I Tried the Most Popular Air Fryer on Amazon. Here’s My Honest Review.
Update February 23, 2023: Cosori has recalled more than two million air fryers due to fire risks. Read the latest developments here for more information about the recall, as well as what to do if you have a recalled Cosori air fryer.
If there’s one group of people I have learned to trust, it’s the hive mind of shoppers on Amazon. These shoppers aren’t afraid to leave brutally honest reviews, and there’s something very comforting about knowing that something is a best-seller (especially on a site where there are seemingly endless options). And I extra appreciate these things when it comes to small appliances: If I’m going to take the leap and spend the money, I want to make sure it’s something that’s going to serve me well. Which explains how I ended up on the page listing the best-selling air fryers on Amazon.
The most popular option? This Cosori Air Fryer, which costs just under $100 and has a 4.7-star rating with more than 6,000 total reviews. I got the 3.7-quart size at the end of December, with the intention of frying up all the classic snacks for a small group of (vaccinated and tested) friends on New Year’s Eve. Of course, I did a lot of tinkering before and after the ball dropped, too. Here’s my honest review.
The first thing I noticed, of course, was the machine’s good looks. I really like that the machine is square because it’s easier to fit on a shelf (compared to the very typical egg shape of other machines). It also has to easy-to-grip points on the bottom, which make for easy carrying from said shelf to the counter. The brushed matte finish is sleek, and the integrated display is simple enough to wipe clean. I scanned through the directions and got the machine ready. First up on the to-make list: falafel (if you haven’t tried the Trader Joe’s mix, please do!). I purposely didn’t start with any of the 13 presets because I wanted to see how intuitive it was to use the machine. Turns out, it’s pretty darn intuitive!
To preheat, you just press the “preheat” button and toggle to the temp you want. The time it needs will adjust automatically and the machine will beep three times when it’s ready. (The machine caps out at 400 degrees and it takes just five minutes to reach that temp; the lowest setting is 170 degrees. One thing to note: The air fryer can only be heated in increments of 10. So 370 or 380 — not 375. I find it’s best to just round up and shorten the time by a few minutes.) Once the machine is preheated, you pull out the basket, add the food, and set the official time and temp. You can change either one at any point during the cooking, which is nice if you want to adjust anything after a shaking session.
My falafel came out perfectly crispy on the outside and still soft on the inside. Since then, I’ve used the machine to make pigs in a blanket, mozzarella sticks, chicken tenders, mini tacos, french fries, Kibbeh, various Trader Joe’s finds, and Brussels sprouts. (It was a very fun NYE!) The machine is incredibly easy to use and the preset functions are wildly accurate — they even tell you when it’s time to “((SHAKE))” the food. And there’s a “keep warm” function, which comes in handy if you’ve mistimed the rest of your meal (speaking from experience).
One more thing I really like about this air fryer? The dual basket system (meaning the perforated basket and the basket it sits in), is very well-designed. It has a sliding guard that covers the button, which releases the perforated basket. This way, when you want to dump out your fries you don’t run the risk of dropping the bottom basket on your foot. Both pieces separate easily (only when you want them to) and are nonstick and easy to clean.
If I had to say one thing I didn’t love about the machine (I told you I’d give an honest review!), it’s that the baskets don’t always feel like they’re sliding into the machine correctly. Sometimes, I’ve had to pull them out and push them back in a second time, but don’t worry, the machine won’t start unless they baskets are placed properly. And, yes, I’d still give this machine five stars if I were to leave a review on Amazon.
I haven’t baked with the Cosori yet, but it’s next on my growing list of things to try. Speaking of my list, the machine comes with a recipe book (featuring 100 different ideas) that Amazon reviewers seem to love. So while I have plenty of recipes from my coworkers at Kitchn, I definitely trust these reviews enough to give the recipe book a whirl.
Do you have an air fryer you love? Tell us about it in the comments below.