How Good Is The Instant Pot Air Fryer

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Can the New Air Fryer/Instant Pot Duo Replace Your Entire Kitchen?

While Instant Pot has a vibrant online community and a recipe app, I found that recipes dedicated to this device were lacking. There were plenty of pressure cooker recipes, but the air fryer recipes I found on the app were for the Vortex oven, which doesnt translate exactly to this device.

While its simple enough to look up recipes for either pressure cookers or air fryers, those dont address the fact that this machine can do both for the same recipe, like when I pressure cooked potato wedges, then swapped the lid to air fry them. Id love to see similar recipes in the app in the future.

The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie

What Can You Cook In An Instant Pot

Hand-in-hand with functionality is the type of food you can cook with each appliance. Here are some delicious recipes you can make with an Instant Pot.

  • Use the sauté function to make savory chicken alfredo
  • Use the steam function to make moist banana cake
  • Use the pressure cooker and sauté functions to make a hearty pot roast
  • Use the pressure cooker and sauté functions to make vegetable stew
  • Use the pressure cooker function to create a quick apple crisp
  • Use the slow cooker function to make fudge brownies
  • Use the yogurt function to make homemade yogurt
  • Use the air fryer function to make crispy French fries
  • Use the rice function to prepare garlic and herb rice

Bear in mind that not all Instant Pots have all the aforementioned functions. If you choose to buy an Instant Pot, make sure the model you select has the functions your favorite recipes require.

Some of our favorite Instant Pot products also act as air fryers. For example, the Instant Vortex 4-in-1 can air fry, reheat, roast and bake foods, and the price is not excessive. The Instant Vortex Pro 9-in-1 Air Fryer Oven is a more advanced machine. For a bit more money, it can also toast, broil, proof, dehydrate and act as a rotisserie.

Best Instant Pots

Instant Pot DuoCrisp 11-in-1: available at and Kohl’s

Instant Pot 7-in-1: available at

How The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid Works

If youre used to Instant Pots multi-cookers, cooking with this lid will feel pretty comfortable. It doesnt lock onto the base like the pressure-cooking lid, but you will still get the same musical alert when it is placed on the base correctly. When cooking you won’t be able to see into the base of the pot, but you are able to take the lid off to check on the progress of your food mid-way through. The lid is a little heavy , so you don’t have to worry about it moving around during cooking. It’s important to note that you cannot turn on the air fryer lid and Instant Pot base at the same time . Temperature, time and cooking features are all programmed through the lid. Make sure you have a stainless steel inner pot to place the air fryer basket into the air fryer lid is not compatible with a nonstick ceramic insert.

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What People Love About The Air Fryer

Here are some of the most popular features and benefits of using an air fryer:

  • Crispy food with little to no oil much healthier option to frying!
  • Reheat fried food enjoy those fried chicken wings the following day!
  • No preheating or very little time before the air fryer starts cooking at full heat.
  • Speed from frozen to golden in minutes!
  • Adjustable temperature
  • You can check on food midway through cooking, in fact it notifies you to flip food over.
  • Small batches without heating up the kitchen, great for sing servings.
  • Safe and easy, it turns itself off when time is up.
  • Easy to clean in a dishwasher or by hand
  • Ability to dehydrate foods like fruit, nuts, seeds, beef jerky.
  • Versatility you can roast veggies, bake cookies, fry chips!

How It Performs As A Pressure Cooker

Instant Pot Air Fryer Top

I also made one of my go-to pressure cooker recipes: pulled pork shoulder. I followed a recipe I’ve used several times in other Instant Pots: dredging the 3-pound pork shoulder in flour and spices, searing in the Instant Pot and pressure cooking for 45 minutes. The Duo Crisp turned out a near mirror image of the fork-tender pork shoulders I’ve made before in the same amount of time.

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What Is The Instant Pot Duo Crisp

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is an 11-in-1 multicooker that can do everything the original Instant Pot can, but is also able to air fry thanks to its swappable lid! This means that you can use it as an air fryer, or, even better, you can pressure cook then use the air fryer lid to crisp your meal . The Duo Crisp can also slow cook, saute, steam, sous vide, broil, and even dehydrate!

Air Fryer Vs Instant Pot: 5 Key Differences

There are differences between an air fryer and an instant pot. Here are 5 key differences in them:

  • Air fryers make foods crispy and healthy with super hot air. Foods that are great in an air fryer are French fries, apple crisps, and fried chicken. Instant pots cook foods that need liquids like casseroles, stews, soups, and rice.
  • Air fryers will cook food quickly and with just a teaspoon of oil. Instant pots take longer to heat up so the foods will take longer to cook.
  • Air fryers will dry out foods to make them crispy. An instant pot can sautee, boil, steam, and much more.
  • Air fryers can cost anywhere from $80 to $300. An instant pot will run you around $50 to $200.
  • Air fryers are not made to cook well-balanced meals. An instant pot will let you make all kinds of great meals that are healthy for you.

