This was an interesting experience, given that our french-fry test required more time than the package directions at the recommended temperature. Our second round of fries came out crunchy and well-cooked. While the jerky’s flavor varies depending on instant pot duo nova the marinade you use, my top round jerky came out as good as what you can buy in stores and in under 4 hours. This is one of the redeeming qualities of the Vortex Plus. Dehydrating is easy to do, even for a first-timer following an online recipe.
Throughout the testing process, we also considered elements like the provided manual, clean-up process, and ease of use. We washed the accessories in the dishwasher—as advised—and monitored them for any deterioration or other damages along the way. For performance, the Instant Vortex Slim delivers exactly what we’ve come to expect from Instant Pot.
Once turned on, you’ll also see buttons for its five settings; air fry, bake, grill, reheat, and roast, as well as buttons for the temperature and time. Once pressed, you can adjust the latter two buttons using a silver roller dial. This air fryer is perfect for cooking any fried foods that would otherwise go in the deep fryer. Thanks to the dedicated reheat function, it’s a great way to bring soggy leftovers back to life, by giving them a crunchy, crispy exterior.
The window in the basket takes the guesswork out of knowing when your food is ready, and cleanup is a snap. If you can afford the hefty price tag, this is the air fryer to get. The instant pot duo nova Plus features a replaceable air filter designed to remove odors. To test this, I ran the air fryer until it burned bacon-topped deviled eggs placed in a silicone liner. The filter didn’t completely remove the odors, but I could smell it much less than when I cook items in other air fryers. Just like the earlier generations of air fryers I don’t think these are great products for large families (5+).
Air fryers are a convenient alternative to shallow or deep frying, but big appliances like this can be difficult to clean, counteracting that convenience. Chicken breasts come in various sizes and thicknesses, and poultry must be cooked evenly. Each breast is cooked thoroughly without sacrificing moisture or overly crisping the thinner edges. Donuts and onion rings have a nice crisp to the outside but remain undercooked on the inside; the donuts also require extra time in the fryer.
We carried out this testing alongside reviews of other air fryers to compare if there was a difference in the odors and the cooking quality of these machines. Here’s how it held up against a number of the best air fryers on the market. My favorite feature of the Instant Vortex Plus is the window in the basket. Unlike most pod-style air fryers, you don’t have to open the basket and let heat escape to check if your food is done.
The marinade infuses the chicken thighs with a perfect balance of flavors, resulting in a juicy and aromatic main course. This juicy Orange Chicken recipe is one of my famous air fryer recipes – at home. Using simple ingredients, this recipe is a family favorite. This air fryer eggplant recipe is one of the best eggplant recipes I have ever made. This is a completely plant-based meal for all my vegan/vegetarian friends.
With just a few simple ingredients and about 15 minutes in the air fryer, you’ll have a dish that’s sure to impress. We were struck by the sleek controls on the Instant Vortex Plus, which only illuminate when the air fryer is plugged in. You can control the timings and temperature using a dial on the front of the air fryer, and pressing down on this dial will confirm your choices. The air fryer comes with the basket in place, and the removable non-stick air fryer insert at the top of the styrofoam packaging.
The Instant Vortex Plus 6-in 1 Air Fryer with ClearCook and OdorErase comes in a medium-size box that’s well-packed to keep your air fryer safe as it ships. The packaging was not too sustainable, with styrofoam layers at the top and bottom of the fryer that cannot be recycled. When you put food on multiple trays at at time, it doesn’t cook evenly, so you must swap the trays halfway through your cooking time.
The Vortex Plus XL is very easy to wipe down as there are no large gaps that hold onto stubborn crumbs. There are, however, two baskets, which double your clean-up. The Instant Vortex Slim still has a few bells and whistles that might not be necessary for all users – the touchscreen, customizable settings and dishwasher-safe components, for example. These all inflate the price, so you might be better off buying a more basic model. The rest of the Instant Vortex lineup is great, but you just might not care about fancy features such as OdorErase, ClearCook or the progress bar. There’s still more than enough in here to make the appliance feel high-tech and well considered.