If you’re in the market for an air fryer/toaster oven/rotisserie/dehydrator, this multifunctional appliance might be just what you need. It costs a bit more than single-function models but is capable of a lot more cooking than basic air fryers.
It has pre-programmed settings for air frying, baking, roasting and reheating, and the interface is super user-friendly. It also comes with a handy recipe book.
What is the Instant Pot Vortex
The Instant Pot Vortex is a six-in-one appliance that air fries, bakes and roasts food as well as dehydrates it. It also functions as a toaster oven and is capable of baking desserts. The large size and impressive list of cooking capabilities make the Vortex a great choice for families who frequently cook for more than two people.
In CR’s tests, the Vortex performed very well at air frying wings and fries, making cookies and muffins, roasting chicken, broiling burgers, and even dehydrating fruit. The controls are super easy to use. The digital display clearly shows preset programs and a dial for manual temperature adjustment. We didn’t need to refer to the user manual once while using the device.
The air fryer basket has a capacity that’s larger than most other air fryers. We were able to air fry a full pound of frozen chicken nuggets and shoestring fries with ease. The rotisserie and toaster oven function also worked great.
Unlike other air fryers, the Vortex doesn’t contain any PTFE, PFA, or FEP (fluoropolymers that are associated with toxic fumes during manufacturing). The interior is nonstick coated and all the removable parts that touch food are dishwasher-safe. If you’re looking to replace multiple appliances in your kitchen, this one may be worth the investment. For Prime Day, it’s 38% off and comes with a free reusable coffee pod.
How big is the Instant Pot Vortex
The Instant Pot Vortex looks a lot like its popular, multifunctional cousin the Instant Pot pressure cooker and offers many of the same functions. It is capable of air frying, baking, roasting and dehydrating food. It also has a large capacity and a sleek brushed stainless-steel finish that makes it look great on your kitchen worktops.
Unlike most other air fryers, which only have room for one or two chicken breasts and a handful of fries, the Vortex can easily handle up to four pounds of meat. This allows it to make meals that are even quicker and easier than a conventional oven.
In our testing, the Vortex performed exceptionally well. It quickly and evenly cooked frozen wings and shoestring fries. It also did a great job air-frying whole chickens and making jerky from beef. Despite being so versatile, it still manages to maintain an easy-to-use interface and low power consumption.
The controls are simple enough that we didn’t even need to refer to the manual during our testing. The large display makes it easy to select settings and the dial lets you adjust the temperature in 5-degree increments. It is also quite quiet, so it won’t disturb your family while you cook. It is easy to clean too, since most of the parts that contact your food are removable and dishwasher-safe. In addition, the entire body of the unit is made of a nonstick, food-safe material that is free from PTFE, PFA and FEP, common fluoropolymers found in many other brands’ air fryers.
What are the cooking functions
Air fryers come in a variety of shapes and sizes, and have various functions to offer. Some have smart features and access to an app that can run a wide range of recipes. Others have a built-in dehydrator, and some can even bake or roast dishes. Almost all have a basket that’s nonstick-coated and dishwasher-safe. However, many models also feature a drip tray and baking pan that aren’t dishwasher-safe and require manual cleaning.
The Instant Pot Vortex is an air fryer with a few extra cooking options. It has settings for seven different foods, including pre-programmed one-touch cooking programs. It’s not as versatile as some models, but it does an excellent job of air frying. We fried chicken nuggets and shoestring fries in it, and both came out crispy and evenly cooked. The Vortex also offers a dehydrator function, which we tested by placing four thinly sliced kiwis in it. The kiwis were dry but still flavorful after six hours.
In addition to the air fryer, this model has a bake function that’s preset for cakes and cookies, and can roast meats like chicken thighs and pork tenderloin. It’s also equipped with a grill function that provides top-down heat, perfect for cookout fare like burgers and corn dogs. Its app has a growing library of recipes, and can remotely control the onboard settings. It’s less expensive than some models that have more than just an air fryer, but a little more than other air fryers with smart functions and dehydration capabilities.
Is it suitable for large families
If you’re looking for a large air fryer that can also roast, broil and make cookies, the Instant Pot Vortex is the best option on the market. It has a huge capacity and a powerful wattage, but it’s also easy to use. Its clear display and instructions make it a breeze to operate, and all of its components are dishwasher safe. It can even dehydrate fruits and vegetables, making it a versatile addition to any kitchen.
Its wide array of presets makes it easy to cook many different dishes, and its simple controls mean that you’ll never need to consult a manual. Plus, it’s one of the cheapest air fryers available, and its nonstick coating makes cleanup a breeze.
The Cosori Smart Oven is another large air fryer that can also bake, roast and dehydrate foods. Its sleek design doesn’t take up much counter space, and its removable basket can fit up to nine slices of bread or a 13-inch pizza. It’s also smart enough to connect to an Alexa or Google Assistant, so you can control it with voice commands.
Its impressive set of cooking functions, including the ability to pressure cook chicken, are its standout features. Its compact size also makes it easier to store than other large air fryers. And unlike some models, all of its cooking components are dishwasher-safe. It’s a great choice for busy families who want to get healthy without spending an arm and a leg on appliances.
Can it replace a conventional oven
An air fryer is a countertop convection oven that uses a powerful fan to circulate hot air to crisp or caramelize food faster than radiant heat can in a traditional toaster or oven. They have gained popularity in recent years because they allow people to enjoy fried foods without the unhealthy calories. But can they truly replace a conventional oven?
In CR’s tests, the Instant Pot Vortex excelled at air frying chicken wings and fries. It also performed well in roasting chicken, baking cookies and muffins, reheating frozen lasagna, and dehydrating fruit. Its big capacity and rotisserie attachment made it an ideal choice for families who want to cook large meals in one machine. Its controls are simple to use and its display is easy to read.
But how does the Instant Pot Vortex perform when it comes to other tasks? To find out, we put it through a battery of tests including air frying and steaming vegetables, cooking eggs, toasting bread, making soup, baking a cake, and baking cookies. It didn’t excel in our fried egg test, but it came in second place for toasting and baking bread and did better than most other models in our tests of dehydrating fruits and vegetables. In general, it cooked all of the foods we tested very evenly. It also has a wide range of presets, which makes it easy to make your favorite foods with little effort.
Does it have an air fryer function
The Instant Pot brand is well-known for its multi-functional pressure cookers that can also slow cook, saute and make yogurt. Now the company has branched out into other kitchen appliances with its Vortex line of air fryers. The Vortex Plus is a 4-in-1 appliance that air fries, roasts, bakes and reheats foods for healthier versions of your favorites with 95% less oil than deep frying.
It can replace your oven, crockpot and microwave oven with its six preset smart programs that automatically adjust cooking time and temperature to ensure perfect results. It has a large 5.7L air frying capacity in a compact, countertop friendly design and comes with cooking trays that are dishwasher safe for easy clean-up.
The control panel is easy to use with intuitive buttons that light up when plugged in. It preheats automatically and then alternates between showing the current temperature and remaining cooking time, so you can monitor your food’s progress at a glance. Its rotisserie function is also easy to operate, although we found the default settings didn’t provide enough heat and cooked our apricots into leather. It takes about 30 minutes to heat a casserole from fridge to serving temperature. The unit has a one-year limited warranty and all the accessories are dishwasher-safe. Its nonstick interior is free of PTFE, PFA and FEP (fluoropolymers) that can be toxic to your health. It also has a removable condensation drip tray for quick cleaning.