What The Duo Crisp With Ultimate Lid Does
Unlike any Instant Pot before it, the Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid has air fryer functionality built into the main lid. Because of this convection cooking element, you can air fry, broil, bake and roast — all cooking methods that most Instant Pots don’t offer. It also has most of the functionality of your basic Instant Pot multicooker including pressure cook, slow cook, steam and sauté.
While you won’t have to screw on a bulky conical air fryer lid attachment as you do for the original Duo Crisp, you will have to slide in the pressure cooker lid when you want to pressure or slow cook. However, that lid is very light and thin measuring no more than 2 inches high it shouldn’t be hard to find space for one.
I found the dials and controls simple to use, but I’m not used to air fryers that require preheat time.
A Chef’s Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer Review & Comparison
Updated: Sep 28, 2022 by · As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases
Multicookers have become extremely popular recently, due to the wide variety of ways you can utilize them in the home kitchen. I am going to have a look at the Duo Crisp Air Fryer from Instant Pot, which is the newest addition to their line of pressure cookers. With the addition of a unique air fryer lid, this machine offers a whole new range of cooking possibilities that allow you to broaden your scope in the kitchen with one single appliance.
Of course, not all multicookers are created equally. My goal is to demystify the process of pressure cookery with the added air fry function. More specifically, I will help you to determine if this type of machine has a place in your own kitchen. Beyond that, I will have a look at three other multicooker options and compare them to the Duo Crisp so you can be sure which is right for you.
In the end, my hope is that you better understand how these appliances can make your time in your kitchen enjoyable and successful as you reach new heights in your culinary endeavors.
The Instant Vortex Has More Space
The Instant Vortex holds about about 2/3 of a bag of steak fries compared to the lid, which holds about 1/3 of the bag. The air fryer basket for the lid is even smaller than the inner pot of a standard six-quart Instant Pot, which should give you an idea of the limited space you’re working with. If you’re using your air fryer to cook for a family, the Instant Vortex is the way to go.
Don’t Miss: Ratings For Instant Pots
Is Food Made In The Air Fryer More Healthy
The descriptor “healthy” doesn’t have any standard definition, so it’s hard to say one cooking method is healthy while another isn’t. That said, if you share the widely held belief that using less cooking oil is healthier, then food made with an air fryer is healthier than the food you would make in a deep fryer.
Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid
This is what it looks like when you get yours!
Since it is so new you can pre order your Instant Crisp lid here and it will be sent out at the end of June. I wanted to share my thoughts with you before then though so you can see just how it works, and see whether Id recommend it after my trials.
Watch this video on how I used it to make a whole chicken!
- I will tell you that I have been waiting for something like this for years!!
Ive created over 100+ Instant Pot recipes and the one thing that was missing was the browning element. Cooking a whole chicken in a pressure cooker is fabulous because it cooks so fast.
BUT having to transfer it into a baking dish and waiting for the oven to heat up is another step Id rather skip!
NOW you can do it all in one pot!! Use our air fryer cooking times printable to make all the things. It has time and temperature settings youll need. With the touch of a button you can crisp all the things.
Recommended Reading: Instant Pot Com/support/register
It Cooks Quicker Than An Oven But Not As Fast As An Air Fryer
Ive found that when cooking air fryer recipes in the Duo Crisp, youll need to add a few minutes to the cook time. For example, the average air fryer recipe calls for cooking fries at 380°F for about 15 minutes, but I find that in the Instant Pot they need about 20 minutes. However, they still produce a crispier and faster result than the oven, which takes about 40 minutes!
Cooking A Whole Roast Chicken Using The Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer Functions
I could not ignore the fact that this machine had something else to offer. I really wanted to know how I could employ two different functions in one recipe to achieve desirable results, in order to prove that this machine was worthy of the counter space it occupied.
I decided to put this to the test with one of my all-time favorite meals – roast chicken. I set out to make this dish in one pot with two functions. I was after a bird with juicy white meat and a crisp skin – something I feel I have perfected in my conventional oven. After consulting the Instant Pot Time Table that accompanied this cooker, I knew that I could cook a 4-pound chicken in about 30 minutes . I adjusted this time slightly because I intended to use the air fry function to finish this chicken off with golden brown skin.
I seasoned the chicken generously with salt and pepper, stuffed the cavity with garlic and lemon, trussed it with butcher’s twine, and nestled it into the wire rack that I lowered into the inner pot, along with a cup of water. I set the timer for 25 minutes.
I could not ignore the delicious, golden, aromatic liquid that had been left behind from the pressure cooking stage, so I quickly put that right back into the pot with an equal amount of jasmine rice that I had rinsed under water.
