‎COSORI ‎CP158-AF Air Fryer - Review

The COSORI Air Fryer CP158-AF is a popular air fryer model from COSORI, a reputable brand known for its kitchen appliances. COSORI launched in 2016 and has since gained a loyal following for its innovative, user-friendly products.

The CP158-AF air fryer aims to provide a healthier cooking alternative by using rapid air circulation technology to “fry” foods with little to no oil. This makes it easy to cook crispy foods like fries, chicken wings, and more with up to 85% less fat than traditional deep frying.

With its modern design and range of features, the CP158-AF model promises to be an ideal option for anyone looking to cook their favorite fried foods in a fast, convenient, and healthier way. We’ll take a closer look at how it performs across key criteria from design to ease of use.

Design & Build Quality

The Cosori Air Fryer CP158-AF has a sleek and modern design that will look great on any kitchen counter. It is made of plastic with a stainless steel front, giving it a premium look and feel. The dimensions are 11.8 x 11.8 x 12.6 inches, making it a good size for most kitchens without taking up too much space. It weighs in at 14.11 lbs, so it's sturdy but still relatively lightweight and easy to move around.

The basket has a nonstick coating which allows for easy cleanup and is dishwasher safe. It also features a cool touch handle and detachable basket, so removing food is simple and safe. The touch screen display is user friendly with large buttons and icons, adding to the intuitive design. Overall, the fryer has a well-built quality with nice aesthetics and thoughtful design features.

When comparing the Cosori Air Fryer to other models on the market, it stands out for its premium design and quality construction. For example, the Daewoo SDA1032 is a more budget-friendly option made mostly of plastic with a much simpler interface. While it can still air fry food, the Daewoo model lacks some of the nicer touches of the Cosori fryer. The Cosori has a fully digital touchscreen compared to the Daewoo's manual knobs and buttons. It also has a more elegant and modern style that looks great displayed in the kitchen.

The stainless steel front on the Cosori gives it a sleeker appearance compared to the all-plastic Daewoo model. And the Cosori weighs a couple pounds more than the Daewoo, at 14.11 lbs vs 12.3 lbs, giving it a sturdier and higher quality feel. The nonstick basket in the Cosori is removable for easy cleaning, unlike the fixed basket in the Daewoo. So while the Daewoo SDA1032 air fryer is a decent budget option, the Cosori CP158-AF offers superior design, build quality, and features for just a bit more investment.

When researching air fryers, it’s worth looking at the warranty coverage as one indicator of expected product lifetime and overall quality. The Cosori fryer comes with a 1-year limited warranty compared to just 90 days for the Daewoo model. The longer warranty highlights how Cosori stands behind their product and expects it to last. Overall, if you’re looking for an air fryer with thoughtful design touches, sturdy construction, and modern styling, the Cosori CP158-AF is an excellent choice worth the price.

Features & Settings

The Cosori Air Fryer CP158-AF comes with several useful features and settings that allow you to get the most out of this appliance.

Touchscreen Controls

This air fryer has a large touchscreen display that allows you to easily select cooking presets, adjust the temperature, set the timer, and turn the machine on and off. The touchscreen is very responsive and easy to use even with messy fingers. You can wipe it clean after cooking.

11 Preset Cooking Programs

The Cosori includes 11 preset functions for air frying, roasting, broiling, baking, reheating, dehydrating, and more. This makes it easy to cook a variety of foods by just selecting the appropriate preset and adjusting the time and temperature as needed. Presets include frozen foods, steak, poultry, shrimp, bacon, fries, vegetables, and more.

Adjustable Temperature Range

The temperature can be adjusted from 170°F to 400°F, providing a wide range for different cooking needs. You can cook everything from delicate seafood to crispy fries. The adjustable range in increments of 5 degrees allows you to fine tune the temperature as per your recipe.

Timer with Auto Shut Off

The digital touchscreen makes it easy to set the timer for up to 60 minutes. There is an auto shut off feature that turns the fryer off once the timer expires. This prevents overcooking or burning your food. You can adjust the timer as needed during the cooking process.

Overall, the intuitive touchscreen controls, presets, and adjustable temperature range allow you to cook a variety of foods easily and efficiently in the Cosori Air Fryer. The Cosori Air Fryer offers a good balance of features, functionality, and value. However, those looking for even more cooking options may want to consider the Philips HD9280/91 Airfryer. This premium Philips air fryer has over 200 preset recipes, Smart Sensing technology to automatically adjust time and temperature, and a keep warm function. With 7 cooking presets, adjustable temperature up to 390°F, and a 60 minute timer, the Philips HD9280/91 allows you to air fry, bake, grill, roast, and even reheat leftovers. An integrated fat reducer captures excess fat from the fried food for healthier cooking. So if you want maximum versatility and smart programs that take the guesswork out of air frying, the Philips HD9280/91 is worth considering.

Performance

The Cosori Air Fryer CP158-AF delivers outstanding performance for an air fryer in this price range. It heats up rapidly, reaching the target temperature in just 3 minutes, so you can start cooking with minimal delay.

Once it's heated up, the Cosori cooks food quickly and evenly thanks to its 360° Air Circulation technology that circulates hot air around the entire basket. Food comes out crispy on the outside and tender on the inside in a fraction of the time it would take in a conventional oven. Chicken wings, fries, and veggies all cook to perfection in 10-15 minutes.

