi oven like the Anova set to 100% RH exposes the food to the same conditions as inside a sous vide bag. So you can sous vide without a bag in a combi oven like the Anova (of course you can use a bag if you want to). It works almost as fast as a water bath, so much so that there is really no point in changing anything in the recipe when moving from sous vide in a water bath to sous vide in a combi oven (sous vide eggs would be the only exception, since they are not cooked to equilibrium like other sous vide dishes). More on r/combisteamovencooking group on Redd. Cheers
@@bostonbesteats364 - It's clear you're attempting to skew people interested in Sous Vide to Combi.
So many incorrect understandings, albeit supported by correct science.
Much the same way conspiracy theorists take valid events/science, yet twist them to create an alternate reality.
The value of Sous Vide is not speed as you claim. The importance of vacuum bags in SV is not negative pressure as you suggest. Use of Zip-Lok bags does invalidate the principle of less air (air being an excellent insulator; the reason it's crucial to expel air from the Zip-Lok).
@@InspiredScience lol, for someone who doesn't even realize that most sous vide cooking in fine dining restaurants is done in a combi oven you use big words #clueless #blocked
Please tell us if these work when your internet is down (or if they'll function if the company goes out of business).
I have the Tovala. It definitely works without the internet (all features except the obviously "smart" like the smart scan feature or the preset "recipes" in the app). I'm pretty sure most of them do.
It really is wonderful since it's compact, heats quickly, and the steam cooking really makes everything ntaste better (like reheated pizza or toast is just so much better). I've got a big beautiful, gas oven with convection (essentially just a big air fryer) but because of various reasons including air quality and gas prices, I use the Tovala way more. Thankfully, it usually comes out on par or better than in my semi-fancy gas range oven.
Please review Combination Ovens-microwave, airfry, broil, steam, etc. Thank you :)
Hello there! I am glad I got to review your video and I am also glad that you chose the June oven as your favorite out of all of the different smart ovens. I might note and report that the brava, that which I see you also reviewed, is just as pricey as the June oven, as that there are different models of the June oven costing as high as $1299. That where is the brava, smart oven, if you include all of the accessories and additional accessories, is around $1300. With that said, you are inspiring me to maybe perhaps come up with a smart oven, that which has the technologies of both the brava oven, and the oven. Let me tell you why. First thing I probably want to say, is I don’t know if you helped Develop or invent equipment for the kitchen or if you just reviewed and tested equipment that is already out on the market. But that there are two different things I like about the brava. The first of that which, is that there are over thousands of different recipes to choose from , second, because it uses heat lamps, that the heat lamps actually serve two different purposes. They’re great for keeping food warm after it has been cooked and that they are also great for that miard look you get on meet when it is done. so once again, if there was an oven that had the technologies of the brava, as well as the technologies of the June, that would be the way to go for me. The only extra thing I would add, then unfortunately, neither oven has, is a rotisserie for rotisserie chickens and rotisserie turkeys. the only drawback I see with the June oven, is that there are not as many recipes to choose from and try there with the brava, even though it appears to me that the June oven allows you to add even more, if you come up with your own. I’ve never known anyone to have their eyes burn or hurt when they open up the door of the brava. I was told that the heat lamps turn off somewhat and that they stop cooking when you open the door to the brava. I would like to note and report that they currently only have one model in stock and only one model, as that there have not been any updates or any additional models. The first model is always , a test model or trial model if you will. If there’s just one thing I know about new products of any kind, the first is always trial and error. I would encourage you to email a certain person that who is vice president of marketing and sales for brava. His name is Travis Rhea. his email address simply is travis@brava.com. And as a matter fact, I will share this video with him so he could see what your concerns are. I’ve already emailed him twice, and he responded to my first email and I responded to him with regards to how we can make the brava, also a rotisserie. But in watching your video, I can’t help with that wonder if we can combine both the brava technology and the June technology plus my idea of the rotisserie. The final thing I want to say, is that the brava was in private hands for the first year of its development. but that the financial end of things, particularly when it comes to getting the product out to consumers, is handled by a company called The Middleby Corporation, that which provides kitchen equipment and appliances for both the commercial kitchen and the home kitchen. I don’t know if their name rings a bell. But if you would like their website, it is WWW.middleby.com and among their many different brands and subsidiaries, is brava! June oven on the other hand, is a brand and subsidiary of Weber grills. I never known of food having to be placed in a certain designated position on a tray. That seems just kind of, counteractive to what I heard. But nevertheless, I will pass this video along to Travis and I gave you his email address so that all of you at America’s test kitchen can reach out to him as well. If anyone is interested in helping me come up with a better product, which I think should have a rotisserie, which is my plus technologies from both brava and June oven, my email address is hodgepodge 778@gmail.com and I’m sorry if my comments were long-winded, but that I thought in Bravas‘s defense, I would explain that why I like the brava even though I would add I don’t own one yet. I don’t own any smart oven for that matter except maybe a smart air fryer. Thank you for hearing me out.
