Cosori Iconic Review: Is This Stainless Steel Smart Air Fryer Worth The Price?
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When I started as a blogger, I never planned on being the resident air fryer reviewer-- but the Lord works in mysterious ways, and here we are! Over the last couple of years, I have had the opportunity to try several of the top air fryers on the market, with a special focus on those supporting healthier ways of cooking.
So when Cosori reached out, offering to send me their Iconic Smart Air Fryer, I was excited to try it out! As someone who spends a lot of time testing and reviewing kitchen products from a wellness perspective, I was especially interested in seeing how the Iconic Stainless Steel Smart Air Fryer compared with other premium options on the market—including the Ninja Crispi and several other stainless steel air fryer models.
After trying it out top to bottom, here's my honest review, including its design, cooking performance, materials, and smart features. And how if compares to a traditional air fryer for everyday cooking.
Disclosure: Cosori kindly gifted me this unit without any agreement to share or review it. All statements and reviews are my own honest experience, shared in hopes of giving you more information when purchasing.
Unboxing— My First Impression
When I opened the box, the Cosori Iconic Air Fryer immediately looked and felt noticeably nicer than many plastic air fryers on the market. (Like my first air fryer that smelled like burning plastic after just a couple of months— fun fact, it was).
Rather than relying on a bunch of plastic for the exterior, it has a beautiful stainless steel structure with a brushed metal finish. While I normally try to keep kitchen appliances off my counter, I did not mind having this one sit out. As someone with relatively limited counter space, I also appreciate the space-saving compact design, especially considering the 6.5-quart capacity.
The touch screen control panel sits on the top surface and is clean and intuitive. Inside the air fryer basket, there’s a removable crisper plate that helps food cook more evenly by allowing hot air to circulate it.
While it’s not the most important, I do love when an appliance has a nice aesthetic, and i’m excited to use it! Upon coming out of the box, this checked all of those!
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Let's talk about the coating...
As someone who writes a lot about healthier products for the home, I was happy to see that the basket uses a PFAS-free ceramic-coated cooking surface rather than a traditional nonstick coating. That said, I could not find anywhere on their site where third-party testing was done or available to verify these claims.
While I do prefer a nonstick ceramic coating vs a Teflon coating, I wish that they were able to validate these claims for consumers. I even went so far as to reach out to the company, without response.
For me, this was a red flag, and something I hope I can verify in the future. As soon as I can (or not), I will update this section of the post.
Build Quality and Materials
While I have concerns about the ceramic coating, I do appreciate the other materials they have chosen in construction. It really does look and feel like premium materials.
The stainless steel construction gives the appliance a sturdy feel while keeping minimal plastic usage compared with many competing models.
Inside, the 6.5-quart basket includes a removable crisper plate designed to promote better airflow underneath food. The basket uses a PFAS-free ceramic-coated cooking surface with a nonstick ceramic coating, which may appeal to families looking to avoid more traditional fluoropolymer coatings.
While the basket is still technically a nonstick basket, the ceramic finish is a welcome alternative for those trying to reduce exposure to certain conventional nonstick coatings.
Cooking Performance
My husband doesn't often get featured on this blog, but when he does, you know it is going to be good! As a mechanical engineer, he graciously explains some of the more technologically nuanced information-- where i’m more of the aesthetic and health-related one in the relationship 🤭
Instead of using the traditional AC motor air fryers found in most other models, the Iconic utilizes an efficient DC motor. According to Cosori, the quiet 5-fan speed DC motor allows multiple fan speeds and more precise airflow management than conventional designs. This powerful airflow, along with precise airflow control, helps distribute hot air more evenly throughout the basket.
But what does that even mean?! Simply, that you have more consistent results
The result is impressively consistent results, whether I'm making crispy french fries, roasting vegetables, reheating leftovers, or cooking juicy chicken breasts. The adjustable temperature controls, optimized airflow, and ability to maintain high temperatures make it easy to achieve a beautifully golden brown finish without constantly checking the food.
I appreciate this for simple, straightforward meal prep!
