Big and brilliant: Cosori Dual Basket 8.5-Litre Air Fryer Review

The Cosori Dual Basket Air Fryer is more than just another air fryer. First, it has six different cooking options: Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, Bake, Grill, and Dry. It also has an 8.5-litre capacity, so it's easily big enough to cope with the catering needs of a family of four or five if needed. Finally, the true dual-function nature of the product makes it really versatile and able to cope with relatively complex mealtimes.

The overall feel of the fryer is one of high quality – it’s true it’s not light but thanks to that, the handles and baskets all feel satisfyingly solid and good quality. Having the 2 baskets side by side instead of on top of each other does take up more counter space but also makes the product easier to store as the appliance isn’t too tall.

At £159 RRP, this is an affordable appliance that will really let the dust gather on your oven… Full-time working mum Charlie, with a family of 4, put the Cosori Dual Basket Air Fryer through its paces.

Easy to use, even for a novice…

First off, this was my first air-frying experience, so I didn’t really know what to expect other than the much-publicised ‘healthier chips’. This is no small machine, so I was slightly concerned about it taking up space and ending up going the way of other large appliances of the past (let’s face it, I haven’t made bread in years!). However, I can confidently say this air fryer is staying for good.

Dual Basket – double the options and twice as easy

I know there are other dual-basket air fryers out there, but what sets this one apart is the range of cooking options coupled with the dual window design. Being able to easily see how the food is cooking (with each basket having its own independent light) might sound like a small detail, but it really made it easy to get food to just the right point without having to open the drawer to check progress and lose the heat.

I thought the different options might be a bit overwhelming and unnecessary but the product is straightforward to use. Pick the side (left or right), set the function, set the temp, set the time and you’re away. You can also set a shake reminder which is useful and easy to use too.

The “sync” function is also a nice little extra, not only is it super easy to cook two different dishes, but being able to sync the finish time felt like a time-saving hack in the kitchen.

The only function I’ve not found much of a use for is the pre-heat option – basically it will do this for 6 minutes if the function is on – but the fryer heats up so fast, I’ve yet to find this useful.
The accompanying instructions are straightforward but to be honest, I just had a play and figured it out mostly myself as that’s my usual approach.

The air fryer comes with some standard accessories to help you get the best cooking quality possible. First, there are 2 crisper plates, one for each basket. These made a real difference in getting potatoes and French fries super crispy. They are both non-stick, too, like the baskets, and super easy to clean either by hand or in the dishwasher. You can’t do that with your oven, can you?!

There’s also a baking rack so you can elevate food and get it evenly cooked when baking and a skewer rack with 4 skewers for more adventurous kebabs and grilling. This is a particular upside for my family as grilling is obviously a healthy way to cook and chicken kebabs a winner with the kids - but a real pain in terms of clean up.

Easy cooking

I've been impressed with how well the food cooked so far. Making homemade chips was so easy, I don’t think we’ll ever waste money on frozen chips again! They were super light and crisp on the outside and fluffy on the inside, good flavour from the little oil used, too. The only word of caution is that you wouldn’t do more than three large potatoes worth of chips in each basket; otherwise, it doesn’t work so well. You can either cook in batches or use both sides, of course.

The fryer has stood up to a range of tests and trials: cheese on toast using the grill, roasted chicken breast ready to shred for a salad, and, of course, multiple kids' after-school teas. The time saved on not having to pre-heat has been a real winner for me, especially for after-school teas before the kids are out for more activities: just quicker, easier, and faster to clean up.

Any downsides?

To be honest, it’s really hard to find much wrong with the Cosori Dual Basket. The biggest issue is its overall size—as a dual basket, it takes up a lot of space, which could be overpowering in a small kitchen…but then, most competitors on the market will be the same.

The only niggle I’ve had so far is that if you’re dual cooking and one to stop one side – you have to stop both and reset the one you want to continue.

Price and competition

The Cosori Dual Basket really does make a difference in the kitchen. This model sits at the top of Cosori's range thanks to its commodious size and features. Alternatives include the Ninja Foodi Max and Instant Vortex Plus ClearCook Versazone, both of which are similarly priced and equally, if not more, voluminous.

The Ninja Foodi Max lacks the easy viewing of each basket which I think is a really key benefit of the Cosori. The Cosori edges the Instant on price but is otherwise pracitally identical. The Instant is arguably a little sleeker looking however.

Verdict: Is it worth it?

The Cosori Dual Basket has made me a true air fryer convert. There’s plenty of space to cook for four people, and the flexibility has made life in the kitchen genuinely easier, both in terms of prep and cooking and cleaning afterwards (did I mention it goes in the dishwasher?). In the month I’ve had the product so far, the main oven has only been on once, deeply satisfying!

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Charlie Carlton-Watson is the Chief Digital Officer for Bauer Media.