We tested the Instant Vortex. Here’s what we thought

The Instant Vortex Plus is a six-quart air fryer that the manufacturer claims stands out because it produces consistent results that give you a perfect crunch every time. It’s also touted as being fast and quiet. 

The BestReviews Testing Lab took a closer look at the Instant Vortex to see if it lived up to the manufacturer’s promises. We were really impressed by the air fryer's intuitive controls. It has six features that we could quickly access at the touch of a button, but we didn't find this model to be significantly faster than other air fryers. Whether or not the food was evenly cooked depended on what we were making; in some cases, we had to add a few minutes to the cooking time to get the best results.

What is the Instant Vortex?

Product specifications

Type: Basket | Capacity: 6 qt | Dimensions: 12.36” D x 14.92” W x 12.83” H | Weight: 15.99 lb | Material: Stainless steel | Control Type: Push-button/dial | Number of Functions: 6 | Temperature Range: 95 to 400 degrees 

Instant's Vortex Plus is a large-capacity air fryer with a rectangular basket that is large enough to cook four small hamburger patties at once. This one has enough room to hold a pound of french fries spread in a single layer, so there is room for the hot air to circulate.

This air fryer doesn't have a lot of bells and whistles. There is no cooking window or extra-crisp feature. It does, however, have six functions (Air Fry, Bake, Roast, Broil, Reheat and Dehydrate), so it is versatile. And a lot of thought went into the controls; we found it was intuitive enough to understand and operate without even opening the instructions, but we read them in full before turning it on, which is always the best approach.

Pros

• Easy to set up: The air fryer arrived assembled. All we had to do was remove the packing materials and put the cooking tray in the basket and perform the initial test run as directed in the owner's manual.
• Large-capacity basket: Because of the size and shape of the air fryer's basket, we found it could hold a satisfying amount of food. We easily fit an entire pack of hot dogs in the tray, with room left for at least four more hot dogs.
• Easy to use: The function buttons are all clearly labeled, and we used a dial to select the time and temperature. We found it very easy to perform our first cook.
• Flexible range of cooking functions: The six cooking functions let us do anything from a quick 10-minute air fry to a several-hour dehydration.
• Low noise level: The product is remarkably quiet. We didn't need to raise our voices to communicate while reading the directions and performing the initial test run.
• Not difficult to clean: While we couldn't say it was easy to clean, it certainly wasn't hard. The reason this is a pro is that the cleaning was as expected and didn't keep us from wanting to use the appliance.

Cons

• Very strong chemical smell at first: The worst aspect of this appliance was the potent chemical smell during the first 20 minutes or so of use. It does eventually go away, but those first few uses would be best done with windows open.
• Control panel hard to read in sunlight: The control panel was very hard to read if the appliance was positioned in direct sunlight.
• Preheating required: No matter what we cooked or when, there was always a preheating period that lasted about 2.5 minutes. Even if we cooked foods back-to-back, there were 2.5 minutes of preheating time before the next start time.
• Longer cook time: Possibly because this unit has a larger cooking chamber, we found it took longer to cook and crisp food in this model. For example, we needed to add five minutes to the recipe to cook the french fries completely. 

Who is it for?

The Instant Vortex Plus is large enough to cook food for a family of four. It is ideal for use as an additional appliance to heat up a side dish, such as french fries, while burgers are cooking elsewhere. It’s great for making larger portions of comfort foods, such as pizza bites, when the whole family is together for movie night or another event. You could also cook hot dogs and fries for two people at the same time. However, it’s probably too large for making a quick snack for one person.

How we tested

To make sure we tested every product fairly, we used a system that allowed us to compare features and performance head-to-head. For example, in every air fryer, we cooked the same brand of hot dogs at 400 degrees for six minutes before adding rolls to toast for an additional two minutes, setting a baseline for cooking performance. Additionally, we explored all the features and functions on each air fryer to learn how well it performs all tasks. And we tested any unique or standout features or claims as well.

French fries

We cooked a layer of french fries with no oil or seasonings in the air fryer basket at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. The fries took 20 minutes to cook thoroughly.

Chicken wings

We prepared the chicken with olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper. We set the air fryer to 400 degrees and cooked the wings for 18 minutes. While the outside wasn't super crispy, the chicken was moist and flavorful.

Hot dogs and buns

We cut slits across the hot dogs and cooked them at 400 degrees for six minutes. We added buttered buns and cooked them for an additional two minutes for crisping. The preheat function forced us to add 2.5 minutes between cooking sessions, but the hot dogs and buns came out exceptionally well. They were very crisp and juicy, just the way we love them.

