Indulging in fried food once or more every week puts you at a higher risk for some health issues. This basic analog model was compact and easy to use, but its timer stopped working early on in our tests, forcing us to use an alternate timer. Though it comes with a one-year warranty, the company was unresponsive to calls and messages left with the warranty line. A subsequent model we tried didn’t have this problem, however, and made food that was crispy and crunchy.
Many attachments had unclear uses (what exactly does one do with a “steak cage”?), and none had handles to help us remove them from the fryer when hot. Instead, we had to rely on the laughable “lifter” tool, which was essentially a flimsy pair of extra-long tweezers. After a second set of more extensive Lab testing, The Spruce Eats Commerce Writer Jason Horn updated the roundup with those results. After more than 15 years as a food and drink writer, he still doesn’t own an air fryer, but he’s pretty sure that he’ll end up buying one at some point soon. You typically can’t layer foods and compared to the size of the whole unit, the available cooking surface can be quite small (depending on your model and size). This results in sometimes having to do multiple batches – especially if you have a larger family.
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 mission of America’s Test Kitchen Reviews is to find the best equipment and ingredients for the home cook through rigorous, hands-on testing. We stand behind our winners so much that we even put our seal of approval on them. If the heating element gets dirty, you can wipe it with a damp cloth when the unit is turned off, cooled, and unplugged. None of the Cosori models on our list were included in the February 2023 recall.
With this air fryer’s customizable programs and precise temperature control, this versatile appliance can handle just about anything you throw at it, from appetizers to wings to veggies. And, if you’re running out of ideas or recipes, Instant Pot offers a free recipe book full of quick and easy-to-make meals. This appliance nearly took the top spot in our air fryers test, but the Cosori Smart Wifi Air Fryer 5.8qt performed slightly better in terms of chicken wings and breaded chicken. The instant vortex 6-quart Air Fryer impressed us with its great air frying results on brussel sprouts and, in particular, frozen French fries. While it doesn’t have preset programs for air frying, it is exceptionally easy to use as the buttons are clear and the display isn’t cluttered with icons.
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.
The moosoo air fryer has a 1-year limited warranty and replacement parts can be purchased separately. This small model’s stature and footprint make it easy to store, but it’s large enough to cook small batches of frozen foods and our recipes evenly and quickly. Its nonstick interior was easy to clean, but its analog temperature and timer dials weren’t as precise as digital controls.
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.
With no par-boiling, we were keen to see how soft yet crunchy the broccoli and cauliflower florets came out. After 10 minutes inside, we were pleasantly surprised with the results. While the broccoli came out a little more charred than the cauliflower, they were both cooked through so that the storks were easily forkable but still had a nice crunch. While looks aren’t everything, it’s nice to have appliances on the worktop that are as attractive as they are helpful. Luckily, the sleek black and stainless-steel styling and compact dimensions of the instant vortex Plus look good on the worktop and don’t take up too much space.