The Breville Smart Oven is an odd omission.
the breville ovens while branded as smart don't actually have any smart features like these new high tech appliances. they are just an amazing toaster oven.
Had the Tovala for a while now and really like it. It does meat so well because of the steam. Keeps them juicy. Just did a 3lb turkey breast for Thanksgiving and it did great.
Hi, and how's the skin? can you have juicy tender roast chicken with thin crispy skin?
@@nchou646 I honestly can't remember. However, I can tell you that's how I'm going to cook all my turkey breasts from now on.
The Anova Precision Oven is incredible if you know how to cook and use it. I honestly do not know the last time I used our built in oven it is that good.
June sounds great for people who don't know how to cook.
Presumably the editors of ATK know how to cook so their dismissal of the Anova barely talking about it is weird.
Also, don't talk about a big water tank like it's a bad thing?! 1 cup of water in the other one, do you have to fill it every cook?
How did one of the Breville smart ovens not make this review???
Surprised to see the Anova do so badly. Ive had one for a while, and I find it pretty remarkable. I have the 240v Euro version, which seems to heat up quicker than the US version, maybe this would explain why you had problems with cooking time, but I certainly don't have that issue. The app isnt perfect, but there are only one or two things I dont like about it. Initially connected it to the wifi was an absolute pain, took ages, kept going wrong, but once it connected, it stayed perfectly fine ever since. The steam coming out the bottom has not caused any problems for me, but I guess it has to come out somewhere. I love it, I use it every day, and everything I cook in it, it does perfectly.
ATK has jumped the shark. An incompetent review. The Anova isn't even a smart oven
I think the issue here is they were treating it like a smart oven and it is most certainly NOT. It's meat to be a home version of a professional combi oven where YOU are in control and set it accordingly. Functionally their pick would just end up with me having to constantly mess around with custom programs which feels like would be more fiddly than the Anova which gives you the direct control right on the front.
My wife and I have a Tovala and have overall been pleased with it. It's $300 to just buy it, but it's very frequently on sale. The sale price is usually $100 but can be as low as $50 for special occasions like "Black Friday". The catch on the special price is that you have to commit to buying a certain amount of their meals, but my wife and I liked the meals and kept buying them after we no longer had to. We really like using Tovala as a toaster; it's slow, but the steam combined with the heating elements seems to make really nice toast. And we found that Tovala worked really well for steaming corn on the cob; no need to boil the corn in a large pot.
I don't buy any products with subscriptions, or appliances that need internet connections.
@@hxhdfjifzirstc894 You do have the option to buy a Tovala for full price and just use it as an appliance. It's about half the price of an Anova steam oven.
Get it or not, nobody's paying me to shill for Tovala. We just happen to have one and we like it. We use it all the time.
By the way, Tovala came out with a new model that costs $50 less and omits the steam features. I wouldn't get that. If you want a Tovala, get the one with the steam; don't settle for less.
