French fries and chicken nuggets cooked using the standard time and temperature settings recommended on the packaging came out less browned than we’d like. And both batches cooked unevenly—none of the fries had a nice golden crisp to them, and a handful of the bunch were overly floppy and soggy. Similarly, the breading on the chicken nuggets was pale and black decker air fryer crumbly in comparison to the batches that the Philips Premium Airfryer produced. But we’ve found that most pod-shaped air fryers struggle to cook food evenly due to their cramped cooking baskets. For the price—and the nice user interface—we still think the Pro LE is a good option. The Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer was the best model we tested for around $100.
GROUNDED PLUGAs a safety feature, this product is equipped with a grounded plug, which will only fit into a three-prong outlet. Improper connection of the grounding conductor may result in the risk of electric shock. Consult a qualified electrician if you are in doubt as to whether the outlet is properly grounded. We independently evaluate all recommended products and services.
The tempered-glass display on the top of the machine is slightly slanted to make it a little easier to see on a high countertop. In February Cosori issued a recall of 21 air fryer models following incidents of them catching fire, melting, overheating, or smoking. Our budget pick, the Cosori Pro LE Air Fryer, isn’t part of the recall. In our testing, the Extra Wide Crisp N’ Bake never managed to nail a temperature setting, with the actual temperature always differing from the set temperature by a relatively wide margin. The saving grace is that it always ran hot, so you could somewhat counteract this by setting the temperature a bit lower. However, the degree to which it runs hot is not consistent either — it usually ran 15-30˚ hot in our tests, but sometimes was as much as 50˚ above the set temperature, and occasionally only 5˚ over.
In a small kitchen, bachelor pad, dorm room or RV, we see these products being an irreplaceable addition to daily life. Incredibly, we foresee these appliances as able to replace kitchen stalwarts such as small convection ovens, toasters and toaster ovens. Manufacturers of air fryers rightfully market them as a healthy alternative to frying. The mechanics of the machine allow you to cook with little to no oil and still create delicious, tender and appetizing cuisine.
Join our newsletter to get notified of the best products available for your home. Whether you’re trying to watch your weight or find a few extra minutes in your busy life (aren’t we all?), there’s a use for you. Basically, we gently beat the machines up to simulate repeated use in a busy household where you depend on your appliances to hold up to the daily challenges of life. As before, the most difficult component with the Philips was the metal grate system at the bottom of the fry tray.