Brussels sprouts

We trimmed and soaked a full cooking tray of Brussels sprouts (about two cups) for 15 minutes. Next, we dried the sprouts and added olive oil, salt, pepper and minced garlic. We cooked them in the air fryer for 12 minutes at 375 degrees. These did not cook as expected. The garlic burned and the sprouts had an uneven texture. Perfecting the recipe for this appliance would take a little bit of trial and error. 

Bacon

We laid out six strips of bacon across the bottom of the crisper tray and cooked them for nine minutes at 350 degrees. While the bacon wasn't as crisp as we like — we love crunchy bacon — it had a robust flavor and a rewarding taste.

Reheat

The standard test was to wait until the next day and reheat the french fries we didn't finish from the initial test. While the reheat function warmed up the fries, we preferred using the air fry function at 400 degrees for a shorter time to re-crisp them.

Price and where to buy

The Instant Vortex Plus is available for $139.99 on the Instant website or $129.95 on Amazon.

Features

The Instant Vortex Plus is a fairly straightforward air fryer. It has the essential features and functions needed to get the job done. They are all easy to access and work well.

Straightforward operation

Every function on the air fryer is easily accessible. If we needed to use the dehydrate function, for example, we just tapped the button and entered the dehydrate mode. This allowed us to cook at lower temperatures for longer periods. When we needed to adjust the settings (time and temperature), the large dial on the front let us do that with ease. And the conveniently located start and cancel buttons let us turn the unit on and off in an instant.

Consistent cooking results

We found the cooking to be very consistent in most cases. The only trouble we encountered was when cooking a large amount of smaller items, such as brussels sprouts. Then, the food in the center of the basket didn't always cook as thoroughly as that around the edges. Also, we learned that the best results for this air fryer were usually achieved when the food was cooked a few minutes longer than the recipe advised; e.g., it took 20 minutes, not 15, to cook french fries.

Six cooking functions

This model has six functions: air fry, bake, roast, broil, reheat and dehydrate. The basic difference between modes is temperature range and cooking time. For example, broil only cooks at 400 degrees, but dehydrate can warm as low as 95 degrees. For the most part, the buttons are a shortcut to a preset time and temperature. While the different features are convenient, we predominantly used the air fry setting at 400 degrees and adjusted the time as needed, but the options were nice to have.

Design

Besides the modern silver-and-black design, the easy-to-read display and the large basket handle, there are a few design features worth pointing out. These are not make-or-break elements, but they do add to the air fryer’s appeal.

Large basket

While other air fryers have a similar capacity (six quarts), the shape isn't always suitable for packing in the largest amount of food. A deep basket, for instance, might fit a lot of french fries but only one burger patty. The square basket in the Vortex Plus let us cook a lot of food at one time, whether french fries or burgers. We found it to be very flexible and convenient for a wide variety of foods.

Stable base

This model has a large square basket, giving it a large square base, which we found to be very sturdy. We never worried that the appliance would topple over. The rubber nonslip feet added to its stability, giving us the confidence that there would be no mishaps.

Relatively small footprint

The most impressive feature, considering the size of this appliance and the stability of the base, is its countertop footprint. Without the rectangular base of a toaster oven or microwave, it fits more easily on a counter. Instead of taking up real estate with width, this air fryer is deep, letting it fit in better with other countertop appliances.

Ease of cleaning

This air fryer is not hard to clean with a nonabrasive sponge, warm water and mild dish soap. After unplugging the appliance and letting it cool, we removed the basket and tray for washing. The manufacturer recommends cleaning inside the cooking chamber after every use as well. The outside of the air fryer just needs to be wiped down with a damp cloth.

Individually, these tasks are simple. However, completing all four took a few minutes. By no means is the cleaning difficult, but it must be done after each use, which can get a bit tedious. However, cleaning after every use is typical for air fryer maintenance.

How does it compare to the Instant Vortex Slim 6-Quart Air Fryer?

When we compared the Instant Vortex Plus 6-quart model to the Instant Vortex Slim six-quart model, we found very little difference. While the Slim lacks the dehydrate function, it still has air fry, roast, bake, broil and reheat. And all the settings (temperature and time) have the same parameters. The key difference, and the reason the company created this model, is the basket size. While the capacity is the same for both models (six quarts), the Slim is only 10 inches wide, so it has an even smaller footprint. The narrow basket does have some limitations — we could only fit three small burgers instead of four — but it isn’t a bad compromise if kitchen space is a priority.

Instant Vortex 6-Quart Air Fryer Oven Review: Should you get one?

The Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer is a solid appliance. If you’re looking for something that can heat enough food for a family of four without taking up an excessive amount of counter space, this is a model to consider. While it works well and reliably, it doesn't have any bells and whistles. It does what you need it to do: it cooks enough food for four people. A smaller family or one person wouldn't necessarily need an appliance this large. And if you want to cook two different foods at the same time or want a model that also functions as a toaster oven, this is not your best option.