Buying guide for best Instant Pot air fryers
Finding the best Instant Pot air fryer is not a task the BestReviews Testing Lab took lightly. We spent months exploring Instant's line of air fryers to determine which ones are the best — and, more importantly, why they deserve your attention.
We put each air fryer through a series of specific cooking tasks to establish a baseline. After that, we examined any unique features each one had. We compiled this data to create a comprehensive guide to help you make the best choice.
Which Instant Pot air fryer is best?
Best design
Product specifications
Capacity: 6 qt | Dimensions: 17.78" D x 10.2" W x 11.85" H | Weight: 14.52 lb | Material: Plastic | Number of Functions: Five | Temperature Range: 120 to 400 degrees
The Instant Vortex Slim is a 6-quart air fryer with a narrow design. We found this seemingly subtle element to be extremely important. In our testing, this 10-inch air fryer fit into a space just 1 inch wider than the company's mini air fryer, which is a 2-quart model. With its deeper measurements, however, we didn't lose space in the cooking chamber. In fact, it was easier to cook longer items such as full strips of bacon, and we could still pour in a full 2-pound bag of french fries.
This model has a clean and intuitive interface. Once plugged in with the basket inserted, we realized there were only a few controls, making every feature accessible with the press of a button. To fine-tune temperature and cooking times, all we had to do was rotate a dial. This model was very easy to use.
Along with even cooking, fast preheating, simple cleaning and a satisfying crisp, the Instant Vortex Slim was our favorite model. It looked good on our counter and could bake, broil, roast, reheat and air-fry. We gave it a solid 10 out of 10 because it did everything right while saving space and providing sufficient cooking capacity.
Best for quick snack foods
Product specifications
Capacity: 2 qt | Dimensions: 11.26" D x 9.02" W x 11.73" H | Weight: 7.28 lb | Material: Plastic | Number of Functions: Four | Temperature Range: 120 to 400 degrees
Air fryers swelled in popularity in large part because they promised to make snack foods without the guilt of deep-fried snacks. But after manufacturers caught on, they realized they needed to prove this appliance wasn't just a one-trick pony. While the Vortex Mini has four cooking functions, it shines as a quick and convenient comfort food cooker. It delivers on the low-fat promise, and we love that. We could cook french fries, chicken nuggets, pizza bites and more. It preheats in about two minutes and cooks smaller portions of food, like a pound of fries, in a little over 10 minutes.
Besides being great at cooking, this compact appliance fit easily on our counter, ready to go whenever we wanted to eat. When it cooled, we found it easy to wipe down the small cooking chamber with warm water, mild dish soap and a non-abrasive sponge. In other words, the Vortex Mini offered convenient cooking and no-hassle cleaning.
The only downside to this model: We found it could be too good at its job. The food cooked very quickly and, if we weren’t vigilant, could dry out. Because of this, we gave the Vortex Mini a rating of 8 out of 10.
Best for large capacity cooking
Product specifications
Capacity: 19 qt | Dimensions: 16.53" D x 15.55" W x 13.89" H | Weight: 25.9 lb | Material: Stainless steel | Number of Functions: Seven | Temperature Range: 170 to 450 degrees
For an air fryer to cook for more than one or two people, it needs a large cooking chamber. That said, the reason most air fryers work so well is because they are small, heat fast and circulate hot air rapidly. Typically, this means that the larger an air fryer is, the less efficient and effective it is. We found this was not the case with the Instant Omni.
This model is a combo unit with the convenience of an air fryer and the spaciousness and versatility of an oven. We could cook a half-dozen hot dogs and a pound of french fries at the same time. We liked that it came with a baking tray, air-fry basket and oven rack. This not only gave us the flexibility to cook everything from pizza to cookies, but we could also make two different foods at the same time. For instance, we could toast rolls on the oven rack while frying up some hot dogs. Plus, the seven functions gave us the ability to air-fry, bake, roast, broil, warm or toast, and the convection fan could be turned on or off as needed in certain modes.
Although there were many pluses, there were a few minor inconveniences, such as the shallow baking tray and the need to extend the cooking time for many recipes. These small drawbacks kept the air fryer from getting a perfect score, but it still comes highly recommended. We rated it 8 out of 10.
