We’ve come to expect the best from the maker of the Instant Pot, and the instant pot duo nova Plus doesn’t feel quite like it. While I loved the dehydrate feature and enjoyed watching a small chicken rotate on a spit, there are still some rough edges here. The Instant Vortex has an incredibly intuitive control panel that made it one of the easiest to use in my tests. You can easily remove the basket from the machine, and a built-in light lets you see what’s happening inside the oven without opening the drawer.
There are some awfully expensive air fryers out there, but the Cosori Pro LE proves that higher price doesn’t always mean higher quality. It has a really nice, compact, sleek, and—most importantly—safe design. Air fryers have gained popularity for producing crispy, evenly browned “fried” foods without the use of a deep fryer. They work by circulating hot air around food, similarly to a convection oven, and eliminate the need for much (if any) cooking oil. Many air fryers are programmed with multiple cooking functions and can double as a toaster oven, convection oven, warmer, rotisserie, indoor grill, and more.
It’s air fried evenly since day one and has never given us mechanical issues with the electronics, internal burner, basket integrity (even after an accidental drop), etc. Along with our in-house experts, our team analyzes thousands of product reviews from the most trusted websites. These parts are also easily cleaned by hand with warm, soapy water and a non-abrasive sponge. If there’s any particularly difficult to remove grease or stuck-on food, let the parts soak in hot, soapy water first. The basket is on the smaller side, but it’s dishwasher-safe for simple cleanup. If you’re a beginner, this couldn’t be simpler to use, and if you’re more experienced, it’s well-built for daily use.
And the basket liner rarely came loose when we inverted it, another improvement over the winner. Just like the earlier generations of air fryers I don’t think these are great products for large families (5+). While the basket and crisper plate are dishwasher-safe, I preferred to wash the basket by hand.
Both the handle and the controls don’t get much warmer than room temperature. We measured a noise level of 66.5dB during heating, which is the loudest of the air fryers we had on test. It’s worth mentioning that this is not so noisy that you won’t be able to have a conversation over the top of it while it’s running.
The Strategist is designed to surface the most useful, expert recommendations for things to buy across the vast e-commerce landscape. Some of our latest conquests include the best acne treatments, rolling luggage, pillows for side sleepers, natural anxiety remedies, and bath towels. We update links when possible, but note that deals can expire and all prices are subject to change. Josephine Watson (@JosieWatson) is TechRadar’s Managing Editor – Lifestyle. Josephine has previously written on a variety of topics, from pop culture to gaming and even the energy industry, joining TechRadar to support general site management. Generally, you’ll find her watching Disney movies, playing on her Switch, or showing people pictures of her cats, Mr. Smith and Heady.