If you frequently experiment, you might be more comfortable with a model that features one. There’s no reinvention of the wheel here and, personally, I don’t adore the shape and angle of the handle. In addition, this model suffers from a similar flaw to other Instant Vortex 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 chicken wings I made in the Instant Vortex Plus were so much crisper than the ones I made in the oven, and they were juicy too.
It’s one of around eight air fryers in the Instant Brands range and is mid-value in price. You can expect to pay around £60 for a basic model such as the Instant Vortex, to around £219.99 for the Instant Vortex Plus Dual Drawer 8-in-1. Please visit /support/register to register your new Instant Brands™ appliance. Failure to register your product will not diminish your warranty rights.
The only difference is the Vortex Plus runs a little quieter than the Vortex, presumably due to the added filter and the thicker basket due to the viewing window. It’s plastic/stainless steel on the outside and features 6 functions (it includes dehydrate and broil compared to our Vortex®) – but the size and shape is identical to ours. We’ve used it with them and it’s identical in function and cooking outcomes. This hulking air fryer, which testers compared to a salon hair dryer, hogged our counters with its 17-inch footprint. Its heavy flip-top lid needed 2 feet of vertical clearance to open all the way and lock into place—a safety problem since the main heating element was fully exposed when the lid was open. We tried three, all made from a thin metal mesh that warped and stained during use.
The dial also moves smoothly and is fast for navigating minutes and temperature degrees, compared to holding down a button. A lot of the air frying experience—just like cooking in general—is trial and error. When you’re trying out your own recipe or heating up something that isn’t listed in a recipe book or app, you often have to use your best judgment and cross your fingers. We tried a range of foods in these air fryers to see how they perform. We tested the first edition of the Vortex Plus back in 2019 and had some mixed feelings. Maybe you’re Team Instant Pot forever and you’ve just got to have it.
We were struck by the sleek controls on the Plus, which only illuminate when the air fryer is plugged in. You can control the timings and temperature using a dial on the front of the air fryer, and pressing down on this dial will confirm your choices. Another thing which pleasantly surprised us was the noise level, which was very low for an air fryer. We recorded 64dB, which is quite low for ambient noise, and far lower than the other air fryers we were testing. Even odor-heavy foods such as bacon were not detectible in the air around the air fryer. We got very close when sniff-testing, and everyone agreed that the scents were not detectible.
The third performance test I put all air fryers through is cooking a one-pound batch of fresh broccoli. Our engineers first judge an air fryer based on how easy it is to use the buttons or dials on the machine and the size and clarity of the lettering on the unit. Instant Pot is known for making some of the best air fryers, and the slim version of its Vortex product line completes the range. It offers a more compact option to the flagship Instant Vortex air fryer or the more enhanced Instant Vortex Plus air fryer by trimming back 20% of the bulk.
With its “EvenCrisp” technology, wide temperature range and illuminated viewing window, the instant vortex Plus has lots of clever features we were excited to try. PTFE, PFA and FEP are all fluoropolymers that create a non-stick surface on the food-contact surface of cookware and bakeware products. Although inert solids, PTFE, PFA and FEP are classified as PFAS substances and must be disclosed. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at