Air Fryer Vs Instant Pot: What Can You Cook
Lets start with the basics: What the heck is an Instant Pot and how does an air fryer work?
An Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker and multicooker, while an air fryer is a countertop convection over that essentially fries your food with super hot air and a little oil.
You can use both the air fryer and the Instant Pot to prep some of the same foods, but generally speaking, air fryers are better used for foods you want to crisp or dry out, like healthier versions of French fries, fried chicken, or apple crisps, says Krista Maguire, RD, CSSD, Nutrition Manager at Beachbody.
An Instant Pot is best used for dishes with liquid, like soups and stews, chili, grains, casseroles, and one-pot dishes, she explains.
Here are some examples of foods that are best used in each:
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Can We Use A Pressure Cooker As An Air Fryer
Yes, you can, but the result wont be the same. Although the cooking logic of an air fryer and a pressure cooker seems quite similar, you wont get that crispy fried texture through a pressure cooker. You can use an additional accessory like Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid or Mealthy CrispLid with your pressure cooker for that crispy texture though.
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First Off What Is An Air Fryer
An air fryer is an appliance that cooks food quickly with little to no oil. Its heating elements are typically located on the top of the unit and paired with a large fan. It preheats quickly and starts cooking food right away. Food is placed on a perforated tray, usually inside of an an air fryer basket, which promotes more air circulation.
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I Made A Few Air Fryer Favorites With The Duo Crisp
Fried chicken thighs: One air fryer recipe I’ve become fond of is simple fried chicken thighs. I take two or three thighs, dip them in egg and dredge them in flour. I made them with my standard recipe in both the Duo Crisp and my solo Magic Bullet air fryer. I cooked for 18 minutes and flipped them at the midway point. The results were remarkably similar, but the Instant Pot needed an extra five minutes to preheat.
Sweet potato fries: Fried potatoes are another classic air fryer food. They generally come out crispy and much less oily than with deep frying. I split a sweet potato in half and made a batch of fries in my solo air fryer and the Duo Crisp. Both batches emerged from 12 minutes of cooking with about the same amount of caramelization and browning.
The Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid turned out equally browned sweet potato fries as my solo air fryer in the same amount of time.
I also made basic chicken cutlets from scratch in the Duo Crisp. These took a few minutes longer than they would have in a typical solo air fryer but came out looking great with a crispy crust and juicy insides.
The Duo Crisp with Ultimate lid turned out picture-perfect chicken cutlets.
Roasted broccoli: I roasted broccoli florets in the Duo Crisp for 12 minutes at 375 degrees F. While they came out great, there was only enough capacity to cook two servings. I’d probably generally opt to use my oven for something like this.
Gowise Air Fryer Oven
GoWise’s low price is as appealing as its various presets and functionseight to be exact, with programmable temperature and cooking timesand we did give it a great versatility rating. However, we found it challenging to use, and the results of the food test didn’t impress us. We think it’s worth the extra investment to go with one of the other options on our list.
Read Also: How To Use Instant Pot Cook Rice
What Is The Instant Pot Duo Crisp
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is an 11-in-1 multicooker that can do everything the original Instant Pot can, but is also able to air fry thanks to its swappable lid! This means that you can use it as an air fryer, or, even better, you can pressure cook then use the air fryer lid to crisp your meal . The Duo Crisp can also slow cook, saute, steam, sous vide, broil, and even dehydrate!
The 8 Best Instant Pot Air Fryers In 2022 What Should You Pay Attention To Before Making A Decision To Buy An Instant Pot Air Fryers
Trying to find the best air fryer 2022 can be a daunting task. With so many different models on the market, how can you be sure youre making the right choice?
Its hard to know which air fryer is right for you because they all seem pretty similar on the surface. But there are some important differences that could mean the difference between a delicious meal and a kitchen disaster.
Brittany Nims is done the research for you and found the best buy instant pot air fryer on the market. These top-rated air fryers are durable, easy to use, and produce consistently great results. In this article, I will introduce The 8 best Instant Pot Air Fryers in 2022 and best instant pot air fryer recipes, lets go!
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Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid Pros & Cons
Pros
- You can use it on several 6 quart Instant Pot
- It has 6 different pre-set programs
- It is easy to use and clean
- You can store it away when not in use
- Its very popular, so you gonna find a wide range of recipes.
