Which is better, Instant Pot vs Air Fryer? When it comes to purchasing new kitchen appliances, it can be difficult to decide which one is right for you. So to help you choose, I’m breaking down the features of the Air Fryer vs Instant Pot and giving you my top picks in each category.
Instant Pot vs Air Fryer. Wondering which one is better? Foodie friends, I am here to break it all down so that you can decide which one is right for you!
When it comes to meal prep, we’re all looking for ways to make cooking up healthy, nutritious, (and delicious) meals faster and easier. And fortunately, there are many kitchen appliances on the market designed to do exactly that.
And two of the most popular gadgets (and also my personal faves), the Instant Pot and the Air Fryer, include loads of features that help you save time in the kitchen. #easycookingforthewin
But before you can determine if you should select the Instant Pot vs Air Fryer, let’s answer the question “what’s the difference between Instant Pot and Air Fryer?”
What Is An Instant Pot?
An Instant Pot is an electric multi-function appliance that has pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking, steaming, warming, and sautéing capabilities.
It can take the place of many different gadgets and makes cooking easier with the ability to simply set it and forget it.
*** My Instant Pot Top Pick ***
Instant Pot Duo 80 7-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 8-QT, Stainless Steel/Black
The Instant Pot Duo is the #1 selling electric multi-cooker, and for good reason. It does the job of 7 different appliances: Pressure Cooker, Slow Cooker, Rice Cooker, Steamer, Sauté, Yogurt Maker and Warmer.
Loaded with 14 different smart programs, The Duo makes preparing your favorite dishes as simple as pressing a single button!
And with dual pressure settings, you can choose to cook with high pressure which reduces cooking time by up to 70% or with low pressure to prevent more delicate foods from overcooking.
Plus the generous 8-quart capacity is perfectly suited for family meals and weekly meal prep.
What Can You Cook With Instant Pot?
From your morning oatmeal to decadent desserts, Instant Pot has the capability of preparing most of the foods we love. A few examples include;
- Rice (white or brown)
- Quinoa
- Oats
- Yogurt
- Soups and Stews
- Vegetables
- Chicken and Turkey
- Pork
- Beef
- Seafood and Fish
- Beans
- Eggs
- Popcorn
- Bread Dough
- Brownies and Cakes
Instant Pot Considerations
There are many different makes and models of multi-function electric pressure cookers out there. The most important factors to consider are the size and number of functions.
Instant Pot Size
Instant Pots come in a range of capacities. There is a 3-quart size that is suitable for those who cook for 1-2 people. The most popular is the 6-quart size, which is big enough to cook meals for families of 3-6 people. The largest 8-quart capacity is great for larger families, entertaining, and weekly meal prep.
Instant Pot Functions
There are many different functions that enable the Instant Pot to prepare the foods needed. Some models have 6 – in- 1, 7- in -1 and 10- in- 1 functions extending the versatility of the instant pot.
Electric Pressure Cooker Top Models
Fagor LUX Multi-Cooker, 6 quart, Silver - 670041880
The Fagor Lux Multi-cooker model gets top marks for its easy-to-read control panel and wide range of built-in settings, including browning, sautéing, simmering, steaming, and yogurt.
This versatile 6-quart model also comes with both separate single-button programs for cooking white rice, brown rice, and risotto.
And with an up-to-pressure time of 32 minutes, The Fagor Lux will help you get a hearty, healthy meal on the table in under an hour.
Instant Pot Ultra 10-in-1 Electric Pressure Cooker, 8 Quart
For those looking to up their multi-cooker game, the Instant Pot Ultra comes fully equipped with the latest and greatest.
The Ultra boasts an LCD screen on the front panel and a microprocessor that monitors the pressure and temperature, keeps time, plus adjusts the heating intensity and duration.
New features include sterilize, cake, and egg programs, altitude adjustment, cooking indicator, and a steam release reset button.
A central dial with a simple turn and press provides added precision in program selection and adjustment, and the Ultra button allows for customized programming.
Instant Pot Smart WiFi 8-in-1 Multi-Cooker, 6-Quart, 13 One-Touch Programs
The Instant Pot Smart WiFi 8-in-1 is the first multi-cooker on the market that can be controlled and monitored with mobile devices!
Simply download the Remote Control for Smart WiFi app (which provides access to hundreds of pre-programmed recipes) to monitor the status of your meal from your mobile device and get notifications as cooking progresses.
The Smart WiFi is also Google Assistant and Alexa enabled, making it truly the next generation in meal prep ease.
Breville BPR700BSS Fast Slow Pro 6 Quart Multi-Function Cooker - Stainless Steel
The Breville Fast Slow Pro is a multi-cooker that automatically adjusts time, temperature and pressure settings and switches between fast and slow cooking.
Featuring dual sensors at the top and bottom, the Breville Fast Slow Pro 6 monitors the ingredients and automatically adjusts for more accurate temperature and pressure control.
And unlike other pressure cookers, this one has a hands-free steam release valve that does the work for you.
What Is An Air Fryer?
Air fryers work by circulating heat all around the food, which allows you to ‘fry’ foods using the smallest amount of oil, or even no oil at all. This means that you get the great crispy and crunchy consistency of fried foods, with far less fat and calories overall.
Not just limited to frying, air fryers also have the ability to grill, bake, and roast a variety of foods.
