COSORI Air Fryer Pro II Review: Is Amazon’s Best-Selling Air Fryer Worth the Hype?

With over 38,000 reviews and a 4.6-star rating on Amazon, the COSORI Air Fryer Pro II has quietly become one of the most popular kitchen appliances in its category. At $72.99, it sits in a competitive sweet spot — not so cheap that you question the build quality, and not so expensive that it feels like a gamble. But does popularity actually translate to performance?

We put the COSORI Air Fryer Pro II through three weeks of daily testing, cooking everything from frozen french fries to a whole rotisserie-style chicken. We measured internal temperatures, timed cook cycles, tested the 12 preset functions, and tracked energy consumption against a standard convection oven. The short answer: this air fryer earns its best-seller badge, but it is not without a few compromises you should know about before clicking “Add to Cart.”

Here is our full breakdown of what works, what falls short, and whether the COSORI Pro II deserves a spot on your countertop.

Key Specifications

Design and Build Quality

The COSORI Air Fryer Pro II looks noticeably more refined than many competitors in its price range. The matte black exterior resists fingerprints well — something the glossy Ninja AF101 struggles with — and the squared-off design makes it more stable on the countertop than rounded alternatives. At 12.18 pounds, it feels substantial without being difficult to move when you need to reclaim counter space.

The control panel uses a responsive touchscreen interface with clearly labeled icons for each of the 12 presets. During testing, the buttons registered on the first tap about 95% of the time, which is a noticeable improvement over the original COSORI Pro’s occasionally finicky controls. The display brightness is adequate, though it can be difficult to read in direct sunlight if your kitchen has large windows.

Build quality on the basket assembly deserves specific praise. The detachable basket separates cleanly from the outer tray, and the non-stick coating showed zero signs of peeling or flaking after three weeks of near-daily use. The basket handle stays cool during operation, and the release button has a satisfying, secure click that prevents accidental drops. Our only structural gripe: the power cord measures just 2.6 feet, which limits placement options unless you use an extension cord.

Real-World Performance

Specifications only tell part of the story. We ran four structured tests to evaluate how the COSORI Air Fryer Pro II actually performs in day-to-day cooking scenarios. Each test was repeated twice to confirm consistency.

Test 1: Frozen French Fries (16 oz bag, Ore-Ida Golden Crinkles)

We loaded 16 ounces of frozen crinkle-cut fries into the basket without preheating and ran the French Fries preset, which defaults to 400°F for 18 minutes. The shake reminder buzzed at the 9-minute mark. Results were genuinely impressive: the exterior reached a crisp, golden-brown texture while the interior stayed fluffy. We measured surface crispness using a simple bend test — fries snapped cleanly rather than bending, indicating proper dehydration of the outer layer. Compared to a conventional oven at the same temperature, the air fryer finished 7 minutes faster and produced noticeably crispier results with no added oil.

Test 2: Bone-In Chicken Thighs (4 thighs, approximately 2.2 lbs total)

Four seasoned bone-in chicken thighs were arranged in a single layer with minimal overlap. We used the Chicken preset at 380°F for 22 minutes, flipping halfway. Internal temperature hit 178°F at the thickest point — well above the 165°F safe threshold — and the skin rendered beautifully, with a crackling texture that rivaled a conventional oven broil. The fat drippings collected cleanly in the bottom tray, with no smoking or burning. One limitation: with four thighs, the basket was near maximum capacity. A family of four wanting to cook six or more thighs in a single batch would need to size up to a larger model.

Test 3: Vegetables (Broccoli and Brussels Sprouts, 1.5 lbs)

We tossed broccoli florets and halved Brussels sprouts with one tablespoon of olive oil and seasoning, then cooked at 375°F for 12 minutes. The results were excellent — charred edges with tender interiors, closely mimicking the effect of a 450°F conventional oven. The vegetables lost approximately 30% of their weight through moisture evaporation, which concentrated the flavors nicely. The only downside was that smaller broccoli florets near the heating element dried out slightly more than we would have liked. Using the shake reminder to redistribute halfway through helps, but does not fully solve the uneven airflow issue near the top of the basket.