Cons
- It is a bit on the heavy side
- That beeping sound can be annoying
- You must handle it with extra care because of the extreme heat
- Does not fit 8-quart pressure cookers
- Does not fit 4-quart or pressure cookers
Best Safely: Instant Pot Omni Pro 6
Overview:
As I see, The Omni Plus is the latest and greatest invention from Instant Pot and its a doozy. This incredible appliance not only air fries, but also dehydrates, bakes, toasts, roasts, broils, and so much more. If you can think of it, the Omni Plus can probably do it. And thats why its our pick for the best air fryer to buy 2022.
I was quite surprised because With 20 quarts of capacity at its disposal, the Omni Plus can accommodate large families or groups with ease. The unit also comes with an impressive 10 pre-programmed settings so you can cook just about anything with the push of a button.
To make things even better, the Omni Plus comes with a free app that gives you access to over 500 recipes. So, if youre ever feeling creatively stumped, the app will give you some great ideas.
As far as cooking performance goes, the Omni Plus is in a league of its own. We were able to cook chicken wings that were crispy on the outside and juicy on the inside. And, we were also able to dehydrate fruits and vegetables with ease.
The only downside to the Omni Plus is that its very large and bulky. So, if you have limited counter space, this appliance may not be for you. But, if you have the room, the Omni Plus is the best air fryer on the market.
Pros:
Start rating: 4/5
Todays best deal:
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How Do You Clean An Air Fryer
Most removable parts on most air fryers are dishwasher safe. Check the owner’s manual of your air fryer for which parts, if any, are ok to run through the dishwasher.
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 interior and exterior of the air fryer can be wiped clean with a damp cloth, but should never be submerged in water since it contains electrical components.
If the heating element gets dirty, you can wipe it with a damp cloth when the unit is turned off, cooled, and unplugged.
Best For Versatility: Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11
Overview:
In my opinion, The 11-in-1 Crisp is the latest air fryer release from Instant Pot and its a doozy. While its not the biggest capacity air fryer on the market, it has more than enough room to cook food for a family of four with leftovers to spare. I cant believe that This is due in part to its unique design the 8-quart pot can be removed and used as a standalone pressure cooker or slow cooker while the removable air fryer lid can be used to fry up chicken wings or bake a cake.
This appliance really is the best with me of both worlds and will save valuable kitchen counter space for those that already own a pressure cooker or slow cooker. The 8-quart pot is also oven-safe so it can be used for baking, roasting and broiling essentially, this is an all-in-one appliance that will replace several others.
With 11 functions on offer, Im sure the Crisp really is one of the most versatile air fryers available. If youre looking for an appliance that can do it all, then this is the one for you.
However, the Instant Pot brand has been known to have quality control issues in the past and there are reports that this particular model arrived with dents and scratches. There are also complaints about the build quality of the removable parts some consumers report that the air fryer lid doesnt fit snugly onto the pot and that the pressure cooker ring is difficult to remove.
Pros:
11-in-1 Functionality Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Air Fryer, etc.
Oven-Safe Pot
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What Is The Instant Pot
The Instant Pot is an electric pressure cooker with multiple functions. It creates a pressurized controlled environment inside the pot, which safely cooks food quickly. It cuts down the time spent in the kitchen and makes it more efficient to cook healthy, nourishing meals that taste good.
Using low or high pressure, sauteeing and slow-cooking functions, you can use the Instant Pot to make something as simple as white rice or soup or get adventurous and cook a whole chicken or blueberry cheesecake.
If youre brand new to the Instant Pot, these are the guides you might want to check out:
List Of 10 Best Air Fryer Pressure Cooker In The Market
In addition, if you need to check the key features of these 10 finest combos of air fryer and pressure cooker, keep rolling down the page to find out.
From my perspective, the best one that I want to introduce first is the Ninja FD401 Foodi 8-Quart with a big capacity and 12 handy preset programs. But if you need more pre-programmed mode, no item can beat the Emeril Lagasse 6-Quart since it has 44 presets.
| 1500W and 1000W | 22 for air fryer and 14 for pressure cooker |
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Who Should Buy The Duo Crisp With Ultimate Lid
The Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid is a good choice for someone who uses a multicooker often but also wants to air fry on occasion. I stress often because if you tend to use an air fryer far more than an Instant Pot, pressure cooker or multicooker, this model is far bulkier and heavier than most solo air fryers.
I personally air fry far more than I use a multicooker so I’m happy with my small and light 2.6-quart Magic Bullet air fryer and its nonstick basket. I leave it on my counter most times, whereas my multicooker is stored in a closet until I’m ready to use it.