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Air Fryer Vs Instant Pot: Which Is Healthier

It all depends on what youre cooking and the ingredients you put inside of them.

Say youre cooking a cheesy bacon casserole in the Instant Pot and chicken or chickpeas in the air fryer, says Maguire. Then the air fryer would win this challenge. On the other hand, if the bacon is going in the air fryer and youre making a veggie soup in the Instant Pot, then the healthy meter goes in the other direction.

Should I Buy The Ip Air Fryer Lid

Is the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid Worth It? Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid 101

In my opinion, the Air Fryer lid is perfect for people who already own a 6 quart Instant Pot with a stainless steel inner pot. Furthermore, you can use it for other stuff such as broiling or dehydrating , which is a very nice addition to any kitchen. Also, when you do fry stuff, you still eat healthier than if you would go to a restaurant or a fast-food chain.

Read Also: Compare Air Fryers And Convection Ovens

Air Fryer Vs Instant Pot: What Can You Cook

Lets start with the basics: What the heck is an Instant Pot and how does an air fryer work?

An Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker and multicooker, while an air fryer is a countertop convection over that essentially fries your food with super hot air and a little oil.

You can use both the air fryer and the Instant Pot to prep some of the same foods, but generally speaking, air fryers are better used for foods you want to crisp or dry out, like healthier versions of French fries, fried chicken, or apple crisps, says Krista Maguire, RD, CSSD, Nutrition Manager at Beachbody.

An Instant Pot is best used for dishes with liquid, like soups and stews, chili, grains, casseroles, and one-pot dishes, she explains.

Here are some examples of foods that are best used in each:

Food
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So What Is This Instant Pot Air Fryer

The Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven is a multi-use countertop appliance that prepares dishes by circulating super-heated air around the food, with little or no cooking oil, to achieve crunchy golden air-fried meals. It features an advanced microprocessor and 7-preset Smart Programs. With 1500 Watts of power, you will be able to cook anything fresh or frozen with a perfectly golden crispy outside and tender inside.

Recommended Reading: How To Cook Sweet Potato Fries In Air Fryer

Other Things To Consider

  • Cost: Its exclusive to Wal-mart at $119
  • Space: Bigger than a toaster, the air fryer is not a small appliance.
  • Skills: Youll need to take time to play with different functions.
  • Taste and texture: Results are close to deep-frying but its still not the same.
  • Healthier: Depends on your current lifestyle if you eat fried foods.

Multiple Appliances In One

Which Is The Best Emeril Instant Pot Air Fryer

This was the biggest sell for me, as I live in an apartment and dont have a huge amount of storage space. Im a bit of a kitchen appliance junkie, so Ive had my eye on an air fryer for a long time but couldnt justify the space it would take up, especially since I already own a toaster oven that can produce pretty similar results. The fact that the Duo Crisp combines multiple appliances into one is a huge plus for me!

Read Also: Air Fryer Not Made In China

What To Consider When Shopping For An Instant Pot

Control panel: All Instant Pots currently on the market have relatively large control panels. It makes sense, given how multi-functional these kitchen gadgets are. But while theyre all rather comprehensive, the more sophisticated models offer sleeker, more digital control panels, including features like a dial to click through varying cooking functions and added guidance like OK to open lid.

Cooking pot: Though all Instant Pots have a stainless-steel inner pot with a tri-ply bottom for sauteing, more advanced models have additional benefits. The Instant Pot Pro comes with an added layer of extra-thick 3.5mm aluminum for faster, more efficient heating, while the Instant Pot Pro Plus has an inner pot thats stovetop-safe and induction compatible.

Pressure levels: On some models, there is only one pressure option: high. On others, you can choose from high or low pressure levels. And still others, you can even choose a max pressure level. High is perfectly suitable for most recipes, while low is good for slower cooking or things that you want to make more tender over a longer period of time, like beef stew, as well as foods that are delicate like rice, fish and even cakes. Machines with the extra-high pressure level will yield the fastest results and also make a really good and concentrated bone broth.

Verdict: Which Should You Choose

According to our poll on Instagram with 578 voters, the Instant Pot is the winner with 329 votes. The air fryer wasnt too far behind with 249 votes. Ultimately, the choice is yours and it should be based on your cooking lifestyle.

If you have a small household that has a habit of eating fast fried foods, then an air fryer is something that could be beneficial to your health and wellness.

If you like to make large batches of stews, steam veggies, and cooking grains then a pressure cooker would suit you better.

If would like to have both but cant justify more appliances taking up space, purchasing the combo of the pressure cooker and the crisp air fryer lid would satisfy both styles of food cravings.

Also Check: Instant Pot Air Fryer Cookbook

How Does It Stack Up Amongst The Rest

The real difference among air fryers comes down to convenience. It has a 10-quart capacity, which rivals many air fryers on the market, which tend to be around 5-quart size. Many air fryers are built in an egg shape, the Instant Vortex Plus air fryer looks more like a traditional countertop oven with the capacity to cook for up to six people at a time when using both cooking trays and has enough room for a 4-pound chicken. Thats dinner for the whole family on the table without preheating your oven.

