This Instant™ Vortex™ Plus has a ton of useful features, but top of the list has to be the ClearCook window. The see-through window works with a perfectly placed light inside so you can check on cooking progress without opening the basket. The dual baskets mean you can cook double up cooking, or cook two separate foods at the same time. SyncCook and SyncFinish automatically match settings for cooking or match the finish time between the two baskets. The EvenCrisp™ air flow technology delivers crispy, tender results every time with 95% less oil. 6 cooking programs give you one-touch access to easy recipes, but let you customize for yourself. And because the cooking basket and cooking trays are non-stick and dishwasher safe, clean-up is a snap.
Air Fryers
Instant Vortex Plus XL 8QT ClearCook Air Fryer, Clear Windows, Custom Programming, 8-in-1 Functions that Crisps, Broils, Roasts, Dehydrates, Bakes, Reheats, from the Makers of Instant Pot, Black
$4.60
| Asin | B09K6MK5VN |
|---|---|
| Dimensions | 17.8"D x 17.8"W x 15.4"H |
| Weight | 16.42 Pounds |
| Manufacturer | Instant Pot |
10 reviews for Instant Vortex Plus XL 8QT ClearCook Air Fryer, Clear Windows, Custom Programming, 8-in-1 Functions that Crisps, Broils, Roasts, Dehydrates, Bakes, Reheats, from the Makers of Instant Pot, Black
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Original price was: $249.99.$219.00Current price is: $219.00.
Real person, yup –
Update; after 6 months of use, I like it even more. I use it as a toaster oven and it works great. It is noisy but I usually have no other people to annoy when I use it so I don’t care. My dog gets pretty excited whenever I start it up because she usually gets a bite of whatever I’m cooking or toasting. I have found that the pet “cheese tax” also must be paid on many other foods. But seriously, this is a great unit. Easy to clean, not ugly, toasts/bakes/air frys very well.
Original review: I bought this after first getting a competing mfg’s multi-purpose grill-air fryer-dehydrator-griddle. That unit was too heavy, you could not clean the inner lid area well or easily, and it was not great as an air fryer. As a grill, the food would slide off the angled grill surface. After reading reviews I decided to get single function devices instead of the “jack of all trades, master of none” unit. I returned the other unit, but Amazon will not let me review it now, saying “unusual review activity” means only confirmed purchasers can review it. I think that is cover for a number of bad reviews it may be getting.
It was a smart move. This InstantPot Vortex XL 8-quart air fryer has two smaller 4-Qt baskets that let me cook two different foods that finish cooking at the same time. The windows and light in each basket let me see how brown foods are without opening the baskets. Great function. The baskets and bottom grate platform are nonstick coated metal and should hold up well. No missing or broken parts.
The unit has a surprisingly small footprint for being a dual basket model. After reading many air fryer reviews I came to the conclusion that I’d either need two machines, or a dual basket model even though both baskets would be smaller.
I paid extra for a model with minimal “metal look” external decoration because in my experience, it is just more to keep clean and adds to the busy look of my kitchen. I plan on keeping it out because I’ve used it almost every day since Ive had it.
When the unit is unplugged, it is nearly all black and non-distinct and that’s a plus because I replaced the rarely used toaster oven with this machine and am trying to minimize counter clutter.
I do recommending using a microfiber cloth for wiping the large expanse of smooth plastic that shows the touch controls when in use, because I used a paper towel and then a cotton dishtowel to wipe it and I can see some light swirly scratches on the surface.
The only working surface that is not easy to clean is the part with the heating coil over each basket. They recommend wiping it as needed if food or grease ever stick, so I will. I assume most residue would burn off as the coils heat to high temps while in use.
I did follow the instructions to run both sides once before actually cooking anything. There was a slight odor but it went away quickly.
I’ve cooked fish sticks and reheated fried fish fillets from restaurant leftovers and there was some “cooking fish” smell for both at the start but 1. I <was> cooking fish! And 2. It went away pretty quickly. I did not want the model that required replacement filters regularly and I’m happy with my choice.
