Countertop steam · Updated October 2026
Tovala Smart Oven Pro vs Cuisinart Steam Oven
The short answer
These are the two countertop steam ovens people actually buy, and they solve different problems. Buy the Cuisinart CSO-300N1 if steam is the point: it has nine modes including dedicated steam bake, steam broil and bread proofing, runs hotter (450°F vs 425°F), and needs no app, WiFi or account. The catch is supply and age. It is a 2015-era design, there is no first-party Amazon listing right now, and owners report steam and element failures around the three-year mark. Buy the Tovala Smart Oven Pro ($349.99) if you want a compact, modern 6-in-1 toaster oven with air fry and a usable steam mode, and you value scan-to-cook convenience. It works without the meal plan, but setup requires the app, and its steam is a feature rather than the design brief.
Tovala Smart Oven Pro
$349.99
Scan-to-cook automation: a QR code on a Tovala meal or supported grocery item sets the full steam/convection cycle for you.
Cuisinart CSO-300N1
≈ $330–380 (third-party sellers)
Nine dedicated steam and convection functions, including steam bake, steam broil and bread proof, with no software anywhere in the loop.
How they differ, factor by factor
| Factor | Tovala Smart Oven Pro | Cuisinart CSO-300N1 |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $349.99 on Amazon; $119 with a six-order meal commitment | ≈ $330–380 from third-party sellers; no first-party listing |
| Steam capability | One steam mode alongside bake, broil, toast, reheat, air fry | Nine modes with several steam-specific functions and bread proof |
| App dependence | App needed for setup and scan-to-cook; cooks manually afterwards, no meal plan required | None; dial and buttons only |
| Capacity | Interior 12.75" x 11" x 8"; 10" pizza, 4 lb chicken or two Tovala meals | 0.6 cu ft; one dish or roast at a time |
| Reliability history | Newer platform; long-term reviewers report no breakdowns, limited failure data | 10-year-old design; steam, element and leak failures reported around year three |
| Heat and power | 225–425°F, 1,525 W | Up to 450°F, 1,800 W |
The full picture
Tovala Smart Oven Pro
Scan-to-cook automation: a QR code on a Tovala meal or supported grocery item sets the full steam/convection cycle for you.
- Six modes in one compact box: bake, broil, toast, reheat, air fry and steam
- Air fry mode, which the Cuisinart lacks entirely
- Scan-to-cook handles Tovala meals and a growing list of grocery items automatically
- Works as a normal oven without a meal subscription; manual buttons on the unit
- Smaller footprint (18.5" x 12.3" deep) and lighter at about 21 lb
- App download and WiFi pairing are required for first setup
- Steam is a single mode, not a set of steam-specific functions; limited control
- Lower maximum temperature (425°F) and 1,525 W heater
- Small interior (12.75" x 11" x 8"): a 10" pizza or two Tovala meals
- Steam leaves mineral residue in the many interior crevices; regular descaling needed
Owners commonly praise the Tovala Pro for easy setup, moist results in steam mode on chicken and salmon, and the scan-to-cook feature, which long-term users describe as reliable over several years and multiple oven generations. The recurring complaints are not about hardware: portions in the meal plan feel small, barcode scans occasionally fail and leave food undercooked, toast takes five minutes or more, and the air fry controls are not intuitive without the manual. Reviewers also flag WiFi pairing that can take a few attempts, mineral build-up from steam, and an interior too small for larger households.
Cuisinart CSO-300N1
Nine dedicated steam and convection functions, including steam bake, steam broil and bread proof, with no software anywhere in the loop.
- Steam-first design: steam bake, steam broil and bread proofing among nine modes
- Higher 450°F ceiling and 1,800 W element for convection roasting and bread crust
- Dial-and-button controls, no app, no WiFi, no account, nothing to update
- 0.6 cu ft interior, larger than the Tovala, but still one dish at a time
- Long track record: in production since 2015 with a large owner base
- No first-party Amazon listing at the moment; third-party pricing runs ≈ $330–380
- Owners report steam failing (clogged internal hose, "Add water" alarm) around three years
- Reports of heating element, power and leak failures; replacement parts are not sold
- No air fry, no probe, no sous vide, coarse steam control
- Dated interface and a 2015-era design that Cuisinart has not refreshed
Owners commonly describe the CSO-300N1 as the default budget steam oven: good at reheating without drying food out, steaming vegetables, and baking bread with a proper crust. Several report units still in weekly use after five to seven years. The recurring complaint is longevity of the steam system. A number of owners report the steam function dying at roughly three years, often with the "Add water" alarm sounding on a full tank, which a published repair guide traces to a gunked-up internal hose. Others report element or power failures, chrome peeling from the rack, and leaks. Cuisinart does not sell parts.
Which should you buy?
Get the Tovala Smart Oven Pro if…
Buyers who want a compact smart toaster oven first and steam second. It suits one or two people, small kitchens, and anyone who will actually use scan-to-cook for Tovala meals or supported grocery items. You do not need the meal plan, but you do need a phone and WiFi for setup, and you should accept a 425°F ceiling, a single steam mode, and an interior that holds a 10" pizza. If air fry matters, this is the only one of the two that has it.
Get the Cuisinart CSO-300N1 if…
Buyers who want steam cooking as the main job: steam-baked bread, steamed vegetables, gentle reheating, plus convection roasting at 450°F, with nothing to pair or update. It is the more capable steam oven and the simpler one to run. Go in knowing the design dates to 2015, current stock is third-party only at ≈ $330–380, parts are not sold, and a visible share of owners report the steam system or element failing after about three years.
Check current prices
Whichever you buy, you will want these
What owners of these ovens add in the first month. Affiliate links, at no cost to you; they never affect the verdict above.
A general-purpose steam-oven descaler, for ovens whose manual allows a generic one (Anova says any descaling liquid works). Miele and Thermador name their own descalers; use those instead.
View on Amazon · ~$21
Steam cooks faster than you expect. A one-second probe stops you overcooking fish and chicken while you learn.
View on Amazon · ~$15
Cut to the size of any tray. Stops fish and dough sticking to perforated pans.
View on Amazon · ~$6
Steam burns through cloth mitts. Silicone does not soak, which matters when you open a door full of vapor.
View on Amazon · ~$19How we compared these
We build a comparison only when real buyers genuinely cross-shop the two models. Specs and positioning are checked against manufacturer documentation and dealer data; owner sentiment is drawn from real reviews and owner communities. Prices are shown as ranges because premium models vary by configuration and dealer.
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