An air fryer is a compact, fast-cooking convection oven that saves energy. It’s affordable and easy to use, making it a great option for apartment or small kitchens. Air fryers use hot air to create the Maillard reaction that browns food while keeping it juicy, but with much less oil than deep frying, making it a healthier choice.
COSORI Pro Smart Air Fryer
- The COSORI Pro II CS358-AF air fryer is an upgrade from the CS158-AF and offers a more convenient cooking experience.
- It can be controlled hands-free with the Vesync App, Alexa, or Google Assistance and comes with over 200 recipes.
- This new model cooks food using up to 85% less oil than traditional methods while producing delicious results.
- The removable baskets and nonstick surfaces make cleaning more accessible than ever; they are also dishwasher-safe for added convenience.
- With a 5.8 quart capacity, it can cook enough for four people or even a rotisserie chicken at once!
- It is ETL listed with temperature range of 170°–400°F / 77–205°C and operates on 120V 60Hz power supply
Though air fryers have been available for 10 years, they still need manual cook time setting. I tried the Cosori Smart WiFi Air Fryer, which offers a more convenient cooking experience with Wi-Fi connectivity.
Design and specs
The Cosori Smart WiFi Air Fryer can be controlled through Alexa and the VeSync app (Google Play & App Store). This provides remote control, intelligent monitoring, delayed start and access to over 100 recipes.
The Cosori WiFi air fryer has a large size (13″ H, 11″ D, 11″ W + 2″ protruding handle), but its 5.8-quart interior can fit up to 6 lbs. of food. It fits comfortably under most kitchen cabinets.
The air fryer has a temperature range of 170-400°F and 11 presets for cooking seafood, desserts, bacon, frozen foods, etc. The timer goes up to 60 minutes, sufficient for most cooking needs. Mid-cooking, a light alerts you to shake the basket for even cooking, or you can receive a notification on your phone.
Setup process
I made tater tots with my phone within 10 minutes of unboxing. Setup is easy and straightforward: remove packaging, wash drawer and basket, plug in, download VeSync app, and connect to the air fryer. It was seamless with no issues, which is impressive for smart devices that can sometimes struggle with connection or require long firmware updates.
COSORI Smart WiFi Air Fryer Reviewed
The Cosori Smart WiFi Air Fryer is supported by the VeSync app, which connects to the appliance via Wi-Fi. The app has many recipes for breakfast, appetizers, entrees, sides, and desserts, providing step-by-step instructions for each meal, including controlling the air fryer when necessary.
The VeSync app lets you access your past recipes and save favorites. It also sends notifications to your device when cooking is complete.
The air fryer also allows for meal planning up to 4 hours in advance. You can load ingredients into the basket and set the cooking time later if the ingredients can remain safe at room temperature.
To test air fryer performance, I use certain recipes, including the toast test to check evenness and speed. For this test, I put a slice of bread in the air fryer and check it every minute. The bread was evenly toasted and ready in 4 minutes, which is excellent.
Next, I made 2 lbs of homemade French fries using Yukon gold potatoes. After 30 minutes of cooking, the fries were crispy and golden, and my kindergartener loved them.
The third recipe was blackened chicken. I coated 2 lbs of boneless, skinless chicken breasts with Cajun seasoning and air fried. I used wireless probe thermometers to check the internal temperature and the chicken was ready after 25 minutes with a safe internal temp. The chicken was juicy and moist.
The exterior of the air fryer stays cool to touch during cooking, a sign of efficient performance. The Cosori air fryer was no exception. The only hot spot was near the vent in the back. The appliance effectively used all heat to cook the meal.
The basket and drawer of the Cosori Smart WiFi Air Fryer are dishwasher safe, making cleaning convenient. Hand washing is also easy if desired.
Consider the drawbacks
The voice control feature is a nice addition, but I personally found it to be unnecessary. Using it to start/stop cooking via my smart thermostat was entertaining, but I never felt the need for it during my time testing the Cosori air fryer.
The remote cooking features of the Cosori Smart WiFi Air Fryer may not be frequently used, but they’re still handy to have in case you need them. However, it’s worth noting that the non-smart version costs just as much, so if you see a better deal on it, I’d recommend going for that option instead. The app has plenty of useful recipes, and the remote functions work well, but voice control felt unnecessary.
Setting the time and temperature manually on the Cosori air fryer can be tedious due to a toggle button that switches between the two settings using the same plus and minus buttons. It may seem convenient, but I found it to be a hassle.
The final verdict
Cosori
The Cosori Smart WiFi Air Fryer is a good choice for quick and healthy cooking. It offers a range of features and its mid-range price tag is justifiable for the size and high-end features.
The Cosori Smart WiFi Air Fryer is a great appliance for healthy cooking, but its Wi-Fi connectivity may not be a must-have for everyone. The air fryer offers good value, but unless you’re a tech enthusiast, the smart features may not be worth it. Despite that, the appliance still delivers fast and efficient cooking, making it a great alternative to deep-frying.
Pros
- Pros: Smart, Hands-Free Cooking with Alexa Integration, Large 5.8-Quart Capacity, Easy Cleaning with Dishwasher-Safe Parts, Fast Cooking with Safe Temperature Range
Cons
- Cons: Manual operation can sometimes be tedious and inconvenient.