How Do Air Fryers Work
Air fryers are actually small convection ovens. They have a topside heating element and a motorized fan which rapidly circulates the hot air so food cooks evenly creating the same crispiness as in traditional fried foods. Because of the size of the cooking chamber and rapid air circulation, the cooking time can be effectively reduced by 20% or more when compared to other cooking methods.
Air fryers technically dont fry food at all. The heated air that contains fine oil droplets takes the moisture out of the foods. The result is similar characteristics as fried foods, with significantly lower levels of fat, since they remove high-fat and high-calorie oils from the typical cooking process.
Air-frying triggers a chemical reaction, the Maillard Reaction , the browning color and flavoring of food, like many other cooking methods.
What Does An Air Fryer Do
This all depends on the model of air fryer that you buy. There are air fryers that are super basic and have buttons to select time and temperature only.
On the other end of the spectrum, there are air fryers that offer a dozen preset cooking functions, along with the ability to adjust time and temperature.
What About The Vortex Plus
While its very similar to the 4-in-1 air fryer, the standout feature in the Vortex Plus is the dehydrator. If youre 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. Equipped with pre-programmed settings and a temperature-controlling dial, the interface is also super user-friendly. The only downside to this model is the broiler function, which is pre-set to 400 degrees F and for two minutes and didnt perform well for us in testing.
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Instant Vortex Plus 4
The second-generation Instant Vortex is a powerful countertop air fryer with a straightforward touchscreen and a wide range of uses, including dehydrating and reheating
The Instant Vortex Plus 4-quart Air Fryer is a well-made basket-style air fryer with six useful cooking presets and an easy-to-use interface that makes incredibly crispy meals with minimal oil.
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6 cooking functions, including broiling, baking and dehydrating
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Text-based display is easy to understand
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Dishwasher safe basket and tray
The Instant Vortex Plus 4-quart Air Fryer is the second generation of basket-style air fryers in the Vortex range. And like its predecessor, the Instant Vortex, the Plus lives up to expectations. The Instant brand is known for making long-lasting appliances with a wide range of uses, and the Vortex Plus one-ups the original Vortex with two new cooking features and an attractive stainless steel finish.
To find out if this new model was as good or better than the competition, I put it to the test at home with a series of air-fried recipes. Heres how the Instant Vortex Plus performed in the tests.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer Vs Ninja Foodi Fd401 8
Ninja Foodi FD401 8-Quart 9-in-1 Deluxe XL Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer: There are a few differences between the Ninja Foodi FD401 8-Quart 9-in-1 Deluxe XL Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer and the Instant Pot I tested. The first difference is namely the price, as the Ninja Foodi retails for around $250. Unlike the Instant Pot Duo, the fryer lid on the Ninja Foodi is permanently attached and flips up to accommodate the pressure cooker lid. The cooking pot on the Ninja Foodi is also wider and nonstick.
Because of the wider pot in the Ninja Foodi, I give it a slight edge for air frying since it offers more surface space. However, I like the Instant Pot Duo because both lids can detach. Both brands have proven themselves to be reliable, and either would be a great addition to the kitchen.
A great space-saving option.
Like other Instant Pot pressure cookers, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp + Air Fryer performs well. I like that its two-in-one capabilities mean less storage space, and despite its lack of presets, its cooking options allow you to tailor a recipe exactly to your needs.
- Product Name Duo Crisp + Air Fryer
- Product Brand Instant Pot
- Product Dimensions 15.6 x 22.3 x 17.9 in.
- Color Black, Stainless Steel
- Material Stainless steel cooking pot, nonstick coated air fryer basket
- Warranty 1 year
- What’s Included Two lids, a stainless steel cooking pot, a nonstick fryer basket with a plastic base and stainless steel rack, a reversible cooking rack, a trivet/base for the air fryer lid
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Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid
If you already own any of the regular Instant Pot models in the 6 quart size, you can purchase an additional lid that transforms your existing electric pressure cooker into an air fryer.
This air fryer lid will give you 6 functions so that you can air fry, broil, bake, roast, reheat and dehydrate. Accessories included with the air fryer lid include a non-stick multi-level air fryer basket with a removable stainless-steel broil/dehydrating tray.
