This is the main conclusion I could draw after having tried the models most in demand by Amazon users of each brand. However, this does not mean that there are no differences between them, which there are, and that is why it is more interesting to take a look at this review. If you are thinking of buying an efficient, good value for money and easy to use oil-less deep fryer, both Cosori and Mellerware will work for you.
That’s why I’m going to explain the most important features of each one to make it easier for you to choose the one that best suits your needs. Are you ready? Let’s get started!
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Cosori vs Mellerware: Where does each brand come from?
The first thing we are going to do is to see where these brands come from and what we should know about them.
Cosori is a brand of kitchen appliances, including air fryers, that was founded in 2017 in California, United States. The company was created by a group of young entrepreneurs who wanted to create innovative, high-quality kitchen appliances that would make cooking easier and more enjoyable for people.
Cosori’s founders realised that many people were interested in the health benefits of air frying, but were discouraged by the high cost of existing air fryers on the market. They set out to create an affordable air fryer that would offer excellent performance and quality.
After a long process of research and development, the Cosori team designed their first air fryer, the CP158-AF. The product was an immediate success, and the company has since expanded its product line to include a range of air fryers, pressure cookers, blenders and other kitchen appliances.
Mellerware is a small appliance brand founded in South Africa in 1982. The company was founded by Neil Meller, who recognised the need for affordable, high quality appliances in the South African market.
The brand quickly became popular in South Africa, offering a wide range of products such as toasters, kettles, blenders and more. Mellerware focused on developing user-friendly, reliable and durable products, which helped the brand build a strong reputation for quality.
Over the years, Mellerware has continued to expand its product range, with a particular focus on kitchen appliances. Today, the brand offers a wide range of products, including coffee makers, food processors, slow cookers, and many other small appliances.
Cosori vs Mellerware: My favourite models
Here are the main features of the oil-less fryers I like the most from each brand.
Cosori Smart Chef Edition 5,5 – Power for large families
It’s worth noting that the two Cosori fryers I’ve chosen are the Smart Chef Edition version, but they have different capacities. This model has a 5.5 litre bowl capacity, which is enough for about 4-5 people, although this will depend on how much they eat. The pan is square in shape, dishwasher safe and PFOA free. It also has a non-stick coating to prevent food from sticking.
This oil-free fryer, which has a power of 1700 watts, has a total of 11 programmes to choose from, which can be toggled on the touch screen. Amongst these functions, the keep food warm function and the preheating function stand out. The heating technology that this model has makes the air circulate in a 360º circuit, so that cooking is more homogeneous.
In terms of connectivity, it is worth noting that you can synchronise the fryer with a mobile app, so that you can switch it on, adjust the time and temperature or change the cooking mode via your mobile. It also has an auto shut-off function, which ensures that it won’t stay on in case you get distracted.
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Cosori Smart Chef Edition 3.5 – A more manageable fryer
Let’s now look at the second Cosori model which, as you know, is also the Smart Chef Edition. The difference is that this fryer is smaller, as it has a 3.5 litre capacity bowl. Therefore, while the previous model was designed for families of 4 people or more, this Cosori model is designed for people who live alone or as a couple, as it cooks approximately 2-4 portions.
As a result, it has a slightly lower power of 1500 watts, although I have to admit that this difference is imperceptible. Otherwise, this is the same model as the one we have just analysed, and it shares all the other features. This version also has 11 preset programmes, plus the option to manually control the time and temperature on the LED display.
The standard equipment includes a book containing 100 recipes, although you can also access more via the app. And as for the basket, it’s also non-stick, PFOA-free and easily removable.
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Mellerware Crunchy Plus – Sleek and modern design
We switch brands and go now to Mellerware, with one of the most advanced models they have. We’re talking about the Crunchy Plus, an oil-less fryer that I love just by looking at it, because it has an elegant design that combines white with steel. Of course, it is also available in black, but in particular, I prefer white.
If you look at the power, you will see that it has 1500 watts, and the temperature range is between 80 and 200ºC. The capacity is 5.5 litres, so there is no difference to the first Cosori, as this one can also cook for about 5-6 people. The touch-sensitive LED display allows easy switching between one of the 10 pre-set menus, one less than Cosori.
It has a timer to keep food warm after cooking for up to an hour. And, although they are not included in this model as standard, it is interesting to know that you can buy a specific accessory pack for this model which includes a cake pan, a pizza pan, a skewer rack, a silicone cupcake mould and a silicone trivet.
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Mellerware Crunchy – The smallest and cheapest oil-less deep fryer
We finish with another fryer from Mellerware that also belongs to the Crunchy range, but in this case, the standard version. The good thing is that it is slightly cheaper than the previous one, but it has less power (1230 watts) and fewer preset programmes. In this case, we can only choose from 7, three less than its rival.
It is also easy to notice that the capacity is also smaller, only 1.5 litres. Overall, I think that this capacity will only be enough for one person, even for two, which makes me think that this is an ideal fryer for people who live alone.
The temperature is also between 80 and 200°C, and one of the great advantages of a fryer of this size is that it can be stored in practically any kitchen and does not take up much space. Also, the display, which is also touch-sensitive, is located on the top, unlike the other three fryers we have analysed, which have it on the front.
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What do we mean by an oil-less fryer?
Oil-free fryers, commonly known as air fryers, are so called because they use hot air to cook food instead of oil. The cooking process involves circulating hot air around the food, which cooks it to a crispy texture, similar to that of fried food, without the use of oil.
The term ‘air fryer’ was coined by Philips Electronics Company, which developed the first air fryer in 2010. The company wanted to create a healthier alternative to traditional frying, which usually requires a lot of oil. The term “deep fryer” was used to describe the appliance because it creates a crispy, deep-fried texture, similar to that of fried food.
When other companies started to develop similar appliances, the term ‘air fryer’ became a common way of referring to this type of cooking appliance. The term “oil-free fryer” is also sometimes used to describe air fryers, as it emphasises the fact that the cooking process requires little or no oil.
In general, the term “air fryer” has become a popular way of referring to this type of appliance, as it accurately describes the cooking method used and highlights the health benefits of this culinary technique.
Cosori vs Mellerware: which oil-less fryer should I choose?
After analysing the four oil-less fryers, we have come to several conclusions. They are all very close in terms of value for money; in fact, it is easy to see that they have more similarities than differences, or that the differences that do exist are so small that they are not noticeable.
That said, if I had to choose from the point of view of efficiency and innovation, I would go with Cosori. The size will depend more on the number of people in the house, because the rest of the features are the same. However, we cannot forget that, if it is for just one person, the most economical and most suitable model is the Mellerware Crunchy, because its price is half the price of the rest and because it also takes up very little space.
It has less power and fewer functions, yes, but taking into account that it has a smaller capacity, it has enough to give the same results as the Cosori fryers or the other Mellerware.
However, the final decision is always yours, and as you can see, any of the four have very good reviews. So you don’t have to worry, as the decision you make is likely to be the right one.