Air fryers became popular back in 2017, but during the pandemic, these appliances were truly all the rage, per The New York Times. While we were all stuck inside and unable to satisfy some of our crispier cravings, air fryers became an indispensable amenity, as they're able to effectively "fry" food without using too much oil. But if you invested in a Cosori-brand air fryer from Lowe's, Home Depot, or Walmart, you'll want to pay attention, as two million units are now subject to recall. Read on to find out which models are being pulled, and what you should do if you have one at home.
READ THIS NEXT: 28,000 Ovens Sold at Lowe's and Home Depot Recalled After Reports of Carbon Monoxide Leaks.
The recalled air fryers were sold at major retailers and online.
U.S. CPSCAccording to a recall notice from the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), two million Cosori air fryers have been recalled in the U.S., with an additional 250,000 recalled in Canada and 21,000 in Mexico. The notice lists 21 affected model numbers, which you can find printed on the bottom label of your air fryer or in the user manual.
Between June 2018 and Dec. 2022, air fryers were sold at several major retailers, including Best Buy, Target, and Home Depot, as well as online via Lowe's, Walmart, Amazon, Bed Bath and Beyond, eBay, HomeGoods, Kohl's, Macy's, QVC, Staples, and Wayfair, among others. Products retailed for anywhere between $70 and $130.
The recalled Cosori air fryers came in black, gray, white, blue, and red colors, ranging in size from 3.7 to 5.8 quarts, per the CPSC.
There's an issue with the wire connection.
Enjoy The Life / ShutterstockAccording to the CPSC, recalled air fryers can overheat due to a wire connection issue. "After a thorough investigation, we determined that in extremely rare circumstances, the closed-end crimp connectors within the recalled air fryers—which are responsible for establishing electrical connections between certain wires—can overheat, posing fire and burn hazards," Cosori's official recall page reads.
To date, there have been 205 reports of air fryers "catching fire, burning, melting, overheating and smoking," according to the CPSC. In 10 instances, consumers experienced "minor, superficial burn injuries," and in 23 cases, minor property damage was reported.
"The health and safety of COSORI users is our highest priority; we are taking this action out of an abundance of caution," Cosori's recall page states. "All of our products are rigorously and routinely tested for consumer safety and are in full compliance with established industry standards."
Cosori is providing free replacements.
9nong / ShutterstockIf you have a recalled air fryer, the CPSC and Cosori ask that you stop using it immediately—even if it's still working and you haven't had any issues.
Cosori is replacing recalled products for free, but if you don't want a new air fryer, you can select another Cosori product instead (depending on the air fryer model you initially purchased). In addition, you don't need a receipt to qualify.
You can request a replacement on Cosori's website, where you'll be asked to provide your air fryer's model number and batch number. The latter can be found on the bottom of the air fryer, either on the edge or near the sticker label.
According to the CPSC, consumers must provide contact information and three photos of the air fryer with its cord cut off. If you have any additional questions, you can contact Cosori via the recall support page or by calling the recall support hotline at 888-216-5974, Monday through Friday between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. ET.
Air fryers aren't the only appliances that have been recalled recently.
Shutterstock/Kulikov AlexanderOver the past few months, several appliances have been recalled, including ZLINE gas ranges. In late Dec. 2022, approximately 28,000 units were recalled due to reports of carbon monoxide emissions from the oven compartment. On Jan. 26, the CPSC expanded the recall to include an additional 2,000 gas ranges.
Bissell also recalled 61,000 Cordless Multi-Surface Wet Dry Vacuums on Jan. 12, due to an issue with the circuit board inside the battery pack. According to the CPSC, Bissell received 66 reports of smoking and burning orders from the vacuums, as well as five reports of the battery pack catching on fire. Three of these fires caused minor property damage, while one led to a burn injury.
