Instapot's Air Fryer: What You Need To Know

Instant Pot is a popular kitchen appliance brand, known for its pressure cookers. The brand has expanded its product line to include air fryers, offering both standalone air fryers and air fryer lids that can be attached to their pressure cookers. The air fryer lids are designed to fit onto specific models of Instant Pot pressure cookers, allowing users to crisp and brown their food using convection heat. This adds a new set of cooking techniques to the standard pressure cooker, such as air frying, baking, broiling, roasting, reheating, and dehydrating.

The air fryer lids have received mostly positive reviews, with users praising their ease of use, taste, and cleaning. However, some customers have noted that the size of the basket for food is too small, and the value for money is questionable.

In addition to the air fryer lids, Instant Pot also offers standalone air fryers, such as the Instant Vortex Air Fryer, which come in different sizes and with additional features like rotisserie baskets.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid: A detachable lid that turns your Instant Pot into an air fryer

Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid: Turn Your Instant Pot into an Air Fryer

The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid is a detachable lid that can turn your Instant Pot into an air fryer. It is easy to handle, store, and use, with simple controls and advanced safety features. The lid fits most 6-quart Instant Pot models and comes with everything you need to air fry, including an air fryer basket, a broiling and dehydrating tray, a protective pad for your countertop, and a storage cover.

The air fryer lid plugs into an electrical outlet, and you place it on top of your Instant Pot. You then use the provided basket inside your Instant Pot to hold the food you want to air fry. From there, you can set the temperature, timer, and more, using the controls on the lid.

With the air fryer lid, you can cook all your deep-fried favorites, including wings, crispy fries, and onion rings, using up to 95% less oil than deep frying. You can also bake twice-baked potatoes in half the time, roast chicken and potatoes with less oil, reheat leftovers, and dehydrate your own jerky, fruit strips, and kale chips.

If you already own an Instant Pot and are considering getting an air fryer, the air fryer lid is a great option. It saves space and gives you the functionality of an air fryer without the need for a separate appliance. However, if you plan on air frying often or cooking for a large family, a dedicated air fryer appliance might be a better choice, as the air fryer lid has a smaller capacity.

Customer Reviews

The air fryer lid has received mostly positive reviews, with many customers praising its ease of use, taste, and cleaning. However, some customers have noted that the size of the basket for food is too small, and some disagree on the value for money. Overall, it is a useful appliance for one or two people but might not be suitable for larger families.

Instant Vortex Air Fryer: A standalone air fryer with an extra-large basket

Instant Vortex Air Fryer is a standalone air fryer with a large capacity, making it perfect for cooking family meals. It comes in a large box and is quite heavy, weighing 19.65 pounds. The air fryer has two baskets, allowing you to cook two different elements of a meal simultaneously. It also features a ClearCook window, which lets you see inside the air fryer while it cooks.

The Instant Vortex Air Fryer has six cooking modes: air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, and dehydrate. It also has SyncCook and SyncFinish functions, which allow you to match the finish time when cooking whole meals. The air fryer is easy to use, with a digital control panel that only displays relevant buttons and settings.

In terms of size, the Instant Vortex Air Fryer is 17.8 x 17.5 x 14.8 inches. It might be too bulky for smaller kitchens, but it's a good option if you're looking for a large air fryer to cook meals for a family or large portions.

The air fryer comes with removable, non-stick inserts, which are dishwasher-safe and easy to clean. The inserts have a hook that makes them easy to pull out. The air fryer also has a light and ClearCook panel, making it easy to check on your food as it cooks.

Overall, the Instant Vortex Air Fryer is a good choice if you're looking for a large, standalone air fryer with features that make it easy to cook family meals.

Instant Pot Duo Crisp: An Instant Pot and air fryer combo with two lids

Instant Pot does indeed make an air fryer, and the Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a great option if you're looking for a combo appliance with two lids. Here's everything you need to know about this versatile cooker.

Features and Functionality

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is an 11-in-1 pressure cooker that combines the functions of a slow cooker, steamer, sauté pan, food warmer, sous vide, air fryer, roaster, mini oven, broiler, and dehydrator. It comes with two innovative, removable lids—one for pressure cooking and the other for air frying. This allows you to cook and crisp your meals in one pot conveniently.

The air fryer lid utilizes EvenCrisp technology, giving you the crunch and tenderness of deep-fried food with 95% less oil. You can air fry, roast, bake, dehydrate, and more with this lid. The pressure cooker lid, on the other hand, has an innovative auto-sealing mechanism and a button for easy, stress-free venting.

