Like a lot of other appliances, ovens are getting smarter. Smart ovens are Wi-Fi-enabled devices that offer advanced cooking methods, built-in displays, Bluetooth thermometers, step-by-step recipe guides and even syncing with smart fridges like Samsung’s Family Hub.
Some models take it even further with voice assistant support and AI-powered cameras that recognize your food or scan frozen meals to auto-set the perfect cooking time. You can also get alerts on your phone when food is ready or when your oven needs to be cleaned. Our CNET kitchen experts have tested some of the best models on the market. Here are the smart ovens that actually live up to the hype and are worth every penny. We’ll keep updating this list as the tech gets even better, so be sure to check back.
The Tovala Smart Oven is built around Tovala's chef-curated meal kits. Those meal kits are pricey starting at $10 per serving, but you can purchase the oven without the meals and still get plenty of use out of it.Â
That's because the Tovala Smart Oven can scan 750 different grocery items from your local store and use steam, bake, broil and toast functions to cook your dish during the cooking process. There's no voice assistant compatibility, unfortunately, but there is a Tovala app where you can control the oven, see recipes and more. Â
If you're interested in the Tovala countertop toaster oven, I'd recommend giving the meal kits a try, because they are easy to make, delicious and interesting. The oven is often on sale or other promotion for less than the $299 MSRP, so if price is a hindrance, check the Tovala website for deals.
The June Oven in its second generation is the best oven we've tested when it comes to recognizing food. There are plenty of cooking mode options including settings for convection bake, slow cooking, toaster, broiling and more. The oven also offers onscreen recommendations for how to cook different foods and several handy accessories. Use it for air frying and dehydrating, or use it as a convection oven for baking and convection cooking, or as a toaster oven for toasting.
The June Oven works with Alexa for voice commands, and the June app lets you control the oven from anywhere and view live video of your food as it cooks. A smart cooking function tracks the core temperature for the perfect cooking time.
You can buy the oven in a Standard package that includes a food thermometer, roasting rack, baking pan, wire shelf and crumb tray for $499 or in a Gourmet package for $699 that adds baking pans, air-fry baskets, a recipe subscription and extended warranty. (Note: This item is currently out of stock, but availability on Amazon tends to fluctuate.)
Smart oven comparison chart
| June Oven (2nd gen.) | Tovala Smart Oven | |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | $499 | $299 |
| Dimensions (W x H x D) | 19.6 inches x 12.75 inches X 19 inches | 18.5 inches x 11.75 inches x 12.32 inches |
| Voice assistant compatibility | Alexa | None |
| Cooking modes | Convection bake, toast, air fry, dehydrat, slow cook, broil, keep warm | Steam, toast, broil, bake |
| Included accessories | Thermometer, roasting rack, baking pan, wire shelf, crumb tray | Oven mitt, baking pan, wire oven rack, measuring cup |
We've only just begun
This category is only a few years old, and we've seen plenty of growth. We tested a limited-release smart oven from Whirlpool's WLabs. The Suvie kitchen robot launched on Kickstarter and uses water to refrigerate and cook your entire meal. Then, there's Anova, which released a smart oven in 2021.
These ovens might be the best out there right now, but they certainly won't be the last. More and more companies are expressing interest in this category, so we'll continue to test out new models as they appear.Â