The Cosori also excels at reheating leftovers without drying them out. Pizza, fries, and chicken tenders retain their texture and moisture when using the air fry function to reheat.

Noise levels are reasonable for an air fryer. There is a faint hum when the fan is circulating the air, but it's not overly loud or disruptive. You can carry on a conversation in the same room without having to raise your voice. The audible alerts when preheating is complete or when timer goes off are also pleasant, not harsh.

Overall, the Cosori delivers outstanding cooking performance for an air fryer at this price point. The rapid preheating, quick cook times, and even results make it a pleasure to use.

Ease of Use

The Cosori Air Fryer CP158-AF is designed to be very user-friendly. The large LED touchscreen display makes selecting settings a breeze. There are 11 presets to choose from by simply tapping the icon, including popular options like fries, steak, chicken, seafood, bacon, frozen foods, and more. You can also manually set the temperature from 170°F to 400°F in 5° increments and the cooking time from 1 to 60 minutes.

The non-stick basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. An included cleaning brush helps remove any stuck-on food particles. The parts are made to be detached and reattached smoothly. The basket has a cool touch handle and button guard to protect your fingers while cooking.

Accessories included are a multi-layer rack, skewers, and a cookbook with over 100 air fryer recipes. The layered rack helps you cook multiple ingredients at once by stacking. The skewers are great for making kabobs or anything on a stick. And the cookbook gives you plenty of recipe ideas to get started with your new air fryer.

Recipes & Cookbook

One of the best parts of purchasing the Cosori Air Fryer is that it comes with a recipe book with over 100 delicious and healthy air fryer recipes. This sets it apart from many other air fryer models that don't include any guidance on how to use the appliance.

The recipe book has a great variety of recipes, with options for breakfast, lunch, dinner, snacks, and desserts. You'll find recipes for favorites like fried chicken, french fries, and donuts that you can make in a healthier way with the air fryer. There are also unique recipes that were created specifically for the air fryer, like air fried salmon burgers, brussels sprouts petals, and apple turnovers.

The recipes cover a diverse range of cuisines and flavors from all over the world. No matter what you're craving, you'll find a recipe for it in this book. Having access to these air fryer recipes right out of the box makes it easy to start cooking with the Cosori air fryer immediately. You don't have to rely on finding air fryer recipes online or coming up with your own.

Safety Features

The Cosori Air Fryer CP158-AF has several useful safety features to provide peace of mind when using this kitchen appliance.

One key feature is the auto shut off which will automatically turn the fryer off if it has been left running for a certain period of time. This helps prevent overheating or fire hazards if you accidentally leave the machine turned on.

The exterior of the fryer remains cool touch even during operation. This is thanks to the double layer of protection and good insulation which prevents excess heat on the outside of the appliance. You can safely touch the fryer even when cooking at high temperatures without risk of burns.

The non-stick cooking basket is also BPA and PFOA free, avoiding any concerns about harmful chemicals leaching into foods during air frying. Overall, the Cosori air fryer seems to have well implemented safety features for consumer protection and ease of use.

Pros

The COSORI Air Fryer CP158-AF has several excellent features that make it a top choice for air frying:

• Large capacity: With its 5.8qt basket, it can cook enough food for 3-5 people at once. This is convenient for cooking meals for the whole family.

• User-friendly controls: The touchscreen interface and presets make it very easy to use. Even beginners can start air frying with minimal learning curve. The shake reminder helps ensure evenly cooked food.

• Good performance: It delivers fast, crispy, evenly-cooked results with little to no oil needed. Food comes out with a tasty, air-fried texture without being greasy. It rivals deep frying.

• Versatile: In addition to air frying, it has functions for roasting, broiling, baking, reheating, dehydrating, and more. So it can replace several other appliances. The included cookbook provides lots of recipe ideas.

• Safety features: An automatic shut-off prevents overheating. And the cool-touch housing stays safe to touch externally which is useful when cooking for kids.

Cons

• The air fryer is on the larger side, taking up more counter space. At 11.8 x 11.5 x 12.6 inches, it has a substantial footprint.

• The touchscreen interface can be finicky at times. It may require multiple presses to register a selection.

• While mostly user-friendly, the manual can be confusing regarding cooking times. It's best to start with minimum times and check food frequently.

• The air fryer gets hot on the exterior while cooking. Care should be taken, especially if children are present.

• Some users report the nonstick coating on the basket peeling or chipping over time. Durability may be an issue with heavy use.

Conclusion

The COSORI CP158-AF air fryer is an excellent addition to any kitchen. With its modern design, user-friendly interface, and range of features, it makes air frying quick and easy. The large capacity is suitable for families, while the presets take the guesswork out of cooking times and temperatures.

Performance is very impressive, producing deliciously crispy food with significantly less oil than deep frying. The non-stick and dishwasher safe basket and drawer also make cleanup a breeze. Safety features like auto shut off provide peace of mind.

While the price is higher than some competitors, the quality and results justify the investment for most. Lack of accessories like extra trays or a cookbook may be a downside for some.

Overall, the COSORI air fryer delivers on its promise of healthier fried food with great taste. For those seeking an easy to use, versatile air fryer packed with features, it's a great choice that outperforms many alternatives. With thorough cooking and thoughtful design, it earns a strong recommendation.