I never had an air fryer with pre-set values so I dont miss that feature. Also, having to let the unit cool down before restarting a new program should not be an issue because 1. I already have two baskets to use at once if needed and 2. When a program is done and I remove a basket to get the food out, that cooking “bay” seems to cool quickly and then shut off completely with the basket out.
I can recommend this air fryer without hesitation!
Eric Atwood –
I love that there are two baskets, they work separately or tandem. I got liners because cleanup is easier and it doesn’t affect cooking at all. Hot Pockets take longer than the microwave, worth the extra time. Programming is simple. I’ve reheated pizza, fried chicken, everything is better than the microwave. Frozen french fries come out super crispy.
Gordon Mcconnell –
I started doing some air frying when I got my Instant-pot 8-in-1 that has an extra air fryer lid. That gave some reasonable results but was sometimes awkward to use (hard to remove the top liner for turning food in the bottom section, etc.) as well as quite small – but it got me started on the air-frying way of cooking.
Enter the Ninja – two large baskets make it easy to air-fry a larger amount of food, with 2 independent time and temperature controls. The air circulation in this device is excellent, and I found I can easily cook many items WITHOUT having to turn them (good for chicken quarters etc., but especially handy for smaller and finicky stuff like coconut shrimp).
I’ve used the sync function once (for timing items with different cooking times), but didn’t like that I could not add an extra minute when I found one side was still not quite as crisp as I wanted – so now I just do everything on the manual settings and do my own guestimates for when to start the second side. That’s not exactly difficult to do since the fryer comes up to temp very quickly (i.e. very little lead time needed).
The rubber ‘spacers’ on the inserts are not quite as well designed as they could be IMO (often coming partly undone), but that’s a minor gripe on an otherwise excellent air fryer.
Will Murray (Willscrlt) –
Generally: Lower temperature by 25°F and set cooking time to 80% of the middle of the recommended cooking time for conventional oven instructions when cooking using air fryer mode. This usually gets you in the ballpark, but with a minute or two to go, you might have to stop it or add time. I’ve been using that method from the beginning, and it has served me well.
The two trays are perfect for cooking for one to four people. Beyond that, you would probably be better off buying a larger single basket air fryer or even two of you need dual options.
As you’d expect from Instant, the machine just works. I’ve only tried Air Fry, Bake, and Reheat modes. Looking forward to trying Roast, Broil, and Dehydrate. The synchronous cooking modes work generally speaking, but it seems a little kludgy. Even if you set the baskets to finish at the same time, they often don’t. I’m only talking about a matter of seconds to maybe a minute apart, but it’s annoying. It seems this is mostly caused by the preheating cycle taking different times, or if I leave one tray open longer than the other. I guess that’s more of a user error though.
I have made the usual fries and chicken nuggets (beautifully cooked). I also baked a loaf of bread (frozen preprepared dough, thawed overnight, then baked) that came out delightfully brown and crackly on top but slightly undercooked in the middle (my first attempt, so it’s probably me).
I love thawing frozen breakfast sandwiches and burritos in the microwave for a half their recommended cooking time, then throwing them in the cold air fryer, setting it for 3-5 minutes at 350-375°F, and letting them brown and crisp up. You can easily fit up to 4 using both baskets. They are so much better than in the microwave or toaster oven and so much quicker than baking.
I made a meatloaf from scratch, and it was the best I’ve ever made. It was one of the first things I made in it. I was worried about the food burning or getting stuck on. I did use a little cooking spray, and everything washed up with ease. The bacon and sauce had an amazing crispiness to it that I could never duplicate in an oven.