Recommended Reading: Is The Instant Pot Dishwasher Safe
Best With Pressure Cooker: Instant Pot Pro Crisp + Air Fryer
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Inner pot is stovetop- and oven-safe
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Convenient vent/pressure toggle
Fans of multi-functional kitchen appliances will want to check out this air fryer option from Instant Pot. It comes with two lidsone for air frying and one for pressure cookingthat enable the pot to function as both an air fryer and the classic multi-cooker the brand is known for.
The pot holds up to 8 quarts, which is enough room to air-fry a whole chicken, and is equipped with 11 cooking functions that are sorted by which lid they require. The pressure cooking lid functions are pressure cook, saute, slow cook, steam, and sous vide, and the air fryer lid functions are warm, air fry, roast, bake, broil, and dehydrate. The pressure cooker performed well with pork ribs, steamed cauliflower, and sauteed potatoes in tests, while air-fried eggrolls and fries were also a success.
Our tester noted the inner pot has some upgraded features compared to other Instant Pot models, including side handles and a flat bottom for even cooking. It can also be used on stovetops and is oven-safe. It comes with a number of accessories, including a multi-use cooking rack, nonstick air fryer basket, dehydrate/broil tray, a protective pad for the lids, and a storage cover. The accessories fit inside the cooker for compact storage. Most of the accessories are dishwasher safe and the rest of the appliance is easy enough to clean.
The Spruce Eats / Donna Currie
You Cant Fit Much In The Air Fryer Basket
To be fair, this is my complaint with most air fryers, but there are some air fryers and toaster ovens with air fry capabilities that can fit larger amounts. We are a family of 2, so it works ok for us for most applications, but if you are a family of 4 or more, or enjoy making large portions for leftovers, youll have to cook your food in multiple batches which is a pain really defeats the purpose of air frying!
Recommended Reading: What Is The Largest Instant Pot
Is The Mealthy Crisplid A Good Alternative
I recommend the Instant Pot air fryer lid over the Mealthy Crisp lid, mainly because the lid serves more as a broiler than an air fryer because it doesnt circulate air a well as the Instant Pot lid. This means your food will take a little longer to cook. Plus, I feel its best to stick with appliances made by the same manufacturer. However, the Mealthy Crisp Lid does fit 8-quart Instant Pots, so this is a great choice if you have a pot you already love and want to upgrade!
Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer Vs Ninja Foodi Deluxe
In searching for comparable multicookers with pressure cooking and air frying capabilities, the Ninja Foodi Deluxe was the premier model that had many more reviews than the Instant Pot model. That told me a little bit about how passionate Ninja users are about their cookery, so I thought it was a great place to start.
At first glance, the most obvious difference between these two cookers is the unremovable hinged air fryer lid on the Ninja Foodi. This lid is always attached to the machine, so when using the pressure cook function, the air fry lid must be left open in order to accommodate for the alternate lid. This feature makes things a bit cumbersome when you are using it to do anything other than air fry, but fans seem to have accepted this about their beloved Ninja Foodi Deluxe.
Overall, the Ninja is the model with a considerably large footprint. At over 3 inches wider in the base than the Instant Pot model, its size is certainly something to take into consideration.
In the end, the choice between these two will probably come down to space. The Ninja Foodi Deluxe is a monster of a multicooker which will likely be the reason this model will not work in many home kitchens.
Also Check: Meals In An Air Fryer
Recommended Reading: Ultimate Instant Pot Pot Roast
The Philips Premium Airfryer Xxl Hd9650 Is Our Top Choice
We independently research, test, review, and recommend the bestproductslearn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission.
The Spruce Eats / Tamara Staples
After extensive testing, the overall winner is the Philips Premium Airfryer XXL HD9650 for its high-level performance, user-friendly controls, and ease of cleanup. If you’re looking for a budget option, a good choice is the Chefman 3.7-Quart TurboFry Air Fryer, which not only was quiet and compact but also easy to use.
Air fryers have gained popularity for producing crispy, evenly browned “fried” foods without the use of an actual 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, resulting in grocery savings and less cleanup.
Many air fryers are programmed with multiple cooking functions and can double as a toaster oven, convection oven, warmer, rotisserie, indoor grill, and more. With so many options on the market, it can be tough to choose the one that’s right for you, so we tested the top-rated air fryers in our Lab and compared them side by side. We also sent several models to our experienced at-home product testers to gather more insights straight from real-life kitchens.
Here, the best air fryers, based on our extensive testing insights.
Best Quiet: Taotronics Air Fryer Tt
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Doesnt have a full touchscreen
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Presets need some adjustment
Love air-fried food, but not the noisy fans that accompany many air fryers? This model is well-rated for being ultra-quiet. In fact, our product tester said she could barely hear it when it was turned on. Like most air fryers, the cook can manually select the cooking time and temperature or use one of 11 cooking presets to prepare fries, steak, bacon, fish, shrimp, vegetables, chicken, potatoes, bread, cake, or thawing frozen snacks. The cooking basket holds 6-quarts, is nonstick, and is dishwasher safe.