Best all-around air fryer
Product specifications
Capacity: 6 qt | Dimensions: 4.92" D x 11.81" W x 12.99" H | Weight: 11.35 lb | Material: Plastic | Number of Functions: Six | Temperature Range: 95 to 400 degrees
To be fully transparent, the Instant Vortex Plus is a bit like the Vortex Slim. It is a 6-quart air fryer with an intuitive, easy-to-use set of controls. It’s not difficult to clean, and it has a rapid 2:30-minute preheat time. However, it differs from the Vortex Slim in two significant ways.
First, it has a square basket. After cooking many items in this air fryer, we didn't find a clear advantage to the square shape. While we could fit an extra hamburger patty in the Vortex Plus, the Vortex Slim held the same amount of other foods, such as french fries and vegetables. In fact, we preferred the Slim because it fit better on our busy counter.
Second, the Vortex Plus has one extra cooking function: dehydrate. With this function, we could pluck a few sprigs of mint from our indoor garden and cook it on dehydrate for several hours to make dried mint. While this is a handy feature to have, it’s only a benefit if you do that type of cooking.
The Vortex Plus is an excellent all-around air fryer. It crisps food evenly and keeps the inside juicy. While there are no red flags with this model, for our money (both models cost the same), the Vortex Slim was a better option. It fit better on the counter yet still had a large capacity. For that reason, we rated this model 8 out of 10.
Best at accommodating different-sized meals and dishes
Product specifications
Capacity: 8 qt | Dimensions: 17.8" D x 17.8" W x 15.4" H | Weight: 20 lb | Material: Plastic | Number of Functions: Eight | Temperature Range: 95 to 400 degrees
Instant's Vortex Plus XL 8-Quart Dual Basket Air Fryer stands apart from the other models on this list. That is because it has two separate cooking baskets. These baskets can work independently or in tandem. The consumer can use them to cook smaller 4-quart portions of two different foods at two different temperatures for two different times, such as bacon and french fries. Even better, when we were making chicken wings and Brussels sprouts, we programmed the air fryer (at the touch of a button) to finish both items at exactly the same time.
Other incredibly useful features included the two interior lights and the see-through front panels on the drawers. When we wanted to check how the food was coming along, all we had to do was turn on the light and peek through the drawer. With less opening of the drawers, less heat escaped, and the food could cook more evenly. If it looked like things were getting a little too crisp, we could remove the drawer immediately.
Although this sounds like the ideal air fryer because it can accommodate the widest range of meals and dishes, the Vortex Plus XL had a few minor problems with performance. In the model we tested, the right cooking drawer always crisped food more than the left. Also, even when we performed back-to-back cooking sessions, the air fryer still required reheating. And, because of the side-by-side drawers, this model took up more counter space. These are the reasons why we rated it 6 out of 10.
How to air-fry with an Instant Pot
An Instant Pot and an Instant Air Fryer offer two completely different ways to cook food. These methods also yield two different outcomes. An Instant Pot uses moist heat for a tender meal, and an Instant Air Fryer uses dry heat for a crispy finish. However, the company has two ways to combine these contrasting cooking methods: an Instant Pot lid and a multi-function Instant Pot.
Instant Pot lid
If you already own an Instant Pot but would like to add a whole new world of texture to your meals, an Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid is the way to go. This accessory fits on a 6-quart Instant Pot and turns it into an air fryer. Once in place, you can air-fry, broil, bake, roast, reheat and dehydrate in your Instant Pot as if it were a dedicated air fryer.
Multi-function Instant Pot
If you don't have an Instant Pot yet, the best option is to consider one of the company's all-in-one multicookers. These versatile cooking devices may look a little more complicated, but that's because they are two fully integrated appliances. Anything you can do in an Instant Pot or an air fryer can be done in one of these devices. Even better, you can combine functions to get a wonderfully moist yet crispy meal you might never have thought possible.
Other options
Instant doesn't just offer Instant Pot and air-fryer combos. The company also makes toaster oven/air-fryer combos and indoor grill/air-fryer machines.
What do the best Instant Pot air fryers have in common?
We have found this brand to be very consistent across its entire line. If you choose an Instant air fryer, there are certain things you know you will get regardless of which model you purchase.
- Reliable build: We never once felt like a model we were testing had an inferior build. Instant air fryers are solid appliances with a sturdiness that gives the consumer confidence that the appliance will last.
- Modern design: Every Instant air fryer has a clean, sleek and modern look. Any model would be an attractive addition to nearly any kitchen.
- Quick-access cooking functions: We didn't have to dig deep. Whether it was four functions or nine functions, getting where we needed to go — air-fry mode, dehydrate mode, broil mode and so on — required only the press of a button.
