Cosori Iconic Smart Air Fryer
Skip until Cosori discloses nonstick coating chemistry.
Cosori's Iconic Smart Air Fryer uses a nonstick-coated surface it won't describe publicly. No lab verification or third-party certification addresses the specific PFAS risk here.
The better-graded swap
Ninja
Ninja Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer Cooking System
75/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
nonstick-coated basket/tray; composition not publicly disclosed
Lab data
No public lab test
You may also be interested in
Top-graded picks in the categories readers replace first, every one scored on the same rubric.
- polypropylene filter housing, carbon/sediment cartridge
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial growth in spent cartridges
3 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Aquasure
Premier Series 75 GPD Under Sink Reverse Osmosis Water Filtration System
- RO membrane, carbon filters, stainless steel housing
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Bacterial and microbial growth in housing and filters
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Avocado
Vegan Mattress
- organic cotton, natural latex, coconut coir, recycled steel coils
- The brand calls it PFAS-free, which we have not verified
- Heavy metals
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
What Cosori Iconic Smart Air Fryer is made of, ingredients and materials
The Cosori Iconic uses a nonstick-coated basket and cooking tray, but Cosori has not publicly disclosed whether this coating is Teflon-type coating-based (traditional Teflon), ceramic, or an alternative formulation. The housing is plastic (type unspecified in public materials), and the heating element is electric. Without transparency on coating chemistry, users cannot definitively assess fluorochemical exposure or whether the coating meets current PFOA phase-out standards.
What’s concerning
Category baseline
The starting point for this type of product, before anything specific to this product is counted.
No PFAS disclosure
No public statement from the brand about PFAS in this product.
Non-stick, chemistry undisclosed
Marketed as non-stick without stating the coating chemistry.
Teflon-type coating-based nonstick coating degradation and fume release
If the basket uses traditional Teflon-type coating (Teflon), heating above 500°F can produce polymer fume inhalation event (Teflon-type coating), though air fryers typically operate 350-400°F. Cosori does not confirm the coating type, so this risk cannot be ruled out; degraded or flaking coating increases inhalation exposure.
PFAS
Nonstick coatings may contain PFAS "forever chemicals" (PFAS) to impart water and oil repellency. Repeated heating cycles can degrade the coating and potentially release fluorochemicals into food. Cosori's refusal to disclose coating chemistry means PFAS exposure is unquantified but plausible.
Source, ATSDR ↗Unspecified plastic housing leachables
The external housing and internal plastic components are not identified by polymer type (ABS, polycarbonate, polyethylene, etc.) in public materials. If polycarbonate, BPA leaching is theoretically possible under repeated heating; if recycled plastic, contaminant loads are unknown.
Nonstick coating mechanical wear and microparticle ingestion
Air fryer baskets with worn or scratched nonstick coatings can shed microscopic particles into food during cooking. This is a known failure mode across the air fryer category, including Cosori units, though no specific recall has been issued for this brand.
Inadequate cleaning and bacterial/mold growth in basket crevices
Nonstick basket surfaces with deep ridges or crevices can trap moisture and food residue, creating environments for bacterial or mold proliferation if not thoroughly dried. This is a maintenance risk rather than material toxicity but affects food safety.
How is this PFAS grade calculated?
The brand's record and disclosure
Cosori does not maintain a public materials disclosure policy or third-party certifications (NSF, Cradle to Cradle) specific to nonstick safety. The company has faced no major recalls tied to nonstick coatings as of available records, but their silence on PFAS and coating composition contrasts with competitors like Ninja and Instant Pot, which have begun disclosing lower-concern alternatives or phase-out commitments. This lack of transparency is a red flag for informed purchasing.
How it compares in its category
Most air fryers (Ninja, Instant Pot, Philips) use similar nonstick baskets without full public disclosure, making this a category-wide issue rather than a Cosori outlier. However, some brands now offer ceramic or Teflon-type coating-free options. Cosori's lack of stated material alternatives puts it in the middle of the transparency spectrum for the category, neither leading nor trailing competitors.
If you buy it
Operate below 400°F to minimize any nonstick coating degradation or fume release; Teflon-type coating and some ceramic coatings can degrade above this threshold. Replace the basket or tray every 12-24 months of regular use, sooner if the coating visibly flakes or peels. Hand-wash only and avoid abrasive scrubbers to preserve the coating. Ensure good kitchen ventilation during use as a precaution against any fume release from the nonstick layer.
What is not known about PFAS in this product?
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Cosori has made a specific claim
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
What are the PFAS-free alternatives to Cosori Iconic Smart Air Fryer?
- borosilicate glass, bare uncoated
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Thermal shock and fracture
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
- borosilicate glass
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Aluminum leaching from base/housing
4 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on Amazon
- glass bowl, stainless steel exterior
- We found no PFAS statement from the brand
- Thermal stress and glass breakage
2 hazards checked on this product, all on its full breakdown.
Find an alternative on AmazonMore air fryers grades
How we score, every product runs through the same public 0-100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.