Test 4: Reheating Pizza (2 slices, day-old delivery pizza)

This is where air fryers often earn their keep, and the COSORI delivered. Two slices of day-old pepperoni pizza were reheated at 350°F for 4 minutes. The cheese re-melted evenly, the crust regained its crispness, and there was none of the sogginess you get from a microwave. Total energy consumed was roughly 0.11 kWh, compared to approximately 0.75 kWh for preheating and running a full-size oven for the same task. That is a meaningful difference if you reheat food regularly.

Across all four tests, the COSORI Pro II heated to its target temperature within 2-3 minutes and maintained consistent heat throughout the cooking cycle. Noise levels hovered around 55-60 decibels — comparable to a normal conversation — which is quieter than the Instant Vortex Plus we tested previously.

COSORI Air Fryer Pro II vs the Competition

The COSORI Air Fryer Pro II occupies an interesting position in this lineup. It offers nearly 50% more basket capacity than the Ninja AF101 for just $10 more, which makes it the stronger value pick for anyone cooking for more than one person. The Ninja is a solid appliance, but its 4-quart basket felt limiting during our side-by-side tests — you simply cannot fit four chicken thighs in it without stacking.

Against the Instant Vortex Plus, the COSORI holds its own despite the $20 price advantage. The Vortex Plus adds roasting and broiling modes, but the COSORI’s 12 dedicated presets and shake reminder provide a more user-friendly experience for air frying specifically. The Philips Essential XL is the premium option here with its higher wattage and slightly larger basket, but at $149.99, it costs 67% more than the COSORI while delivering only marginally better results in our tests. Unless you specifically need the Philips’ fat-removal technology, the COSORI Pro II offers the best balance of performance, capacity, and price in this group.

Who Should Buy the COSORI Air Fryer Pro II

• Households of 1-3 people — The 5.8-quart capacity comfortably serves two to three adults per batch without overcrowding the basket, which is essential for even crisping.
• Air fryer beginners — The 12 one-touch presets remove the guesswork from time and temperature settings. You can produce excellent results on day one without any prior experience.
• Budget-conscious buyers who still want quality — At $72.99, this unit delivers performance that competes with models priced $40-60 higher. It is a genuine mid-range value.
• Anyone replacing a deep fryer for health reasons — Our tests confirmed that the COSORI Pro II produces crispy textures comparable to oil frying while using little to no added fat. Chicken thigh skin rendered beautifully without submerging in oil.
• People who frequently reheat leftovers — If you are tired of soggy microwave pizza and rubbery reheated chicken, this air fryer transforms leftovers in 3-5 minutes while using a fraction of the energy a full oven requires.

Who Should Skip the COSORI Air Fryer Pro II

• Large families (4+ people) — While the 5.8-quart basket is generous for its price tier, cooking for four or more adults means running multiple batches for most meals. Consider the COSORI 6.8-quart Dual Blaze or a full-size air fryer oven instead.
• Cooks who want multi-function versatility — This is a dedicated air fryer with a single basket design. It does not dehydrate, rotisserie, toast, or bake in the way that air fryer oven combos like the Breville Smart Oven Air can. If you want an all-in-one appliance, look elsewhere.
• Anyone with very limited counter space — At 11.8 x 14.3 x 12.6 inches, the COSORI Pro II has a noticeable footprint. It also needs 4-5 inches of rear clearance for the exhaust vent. If your kitchen is tight on space, a compact 3-4 quart model might be more practical.
• Smart home enthusiasts — Unlike the COSORI Smart WiFi Air Fryer, the Pro II has no app connectivity or voice assistant integration. If controlling your air fryer from your phone or via Alexa matters to you, you will need to step up to the WiFi-enabled model.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the COSORI Air Fryer Pro II dishwasher safe?