- Intuitive operation: Instant's air fryers all have the same intuitive controls. The buttons are clearly labeled, so we knew what to do as soon as we slid the model out of the box.
- Versatile performance: While not every air fryer could perform every cooking task, each was versatile enough to offer a wide range of options. It made us realize that an air fryer is for more than cooking chicken nuggets and french fries.
- Rapid preheat time: Most of the models we tested preheated fully in a couple of minutes. Even the largest air fryers could get up to temperature in under five minutes.
- Effortless cleaning: One of the most rewarding features was how easy all the Instant air fryers we tested were to clean. A nonabrasive sponge, warm water and mild dish soap could easily handle nearly every cleaning task.
Safety tips
Like other countertop appliances, an air fryer is very safe to use. However, there are a few things to remember when operating one.
- Read the owner's manual. Even if you are absolutely certain you know how to use an air fryer, read the owner's manual to learn the nuances of the machine.
- Place it on a stable, level surface. It's nearly impossible for an air fryer to tip under proper conditions. However, if it is placed on an unstable or uneven surface, it can topple.
- Leave room for venting. Some air fryers heat to 450 degrees. That hot air must be vented. Anything near the vents is at risk for heat damage.
- Do not overfill. If the air cannot circulate because the basket is too full, the food will not fully cook.
- Remember, it cooks with a fan. The heating element is at the top of the air fryer, and a fan circulates air to cook food evenly. Anything that is lightweight could rise into the heating element and catch fire. We have had this happen with thinner slices of bread.
- Clean after every use. Most recipes still call for oil, and many foods drip grease while cooking. A buildup of grease can cause problems with heating and create a fire hazard. An air fryer must be cleaned after every use.
- Unplug it and let it cool. As soon as it is done cooking, unplug the air fryer. Do not attempt to clean it until it has completely cooled.
How much do Instant Pot air fryers cost?
Instant has a wide range of air fryers covering different price points. This allows the company to meet the needs of many customers. At the low end, a small 2-quart model starts at $59.99. At the upper end of the price scale, the company has a large 19-quart air fryer/toaster oven combo for $249.99.
Between these two endpoints, you can find a variety of models. In general, the larger the capacity, the more the model costs. This means the number of features does not affect the price as much as you might expect. For example, the 6-quart Vortex with four cooking functions costs the same as the 6-quart Vortex Plus with six cooking functions: $119.99.
Our testing process
To figure out which Instant air fryer we liked best, we established a baseline. We did this by cooking the same foods in the same way to see which models offered superior performance. We also explored any unique features to determine if they were worth the hype. These are the foods we cooked.
French fries
To test a model's ability to cook french fries, we filled each crisper tray with a layer of fries and cooked them at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. We did not add oil or seasonings. We paid particular attention to consistent cooking and crispness.
Chicken wings
For this test, we prepared the chicken wings with a flavorful mix of olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper. We cooked the wings for 18 minutes at 400 degrees. Roughly halfway through, we checked to see if the wings were cooking evenly and flipped or rotated them as needed.
Hot dogs in a roll
To prepare the hot dogs, we cut several diagonal slits across them so they could cook more efficiently. We set the air fryer to 400 degrees and cooked for six minutes. About halfway through, we rolled the hot dogs so they were crispy all around. After six minutes, we put the hot dogs in buttered buns and cooked them for an additional two minutes to toast the buns.
Brussels sprouts
The Brussels sprouts took a little more prep. We trimmed and soaked a full crisper tray of Brussels sprouts for 15 minutes. Next, we dried them thoroughly and added olive oil, salt, pepper and minced garlic. We cooked them at 375 degrees for 12 minutes. The Brussels sprouts were challenging because we were looking for consistent texture and full flavor with no bitterness.
Bacon
We laid out strips of bacon across the bottoms of the Instant air-fryer crisper trays and cooked each at 350 degrees for nine minutes. Afterward, we evaluated the flavor and crispiness.
Should you get an Instant air fryer?
After testing each model, we looked through our notes and weighed the pros and cons of getting an Instant air fryer. We have determined that Instant makes high-quality models and offers them for a reasonable price. Some have minor flaws, but in general, you will get a product that satisfies.
Our favorite was the Instant Vortex Slim 6-Quart Air Fryer because it had an exceptional balance of performance, functionality, capacity and compact design. If you just want a small model for quick snacks, however, the Instant Vortex Mini 2-quart Air Fryer is your best option.
