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. For our first test, we tried out the Air Fryer setting by using the two included trays to cook up an entire package of bacon. When you hit the Air Fryer button, it defaults to a temperature of 400 degrees and a cooking time of 18 minutes. We knocked the time down to 12 minutes and then waited two to three minutes for the appliance to preheat. Once it was ready, the display lit up with an Add Food prompt. Then, once the cooking cycle was finished, the Vortex went into Cool mode to shut off the fan and then less than a minute later it displayed End, so we knew we could safely remove our bacon.
Furthermore, it has an increased temperature of up to 450°F, which is useful when using the broiler function. Step up a level with the Instant Pot Pro Crisp Air Fryer, available only in the 8-quart size. This appliance offers the same removable lid interchangeability and 11-in-1 functions as the Duo Crisp, but offers a pro level easy-lift inner liner with handles that’s also stove-top friendly. From crispy Brussels sprouts to chicken wings, the Instant Vortex Air Fryer is an ideal budget-friendly choice or a great option for a small kitchen.
It’s also great for college students who need small appliances for their dorm rooms. Overall, we’re a fan of the Instant™ Vortex® 6-Quart Air Fryer. It’s held up well – and the size is perfect for a couple who eats a normal amount of food. We also made a frozen chicken instant pot duo nova breast and it turned out the same, just with slightly longer cooking time. We have also developed a standard testing criteria for every air fryer we buy and try. We’ve made almost 200 unique items in this air fryer and it’s almost always worked out well.
The basket takes up a lot of real estate in the washer — the nonstick coating releases debris with ease, so it was easy to clean with a sponge. Plus, you can use silicone air fryer liners to almost eliminate the need to wash it altogether. Millie put this air fryer to the test for a number of weeks to make fries, bacon, and roasted vegetables. She will keep this review updated with any thoughts on how it compares to other models on the market. With a total capacity of 9 quarts, this air fryer could genuinely replace your oven.
We cooked four 4-ounce hamburgers in the Instant Pot 6 Quart Vortex 4 in 1 Air Fryer Oven. Browning was better on the second side and was similar to the coloring you get from broiling, rather than the deep brown crusty exterior you get from grilling or even pan frying. But once again, there was no smoke and no greasy splatters on the cooktop or pan to clean up. Like with the Instant Pot, there will be a learning curve with the Instant Vortex Plus. It isn’t as straightforward as following the oven or air-fry directions on your packaged foods. You’ll probably need to lower the temperature while you’re baking and the air fry mode may need to run longer than expected.
These units are basically small convection ovens, using super heated circulating air, and there is actually no frying or deep frying at all. Our second round of fries came out crunchy and well-cooked. Using the rotisserie feature makes getting the perfect all-over crunch even easier, with One-Step Even Crisp™ technology. Much like the rest of the instant vortex lineup, this slim model is stylish and available in all-black. So give some thought to your situation to help you decide which model is best for you. The Instant Pot Pro Crisp is available with a modern black stainless steel exterior.
Though the Vortex comes with two user manuals, we couldn’t find clear instructions on how to insert the rotisserie basket or spit. After a bit of trial and error—about 10 minutes of fumbling with the accessories—we figured it out, but it would have been helpful to have step-by-step instructions. While the machine claims to broil, it has a set temperature of 400º. Compared to my oven at 550º, that isn’t nearly hot enough. If you don’t have a broiler in your oven this is a solid alternative, but when using it for things you already broil you will need to adjust the time to compensate for the lower temperature.
For best results, make sure to clean the basket and cooking tray with soap and water then dry thoroughly before the first use. Though the Instant Vortex has fewer functions than some of the other products I tested, I found that the simplified functionality can actually be a positive for many novice home cooks. Many competing products boast a ton of extra features that actually perform the same task, and I like that this product keeps it simple. Air fry, roast, bake, and reheat are enough to cover necessary cooking tasks in the average home kitchen. We did find it browned frozen French fries and chicken nuggets well, but the limited capacity of the inner pot made it difficult to air fry large batches of food. The first thing we noticed was the serious cooking power.