Capacity and Convenience

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is available in 6-quart and 8-quart capacities, making it perfect for cooking for larger families, meal prepping, or batch cooking. It comes with customizable temperature settings, ranging from 105°F to 400°F for the Air Frying Lid.

One of its standout features is the quick one-touch cooking option, offering 11 customizable smart programs for various cooking methods. This means you can prepare your favorite dishes with just the press of a button.

Safety and Ease of Use

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp prioritizes safety with over 10 safety features, including Overheat Protection and a safe-locking lid. The stainless-steel sides are fingerprint-resistant, and the lid, inner pot, and accessories are dishwasher-safe for quick and easy cleanup.

Accessories and Recipes

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp comes with a variety of accessories, including a multi-functional stainless-steel rack, a multi-level air fryer basket with a base, a broiling and dehydrating tray, and a protective pad with a storage cover.

To help you get started, Instant Pot also offers a free app (iOS and Android) with hundreds of recipes to discover and prepare delicious meals with your new appliance.

Customer Reviews

Customer reviews for the Instant Pot Duo Crisp are largely positive, with many praising its ease of use, cooking quality, and speed. The versatility of the appliance is also highlighted, allowing users to consolidate equipment in their kitchens. However, some customers have noted challenges with the size, particularly the limited surface area for air frying, and the ease of cleaning, especially the air fryer basket.

Pricing and Availability

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is available for purchase on the Instant Pot website, Amazon, and other authorized retailers. Prices vary depending on the retailer and capacity, but it typically retails for around $150 to $200.

In conclusion, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp is an excellent choice if you're seeking a multi-functional cooker that combines the convenience of an Instant Pot with the crispiness of an air fryer. Its two removable lids, versatile functions, safety features, and easy cleanup make it a valuable addition to any kitchen.

Mealthy CrispLid: A lid that fits on any 6- or 8-quart electric pressure cooker

The Mealthy CrispLid is a lid that fits on any 6- or 8-quart electric pressure cooker, including the Instant Pot, and turns it into an air fryer. It consists of a heating element and fan attached to a glass lid. The CrispLid comes with a 3-inch tall metal trivet, a mesh air frying basket, short stainless steel tongs, and a silicone trivet—all of which are dishwasher-safe and BPA-free. The lid has a temperature range of 300 to 500°F and can be set in 25-degree increments.

The CrispLid is easy to use. First, unplug your pressure cooker, release the pressure, and remove the pressure cooker lid. Then, place the CrispLid on top of the stainless steel inner cooking pot and lower the handle until you hear a click. After that, press the temperature button to select your desired temperature, choose a cooking time, and press the triangle start button. When your food is cooked, turn off the CrispLid and place it on the silicone trivet to cool.

The CrispLid's transparent tempered glass lid allows you to watch your food as it cooks. It also has a safety feature that prevents it from cooking at temperatures above 450°F for more than 20 minutes. After that, you must wait at least 10 minutes before cooking again at that temperature.

The Mealthy CrispLid is a great option for those who want the functionality of an air fryer without sacrificing counter space. However, it is important to note that the air fryer basket is small and may require multiple batches when cooking for a family.

Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven: A large air fryer with rotisserie functionality

Instant Pot is a well-known brand when it comes to kitchen appliances, and its Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven is a great example of why. This large air fryer with rotisserie functionality is a versatile and convenient addition to any kitchen. With a capacity of 10 quarts, it's perfect for families or those who like to meal prep. The Vortex Plus has seven functions in one: air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, dehydrate, and rotisserie.

The adjustable temperature range from 95 to 400 °F (35 to 205 °C) gives you a lot of flexibility in the kitchen, and the easy-to-use touchscreen and bright display make it a breeze to operate. One of the standout features of this air fryer is the rotisserie function, which includes a non-stick drip pan, a rotisserie basket, spit, and forks, and a lift tool. You can cook a whole chicken to perfection with the rotisserie, and the tumble-frying feature ensures even cooking.

The Vortex Plus also comes with two perforated cooking trays, so you can cook multiple things at once, and the EvenCrisp™ technology gives you the crunch and tenderness of deep-frying with little to no oil. It has a countertop-friendly design and stainless-steel accents, combining function and style.

The Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven is a great choice for those looking for a versatile, easy-to-use, and stylish air fryer that can handle large quantities of food. With its range of functions and convenient features, it's a powerful tool to have in your kitchen.

Frequently asked questions