Instant Pot : Air Fryers

Instant Pot Duo Crisp Plus Air Fryer Beginner’s Manual

Enjoy your favorite fried food when you have an Air fryer at home. An Air fryer is a kitchen appliance that cooks by circulating hot air around food. They do a fantastic job cooking up frozen foods that are meant to taste deep-fried. You can air fry french fries, crispy chicken wings, mozzarella sticks and more. Air frying gives you the crunchy texture of fried foods without the extra grease and fat. Most fryers are easy to clean, have dishwasher-safe containers and occupy less space than convection ovens. An Air fryer can function like convection ovens, deep-fat fryers, and multi-cookers they combine benefits of multiple appliances. At Target we have a wide range of Airfryers with different functions and styles. You can choose a fryer that has features to fit your needs. Whether it is a toaster-oven, convection oven or a traditional pot style cooker, you can find one at Target. In the range, you can find cookers that can be pre-programmed if you are someone who is always on the move. We also have different brands to choose from like Chefman, Cusinart, Ninja Foodi, Philips and more. Pick an Air fryer from our superb range and switch to oil-free, oil-less and quick frying.

Read Also: Power Xl Air Fryer Home

Why You Should Trust Us

Senior staff writer Lesley Stockton and staff writer Anna Perling have seven years of combined experience covering electric pressure cookers. Lesley has worked in professional kitchens for over 20 years and has reviewed more than 20 electric pressure cookers and stovetop pressure cookers for Wirecutter since 2016. Anna updated the pressure cooker guide in 2019 with an additional 20 hours of testing and has covered kitchen gear for Wirecutter for three years.

For this article, we searched for editorial coverage of the Instant Pot Duo Crisp and pored over reviews. Throughout our years of testing these appliances, weve consulted Hip Pressure Cooking, The Veggie Queen, and Miss Vickie for guidance. Lesley has also interviewed pressure-cooking experts Lorna Sass, author ofCooking Under Pressure, and Mike Vrobel, author of the blog Dad Cooks Dinner.

U003cstrongu003ecan I Use Aluminum Foils With These Productsu003c/strongu003e

Given that you know how to use them safely, our answer is a definite Yes not just Instant-Pot, but also other air-fryer brands out there. Remember not to cover important machine components, which might lead to damage and uneven cooking. Only apply a moderate amount for basket cover and food wrapping.

Read Also: Which Air Fryer To Buy

Note: Air Frying Does Not Guarantee A Healthful Diet

There has been a lot of talk about how air fryers are revolutionizing peoples diets. While 100 grams of fried and battered chicken breast contains 13.2 g of fat, compared to just 0.39 g of fat in an oven-roasted chicken breast, you reasonably see how that can be a sound conclusion.

You are using just 1 tablespoon of cooking oil rather than multiple cups, producing similar results as deep fryer with a fraction of the fat and calories. This lowering oil intake can be beneficial for a persons health dealing with heart disease and inflammation. However, it is not guaranteed that air-fried chicken is more healthful than roasted, grilled, slow-cooked, or pan-seared chicken.

Just replacing all deep-fried foods with air-fried foods in no way guarantees a healthful diet. People should focus on a diet filled with vegetables, fruits, whole grains, and lean protein. Maintaining a variety of foods and cooking methods will help people obtain a more healthful diet.

How It Performs As An Air Fryer

Instant Pot® 6QT Duo Crisp + Air Fryer

I cooked several of my favorite air fryer foods with the Duo Crisp and its Ultimate Lid. The air fryer was plenty proficient once it got heated. Speaking of which, this is one of the only air fryers I’ve used that needed an official preheat time. For an air frying session at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, it took about five minutes to preheat plus the actual cook time. I’m used to air fryers that don’t need preheating, so it took getting used to.

Read Also: Ninja Foodi Air Fryer Muffin Pan

The Best Air Fryer Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6

Also from the Instant Pot brand, the Vortex Plus 6-in-1 previously topped our list as the best commercial air fryer based on its versatility. Few air fryers can offer 6-in-1 functions, which makes this model stand out from the rest. This model is capable of roasting, dehydrating, reheating, broiling, baking and, of course, air frying.

The information presented on the screen of this air fryer is clear and easy to follow, with simple one-touch controllability. With a 6 quart capacity, this model works best for preparing family-sized meals.

If you want to experiment with different temperatures, its also possible to adjust the heat on this model from 95 to 400° F. Once mastered, you can easily create your desired level of crispiness each time.

For being more versatile than most air fryer appliances, the Vortex Plus is also very affordable.

You Cant Fit Much In The Air Fryer Basket

To be fair, this is my complaint with most air fryers, but there are some air fryers and toaster ovens with air fry capabilities that can fit larger amounts. We are a family of 2, so it works ok for us for most applications, but if you are a family of 4 or more, or enjoy making large portions for leftovers, youll have to cook your food in multiple batches which is a pain really defeats the purpose of air frying!

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