Best Last Minute Christmas Deals On Air Fryers Instant Pots And More Kitchen Appliances
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Christmas is this week. You’re running out of time to get any last-minute gifts, upgrade your kitchen or buy someone a brand new kitchen gadget. That’s because many of the hottest new kitchen appliances are on sale. We’ve found the best deals on air fryers, Instant Pots and more kitchen gadgets.
Keep reading to save a ton of money on must-have kitchen gadgets with the best Christmas and Hanukkah deals that you can get right now.
Top products in this article:
Buying a kitchen gadget as a gift? An air fryer, slow cooker, Instant Pot or other kitchen appliance is always a welcome addition to any home chef’s repertoire.
But all these kitchen gadgets can cost a pretty penny. Luckily, we’ve found holiday deals on top-rated kitchen gadgets, including air fryers, Instant Pots, coffee and espresso makers, slow cookers and more.
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.
Ability To Pressure Cook Then Brown
For me, one of the downsides of the Instant Pot is that food can come out a little mushy at the end. I am loving the ability to pressure cook something, like chicken thighs or carnitas, then switch to broil or air fry mode to crisp. I made some of the best chicken wings of my life a few weeks ago combining the pressure cook + air fry functions!
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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!
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.
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Instant Pot Duo Crisp Recipes
Posted on Published: November 8, 2019
Categories Duo Crisp Chicken, Duo Crisp Main Dishes, Duo Crisp Pasta, Instant Pot Duo Crisp Recipes
With Instant brand putting out the New Instant Pot Duo Crisp, there most certainly will be a demand for Instant Pot Duo Crisp recipes. So what should you do while you wait for bloggers and cookbooks to catch up? Use this list of recipes!
I have put together this list of recipes that are either specifically for the Duo Crisp or are for the similar Ninja Foodi or for the Instant Pot using a Mealthy Crisp Lid, such that you can use their directions to adapt the recipe to the Duo Crisp. I also have tips for adapting those types of recipes.
Also, or more recipes from this site and from other Instant Pot users and other bloggers!
Update: These recipes also work with the upgraded Instant Pot Pro Crisp and Air Fryer, which you can view here at Amazon: Instant Pot Pro Crisp. You can see user Instant Pot Pro Crisp reviews there too. So try some of the things here for your next Instant Pot Pro Crisp recipe.
The Air Fryer Function
I was a little worried that the Instant Pot wouldnt be able to circulate air as well as a traditional air fryer, but was pleasantly surprised by the result! So far Ive used it to make fries, chicken wings, crispy chicken thighs, home fries, chicken nuggets, and carnitas with great success. I also like that it is built to tell you when to flip your food for even cooking.
One word of caution with the air fryer function I find it to be a little bit less powerful than a traditional air fryer, so when Im following air fryer recipes I typically add on another 5 or so minutes to achieve the perfect crisp!
Recommended Reading: How To Hard Boil Eggs In Instant Pot
The Best Instant Pots Of 202: A Comprehensive Buying Guide
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Youve heard the hype, read the articles, perused the recipes, and have come to the conclusion that you absolutely need an Instant Pot . But finding the best Instant Pot model for your unique cooking needs is a more involved task than it may seem.
Though every Instant Pot has the same basic multi-cooking functionality that made it a household favorite, some are more versatile than others. Most of the models are very similar in terms of pot size, wattage, and voltage where they differ is mostly in the softwarehow many smart programs are built in with preset heat, time, and pressure levels.
Ahead, we’ll take a close look at all of the Instant Pot models and break down the built-in smart programs, cooking functions, and more. You can read about all of Instant Pots or jump straight to a specific model if you have one in mind:
But first things first: For those new to Instant Pot, let’s break down exactly what an Instant Pot is and what it can do.
is
The short answer: The Instant Pot is a convenient multi-cooking machine that lets you cook fast or slow.
Now, let’s get into each of the Instant Pot models.
Features: No Programs Lots Of Cooking
While other models of Instant Pots have multiple program buttons for things like rice or poultry, this cooker eliminated them in favor of cooking mode buttons. For pressure cooking, the buttons are Pressure Cook, Sauté, Slow Cook, Steam, and Sous Vide. For air frying, the buttons are Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, and De-Hydrate. Universal controls for temperature and time use + and buttons, and along the bottom of the controls are Delay Start, Cancel, Start, and Keep Warm.
Aside from the peculiar spelling of “dehydrate,” I like the cooking options on this model over cooking programs for specific foods. Brown rice and white rice dont cook the same, and chicken breasts arent the same as thighs, so Id rather set the time and temperature myself. Still, some cooks might miss the ease of pressing a single button to make stew.
Also Check: How To Cook Millet In 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.
Get The Best Beginner Instant Pot Recipe And Airy Fryer Ebooks
Before getting to the round up of recipes, also take a lot at these beginner eBooks and courses. It is an easy way to get 101 easy Instant Pot recipes and 101 air fryer recipes each in one ebook that you can keep on you phone, tablet, or desktop. It is written by some bloggers who have a really good site and they write good recipes. Click the images below to check them out! These are affiliate links.
The same people also have a full courses to learn your Instant Pot or air fryer. The Instant Pot course is particularly good for beginners. Become a pro the easy way!
Now, on to the recipes!
These recipes are provided with the permission of bloggers who wrote them, so go visit their sites and check them out! I will also be updating this list as more recipes come about, either from myself or from other bloggers. So check back from time to time for more!
