Review: Cosori air fryer Max XL, one of Amazon’s top-rated air fryers

UPDATE: Feb. 24, 2023, 1:00 p.m. EST According to CNN, about 2 million Cosori air fryers sold between June 2018 and December 2022 have been recalled. Check CNN(Opens in a new tab) for affected model numbers.

If there’s one appliance I don’t mind giving up my kitchen countertop space for, it’s an air fryer. Sure, my affinity for fried foods could be part of the reason, but if I’m being honest, some days I simply don’t have the time to peek into my oven every five minutes to see if my French fries are ready. So, like all good home cooks do, I did some digging to find out what the latest and greatest air fryer on the market is — and I made all of my meals in it for one day.

The fryer that surpassed all options in terms of reviews and ratings was the Cosori air fryer(Opens in a new tab). With more than 96,000 reviews at the time of publishing (80,000 of them being five-star) and a reasonable price tag for its 5.8-quart size (pick one up for $119.99 on Amazon(Opens in a new tab)), I had high hopes that this mighty machine could produce easy, quick, tasty meals for a whole day. Keep reading to see how it fared.

Overview

The Cosori air fryer Max XL offers 360-degree air circulation, which means whether you’re making a whole chicken or green beans, you’ll get even cooking. With 13 cooking functions, it automatically adjusts the cooking temperature and time depending on the ingredient you’re making, which takes the guesswork out of cooking.

Unlike other air fryers that have a round basket, the Cosori has a roomy square-shaped one that makes for less wasted space if you’re cooking long foods like corn or kabobs. The square shape also makes it easier to tuck away into a corner of your kitchen (something you can’t do with a round basket). Another advantage the Cosori air fryer has over other air fryers is that the heat stays insulated in the machine, meaning the outside won’t be extremely hot as it cooks. This is a great feature if you have kids who like to be your sous chef in the kitchen.

Specs

• 5.8 quarts

• 11 preset cooking functions

• Preheat and keep warm functions

• Temperature range of 170 degrees Fahrenheit to 400 degrees

Using the Cosori air fryer

Using the Cosori Air Fryer is as simple as placing your ingredients into the basket and choosing a cooking setting (either one of the preset functions or manually setting the time and temperature). To test its capabilities, I made three very different meals in the air fryer for breakfast, lunch, and dinner.

First up: breakfast. I chose to make egg bites because I love having a batch in the freezer for busy mornings that call for a quick breakfast option. I also had wanted to test out how well the machine cooked a frozen item, so I threw a frozen hash brown in as well. After making my egg mixture (which consisted of eggs, shredded cheddar cheese, and diced bell peppers), I filled up my silicone muffin liners, placed them in the air fryer along with the frozen hash brown (I was able to fit seven muffin liners in the basket), and set the machine to 350 degrees for 12 minutes. The result was a crisp top and deliciously fluffy, perfectly cooked eggs. So far, success.

For lunch, I made a grilled cheese sandwich (a meal I usually pan fry on the stovetop). I set the air fryer to 360 degrees for five minutes and found that the cheese melted to perfection and the bread was crispy on both sides (though I did have to flip it midway through). Still, making the sandwich in the air fryer was much easier (and quicker) than how I usually make it because I’m able to set it and forget it rather than slaving away on the stovetop.

I had wanted to test a protein in the air fryer, so for dinner I decided on chicken wings. I was most eager to test this meal because several reviews boasted about the Cosori air fryer’s ability to make deliciously crisp wings. I dusted a bit of baking powder to the chicken wings to help them crisp up and added them in a single layer into my air fryer, which was set to 380 degrees for 20 minutes (I was able to fit 15 wings in the basket). I flipped them halfway through to ensure all sides crisped up nicely. I’m happy to report that the machine did, in fact, deliver on its promise of providing restaurant-quality wings. My wings had a deep fry-like crunch to them on the outside and were exceptionally juicy on the inside.

Is the Cosori Air Fryer worth it?

I don’t need to convince you of all of the magical things an air fryer can do. The question is, which of the dozens out there is the greatest at doing it all. I can safely say that the Cosori air fryer(Opens in a new tab) is worthy of its rave reviews. Though the handle gets loose over time (and thus, requires tightening), the air fryer is simple to use, convenient for no-hassle cooking, and provides reliable results.

As for the noise factor, there’s no way about it — this thing is loud. This is because air fryers rely on a fan to circulate the hot air that crisps up your food. While ovens are much quieter, they have a larger footprint and aren’t as efficient as an air fryer. All in all, at a little north of $100, the Cosori air fryer is easy to use, performs well, and is great for air fryer rookies and novices alike.