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid is bulkier than most air fryers and it also requires more cleanup after an air frying session than I’m used to. It also takes about five minutes to preheat, while most other air fryers don’t need preheat time at all. That said, once it was ready to cook, this machine air-fried, broiled and roasted with the best of ’em.
I liked the new Duo Crisp fine, but the originalDuo Crisp without the built-in air fryer lid can be had for about $130. For my money, that’s the better pick if you’re looking for a machine that does it all. If you already have a 6-quart Instant Pot you like, grab the air frying lid for $70 or on sale for $55 at Crate & Barrel.
Air Fryer Vs Instant Pot: Which Is Healthier
It all depends on what youre cooking and the ingredients you put inside of them.
Say youre cooking a cheesy bacon casserole in the Instant Pot and chicken or chickpeas in the air fryer, says Maguire. Then the air fryer would win this challenge. On the other hand, if the bacon is going in the air fryer and youre making a veggie soup in the Instant Pot, then the healthy meter goes in the other direction.
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Instant Pot Duo Crisp And Air Fryer Review: Final Verdict
Our reviewers agree that Instant Pot has become the go-to brand for multi-cookers that offer various cooking methods in one appliance. It has all the functions you would expect from Instant Pots like slow cook, pressure cook, and steam and it also offers you the functions of an air fryer.
You can swap the pressure cooker lid for the air fryer lid to unlock a host of other functions like bake, roast, and air fry.
There are so many functions available on the Instant Pot Duo Crisp and Air Fryer that youll be able to ditch several kitchen appliances and this is especially a good thing because youll need the space. It has an intuitive user interface and does a great job at cooking most foods exactly to your liking. Also, the large capacity makes it the right choice for batch cooking and big families.
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp and Air Fryer is available on the products official website and also available on Amazon at affordable prices. Get yours now.
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Cooking Wings With The Air Fryer Function
The first thing I wanted to test with the Instant Pot Duo Crisp was its air fryer capabilities. I was already familiar with the name Instant Pot, but the air fryer seemed like new technology for this established brand in pressure cookers, and I wondered if this function was reason enough to have purchased this machine.
The true test for my family would be in its ability to cook and properly crisp chicken wings. I really did not want to try anything too complicated for my inaugural run, so I prepared them the same way I had in the past when I recently tested the Cosori Air Fryer.
First of all, I made sure to dry the wings well with paper towels. I know that dry food simply fries better, because having added moisture on the skin just causes them to steam. I took this to the next level with a dusting of baking powder, which contributes to browning through the Maillard reaction. I seasoned them well with kosher salt and garlic powder to make these wings extra tasty.
The fryer basket of this machine is round and quite deep. Unfortunately, this does not provide a very large cooking surface which is optimal for air frying.
I moved ahead, placed the hefty air fryer lid into position, and selected the air fryer function on the display.
I set the temperature to 400 degrees, the timer to 20 minutes, and waited, checking them once halfway through. At the 20 minute mark, they were definitely testing done with a probe thermometer.
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Why Trust The Spruce Eats
This roundup was written by Sharon Lehman, a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist who happily makes space for any gadget that makes cooking faster and easier. She has tested and reviewed several air fryers for The Spruce Eats, including the Chefman TurboFry Air Fryer and Emeril Lagasse Power Air Fryer 360.
The Spruce Eats Editor Siobhan Wallace compiled testing data from our official Lab as well as insights from our home tester’s full product reviews to update this roundup.
Instant Pot Vs Air Fryer Which Is Better
Both the Instant Pot and the Air Fryer have stormed the world of home cooking in recent years. And while many kitchen appliance trends come and go, the popularity of these two gadgets keeps on growing.
For many cooks, choosing between the Instant Pot and air fryer is simple they get both! But what if you can only afford one or you have limited space in the kitchen? Which one will you get the most use out of?
The choice will ultimately come down to your cooking preferences and what dishes you like to cook often.
Both appliances allow you to cook foods quicker or more efficiently, or they provide healthier recipe alternatives. Plus, they open up opportunities to cook foods you couldnt with your current kitchen set-up or that was too difficult on the stove or in the oven.
Before we get to comparing the Instant Pot vs air fryer, lets first recap what each appliance is and does. We will then look at the types of foods and dishes you can cook, the cost, size, and ease of use.
To prepare this guide, we ran a survey with our Instant Pot Eats followers. We asked them to share their favorite things about the Instant Pot and the air fryer and which one they would ultimately choose. We share our findings throughout this guide and our final verdict at the end of this article.
Also Check: New York Times Instant Pot Recipes