*** My Air Fryer Top Pick ***
PowerXL Power AirFryer 5.3 Quart Black
With its patented Rapid Air Technology, The PowerXL gives food the same great crispy fried taste & texture you love, but with far less oil, or even no oil at all.
Super easy to use, it comes with 7 preset programs all accessible with easy one-touch digital control, plus a manual time and temperature programming option.
And the PowerXL has a convenient easy-load basket with non-stick coating that makes clean up a breeze.
What Can You Cook With Air Fryer?
It’s easy to prepare a wide variety of foods in the air fryer. Here are just a few;
- French fries
- Potatoes and Potato chips
- Roasted nuts
- Chicken
- Pork chops
- Fish fillets and fish sticks
- Hamburgers
- Hot Dogs
- Steak
- Vegetables
- Cakes and cupcakes
Air Fryer Considerations
When shopping for an air fryer, you’ll want to take into consideration the configuration (basket style or oven) and ease of use.
Air Fryer Basket or Oven?
The basket style air fryers are smaller and more portable. They are great for smaller kitchen and for those who prepare food for fewer people. An oven style air fryer is good for cooking larger quantities of food and for larger items, like a whole chicken or frozen pizza.
Ease of Use
Most air fryers have an easy to understand interface with just a few buttons. Simply set the temperature and cook time, and you are good to go.
Air Fryer Top Models
Instant Vortex 4-in-1 Air Fryer, 6 Quart, 4 One-Touch Programs
From the folks who make everyone's favorite electric pressure cooker comes The Instant Vortex Air Fryer. This is a simple to use model with touch controls that are easy to read.
The Vortex has 4 built-in smart programs (Air Fry, Roast, Bake and Reheat) so you can cook your favorite foods quickly, evenly and without all the oil and grease.
And, I especially love the large capacity basket which has room to fit a 4-pound butterflied chicken!
Gourmia GTF7355 12-in-1 Multi-function, Digital Air Fryer Oven
Want the benefits of air frying in a traditional oven form factor? Then the Gourmia Digital Air Fryer Oven is for you!
Boasting 12 preset programs, the Gourmia lets you air fry, toast, roast, dehydrate, and more. And its Fryforce 360° Technology cooks your food fast with super-heated air so it turns out golden on the outside and nice and moist inside.
The Gourmia also has the room to fit 6 slices of toast and even an entire 12" pizza.
Dash DFAF455GBAQ01 Deluxe Electric Air Fryer + Oven Cooker 6 qt, Aqua
The Dash Deluxe is the perfect model for cooking up delicious food without a lot of fuss. With a straightforward dial control (no confusing buttons) and fun retro styling, air frying food is as simple as it gets.
The 6qt capacity makes it perfect for large families and entertaining. And the nonstick fryer basket is dishwasher safe, making cleanup even easier.
With an auto-shutoff function that prevents overcooking, and cool-touch housing and handle, the Dash Deluxe is safe and easy for both you and your kids to use!
GoWISE USA GW44800-O Deluxe 12.7-Quarts 15-in-1 Electric Air Fryer Oven w/Rotisserie and Dehydrator
One of the biggest air fryers out there, the GoWise Deluxe Air Fryer Oven boasts a whopping 15 preset programs that take the guesswork out of cooking times and temperatures.
With 3 rack levels, the GoWise lets you easily prepare family-sized quantities while controlling just how fast and how crispy your food cooks.
And its generous capacity includes a built-in rotisserie so you can prepare whole roasts, tenderloins, and even a whole chicken!
Instant Pot vs Air Fryer – Which Is Better?
Soooooo, we’ve gone over the features and benefits of the Air Fryer vs Instant Pot. It’s easy to see why they’re both so popular. And how they make cooking delicious meals easy and simple.
But if you’re anything like me, you don’t want to have to choose between them.
Well peeps, I have good news! There are some innovative products out there that allow you to pressure cook, slow cook and air fry food, all in one unit!
Yeap, you really can have it all when it comes to quick and easy meal preparation.
Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer Combo Models
Ninja OP301 Pressure Cooker, Steamer and Air Fryer, 6.5-Quart, Black/Gray
The first of its kind, the Ninja Foodi lets you pressure cook and air fry all in one convenient appliance.
Featuring a large capacity, ceramic coated basket that can hold a 5-pound chicken or 3 pounds of frozen french fries, this multi-function product helps you feed the whole family.
I love that the Foodi will evenly cook frozen food from the inside out, so you can skip the thawing and save time by going straight from frozen all the way to perfectly crispy.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1, 8 Quart
Not to be outdone, the folks at Instant Pot recently introduced the Instant Pot Duo Crisp 11-in-1 to give you the best of all possible worlds.
It does everything a regular Instant Pot does, but when you swap out the pressure cooker lid for the air fryer lid, you’ve got a whole new set of options available.
The Smart Programs make it fun and easy to whip up great tasting healthy meals by picking your cooking technique with the touch of a button. And you can even make adjustments during cooking.
***Instant Pot And Air Fryer Cookbooks****
Need some cookbooks for your Instant Pot and Air fryer. Then check out this list.
Thank you for reading my Instant Pot vs Air Fryer post. And please visit again as I continue dreaming up recipes, traditional African recipes, African fusion recipes, Sierra Leone recipes, travel plans and much more for you. Thanks for supporting Recipes from a Pantry, UK food blog.
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