Smart Features
For some people, one of the biggest selling points is the smart functionality. Personally, I want easier appliances, not necessarily more technologically advanced ones... so I was pretty skeptical about the app feature. That said, I gave it a shot and was impressed at the overall simplicity of it.
The VeSync app acts as a full companion app, giving you smart control over many of the cooking functions.
From the app, you can:
Start or stop a cooking cycle
Monitor cooking progress
Adjust certain cooking settings
Browse a library of recipes
Receive in-app cooking assistance
The app also works with Google Assistant, allowing some voice control options for those wanting hands-free convenience.
For busy families, these smart features can make meal prep and healthy everyday meals even easier. Personally, i'm always in the kitchen, or steps away at most, so I never felt that this was really necessary.
BUT, if you are someone working from home, have unique accessibility or mobility needs, or are just looking for added convenience-- this is a huge perk and something very unique on the market.
Why I Love Cooking With an AirFryer.. and the Cosori Is No Exception
One of my favorite things about air fryers is that they are so versatile. With some appliances, they are limited to making a single category of food. But with air fryers, you can pretty much use them for nearly all of your cooking or reheating needs.
Some of my favorite everyday dishes include:
Fresh vegetables
Salmon
Homemade chicken nuggets
Sweet potatoes
Frozen foods
chicken breasts
homemade French fries
Because of the larger basket, it's much easier to cook meals for an entire family without needing multiple batches.
The preset cooking modes remove much of the guesswork, while manual adjustments let experienced cooks fine-tune cooking times depending on the recipe.
Although it won't completely replace a full oven, I found myself reaching for it far more often because it preheats quickly and finishes many meals faster.
Lets talk about cleaning...
I take on the primary role of cooking and dinner cleanup in my family —which means that appliance cleanup is an often-overlooked but critical consideration for my home.
And I was honestly, pleasantly surprised by the easy cleanup. You simply pull out the removable air fryer basket and crisper plate, and give them a quick wash. Thanks to the PFAS-free ceramic coating, I never ran into an issue with food excessively sticking or making for a difficult cleanup.
Then, I made sure to let the drawer fully dry before putting it back into the air fryer unit. Honestly, it doesn't get more straightforward than that.
For the exterior, I used a soft microfiber cloth to keep the air fryer exterior looking polished without scratching the stainless finish.
Overall, the easy cleaning was one of my favorite parts of using this appliance.
What about the dishwasher??
Yes! Both the basket and crisper plate are dishwasher-friendly- another plus for convenience!
Safety Considerations
For health-conscious shoppers, the ceramic-coated basket sets this apart from other air fryers with traditional non-stick coating.
Many people searching for premium air fryers are trying to minimize exposure to certain chemicals sometimes associated with older nonstick coating technologies.
That said, ceramic can chip or scratch, reducing the non-stick property. If the scratch is deep enough, it can cause flaking into what you are cooking- no, thank you! That is why the general rule of thumb is to always use wooden or food-grade silicone cooking utensils with ceramic and avoid any metal.
Pros
Beautiful stainless steel craftsmanship with an elevated appearance compared to other appliances
Large 6.5-quart basket
Excellent space-saving design
Quiet operation from the energy-efficient motor (i.e iconic's 5-fan speed dc motor)
Smart connectivity through the VeSync app
PFAS-free ceramic-coated basket and crisper plate
Simple controls and easy maintenance
Cons
More expensive than many standard air fryers
Smart features are helpful but not essential for everyone
Ceramic coatings still require proper care to maximize longevity and health
Some home cooks may never use all of the app's advanced capabilities
Final Verdict with a caveat..
If you're looking for one of today's premium air fryers, the Cosori Iconic Air Fryer is an excellent choice— should third-party testing be verified!
Its combination of premium construction, smart technology, and efficient airflow makes it feel like a significant upgrade over many entry-level models. Between all the refined design elements and features, it's perfect for the home cook who values effective performance and an aesthetic appliance. 🙋🏻♀️
While it carries a higher price tag than some competitors, I think the combination of design, thoughtful engineering, and reliable cooking performance makes it well worth considering if you're ready to invest in a high-quality air fryer for everyday cooking.
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