The TaoTronics air fryer has made our list of winners through multiple rounds of testing, and the brand recently dropped the price, making it an even better deal, too. In comparison to other air fryers on the market, this is in the lower range but does more. The vortex comes with a removable drip pan on the bottom that is easy to clean.
We solved this by using tongs to remove food or being more careful when pouring. While this air fryer’s digital controls weren’t quite as intuitive as those of our favorite models, it was still easy to set the time and temperature once we got the hang of the multiple buttons. It cooked foods quickly, and its display was bright, large, and easy to read. Its drawer and automatic shutoff were a boon to safety, and its nonstick interior was easy to clean. Its small capacity wouldn’t work for a crowd, but it cooked our recipes for two and small batches of frozen fries without issue. In my tests to find the best air fryer, the Instant Vortex performed similarly to the best overall winner, the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL, but it’s slightly less versatile since it has fewer functions.
This is perhaps the most interesting feature of the Vortex Plus. Not a common capability for your typical toaster oven or air fryer, this mode means you can make your own beef jerky, apple or banana chips and even homemade fruit rollups. Designed with families in mind, the Instant Vortex cranks out 4 to 6 servings in one cooking cycle. Its large footprint makes it best for people with a decent amount of real estate on their kitchen counter.
A 10-quart capacity allows users to cook an entire family dinner in half the time of a conventional oven. This flip-top model had a completely exposed heating element in its heavy lid, which made us worry that we’d burn ourselves or smash a finger when shutting it. When we used just one bag of fries, they were evenly cooked and crispy throughout. It was a little frustrating to use There’s a slider on the lid that you have to shift to reveal all the settings under “Pressure,” “Steamcrisp,” or “Air Fry/Stovetop”; this takes a bit of time.
Love love love that I don’t have to mess around cleaning the bottom of the actual unit. This is not one of those kitchen instant vortex appliances you pull in and out of a cupboard. Unlike small appliances, it is one that stays on the countertop.
First, we tried out the (one and only) Instant-supplied recipe, which was for buffalo chicken bites (sans buffalo sauce, to monitor crispiness). Then we conducted tests for roasted potatoes, Brussels sprouts, crispy bacon, and frozen French fries using the Instant Brands app for guidance on cooking instructions. Finally, we made our own recipe of chicken and waffles to see how the machine would fry chicken and toast frozen waffles. It’s interesting that Instant chooses to market this as an air fryer, when it feels more like a toaster oven that can also air-fry. You’ll also need to be careful when you remove the air fry basket or rotisserie accessories as they get very hot while cooking. That can be frustrating if you take out your food only to realize it needs to go back in for a few more minutes (because you couldn’t cook it at 425).
I used it to broil top-round beef at 400 degrees and the meat cooked evenly. You don’t get the reminder to turn your food in the broil, reheat and dehydrate modes, so if that’s required for your meal you’ll need to set your own timer. Multiple modes aside, the Vortex Plus is marketed as an air fryer first and foremost. It comes with slotted baking sheets as well as an air fry basket that clips into the fryer’s interior chamber.
The fast-moving heat helps crisp the outside of foods while warming them throughout, with minimal oil (you’ll still need to use some cooking spray with these machines to make sure food doesn’t stick). While it’s very similar to the 4-in-1 air fryer, the standout feature in instant pot duo nova the Vortex Plus is the dehydrator. If you’re looking for a reliable air fryer that can also produce perfectly dried fruits and veggies, the Vortex Plus is for you. Just like the 4-in-1, the Vortex Plus has a roomy, 6-quart basket with a nonstick coating for easy cleanup.
The 6 quart (from my experience) is the ideal size for a fryer, 10. Quart fryers take much longer to reach optimum temperature and never quite hit the perfect cooking the 6 quarts can achieve. Yes, Vortex® doesn’t dehydrate – but we feel the basket design and overall functionality overcomes the few additional options the Ninja offers.