I Tested the Cosori Iconic Air Fryer – It's Chic on Your Counter, Non-Toxic, and Brings Perfectly Crispy Results Every Time

As a reviewer with over two decades of testing experience, I was intrigued by the Cosori Iconic Smart Air Fryer's visually stunning design and non-toxic promise. But does its 1725-Watts of power, 6.5-Quart capacity, sleek structure, and PFAS-free, non-stick ceramic-coated cooking surfaces, and six cooking functions live up to its premium price point?

With its compact, nearly plastic-free stainless-steel design and smarter features, including personalized cooking settings integrated into a simple app, the Cosori Iconic promotes healthier cooking without looking like an eyesore on your counter.

I put this chic air fryer through its paces. And though it offers fewer settings than the more versatile toaster-oven air fryers, I found that it gets the basics done well and injects a more glamorous cooking experience with its upgraded materials. Here are my full thoughts on this contender for the best non-toxic air fryer.

My Cosori Iconic Air Fryer Review

My First Impressions of the Cosori Iconic Air fryer

If you’re looking for a showstopper to leave on your counter, the Cosori Iconic Smart Air Fryer is an excellent choice. It’s clear from first glance that this is not your everyday air fryer. Encased in shiny, brushed stainless steel, it offers a sculpted, almost architectural shape, featuring a square base with rounded edges and an upperbody with curved sides.

It's made from materials that promote healthier, non-toxic cooking, including PFAS-free, non-stick ceramic-coated cooking surfaces, and a sleek stainless steel structure with minimal plastic on the outside.

A tempered glass display panel is perched on top and is slightly tilted to make it easier to use the intuitive touch controls that light up when you press them. This also includes a Shake button, the first I’ve come across on any air fryer I have reviewed (more on that later). But don’t let this eye-catching design fool you: Its traditional basket-and-crisper plate combo makes it simple to use.

I also downloaded the free VeSync app, which easily connects to the air fryer using WiFi. Here you can control cooking functions, peruse an extensive cooking chart, and even consult a library of recipes for inspiration.

Specifications: Cosori Iconic Air Fryer

Cooking Performance: Cosori Iconic Air Fryer

Test 1: French Fries

Ah, French fries. I don’t care what anyone says; frozen fries are still the ultimate air fryer test. Before I started, I checked the app to see what it suggested. I found French fries listed under Frozen Foods, and it gave me the option of Thick Cut, Regular Cut, or Thin Cut. Because I was using crinkle cut, I chose Regular and went with its suggestion of Air Fry at 400 degrees for 14 minutes.

I poured in about half the bag (approximately 10 oz), adjusted the temp and time controls accordingly, and pressed start. Because I connected the Iconic to the app using WiFi, I could follow along with the cooking on my phone. About halfway through, I was alerted to get up and shake the fries for a more even cook. If you are standing next to the air fryer, the Shake button will light up and buzz. Or, if you wander away like me, you’ll get a mobile alert. This is a useful additional functionality for those with busy households.

The fries came out beautifully crispy and golden brown. I also appreciated that the air fryer drawer could hold an entire bag if I needed to feed more.

Test 2: Chicken

I cook a good amount of chicken, so this is always an important test. The main philosophy of having one of the best air fryers is to be able to create tasty fried food without the added fats or extra oil, so I went with herbed chicken fingers for this test. After cutting the chicken breasts into strips, I coated them with a homemade Italian seasoning and lightly sprayed them with avocado oil.

The app told me to air fry them for nine minutes at 395° Fahrenheit, so I gave it a go. Chicken breasts can be tough in an air fryer because they dry out quickly and can overcook with the high heat, so I was happy to take direction from the Cosori experts. Thankfully, this was the perfect cook to create chicken breasts that were slightly crispy on the outside yet still impressively juicy on the inside.

Of course, I still have two hungry boys to feed, and they like their tenders breaded and fried, so I also made a batch of panko-crusted chicken breasts for the younger, less health-conscious set. I actually turned down the heat to 375° F for these, so the panko didn’t overly brown, and added five minutes to the cook time. This was the right move, and I was rewarded with a perfectly crunchy, caramel brown crust and tender meat.

