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Why I Tested This One
After three months with the Ninja AF101 — which I love for what it is — I wanted to test the model I most frequently recommend to families who keep telling me the 4-quart basket isn’t big enough. The Cosori Pro II 5.8-Qt is the answer I give almost every time someone asks what air fryer to buy for a family of four or five. So I bought one and ran it through eight weeks of proper family cooking to make sure my recommendation was still right.
It is. Here’s everything I found.
Cosori Pro II Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 5.8 quarts |
| Wattage | 1,800 W |
| Functions | 12 presets (Chips, Chicken, Steak, Seafood, Bacon, Frozen Foods, Bread, Pizza, Cake, Vegetables, Reheat, Dehydrate) |
| Max temperature | 230°C |
| Basket shape | Square |
| Basket material | Ceramic non-stick coating |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes (basket and crisper plate) |
| App | VeSync (iOS and Android) |
| Warranty | 1 year |
| Price | ~£90–110 |
How I Tested It
Eight weeks, family of five (two adults, three children aged 6, 9, and 13). 52 tracked uses. Meals included chicken thighs and breasts (17 times), chips and roasted vegetables (18 times), fish fillets, pork chops, homemade sausage rolls, bacon, reheated leftovers, and one attempt at a small Victoria sponge (it worked, surprisingly). I tested the app, all 12 presets, and washed the basket by hand and in the dishwasher on alternating weeks to compare.
What Works
The square basket is a genuine advantage
Most air fryer baskets are round or oval. The Cosori Pro II’s square basket means significantly more usable surface area for the same stated capacity. In practical terms: four large chicken thighs lay flat without overlapping, compared to three in a comparably-sized round basket. A salmon fillet sits flat rather than getting bent at the edges. This matters every time you cook.
12 presets that are actually calibrated correctly
Unlike the vague temperature guides in most air fryer manuals, the Cosori’s presets give results that are consistently accurate. The Chicken preset at 190°C for 25 minutes produces correctly cooked bone-in thighs without manual adjustment. I’ve used the Frozen Foods preset on everything from potato waffles to fish fingers and it’s been right every time.
The VeSync app is useful, not just a selling point
I was sceptical of the app. Apps on kitchen appliances are usually abandoned after two uses. The Cosori app has 100+ recipes with exact cook times, a shake reminder that sends a notification at the halfway point, and the ability to start the fryer remotely (useful for preheating from another room). I use it two or three times a week, which I wasn’t expecting.
Cleanup is fast even at maximum capacity
The ceramic non-stick coating releases food cleanly even after cooking fatty cuts like bacon or chicken thighs. The basket and crisper plate both clean in under two minutes by hand. After eight weeks of daily use — including dishwasher cycles — the coating shows no sign of degradation.
Reaches 230°C — higher than most
The Cosori Pro II reaches 230°C, higher than the Ninja AF101’s 205°C ceiling. For searing-hot crispiness on wings or getting proper colour on homemade chips, the extra temperature headroom is noticeable.
What Doesn’t Work
The app requires account creation and internet
You can use the air fryer perfectly well without the app. But if you want to use the shake reminder or remote start, you need a VeSync account and a working Wi-Fi connection. The air fryer itself works offline; the app features don’t. This is a reasonable trade-off but worth knowing.
Slightly louder than the Ninja AF101
The Cosori is noticeably louder at high temperatures — not disruptively loud, but I’m aware of it in a way I wasn’t with the Ninja. This matters if you have an open-plan kitchen adjacent to a living room where children are watching something quietly.
Basket coating requires care with utensils
The ceramic non-stick is durable but reacts badly to metal utensils. Use silicone or wooden tongs to avoid scratches. The Ninja AF101’s coating is more forgiving of accidental metal contact in my experience.
No dual-zone cooking
If you want to cook two things at completely different temperatures simultaneously, you’ll need the Ninja Foodi DZ201. The Cosori is one basket, one temperature.
Who Should Skip It
- Families of five or more cooking large bone-in pieces daily — consider the Cosori 6.8-Qt or Philips XXL for more capacity
- Households wanting dual-zone cooking — Ninja Foodi DZ201
- Budget-constrained buyers — the Ninja AF101 at £70 delivers 80% of the experience for families of 2–4
Comparison with Key Alternatives
| Model | Capacity | Price | Key Advantage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cosori Pro II 5.8-Qt | 5.8 qt | ~£90 | Square basket, 12 presets, app |
| Ninja AF101 | 4 qt | ~£70 | Cheaper, more compact |
| Instant Vortex Plus | 6 qt | ~£80 | More capacity, slightly cheaper |
| Philips XXL | 7 qt | ~£200 | Best capacity, crispiest results |
| Cosori 6.8-Qt | 6.8 qt | ~£110 | More capacity, same brand quality |
Final Verdict
The Cosori Pro II 5.8-Qt is the best family air fryer I’ve tested at this price point. The square basket maximises usable space, the presets are accurately calibrated, and the app is genuinely useful after the novelty wears off. For families of three to five, it hits the sweet spot between capacity and price that no other model in this range manages quite as well.
Buy it if: Family of 3–5, want proper presets, use the air fryer daily, want the app features.
Skip it if: Family of 5+ who cook large batches every night (go bigger), or you’re on a tight budget and family is 2–4 (the Ninja AF101 is fine).
Frequently Asked Questions
How big is 5.8 quarts in real terms?
The 5.8-quart square basket comfortably holds four large chicken thighs, a 600g salmon side, approximately 600g of chips from scratch, or three pork chops. For a family of four, this is enough for most meals in a single batch. For five people with bone-in cuts, you may occasionally need two smaller batches.
Does the Cosori Pro II need preheating?
There’s no dedicated preheat function, but the presets account for this in their cook times. For best results with fresh (non-frozen) food, I run it empty at the target temperature for 3 minutes before adding food. This gives more consistent crispiness.
Is the ceramic coating actually non-toxic?
Yes — Cosori’s ceramic coating is PFOA-free and PFAS-free. This is one of the reasons I prefer ceramic-coated baskets over standard PTFE non-stick for daily family cooking.
Can you cook a whole chicken in the Cosori Pro II 5.8-Qt?
A small whole chicken of around 1.2–1.4 kg will fit, but it’s a tight squeeze. For whole chickens larger than that, you’ll need the Cosori 6.8-Qt or Philips XXL. I tested a 1.3 kg chicken and it worked, but I had to tuck the wings in.
How does it compare to the Ninja AF101?
The Cosori Pro II is better in almost every measurable way except price and compactness. The Ninja AF101 is £20 cheaper and smaller, making it the right choice for families of 2–4 with limited counter space. For families of 4–5 who cook daily, the Cosori’s extra capacity and preset features are worth the extra £20.
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