How I Tested The Instant Pot Air Fryers
To see how the air fryers compared to one another, I headed to Trader Joes and went straight to the freezer aisle. I grabbed bags of frozen french fries, orange chicken, and cauliflower gnocchi. Frozen food created a level playing field plus, if any of the air fryers didnt work well for frozen fries, that would be a huge strike against them. I tested the fries first, then the chicken, and, lastly, the cauliflower gnocchi air-frying everything according to the package instructions. I also evaluated how easy the air fryers were to use and clean, and if there were any other glaring differences, like if one was much louder than the others. Heres what I found out.
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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.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp Vs Emeril Everyday 8
My next consideration was the Emeril Everyday Pressure Air Fryer. First of all, both multicookers have 2 removable lids that perform similarly between different functions one for air frying and dry cooking, the other for pressure cooking and steaming. The air fryer lid on the Emeril Everyday model has a pretty strong magnet keeping it in place which some users felt was awkward to put into place and remove.
One of the main differences between these cookers is in the air fryer basket. There seems to be a number of users of the Emeril model that were dissatisfied with the basket, which is stainless steel and not well-designed. It seemed like a pretty big flaw and an oversight in the design of this package. There were a number of reviews that indicated a fryer basket had to be purchased separately, which was a source of frustration. If planning to use the air fryer function on a regular basis, I would say that this is probably not the model for you.
These two multi cookers are very comparable in price, but I would be reluctant to recommend the Emeril Everday Pressure Air Fryer over the Instant Pot Duo Crisp based largely on consumer reviews of the parts and accessories. The air fry basket alone is a major flaw, if you intend to use this machine for that particular function. The Instant Pot seems to have this beat.
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Cooking Wings With The Air Fryer Function
The first thing I wanted to test with the Instant Pot Duo Crisp was its air fryer capabilities. I was already familiar with the name Instant Pot, but the air fryer seemed like new technology for this established brand in pressure cookers, and I wondered if this function was reason enough to have purchased this machine.
The true test for my family would be in its ability to cook and properly crisp chicken wings. I really did not want to try anything too complicated for my inaugural run, so I prepared them the same way I had in the past when I recently tested the Cosori Air Fryer.
First of all, I made sure to dry the wings well with paper towels. I know that dry food simply fries better, because having added moisture on the skin just causes them to steam. I took this to the next level with a dusting of baking powder, which contributes to browning through the Maillard reaction. I seasoned them well with kosher salt and garlic powder to make these wings extra tasty.
The fryer basket of this machine is round and quite deep. Unfortunately, this does not provide a very large cooking surface which is optimal for air frying.
I moved ahead, placed the hefty air fryer lid into position, and selected the air fryer function on the display.
I set the temperature to 400 degrees, the timer to 20 minutes, and waited, checking them once halfway through. At the 20 minute mark, they were definitely testing done with a probe thermometer.
Air Fryer Vs Instant Pot: Which Is Cheaper
As far as price goes, you can get an opening price point air fryer and Instant Pot for about the same price. Higher-end air fryers or air fryer/oven combinations can be quite a bit more expensive than even the most expensive version of the Instant Pot
I like to think of this as the price of theinvestment. It doesn’t matter how expensive or inexpensive your appliance is if you never use it. Don’t decide to buy the cheaper appliance just to save a few dollars. Buy the one that you will use more and you will get more value for your investment.
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Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6
When we heard all the Instant Pot air fryer reviews, we must admit that we were quite skeptical. How can such an affordable air fryer have all those impressive features while still managing to have an eye-catching style?
To know the answers, we are here to break down all of its notable features for you.
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.
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Instant Pot Duo Crisp Vs Ninja Foodi
Its the most common question in my inbox lately: How does the Duo Crisp stack up against theNinja Foodi?
After using them both, Ive been thinking of the Foodi as an air fryer that can pressure cook while the Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a pressure cooker that can air fry.
The biggest difference between the two is that the Foodis airfryer lid is nonremovable while the Duo Crisp has a removable airfryer lid.
Ultimately, theyre both great machines, and I get great results from both of them!
Would I Buy This
Absolutely. If I already owned a pressure cooker or Instant Pot, I would pick up one of these air fryer lids. They have a very small footprint, are more affordable than buying a freestanding air fryer, and are so simple to use.
You also have the option of buying a 2 in 1 appliance that has different lids that perform different functions. My favorite is the Ninja Foodi. This is a large appliance, but it still takes up less space on your kitchen counter than two separate appliances.