I also bought a Tovala. It recently started prompting to add water, even when the water reservoir is full, so the steam function no longer works, and it will no longer run a clean cycle. I contacted Tovala about the issue, and their suggestion was to buy a new one. It seems they know their ovens have a design flaw. I suggest buying a different brand.
I loved my June. Had 3 of them. They all failed miserably. Too expensive and they’ve been sold out for a year now. Love my new Tovala. Better cooking and way more affordable.
I hope these will help the elderly be able to live independently longer.
Why wouldn’t you include breville? They are consistently rated the best
This is the first review which didn't like Anova, I've heard only good things about. Been considering buying it for its steam and "sous vide" features, and exact temperature control.
Hey, ATK- You failed to test the most popular countertop ovens - Breville and Wolf. I’ve had and recommend both over all of the ovens you tested. Personally, I prefer not to scroll through my phone. The Wolf’s maximum temp is 450F. In my small house I use the counter oven for everything. It works better and faster as a toaster, air fryer, pizza oven, and oven.
ITA...love my Wolf countertop. Have used it more than my big oven for years now.
@@whenwherewhatwhywhoHow The Wolf Countertop Oven will automatically shut off after 5 hours.
@@whenwherewhatwhywhoHow I’m not sure what happens if you ignore the chime when the timer is as zero. I will have to check when I am at home.
@@whenwherewhatwhywhoHow So, I just tested the Timer question. When the timer goes off there is an alarm and the display flashes. Both happens continuously for the five minutes I gave it before I couldn't take the alarm noise any further. The temperature did not turn off until I pressed STARTSTOP. It would be difficult to ignore the alarm sound.
Which oven will do the best job baking cookies, muffins and pumpkin bread? Thanks.
A handheld probe thermometer with alarm function will also prevent ever overcooking food, and they're like $15
Breville rocks!
I have the Brava and it's great, it's easy to prepare a full meal on one tray and I've never had a problem chopping and arranging food for the appropriate zone. Also, no idea why she says you can damage your eyes opening the Brava during a cook, the lights turn off automatically when you do. But you can watch your food cook on the Brava display or through your phone anyway, so there's no need to open the Brava.
As with any smart appliance that calls back to servers the customer does not control, what happens if June goes out of business and their servers shut down? Does the core of the functionality remain (just without future updates) or does it have to call the server whenever you cook for any of the smart functionality to work?
or what if the Russkies hack it and hold your food hostage?!
Great video! I'll stick with my trusty ol' convection oven. 👍😍
Once again, Lisa to the rescue! As a bread fanatic, he anovas steam function was taunting me for months. But my hero flew in and saved me $600. Thanks Lisa!
Anova is great for bread, phenomenal actually. I had mine for almost three years and I'm still a big fan.
I am baffled by their results, would be cool if they mentioned on what settings they cooked food like that. Because there were clearly some mistakes. And app is very easy to understand.
This looks like the perfect oven for those who would like to learn how to cook. Also for those who find cooking/baking stressful. Thanks for the review!
@@chestyvulvathe Anova Precision Oven is actually quite big (I have one)… I wouldn’t recommend it for small spaces. My Breville Smart Oven Pro is great for small spaces though.
why no Joule Oven by Breville?
… released this year
Why didn’t you include the new Breville in this video? 😢
I have a breville it's fantastic and I got it on sale
Seems like massive user-error for the Anova oven. The heat transfer you get by adding some steam speeds up cooking HUGELY, we rarely bother with our wall oven anymore. Sure, it's not a hand-holding "smart" oven, but the app gives you fantastic control of everything rather than leaving it up to some black-box programs. It's basically a domestic (and affordable) version of a professional combi-steam oven (like Rational), not a glorified toaster oven. Not really a fair test.
The June oven is not being made anymore. Supposedly Weber (grills) bought it but don’t know anything else.
The Breville Joule Smart Oven would have performed well in your tests.
Yeah, strange that it is absent. Would like to see how that compares
Have been looking at that, how do you like yours?
