This is perhaps the most interesting feature of the Vortex Plus. Not a common capability for your typical toaster oven or air fryer, this mode means you can make your own beef jerky, apple or banana chips and even homemade fruit rollups. Designed with families in mind, the Instant Vortex cranks out 4 to 6 servings in one cooking cycle. Its large footprint makes it best for people with a decent amount of real estate on their kitchen counter.
Having had experience with other air fryers, I know that sometimes the fan inside the machine can be very loud. It’s not super quiet or anything, but I can still watch TV without having to increase the volume. The good news is that the air fryer is very easy to clean by hand.
Bacon cooked on air fry was one of my favorite results in testing. It was crispy and the design of the slotted baking tray allows grease to drip through to a foil-lined crumb tray below, making cleanup nice and easy. Another great option is our best budget air fryer pick, the Beautiful 6 Quart Touchscreen Air Fryer by Drew Barrymore.
In comparison, a dual air fryer such as the Ninja AF300UK weighs around the 8.2kg mark. However, if you don’t particularly think you will be using the clear view window, don’t mind getting down to eye level. Either unit cooks perfectly and functions like good solid Air Fryers. This is pretty much a non-issue if you plan on using the unit once a week or so. However, if you are cooking all day with appliances, the tilted display and accessibility are all welcome additions.
The controls couldn’t be simpler, and we definitely didn’t need to consult the manual before getting started. Brussels sprouts, frozen French fries and breaded chicken cutlets came out just about perfect; all were browned, crisped, moist and tender. Homemade French fries came out reasonably browned and crispy without becoming dry or cardboard-like in just 18 minutes. This air fryer didn’t perform quite so well on chicken wings though, as these were cooked to doneness, but could have been better browned and crisped. As the manufacturer claims you can cook 2 pounds of French fries, we cooked a whole bag at once.
There aren’t many 5.7 litre air fryers online that offer the convenient viewing window and premium finish of the Plus. One thing we would like to change, however, is how quickly the cooking drawer slides out of the air fryer when you open it. We found we needed to position it securely on the worktop, or make sure we didn’t let go of the handle when it was halfway out and we were removing our food.
We solved this by using tongs to remove food or being more careful when pouring. While this air fryer’s digital controls weren’t quite as intuitive as those of our favorite models, it was still easy to set the time and temperature once we got the hang of the multiple buttons. It cooked foods quickly, and its display was bright, large, and easy to read. Its drawer and automatic shutoff were a boon to safety, and its nonstick interior was easy to clean. Its small capacity wouldn’t work for a crowd, but it cooked our recipes for two and small batches of frozen fries without issue. In my tests to find the best air fryer, the moosoo air fryer performed similarly to the best overall winner, the Ninja Air Fryer Max XL, but it’s slightly less versatile since it has fewer functions.
In terms of performance, it offers the same high-quality build and fantastic results – and I’ll happily take that in a smaller size over a progress bar. Also missing are a few of Instant Vortex’s more premium features, such as OdorErase and ClearCook; but for the Slim’s price and convenience, this isn’t the end of the world. The Instant Vortex is ideal for reheating leftovers like day-old french fries or mozzarella sticks. Just place the foods in the basket, select the air fry function, and fry at 400 degrees Fahrenheit for anywhere from 5-10 minutes depending on which food you choose. Millie Fender is Head of Reviews on the Homes and Gardens Ecommerce team. She specializes in cooking appliances, such as the best kettles, and also reviews outdoor grills and pizza ovens.
The fast-moving heat helps crisp the outside of foods while warming them throughout, with minimal oil (you’ll still need to use some cooking spray with these machines to make sure food doesn’t stick). While it’s very similar to the 4-in-1 air fryer, the standout feature in the Vortex Plus is the dehydrator. If you’re looking for a reliable air fryer that can also produce perfectly dried fruits and veggies, the Vortex Plus is for you. Just like the 4-in-1, the Vortex Plus has a roomy, 6-quart basket with a nonstick coating for easy cleanup.
The TaoTronics air fryer has made our list of winners through multiple rounds of testing, and the brand recently dropped the price, making it an even better deal, too. In comparison to other air fryers on the market, this is in the lower range but does more. The vortex comes with a removable drip pan on the bottom that is easy to clean.