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. Equipped with pre-programmed settings and a temperature-controlling dial, the interface is also super user-friendly. The only downside to this model is the broiler function, which is pre-set to 400 degrees F and for two minutes and didn’t perform well for us in testing. Although the basket has a 6-quart capacity, you can’t cook that quantity of food at once.
Like most air fryers, it excels at delivering crispy food in a fraction of the time. Small but thoughtful design features dramatically simplify the cooking process. Some of my favorite air fryer vegetable recipes are Air Fryer Brussels Sprouts with Honey Sriracha, Garlic Parmesan Air Fryer instant vortex Potato Wedges, and Air Fryer Roasted Broccoli. I love the tip in the broccoli recipe to add a little water under the tray so the broccoli doesn’t smoke as it’s air frying. With its distinct flavor and unmistakable aroma, Chicken Inasal is one of the most popular and beloved Filipino dishes.
Set the time and temperature, then add the food when instructed. I used it to broil top-round beef at 400 degrees and the meat cooked evenly. You don’t get the reminder to turn your food in the broil, reheat and dehydrate modes, so if that’s required for your meal you’ll need to set your own timer. Brussels sprouts were tough, fries were soft, and potatoes didn’t brown after cooking in the time and temperature recommended by the Instant Brands app. With almost every recipe I tried—while results worked well for the single-basket Vortex—we had to increase the cooking time in this machine. We didn’t even have to read the manual to learn how to navigate between cooking mode, time, and temperature settings.
Getting the rotisserie basket in the first few times is the hardest part. My previous air fryer was a bit of a strange roundish shape, and I find the nice square shape nicer aesthetically, and less awkward to carry, move, and put things beside. Air Frying is all the rage and Instant Pot has jumped into the air fryer market with new, well-designed Instant Vortex Air Fryers.
In addition, this model suffers from a similar flaw to other models, in that the touchscreen can quickly become grubby. As stylish as the display here feels, greasy, food-stained fingers on reflective surfaces are the downside. The zesty lemon flavor, punchy pepper notes, and succulent chicken thighs make this easy recipe a winner for any day of the week. Pair this lemon pepper chicken with your favorite sides like steamed rice, side salad, or green beans for a complete meal for the whole family.