I upgraded my older Breville smart oven to the Breville Joule Air Smart Oven. I think it is wonderful! The recipes are quite good. It transmits the cooking status in real time to your phone. They have recipes where the oven automatically changes temperature and/or time for specific steps in the recipe. It is pretty quiet to run. There are 3 good-sized knobs to control function (broil, bake, air fryer etc.), temperature and time. Very easy to use. Nice interior size. Very happy with it.
Why is Elba combi smart oven not included?
Interesting video. It would have been nice to see you discuss the Breville Joule against these ovens.
I have the Anova and I love it. I do wish it had that camera though.
Have you reviewed the Ninja DT201?
The problem with the June is the app. You have to be wifi connected, you have to have an account, you have to pay for a subscription to get any of the features you paid for... It's just not worth it. If June went the more open route with it then I'd probably get one...
Breville Joule Smart Air Fry Oven does run on wifi but there are no additional costs...
@@lindastevenson7573 that's good to know, I'll have to check it out thanks!
Interested in feedback with regards to the GE Profile smart oven if anyone has one!
Lisa - "I really can't see buying a $600 oven to make slightly better biscuits and cake"
Me - *starts counting the coins in my spare change jar*
The June oven has been out of production for years now lol. Bought out by a competitor and strangled in the crib. Wonder why that happened!
I got the Tovala because they had a special on it. But I winded up returning it because it’s too small. Then I got the Anova, which was a pain to teach my parents on how to use it… but this Anova works great on steak and ribs. I, however, use a sous vide gun to blow torch the meats. I tried searing it using the Anova oven itself, and no it’s not very good. It’s awful as a steamer though on some things. I tried steaming soup dumplings and dim sum and, well, how do I put this. After steaming at a full 100% for 12 minutes, it’s still partially raw. So I put them back in and steamed for another 12 minutes. Still raw. So I did it again, and raw again. So I brought out the steam basket and and steamed them on the stove top… but steamed cod or salmon, it works pretty well. Steamed egg is also pretty good on the steam oven. Essentially I think you can’t steam dumplings on the Anova. Long story short, use the Anova steam oven to bake baking goods and as a sous vide oven without a water bath.
It would be nice to also figure out if Suvie cooks well too
At the top of this you should add that you made a huge mistake in analyzing the Anova and point to the new review. That would be a huge help!
Where's the Breville?
I want an oven that can adjust the pressure for baking at high altitude. I also like that adjustable steam feature for baking bread. What is the maximum temperature of these ovens when making pizza?
And there I am with an Aga, where almost nothing can go wrong. I don't suppose the June can keep a newborn lamb warm or do your ironing, either.
❤
I would like you to add the Suvie to your comparison.
Extremely Nice XXL Chopping Board-Pls link where you got it from.
wish you tried the breville!
very helpful review, I have the June oven and I stumbled across the brava oven which peaked my interest, I thought to myself, do we have a new king of smart countertop ovens? I had to see what I could find out about it. I appreciate the very helpful real world info. I'll just keep enjoying my June.
Wwwhoaaa, how much? Add on app subscription? Toaster ovens glorified.
You should review the Fotile 4in1 countertop convection oven
This video seems to be a informercial (IMHO) to promote the June Oven!!!!
Would it be possible to review the Suvie kitchen robot? It looks very interesting
Why not include the Suvie? Maybe compare the June with the Suvie in another video?
My wife and I have a Tovala, but also have a Breville Combi-Wave 3 in 1 microwave/convection oven/air fryer. So far we are only using the Breville as a microwave. I have experimented a tiny bit with its air fryer features to reheat fried potatoes. Tovala has a software update that adds air frying features. Maybe someday someone will make a microwave with convection cooking, air fryer cooking, and steam cooking all in one.
We have this as well, the "fast combi" mode works really well for baked potatoes in about half the time as the conventional bake but with a nearly identical result. I'll have to check out my tovala and see if I have/can get the update yet. I like that for its steam function as well but in my experience the breville bakes better/more evenly as well.