Also Check: How To Cook Chuck Roast In Instant Pot
Some Alternatives To The Duo Crisp
We think you should get the Duo Crisp only if youre set on using both the pressure-cooker and air-fryer functions to make one-pot meals. If you want one function or the other, here are our alternative recommendations:
- To crisp up foods quickly, use a convection toaster oven, which will give you better results than an air fryer. We recommend the Cuisinart Chef’s Convection Toaster Oven. We tested it against a number of different air fryers and found that the toaster oven yielded crunchier, more evenly baked finger foods. Toaster ovens are also more versatile: A toaster oven fits larger batches and works better for tasks like toasting bread, making a cake or pizza, or even cooking a whole chicken. You can, of course, also use a regular oven for any of these tasks it will just take a little longer.
- We recommend the 6-quart Instant Pot Duo if you just want a pressure cooker. Preset cooking programs make the Duo easier to use than the Duo Crisp, and the 6-quart version is a more reasonable size for most kitchens. You can also use this pot as a slow cooker, a rice cooker, or even a yogurt maker.
Is The Instant Pot Duo Plus Air Fryer Easy To Use
Any multicooker is quite intimidating at first. Add in the fact that it comes with a separate lid for an air fryer, which will make things more complicated.
Based on my personal experience with Instapot Max, it took me a month to get comfortable cooking with it.
If you picked the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Plus Air Fryer, it has an additional safety feature.
Just like the Instapot Duo Plus, the pressure release knob is farther away from the vent.
On the other hand, if you opt for the Amazon exclusive one, it still has the classic pressure release identical to the original Instapot Duo.
Overall, multicookers do have a moderate learning curve. Thats the tradeoff of squeezing multiple functions into one kitchen appliance.
On the bright side, having a multi-cooker at home is one of my best decisions. I dont have to wait for more than an hour to tenderize my meat.
Recommended Reading: How To Make Bone Broth In An Instant Pot
Larger Air Frying Capacity Than The Original Duo Crisp
The biggest draw of this model over the brand’s initial hybrid air fryer model is more cooking capacity. With the air fryer rack in place, you can fit three medium chicken breasts and four chicken thighs in the cooking chamber . The original model required a separate, smaller basket insert that had enough for only three chicken thighs or two medium breasts.
The air-frying rack easily holds two large chicken breasts or three medium ones.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp 6
This product is not eligible for coupons. However, you are able to earn and redeem Kohls Cash® and Kohl’s Rewards® on this product.
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer is fast, versatile and convenient, with two innovative, removable lids to help you to cook and crisp your favorite meals all in one pot.
PRODUCT FEATURES
- Use the pressure cooker lid to pressure cook, sauté, steam, slow cook, sous vide and warm your meals, then switch to the air fryer lid to quickly air fry, roast, bake, broil and dehydrate all your favorites
- Innovative EvenCrisp technology promotes tender juicy meals with a crisp golden finish
- Versatility in one appliance lets you replace your pressure cooker, slow cooker, sauté pan, steamer, sous vide stick, chaffing dish, air fryer, oven, broiler and dehydrator
- Simplify mealtime with the Instant Pot multicookers one-touch controls, preset cooking programs, and a customizable temperature range of 70°C to 400°F
- 10+ proven safety features like Automatic Pressure and Temperature Control for stress-free cooking, Overheat Protection to prevent scorching, and the EasySeal lid with pressure release switch seals automatically and vents from a distance to keep your hands safe
WHAT’S INCLUDED
- Two removable lids, multi-level air fryer basket with dehydrating and broiling tray and a protective pad for storage and countertop use
PRODUCT CARE
- Pressure cooker lid, inner pot & all accessories: dishwasher safe
- Manufacturer’s 1-year limited warranty
Recommended Reading: Best Instant Pot Cooker
Should I Get The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid
The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid is sold separately and is compatible with 6-quart Instant models that dont already have air-frying capability . The Air Fryer Lid comes with a fry basket and other accessories and allows you to air-fry straight from your pressure cooker. In addition to air-frying, the Air Fryer Lid adds broiling, baking, roasting, reheating, and dehydrating functionality to compatible machines.
Harder To Clean Than Most Air Fryers
One major setback of this model for me is how difficult the air frying rack was to clean. When I finished cooking the chicken thighs with dredged flour and egg coating, the fine mesh wire rack was inundated with gunk. While trying to flip them midway through cooking, much of the coating and skin also stuck to the rack.
The wire air frying rack was no fun to clean.
Most air fryer baskets have a nonstick coating and take seconds to clean after use. For the Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid, I had to give it a good 10-minute soak to get it clean, but it did all eventually come off with a scrubber, soap and elbow grease. I found it much more difficult to clean than the original Duo Crisp’s nonstick basket and rack, which is completely flat with larger holes that don’t trap as much food.
Other foods including sweet potatoes and frozen snacks didn’t stick to the wire rack. If you’re planning on cooking mostly those foods versus battered foods, you may not have the same issues I did.
The original Duo Crisp requires a separate basket insert for air frying which diminishes the overall capacity. On the upside, it was far easier to clean.
Read Also: How To Cook Short Grain White Rice In Instant Pot
Why You Should Trust Us
Senior staff writer Lesley Stockton and staff writer Anna Perling have seven years of combined experience covering electric pressure cookers. Lesley has worked in professional kitchens for over 20 years and has reviewed more than 20 electric pressure cookers and stovetop pressure cookers for Wirecutter since 2016. Anna updated the pressure cooker guide in 2019 with an additional 20 hours of testing and has covered kitchen gear for Wirecutter for three years.
For this article, we searched for editorial coverage of the Instant Pot Duo Crisp and pored over reviews. Throughout our years of testing these appliances, weve consulted Hip Pressure Cooking, The Veggie Queen, and Miss Vickie for guidance. Lesley has also interviewed pressure-cooking experts Lorna Sass, author ofCooking Under Pressure, and Mike Vrobel, author of the blog Dad Cooks Dinner.
