Think Air Fryers Are Ugly? Behold Cosori’s New Stainless-Steel Model

Plastic has been a huge part of traditional air fryer designs, which comes with its share of problems. Plastic has the potential to collect grease, grime and fingerprints. Aesthetically, plastic doesn’t always complement other kitchen appliances, especially if you splurge on high-end showpieces. That’s why many air fryer brands are now increasing the amount of glass in their products or shifting to toaster oven combos to reduce plastic use. 

VeSync is betting on something even classier: a premium stainless steel look. Its latest model, the 6.5-quart Cosori Iconic, was recently showcased at CES 2026. I’ve been testing the Iconic for the past few weeks, and I’m thoroughly impressed with the design. Let’s jump right into what I like and dislike about the Cosori Iconic.

The Cosori Iconic’s design is exceptional

I don’t normally think about aesthetics when it comes to small kitchen appliances because functionality takes priority. But even I have to admit that the polished stainless steel curves of the Cosori Iconic are key to its appeal. The vertical exterior surfaces feature a brushed stainless steel that isn’t as reflective. The flat, black glass control panel at the top of the unit is equally eye-catching, though I had to stop myself from storing things on it more than once.

The exterior is fairly easy to clean with a damp rag, though you might need a stainless-steel cleaner to remove stubborn fingerprints and grime from the brushed steel. In most cases, I found a dry, soft cloth to be more than enough to polish the glass and the rounded section just above the basket compartment.

Unlike the nonstick coating of my existing air fryer, I’m happy to report that you can wipe off most oil and residue with a rag or paper towel. For everything else, you can place the entire basket and crisper plate in the dishwasher. I typically wash it by hand to leave space for other dirty dishes.

I cooked several things in a row without cleaning the basket, and grease built up on its sides. These stubborn patches of grime required a couple of minutes with a nonstick safe scrubbing pad to remove. I highly recommend washing the basket after the final batch of each air fryer meal to prevent sticky buildup.

Unlike CNET’s current top air fryer pick, the Ninja Crispi, Iconic’s 6.5-quart basket isn’t something you can toss in the fridge. 

The Cosori Iconic’s footprint is roughly 15 by 12 inches, so you’ll need a spacious countertop or cabinet for storage when not in use.

The basket gets very hot during cooking, so place it on a hot pad or heat-safe surface when you remove it. Though the manual says not to touch the sides of the air fryer while it’s running, I didn’t notice excessive heating in the case during my time with the unit. Still, it’s always smart to play it safe by avoiding the sides of the machine while it’s in use.

Great controls and a handy mobile app

The 90-degree to 450-degree Fahrenheit temperature range covers the expected air fryer modes: air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, proof and reheat. You can also connect the smart air fryer to your Wi-Fi network to unlock smart home controls and recipes in the VeSync app. It’s possible to scan the barcode on items with the app to look up cooking instructions, but this didn’t work for a package of chocolate chip cookies.

Using the VeSync app, I made some chicken drumsticks without any recipes — the only things I needed were some seasoning salt and the weight of the food. Then the Iconic chose the best setting and temperature. In an air fry mode at 395 degrees F for 19 minutes, the drumsticks turned out crisp and juicy.

One thing to note about the app controls (and Google Home integration) is that you can’t start the cooking cycle using your phone. You can send preset cooking settings to the machine with the VeSync app, but only the control panel can start the cooking process. This vital safety feature prevents the unit from automatically switching to baking mode after 2 hours of proofing.

Solid cooking performance

In addition to cookies and drumsticks, I tried every setting on the Cosori Iconic except the dehydrate mode, though I plan to dry some fresh herbs when I have more time. Fresh roasted potatoes and pork chops turned out great, with no additional settings tweaks.

Proofing frozen cinnamon rolls was a little tedious, as I think the max temperature of 110 degrees F is better for fresh dough than for frozen. I expected it to take about 90 minutes, but it ended up lasting two and a half hours before I was happy with the result. Aside from the added proofing time, the finished cinnamon rolls had a nice, pillowy texture that wasn’t too dry.

Seeing as my current air fryer — a specialized air fryer lid for my Instant Pot — is rather small, I wanted to try cooking something that wouldn’t fit in that unit: frozen pizza. My pizza attempt was a little overdone due to my lack of experience, but it was still edible and evenly cooked.

Is the Cosori Iconic worth it?

At $249, the Iconic easily fits into the premium air fryer category and is Cosori’s most expensive model. Even among the competition, many of the pricier units are multicookers or air fryer ovens. That said, the Cosori Iconic’s five-year warranty is a major highlight compared to the relatively weak one- and two-year coverage that’s common among small kitchen appliances.

Despite being a perfectly capable machine, I think many people will be just as happy with a typical air fryer in the $100 to $200 range. 

The Cosori Iconic’s aesthetics are unquestionably its best feature, and I hope more brands will produce air fryers that look nicer. Additionally, the easy cleaning and long warranty help soften the higher purchase price.