Another bonus of air fryers is that you can open them at any time to check on your food’s progress without losing heat or affecting the cooking time. This helps you get your food to your own perfect level of “fried” for a more personalized meal. Since the air fryer uses such a small amount of oil, you’ll want to stop and shake your air fryer’s basket throughout the cooking process to make sure that nothing gets stuck to the sides. Although some models are known for consistent cooking across the entire air fryer basket, you still shouldn’t skip this important step.
The instant pot duo nova is the original air fryer from the brand featuring basic cooking functions. On the other hand, Instant Vortex Plus is a premium option that has more functions and a larger cooking capacity. Perfect for three to four people, this air fryer will fit seamlessly into your family’s everyday meal prep. It’s slightly more simple than the Instant Vortex Pro, but that doesn’t mean it’s not worth your money. One of the most important factors you’ll want to think about before purchasing an air fryer is how frequently you’ll use it.
Since a fraction of the oil is used, air frying is considered a healthier cooking method. The sleek black air fryer comes in at just above 14 inches tall, 11 inches wide, and 12 inches deep and has a 6-quart volume, which is perfect for four to six servings at a time. Plus, it’s got a clear window, so you can see the progress of your food without opening the basket. It also has a progress bar to show you exactly how much cooking time is left. The brand’s “EvenCrisp” technology helps create the perfect texture without the fuss or oil of a fryer, too. And cleaning up couldn’t be easier, since its tray and basket are both dishwasher-safe.
A cooking progress bar from preheating to cooking is also a great addition. There are also new cooking status indicators at the center of the console. It will let you know if it’s preheating, cooking, and will also tell you to turn your food (when you’re air moosoo air fryer frying and roasting). Take a look around your kitchen and consider where you’ll use your air fryer, and where you’ll store it when it’s not in use. The fryer will also need to be well within reach of a power outlet — these puppies don’t run on batteries.
The Broil smart program is used for top-down heating, similar to what you’d do in a regular oven. By default, it starts at 8 minutes of cooking time with a temperature of 400F. The instructions offer temperature and timing guides for using each mode.
We tried a range of foods in these air fryers to see how they perform. This isn’t the first line of air fryers to come from Instant. We tested the first edition of the Vortex Plus back in 2019 and had some mixed feelings.
From a size perspective, Instant Vortex and Plus aren’t 100% identical. The Vortex Plus weighs slightly more as it has additional cooking features. The Vortex is primarily a black plastic air fryer and the Plus has additional stainless steel accents.
You can potentially limit the additional small kitchen appliances you buy. Since air fryers are technically oven, it won’t be complete without a muffin tray. Air fryers are available with different capacity baskets, and estimating how much food you’ll cook during each use will help you choose the best option. Are you a solo chef who wants a side of French fries with your meals? A family with a few kids who clamor for heaps of fish sticks? Checkout The Best Air Fryer for a detailed review of all the top air fryers.
A graduate of Emerson College, she’s had her work published in The Boston Globe, Culture Cheese Magazine, Modern Luxury, and more. In her spare time, you can find her experimenting in the kitchen, practicing yoga, or falling down a TikTok rabbit hole. When it came to testing the XL Dual model, we experienced similar results to the singular Vortex Plus model—with some disappointing differences. The ClearCook window allows you to monitor your food as it cooks—without letting heat escape. This model also has a stainless steel exterior, which makes for a sleeker look, and dishwasher-safe accessories. The Vortex Plus has stainless steel accents on the exterior.