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Storing The Air Fryer
If you have a pantry to store this air fryer, that would be ideal. Its average in size when you compare it to other kitchen gadgets that may be already sitting on your countertop. It weighs 6.6 lbs with dimensions of 14.17L x 13.86W x 14.96H Inches.
Its very sleek in design so it seems less obtrusive compared to its egg-shaped contemporaries. All the accessories can be stored inside it, with the exception of the fetching tool. The power cable is attached so unlike Instant Pot, you cant store that inside itself. Some people use their air fryers so frequent that it has earned its place on the kitchen counter.
Air Fryer Sausage Balls
This time I tested out the baking function instead at 350 F for 10 min for super easy, party-friendly, 3-ingredient sausage balls. Its shredded sharp cheddar cheese, ground sausage and a box of Jiffy Corn Muffin Mix.
The air fryer was 5 minutes faster than baking in a traditional oven, with better, even coloring. The oven always has one flat dark side no matter if you rotate or turn them.
One great advantage of baking in this machine instead of the traditional big oven is keeping that heat all contained. Thats the main reason the Instant Pot is so wonderful on hot summer days. So this air fryer follows the same standard of cutting energy cost and heat. I can also see this as a nice addition when your kitchen oven is already cooking other dishes for dinner, you need to bake a cake. Just bake the cake in the air fryer. Its more gentle on baked desserts anyway.
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Instant Omni Pro 18l Toaster Oven And Air Fryer
The Instant Omni Pro is our most full-featured toaster oven and air fryer. The large capacity fits a compact frame, so you can cook enough for your family, and youll save counter space too. Featuring an all-in-one bakery, rotisserie mode, Split Cook two-stage cooking, temperature probe and EvenCrisp technology.
Instant Omni Plus 18l Toaster Oven And Air Fryer
The Instant Omni Plus is a high-performance toaster oven and air fryer with a large capacity so your family can dig into healthy homemade meals in no time. Featuring a rotisserie function, EvenCrisp technology for that golden finish and more. Enjoy cooking made simple with this sleek, versatile, convenient countertop oven.
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Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer
If you’re looking for just an air fryer without all the bells and whistles, but that will still give you that super crispy texture that you can only get from air frying, then the Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer might be for you.
This 2 quart air fryer is perfect for when you’re cooking for just one or two people. But don’t let the size fool you! It still offers 4 cooking modes that allow you to air fry, bake, roast and reheat.
The top digital touchscreen panel is easy to see and use while the lower section of the appliance houses the pull-out cooking section. A dishwasher safe, non-stick removable inner tray is included.
The Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer can easily cook up to two servings of food, making it perfect for teens to use to make their own snacks. It’s also great for college students who need small appliances for their dorm rooms.
Its compact size makes it easy to leave on the countertop without taking up too much room, and at 7 lbs. it’s also light enough to move and stash away when not in use.
The Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer is available in black, white, red and aqua. This mini appliance is an affordable entry into the world of air frying.
Why Trust The Spruce Eats
Donna Currie is a cookbook author who reviews products and writes roundups for The Spruce Eats. Currently, she has no less than five air fryers in her house. She’s partial to air fryers that have multiple functions and her go-to right now is the Ninja Foodi because she likes the pressure cooker option.
This roundup was updated by Sharon Lehman, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who happily makes space for any gadget that make cooking faster and easier. She has tested and reviewed several air fryers for The Spruce Eats, including the Chefman TurboFry Air Fryer and Emeril Lagasse Power Air Fryer 360 on this list.
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Features: No Programs Lots Of Cooking
While other models of Instant Pots have multiple program buttons for things like rice or poultry, this cooker eliminated them in favor of cooking mode buttons. For pressure cooking, the buttons are Pressure Cook, Sauté, Slow Cook, Steam, and Sous Vide. For air frying, the buttons are Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, and De-Hydrate. Universal controls for temperature and time use + and buttons, and along the bottom of the controls are Delay Start, Cancel, Start, and Keep Warm.
Aside from the peculiar spelling of “dehydrate,” I like the cooking options on this model over cooking programs for specific foods. Brown rice and white rice dont cook the same, and chicken breasts arent the same as thighs, so Id rather set the time and temperature myself. Still, some cooks might miss the ease of pressing a single button to make stew.
