Cosori TurboBlaze 6.0L Air Fryer CAF-DC601-KUK

The Verdict Upfront

The Cosori TurboBlaze CAF-DC601-KUK sits in that sweet spot between budget air fryers that do the bare minimum and premium models that cost twice as much. At £89.99, it delivers genuinely useful smart features, decent cooking performance, and enough capacity for most families without dominating your worktop like some behemoths.

Design and Build Quality

Cosori has clearly thought about kitchen real estate here. Despite packing 6 litres of capacity, the 32 x 32 x 35cm footprint is remarkably compact – you can actually fit a whole chicken inside without needing a kitchen the size of a small aircraft hangar. The build quality feels reassuringly solid at 5.4kg, with none of the flimsy plastic that plagues cheaper models like the Tower Vortx.

The control panel is refreshingly simple – a digital display with intuitive buttons rather than the confusing maze of icons you get on some competitors. The basket slides in and out smoothly, and the non-stick coating has held up well after months of testing. My only gripe is the rather prominent WiFi indicator light that seems unnecessarily bright in a darkened kitchen.

Cooking Performance

Here's where the TurboBlaze earns its name. The 1700W heating element and rapid air circulation genuinely do speed things up compared to my previous air fryer. Chips that took 18 minutes in my old unit are crispy and golden in 14 minutes here. The temperature range of 75-230°C covers everything from gentle reheating to proper searing.

Testing with a whole chicken (admittedly a smallish one at 1.4kg), the results were impressive – crispy skin, juicy meat, and even cooking throughout. The shake reminder actually proved useful for ensuring chips didn't stick together, though I wish it was customisable per recipe rather than a blanket setting.

However, the single basket design does limit you compared to dual-zone models. The Ninja Foodi MAX Dual Zone at £199.99 lets you cook different foods simultaneously at different temperatures – something you simply can't do here.

Smart Features That Actually Work

The VeSync app connectivity could have been a gimmicky add-on, but Cosori has implemented it sensibly. The 100 in-app recipes are genuinely helpful rather than just marketing fluff – I've successfully used the salmon and roasted vegetable programs multiple times. Being able to start cooking remotely or adjust temperature from the sofa isn't revolutionary, but it's genuinely convenient.

The app also tracks cooking history and sends notifications when your food is ready, which proved more useful than expected during busy weeknight cooking. The WiFi connection has remained stable throughout testing, unlike some smart appliances that seem to forget your network weekly.

The five preset cooking functions (fries, chicken, steak, seafood, and vegetables) provide good starting points, though experienced cooks will likely prefer manual control. The 60-minute timer is generous enough for most tasks, including slow-roasted items.

Value Against the Competition

At £89.99, the TurboBlaze undercuts the Philips Essential XL (£109.99) while offering superior smart features. The Philips might have slightly better cooking evenness, but the price difference and app functionality make the Cosori more appealing for most buyers.

Compared to the budget Tower Vortx at £54.99, you're paying £35 extra for WiFi connectivity, better build quality, and more reliable performance. If you'll never use smart features, the Tower might suffice, but the Cosori feels like a more mature product.

The elephant in the room is Ninja's dominance at the premium end. The Foodi MAX Dual Zone at £199.99 cooks more food more evenly, but costs more than double. For many households, that extra performance isn't worth £110.

The Practical Realities

Living with the TurboBlaze day-to-day reveals both strengths and limitations. The dishwasher-safe basket is genuinely easy to clean, and the compact design means it lives permanently on my worktop rather than being stored away. The relatively quiet operation (no specifications given, but noticeably quieter than the Tower Vortx) means you can hold conversations while it's running.

The 6-litre capacity handles family portions well – four generous portions of chips, three chicken breasts, or a whole small chicken. Larger families might find themselves cooking in batches, but that's true of most single-basket air fryers.

Final Thoughts

The Cosori TurboBlaze delivers exactly what its price point promises: solid performance with useful modern features. It won't revolutionise your cooking like the premium Ninja models might, but it'll reliably crisp your chips and roast your vegetables without breaking the bank or dominating your kitchen.

For £89.99, you're getting a well-engineered appliance that should serve most households admirably for years. Just don't expect miracles – this is a very good mid-range air fryer, not a premium cooking powerhouse.