I’ve made a few frozen pizzas in it, to. First, while the air fryer is preheating, I score the frozen pizza in half with a pizza cutter, then I cut through the pizza and the cardboard with kitchen shears. When the oven is ready, using the cardboard, I slide one half into each tray. Freschetta Naturally Rising Crust is my favorite, but you have to fold the end of the pizza to get it to fit, and then it rises, making it tricky to get out. Other smaller pizzas for better and are easier to get out.
The trays and inserts are easy to hand-wash, and the trays HAVE to be hand-washed, but the air fryer inserts are dishwasher safe, and I’ve done that twice after cooking really messy dishes.
It does take up a large chunk of counter space, but since I use it pretty much every day, I don’t mind. The back of the unit did put out quite a bit of hot air, so I don’t keep anything heart sensitive nearby. It fits nicely under my cupboards. I usually keep a pair of tongs on top so I can quickly adjust food or grab things out when they are done.
I have it 5/5 stars in everything except for “easy to use”. That one missing star is because it has so many options it can be confusing to learn, and the synchronous cooking either doesn’t work quite right or is so confusing I can’t get it right. Also, the beep tones are really quiet, and it’s easy to miss the prompts to insert the food or turn it. If you’re not in the kitchen, you’d better set your own timers to keep track. This is one case where a “smart” controller on my phone would be super handy to tell me when the oven is preheated, to add food (wait, I’m coming!), when to turn it (or tell it the food didn’t need turning), and when it’s done. That will probably come out in version 2.0 and add $50 to the price. 😁
It did have a funny smell at first, but it’s gone away after a month of regular use. Cleanup is easy. Size is good for me for most things. I probably wouldn’t try cooking a whole chicken in it, but 2 game hens would be perfect!
Overall, I really like this unit and recommend it for individuals, couples, and small families that like to cook multiple things at once. Do look for a good sale. I got it on Prime Day, and I’m happy. I might be less so if I’d paid full retail price due to the small size when I cook for friends or extended family.
Bob –
The selling point in the ad for me was “dishwasher safe”, that is mostly a lie. The only part that is dishwasher safe is the trays that go in the basket — not the basket itself. I am not sure why it isn’t, seems to be similar to the “dishwasher safe” tray. But not willing to risk it. It is easy enough to clean, just feels like a misleading line to put in the description. There are plenty of positives, it does the job well and once getting over the misleading advertisement I do recommend this product.
Corrie Norman –
It works great. My trays are not see through. I’m not your dad, but I’d suggest keeping it in a corner spot so it has room to breathe.
Daniel –
This has been a great addition to my kitchen. To be honest it is my go to for making quick meals. Its so easy to use and clean.
I reached out to the company and the customer service is stellar! 5 Starts!
Maggie H. –
I love this air fryer. It is so easy to use and the control panel is very use friendly. I ordered another brand only to discover the instructions were difficult and the control panel was impossible. The buttons were very unresponsive. I returned it and got the Instant Vortex.
I have not been disappointed. I haven’t fixed steak yet but it makes an excellent hamburger. I’ve only air-fried but everything comes out just right. Vegetables are better air-fried as is fish. The light in the drawers is a real bonus. You can peek in and see what’s happening. It’s noisy but not as noisy as the first air fryer I chose. It is easy to clean. You can put the trays in the dishwasher. I bought silicone mats to put over the bottom trays to avoid spraying with cooking spray — avocado oil spray is pricey!
It lets you know when it’s time to put in the food, turn the food and retrieve the food. The exterior can show fingerprints very easily so I keep a micro-towel nearby to clean it after every use. The drawers themselves clean up quickly. I don’t believe they can go into the dishwasher because of the glass in them. I don’t use a scrubby, just a sponge on the glass so it isn’t going to be scratched.
If anything awful happens, I will let everyone know. But after two weeks, I am very happy. I feel guilty now when I go into the kitchen to make a meal. There’s never a dirty skillet or pot to clean up. It feels weird.
Lori –
We replaced our old air fryer with this. I love it. Easy to use, easy to clean. Looks good when it is left on the counter and stores away easily. Would definitely recommend.
Keesha –