The Sleek, Amazon-Favorite Air Fryer I Use Practically Every Day
Just about any kitchen is miserable to cook in during a heat wave. I mean, a 400-degree oven in 95-degree weather? No, thank you! Add in that my kitchen has no AC and is stuffed into a tight corner of my apartment, and that was enough of a reason to make me seek oven-alternatives for cooking this summer. An air fryer seemed like an obvious option, so I was happy to test out the new Cosori Air Fryer 4-Quart. From the first time I used it, I was in love. Its compact design, large-enough 4-qt. basket, and impressive crisping performance have me hooked — not to mention much cooler while I cook!
Cosori currently holds claim to the most popular air fryer model on Amazon, their 3.7-Quart model, which boasts over 80,000 ratings. We put it to the test earlier this year and were impressed with the ultra-crispy results and intuitive controls. So it was only natural that I try out the newest model, the 4-qt.
As soon as I opened the box, I was excited about the sleek style. The new Cosori, also known as the Cosori Lite on their website, has a stylish matte gray exterior with a digital interface conveniently located on top of the machine, so it’s easy to see. Overall, I like the size and weight of the air fryer. It clocks in at nine pounds, so it’s just light enough that I can store it on top of my fridge without struggling to take it down. I also like that it has a 4-qt. basket versus 2-qt. models I had considered (but now realize would be much too small). Despite the medium-sized basket, it still fits comfortably on my counter while I use it.
The first thing I had to make with this air fryer was a batch of crispy potatoes, of course. Whenever I make potatoes in the oven, I fail at getting them as crispy as I want. The Cosori Lite, however, produced beautifully crisp potatoes after just 10 minutes. I couldn’t believe it — and now I can’t stop making them!
I also love using this air fryer for crisping frozen vegetables. I usually stock up on bags of frozen veggies to save money (and to have on hand for easy dinners), and I’d typically toss them in a roasting pan with some olive oil and seasonings. Now, I put them in the air fryer basket and in just 10 minutes, I’m met with beautifully roasted veggies. They’re much crispier than I’ve been able to get them in the oven. I’m also looking forward to finally cooking the infamous Trader Joe’s cauliflower gnocchi air fryer hack!
Most importantly, this model is excellent when it comes to cooking main courses. I’ve cooked chicken thighs that are tender inside and nicely browned on the outside, as well as heated up pre-cooked chicken sausages in minutes with a delicious snap from the air fryer.
In addition to this appliance’s stellar performance, the crisper plate has grips on each corner, so it snaps into the base and stays in place without any slippage. Plus, the basket and plate have great nonstick properties that make them easy to clean (and dishwasher safe) when you’re done. I’ve found that I actually don’t dread cleaning the basket the same way I dread cleaning my bulky baking sheet after cooking, so it also gets major convenience points.
Finally, the controls are easy to use and intuitive. It comes with five pre-set options for chicken, fries, steak, bacon, and veggies. Or, choose your temperature and time to suit your liking. It also has pause and shake options, perfect for even cooking. A compatible app allows you to control your air fryer remotely or using voice commands.
This new Cosori Air Fryer 4-Quart has totally transformed the way I cook, especially in the summer! I love how I can make deliciously crispy foods with little fuss and less cleanup than usual. For $100, you can’t go wrong with this air fryer.
Buy: Cosori Air Fryer 4-Quart, $99.99