Here’s how it held up against a number of the best air fryers on the market. We’ve used this air fryer for 180+ published recipes – from fresh items to frozen foods – on this website. It’s small but powerful – the basket size is perfect for two (or more) people. With this air fryer, you’ll enjoy seven built-in smart programs that include bake, rotisserie, broil and roast.
We were also frustrated that it didn’t automatically pause its timer when we removed the basket to shake or turn food. We also noted that the inner pot has some upgraded features compared to other Instant Pot models, including side handles and a flat bottom for even cooking. The unit comes with a number of accessories, including a multi-use cooking rack, nonstick air fryer basket, dehydrate/broil tray, a protective pad for the lids, and a storage cover. Most of them are dishwasher-safe, and they also fit inside the machine all at once for compact storage. With four functions like bake, air fry, reheat, and roast, this basket-style air fryer relies on a fan system to rapidly circulate air like a convection oven.
When he doesn’t have a screwdriver in hand, it’s most probably a fork. Currently, as per the time of writing, the Instant Pot Vortex retails at $119.99, and the Vortex plus is sitting at $139.99, leaving a $20 difference between units. At first glance, both units look comparable, but on a closer inspection, there are some significant design differences. Lastly, there are a few smaller Vortex® Air Fryer models if 6qt or more is too large for you.
When cooked well the bacon should be crisp and the fat should be rendered, leaving a lot of fat at the base of the air fryer basket. After air frying the chicken for 15 minutes, we found the insides to be suitably tender and the exterior noticeably crunchier than the results given by some air fryers we’ve tried. A great all-rounder, the Instant Vortex Plus gives you the option to air fry, roast, grill, bake, reheat and dehydrate. We love its very specific variable temperature dial that ranges from 49°C to 205°C ( 120°F to 401°F) to suit your food. Meanwhile, its illuminated ClearCook window allows you to monitor your food without disrupting the cooking cycle.
We were excited about this feature, since we’ve noticed air frying smells—especially when it comes to greasy foods like fries—tend to overtake the kitchen and linger for a while. It features a traditional instant pot duo nova basket with a handle, an attachable cooking tray, and a sleek touch-screen interface. From there, you can select functions beyond air frying—like roast, bake, dehydrate, reheat, and broil.
Of all the air fryers we tested, this is one of the most intuitive air fryers to program. The buttons are nicely sized, clearly marked, and quick to respond. To program the temperature and time, you turn and press a dial. The basket has a rack on which the food rests and is easy to pull out and reposition in the air fryer. The display is large and easy to read and the digital controls are intuitive to use. Like other Instant Vortex models, you won’t require much oil when cooking in the Slim air fryer.