The Cosori TwinFry is now available in the US and ready to rival the Ninja FlexDrawer. But is it as good as, or maybe even better than, the market leader? This article covers everything you need to know about the Cosori TwinFry & Ninja FlexDrawer Comparions so you can make the right buying decision.
Table of Contents
What Is the Cosori TwinFry?
The Cosori TwinFry is a single drawer air fryer with a removable divider that promises the best of both worlds. It gives you a really large single drawer where you can comfortably fit a joint for roasting, and a divider that cuts the drawer in half to create two separate cooking zones, each capable of running at two different temperatures.
Key Features That Set It Apart From the Ninja FlexDrawer
The Cosori TwinFry brings two major added features over the Ninja FlexDrawer. First, Cosori has taken the technology from their DualBlaze model and given the TwinFry not two but four heating elements, two above and two below. The idea behind having heating elements both above and below is that it eliminates the need to shake the contents of the drawer during cooking.
This makes particular sense on this model. For example, if you have salmon fillets on one side and potatoes on the other, shaking the entire drawer could break the salmon apart while you are simply trying to even out the browning of the potatoes. Having heat from both directions solves this problem elegantly.
Wi-Fi and Smart App Connectivity
The second major addition is Wi-Fi connectivity, which means you can control the TwinFry through a dedicated app. You do not have to use the app if you prefer not to. The standard controls work just fine on their own.
But if you do want to use it, you simply turn the air fryer on, press and hold the power button until it enters pairing mode, and the Wi-Fi symbol appears on the top right of the display. From there, you select the plus sign in the app to add your air fryer and it should detect automatically.
Inside the app, you can program the drawer by individual zones or together, and you also get access to a large library of cooking times and temperatures. You simply select what you are cooking and the weight, and it tells you exactly what time and temperature to use. The app defaults to ounces but you can switch to grams in the settings.
Cooking Functions
The TwinFry offers six cooking functions. Air Fry runs at full power from both top and bottom. Roast also uses full power top and bottom with the same temperature range but a longer time range. Bake uses medium power on top and full power on the bottom. Grill uses heat from the top only. Reheat uses medium heat from both top and bottom. Finally, Dry or Dehydrate uses low heat from both top and bottom.
There are also Match and Sync options that let you duplicate settings across both halves of the drawer and set both zones to finish cooking at exactly the same time. Cosori has branded the large full basket cooking area the GrandZone, and you can switch between that and Zone One or Zone Two using the controls at the bottom of the display. There is no preheat function on this model and, fittingly, no shake reminder either since the four heating elements are designed to make shaking unnecessary.
Also Read: Cosori Dual Blaze Review
Real World Cooking Results
The first cooking test was a batch of frozen chips cooked for 50 minutes on Air Fry at 200 degrees Celsius with no shaking or moving at all. The result was really good, even browning all over. The lower heating elements did an excellent job.
Sausages
Sausages fared less well. Packed in quite tightly on one half of the drawer, they did need turning with tongs to ensure even browning. This is likely because they were overfilled. As most air fryer users know, the key to successful air frying is not overfilling the drawer and allowing heat to circulate properly around the food. The potatoes on the other side of the drawer, which were not as tightly packed, did not have the same problem.
Running Costs
If you are concerned about the cost of running a model with four heating elements, the results may surprise you. With one half of the drawer running, the TwinFry used 0.148 kWh over a 10 minute test at 200 degrees Celsius on Air Fry. With both halves running, it used 0.260 kWh. That is actually less than running both drawers of the Ninja AF400, which is a genuinely impressive result.
Design and Usability
The TwinFry’s drawer has an entirely flat bottom, which is a practical advantage over the Ninja FlexDrawer, which has a ridge running front to back that can limit the kinds of dishes you can fit in when you are not using the crisper plates.
The crisper plates on the TwinFry are straight on one side and curved on the other, so there is a right way and a wrong way to place them. However, they are numbered to match the inside of the drawer, making it straightforward to get the hang of quickly.
The Downsides of the Cosori TwinFry
Heat Bleed Between Zones
The divider appears to be the same as the one used in the Ninja FlexDrawer, and while it keeps foods separated, there is some heat bleed between the two zones. In testing, with the left side running on Air Fry at 205 degrees and the right side set to Bake at 160 degrees, after 10 minutes the right side measured 175 degrees, which is 15 degrees higher than set.
Attempting to compensate by setting the right side to 140 degrees still resulted in a reading of 155 degrees after 10 minutes, again 15 degrees over. The conclusion is that heat bleed is present and you need to be aware of it, but you can work around it by adjusting the temperature of the cooler zone to compensate once you get familiar with the air fryer.
Washing Up Challenges
The large single drawer is a little awkward to wash up. If you have a shallow sink, this becomes even more of a challenge. Even if you only use one half of the drawer for cooking, you will still be washing up the entire large drawer every single time. It is not a deal breaker on its own, but it is worth keeping in mind.
Tipping and Pouring
With different foods on each side of the drawer, it is not easy to pour or tip out the contents without risking spilling. Even when using the whole drawer for the same food, tipping it up can be a little awkward.
Mid-Cook Additions
If you want to add food to one side of the drawer midway through cooking, you have to pause the already cooking side and pull the whole drawer out, which lets all the heat escape. It is a small inconvenience but worth mentioning.
The Removable Divider
The removable divider is small and easy to misplace. It is also easy to mistake for a tablet when spotted out of the corner of your eye during food prep. A minor issue but one worth being aware of.
Comparison Table: Cosori TwinFry vs Ninja FlexDrawer
| Feature | Cosori TwinFry | Ninja FlexDrawer |
|---|---|---|
| Drawer Style | Single drawer with removable divider | Single drawer with removable divider |
| Heating Elements | 4 (2 top, 2 bottom) | 2 |
| Wi-Fi and App Support | Yes | No |
| Cooking Zones | 2 (or full GrandZone) | 2 (or full basket) |
| Cooking Functions | 6 | Standard functions |
| No Shake Required | Yes (in theory) | No |
| Preheat Function | No | No |
| Flat Drawer Bottom | Yes | No (has front to back ridge) |
| Heat Bleed Between Zones | Yes (approx. 15 degrees) | Yes |
| Running Cost (both halves) | 0.260 kWh per 10 min | Higher than TwinFry |
| Price | Slightly higher | Lower |
| Smart App | Yes | No |
The Verdict
The TwinFry is primarily a single drawer air fryer. The divider is imperfect and works best when you are cooking two things at very similar temperatures. That said, with a bit of experience and temperature adjustment, the heat bleed issue can largely be managed.
If this style of air fryer suits your cooking needs, the vote here goes to the Cosori TwinFry over the Ninja FlexDrawer. The four heating elements, which might initially seem like a gimmick, actually serve a genuinely useful purpose on this model by promoting more even cooking without shaking. Add to that the smart app functionality and surprisingly competitive running costs, and the TwinFry makes a strong case for itself.
Read More: Ninja Combi Recipe Book Review