Lastly, I’d be remiss if I didn’t point out my Super Bowl wing test. With a house full of teens, I put nearly two pounds of wings in the basket naked. The app suggested Air Fry for 16 minutes at 400 degrees, but it was a bit overcrowded. I ended up having to add about seven more minutes to get crispy, well-cooked wings that I then coated in buffalo sauce while still hot. The empty platter was all I needed to know they were a hit.

Test 3: Vegetables

I decided to try fresh green beans as my vegetable of choice, and after seasoning them with salt and pepper, I lightly coated them in avocado oil. The handy Cosori app suggested I ratchet the temperature up to 415° F and cook them for a brief five minutes.

This was the opposite of what I usually do with air-fried veggies, which is cook them longer on a lower temperature, but I decided to go with the flow. As you can see, they came out lightly browned, and I was impressed with how tender they were – even with the slightly crunchy skin. They were a huge hit with my family, so I will be adding that to my repertoire for weekday dinners.

What It's Like to Use

The Cosori Iconic air fryer is a looker. Its shiny, stainless steel body is super sleek and doesn’t take up too much room on the counter. I live in a Brooklyn apartment, and space is always a consideration, so this made me happy.

I still tend to favor multi-function, oven-forward air fryers because they tend to offer a few extra functions as well as a larger area in the basket for everyday cooking. However, I was impressed with how well this Cosori handled the basics.

The control panel is straightforward, and it's simple to adjust the temperature and time – even while food is cooking. The Shake button is a nice touch, but I didn’t even notice when it lit up, so I could easily do without it.

I wasn’t ready to like the app as much as I did. Most digital companions don’t offer as much utility in my testing experience, but Cosori has nailed it with its easy-to-comprehend function chart, paired with the excellent list of foods in the cooking chart. The level of heat was precise, especially for air frying, and it preheated quickly.

Cleaning and Storage

Because this is a traditional air fryer, it was not hard to keep clean. After every use, I took out the plate and the drawer and washed them by hand, though you can just as easily put them in the dishwasher.

The slick anti-stick ceramic coating also made it even easier to banish any type of fat with a minimum of scrubbing. The stainless steel body did attract quite a bit of fingerprints, but if that’s bothersome, you can just swipe them away with a dry cloth.

There are lots of ways to clean stainless steel without smudges, including using a homemade recipe of two cups of water, a drop of dish soap, and 10-20 drops of your favorite essential oil. This will clear those pesky smudges without harsh chemicals.

In terms of storage, I kept the air fryer on my counter, but it is compact enough to tuck away in the pantry if need be.

How Does It Compare?

If you’re in the market for an air fryer that is first and foremost an air fryer, the Cosori Iconic is worth a look. Its stainless steel body makes it feel more premium than the company’s plastic-clad TurboBlaze, available at Amazon, though it’s also significantly more expensive at $249 vs $90. And, unlike the Ninja Crispi Pro I recently reviewed, it’s less fiddly, very easy to clean, and can be more simply moved around and stored.

Amazon customers seem to agree, giving it 4.8 out of 5 stars in nearly 17,000 reviews, with many commenting on the sturdy, upscale build as well as how evenly it cooks food, especially meat and fish. One user even reported that the Iconic’s body generates less heat than plastic air fryers, so their kids could safely touch it while cooking.

My Verdict on the Cosori Iconic Air Fryer

Though my modestly-sized kitchen tends to draw me towards toaster-oven style air fryers, like the recently reviewed Ninja French Door Premier Air Fryer, Convection Oven, and Toaster, the Cosori Iconic’s style and effective, thorough cooking make it an excellent choice for anyone who treasures elegant design, smarter features, and high-end materials.

This design-forward, premium air fryer is an investment, but it checks all the boxes for PFAS-free cooking while looking fabulous in your kitchen. A larger, 6.5-quart basket and consistent hot air make it an excellent vessel to prepare meats, seafood, veggies, and all things fried. Yet, its premium pricetag may pose a problem if you’re looking to save some cash – especially because there’s no toaster feature.

I was especially impressed with the in-depth and easy-to-browse companion app, which takes the guesswork out of the air frying process. The digital monitoring also meant I could turn it on and walk away, which is always a nice option, especially for multitaskers like me.

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