Appreciate the review, but even with a newly remodeled kitchen I cannot see using the counter space for any of these. We had a toaster oven before which was nice, but our GE Cafe range is quick and efficient even if it does not have a camera to watch my food cook.
A $30 toaster that I can put away when I don't need it is perfect.
Brilliant my friend! on all accounts. i love you......right to the point on what worked and what didn't -merci'
10 years from now, is the app still going to work? How long will they support & update the app? When the display on the oven fails due to heat, how long will replacement parts be available, if they sell parts? More likely this will be obsolete in a few years & disposable.
No thanks.
No Joule Smart Oven?
Why didn’t they try the suvie one
Have the Tovala oven and the review is spot on. 👍
What about the cafe? Camera feature doesn’t interest me
I love using a countertop oven as a solo cook. I love technology, but do we really need this and how well do the computer components hold up under heat?
A brief word on energy efficiency would have been very helpful. But otherwise, great info. Thank you!
What about the Suvie?
instead of any of these, i might just go for the breville smart oven
Both mine and my brothers Breville's fan stopped working and it is not a serviceable part. Many complaints concerning this fault.
How long had you had it?
Where's the Breville Joule Oven Air Fryer Pro?? So much better than the competition.
To bad June is not around anymore
Id rather just have a nicer full size oven. Even in an apartment.
Same
@@STEVEARABIA1 boomers
I've used a June, Tovala, ANOVA, and Brava. I only kept the last one. I wish the ANOVA could do good steam toast.
I wish the Brava had a steam feature.
I wish the June did zoned cooking.
What about Ninja Speedi rapid cooker?
@@proudbacteria1373 it's a decent air fryer/grill but I'd rather have the larger area and smart features of a June.
I'd like to hear more about your experience with Brava. I'm considering it.
Captions are not in sync on the video
It's a shame the Tovala is so small. Having a countertop proofing oven dedicated to baking would be really something.
There's a proofing option on my Breville smart oven air. I have yet to try it, so am unable to give feedback.
Pick a dehydrator or multicolored. ANY dehydrator or multicooker.
It seems like ATK's winning items are unavailable.
Always are. Particularly this close to the holidays.
While watching this video for Pizza what if these home small ovens turned the Pizza as it cooked so you don't have to do it manually...
I've been eyeing the anova for a couple of years but it's a shame it's not any good. Though cooking with steam might not be good enough of a gimmick to warrant a large, hot appliance in a small kitchen. ATK clearly has some kind of deal with June here but I couldn't ever justify that price. It must be meant for upper class urban types in tiny Manhattan apartments
I have an Anova and never use my main oven anymore. Don't listen to this review, but there is a learning curve. Once you get used to it, it's the best. Oh, and it doesn't steam up the kitchen.
This is an incompetent review. The Anova is revolutionary
I like conventional ovens, they provide the opportunity for you to learn to be a better cook though experience, and not do it for you.
The opinion about the Anova oven can only be a result of a misunderstanding at how to use the oven. It is by far the most advanced home oven
I found a referral code offering the Tovola oven at $49 with a $50 meal credit. I followed the link, said I could buy it for that price and no…the price changed right before my eyes. False advertising!!! I wouldn’t trust company at all!
The Tovala Smart Oven is "currently unavailable" on Amazon.
THANKS YOU
damnit, I just bought the breville airfry microwave for my motorhome (good to see the Panasonic fail, that was my first choice but he breville was the first to hit ausralia jus this month) but that june oven IS AMAZING
Great video! Would love to see the amperage and/or watts used for us off grid folks.
What is the song played at the end of every equipment review video?
Darude - Sandstorm.
I'd love ATK to test the Suvie kitchen robot.
Balmuda top notch Japanese oven
...for toast.
I don’t know… I’ve had the Anova since May 2021 and I haven’t turned on my convection oven since. It heats up so quick and everything comes out banging. The app is very easy to use and has great recipes and methods to cook a number of ingredients. Also has a baking steel made for it.
Highly recommended. Failed review.