The square-shaped design of this model gives you more room to fit food in the cooking basket compared to smaller fryers with rounded baskets. Our product tester noted the basket shape helps spread food out a bit more versus piling it on top of each other, which can lead to less crisp cooking results. In tests, this air fryer heated quickly, cooked evenly, and was extremely efficient. Our tester did warn that it does take a little practice playing around with settings to get the perfect amount of doneness.
The Spruce / Lindsay Boyers
Capacity: 6 quarts | Power Rating: 1750 watts | Dimensions: 11.73 x 13.39 x 11.73inches | Warranty: 1 year
“When I first started testing it, I actually turned it off and on a few times, because it was so quiet, I didnt think it was working.” – Lindsay Boyers, Product Tester
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What Is An Air Fryer
The air fryer is a modern innovation that replaces deep frying. I have one at home that I use for making healthy french fries. Air fryers are available in different varieties, theyre super-efficient, convenient, and can save money.
You dont need to use a lot of oil. Only a few drops will get the job done. Air fryers use heat energy. The best part? Theres no mess and cleaning this kitchen appliance is a walk in the park.
However, air fryers are a bit different compared to toaster ovens or other multi cookers as they can do only one thing. And thats making foods crispy.
Theres a basket to place the food in that goes under a fan and a heating element that makes sure the hot air goes all the way through the basket, thus cooking the food. You will get healthier results. Using the oven will provide dryer food.
The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid Wins Out For Design
While we did like that the Mealthy CrispLid is designed with a glass lid so you can see into the pot, the surface got too hot to touch, where the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid gets warm, but not too hot to touch. The Mealthy CrispLid comes with an elevated trivet and basket that allows the food to sit higher in the pot, which is nice because you don’t have to reach into a hot basket to remove the food. That said, this problem is resolved in the deeper Instant Pot air fryer basket by using a set of tongs.
Also Check: How Do You Cook Potatoes In An Instant Pot
How Easy Is It To Clean
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp, with all of its bells and whistles, has a number of parts that require cleaning. This machine boasts a stainless steel inner pot, making it a candidate for washing by hand or using the dishwasher. Because I didn’t have to worry about a nonstick surface, I was free to use an abrasive sponge if necessary. After just one use, the pot did not have quite the same luster and shine, but I felt it was quite easy to clean, much like the rest of my stainless steel cookware.
The air fryer basket, however, required a bit more care because of its nonstick coating. It did clean up with some effort, but using an abrasive would be a mistake here. There were bits of food stuck to the basket, so letting it soak with some hot water and dish soap certainly loosened them. Alternatively, you can try cleaning it in the dishwasher. I will say that this fryer basket was not as easy to clean as the Cosori fryer basket that I recently tested, but it was manageable.
The air fryer lid should never be submerged in water, so cleanup requires a bit more care. The heating coil is coated in a non-stick surface which makes most of the cleanup quite simple with a damp kitchen towel or sponge. The outside of the lid cleans up well with a kitchen spray.
What Are Betty Crocker Mug Cake Mix
Betty Crocker Mug Cake Mix is a versatile product that can be used in several different ways. You can use it as a way to make single-serving cakes, or you can also add additional ingredients to create more elaborate recipes.
This makes Betty Crocker Mug Cake Mix perfect for baking on the go and is perfect for making a mug cake in the air fryer!
- Betty Crocker⢠Triple Chocolate Cake Mix Mug Treats with Fudge Frosting
- Betty Crocker⢠Rainbow Chip Cake Mix Mug Treats with Rainbow Chip Topping
- Betty Crocker⢠Hot Fudge Brownie Mix Mug Treats with Fudge Topping
- Betty Crocker⢠Cinnamon Roll Cake Mix Mug Treats with Cream Cheese Icing
- Betty Crocker⢠Soft-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookie Mix Mug Treats with Fudge ToppingShop Product
- Betty Crocker⢠Chocolate Caramel Cake Mix Mug Treats with Caramel Topping
- Betty Crocker⢠Blueberry Muffin Mix Mug Treats with Cream Cheese Glaze
Read Also: Can You Make Bacon In The Instant Pot
The First Pressure Cooker Lid Broke Rendering It Unusable
During one of my first sessions using the Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid, an essential piece of the pressure cooker lid that helps fasten it to the main lid snapped off, rendering it unusable as a pressure cooker or slow cooker. I can’t say for sure how it happened though the first few times I attached the pressure lid, I had to muscle it a bit to get it on.
A small and seemingly unimportant plastic bit will render your Instant Pot’s pressure cooker lid useless if it snaps off, as mine did.
In the replacement lid that I was sent, the small plastic protuberance that snapped off didn’t seem particularly shoddy. That said, I’d caution anyone with this model to be gentler than I was in trying to secure and remove the lid.