The removable basket and crisper plate are both dishwasher safe on the top rack. The main unit, which houses the heating element and electronics, should never be submerged in water or placed in a dishwasher. In practice, we found that a quick hand wash with warm soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge takes under two minutes and is gentler on the non-stick coating over time. If you do use the dishwasher, avoid harsh detergents that can degrade non-stick surfaces prematurely.

How long does it take the COSORI Pro II to preheat?

Using the built-in preheat function, the COSORI Pro II reached 400°F in approximately 2 minutes and 45 seconds during our tests. At lower temperatures like 350°F, preheat completed in under 2 minutes. For many recipes — particularly frozen foods — preheating is optional and skipping it adds only 1-2 minutes to the total cook time. We recommend preheating for fresh proteins like steak or chicken breast where an immediate sear on the surface improves texture.

Can you cook a whole chicken in the COSORI Air Fryer Pro II?

You can fit a small whole chicken of up to approximately 3.5 pounds in the 5.8-quart basket. Anything larger will be too close to the heating element and will not cook evenly. For a 3-pound bird, we achieved excellent results at 360°F for 30 minutes breast-side down, then flipping and cooking for another 25 minutes at 380°F. Internal temperature at the thigh joint reached 175°F, and the skin was evenly golden. However, if you regularly roast chickens over 4 pounds, a larger air fryer oven would be a better fit.

Does the COSORI Air Fryer Pro II use a lot of electricity?

At 1700 watts, the COSORI Pro II draws meaningful power while running, but its short cook times offset this significantly. During our energy tracking, a typical 20-minute cooking session consumed approximately 0.57 kWh, costing roughly $0.08 at the national average electricity rate of $0.14 per kWh. By comparison, preheating and running a conventional oven for the same task used approximately 2.0 kWh — about 3.5 times more energy. Over a year of regular use (5 times per week), the air fryer could save an estimated $80-120 in energy costs compared to relying on a full-size oven for the same meals.

Our Verdict

Score: 8.8/10

The COSORI Air Fryer Pro II does not try to be everything to everyone, and that restraint is precisely what makes it so effective at what it does. It air fries exceptionally well. Frozen foods come out crispy in under 20 minutes. Proteins cook evenly with rendered, crackling skin. Vegetables get charred edges that taste like they came from a restaurant kitchen. And it does all of this at a price point that undercuts most comparably performing competitors.

The limitations are real but predictable for this category: the basket caps out at feeding two to three people comfortably, the short power cord is an annoyance, and there is no smart connectivity. None of these are dealbreakers for the target buyer — someone who wants a reliable, easy-to-use air fryer that delivers consistent results without a steep learning curve or a steep price tag.

With 38,000+ amazon reviews and a 4.6-star rating backing it up, the COSORI Air Fryer Pro II has earned its best-seller status. It is the air fryer we would recommend to most people buying their first unit, and it is one of the few kitchen gadgets that genuinely delivers on its promise of faster, healthier cooking with minimal effort.

Pros:

• Excellent crisping performance across all food categories tested, rivaling models priced $40-60 higher
• 12 one-touch presets with accurate time and temperature defaults that work well out of the box
• Built-in shake reminder helps prevent uneven cooking without requiring you to set a separate timer
• Dishwasher-safe basket with durable non-stick coating that showed no wear after three weeks of daily use
• 5.8-quart capacity offers more cooking room than most competitors at this price point
• Quiet operation at 55-60 dB — noticeably less intrusive than many competing models

Cons:

• 2.6-foot power cord severely limits countertop placement options
• No WiFi, app control, or voice assistant integration — you must be present to operate it
• Capacity becomes a bottleneck for families of four or more, requiring multiple batches
• Smaller items near the top of the basket can dry out due to proximity to the heating element