Instant pot vortex air fryer rotisserie basket recipes

2.0 out of 5 stars Contains BPA and Lead
Reviewed in the United States on December 8, 2021

The non-stick teflon coating on this air fryer contains BPA! BPA is an endocrine disruptor which mimics estrogen so you definitely do not want it in your food. For a similar price you can get a ceramic coated air fryer or a teflon coated air fryer that does not contain BPA. See the attached warning label on the box. I would not have purchased this had I known. It also contains lead as well so this is not healthy cooking.

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Top reviews from the United States

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Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 28, 2022

Generally: Lower temperature by 25°F and set cooking time to 80% of the middle of the recommended cooking time for conventional oven instructions when cooking using air fryer mode. This usually gets you in the ballpark, but with a minute or two to go, you might have to stop it or add time. I've been using that method from the beginning, and it has served me well.

The two trays are perfect for cooking for one to four people. Beyond that, you would probably be better off buying a larger single basket air fryer or even two of you need dual options.

As you'd expect from Instant, the machine just works. I've only tried Air Fry, Bake, and Reheat modes. Looking forward to trying Roast, Broil, and Dehydrate. The synchronous cooking modes work generally speaking, but it seems a little kludgy. Even if you set the baskets to finish at the same time, they often don't. I'm only talking about a matter of seconds to maybe a minute apart, but it's annoying. It seems this is mostly caused by the preheating cycle taking different times, or if I leave one tray open longer than the other. I guess that's more of a user error though.

I have made the usual fries and chicken nuggets (beautifully cooked). I also baked a loaf of bread (frozen preprepared dough, thawed overnight, then baked) that came out delightfully brown and crackly on top but slightly undercooked in the middle (my first attempt, so it's probably me).

I love thawing frozen breakfast sandwiches and burritos in the microwave for a half their recommended cooking time, then throwing them in the cold air fryer, setting it for 3-5 minutes at 350-375°F, and letting them brown and crisp up. You can easily fit up to 4 using both baskets. They are so much better than in the microwave or toaster oven and so much quicker than baking.

I made a meatloaf from scratch, and it was the best I've ever made. It was one of the first things I made in it. I was worried about the food burning or getting stuck on. I did use a little cooking spray, and everything washed up with ease. The bacon and sauce had an amazing crispiness to it that I could never duplicate in an oven.

I've made a few frozen pizzas in it, to. First, while the air fryer is preheating, I score the frozen pizza in half with a pizza cutter, then I cut through the pizza and the cardboard with kitchen shears. When the oven is ready, using the cardboard, I slide one half into each tray. Freschetta Naturally Rising Crust is my favorite, but you have to fold the end of the pizza to get it to fit, and then it rises, making it tricky to get out. Other smaller pizzas for better and are easier to get out.

The trays and inserts are easy to hand-wash, and the trays HAVE to be hand-washed, but the air fryer inserts are dishwasher safe, and I've done that twice after cooking really messy dishes.

It does take up a large chunk of counter space, but since I use it pretty much every day, I don't mind. The back of the unit did put out quite a bit of hot air, so I don't keep anything heart sensitive nearby. It fits nicely under my cupboards. I usually keep a pair of tongs on top so I can quickly adjust food or grab things out when they are done.

I have it 5/5 stars in everything except for "easy to use". That one missing star is because it has so many options it can be confusing to learn, and the synchronous cooking either doesn't work quite right or is so confusing I can't get it right. Also, the beep tones are really quiet, and it's easy to miss the prompts to insert the food or turn it. If you're not in the kitchen, you'd better set your own timers to keep track. This is one case where a "smart" controller on my phone would be super handy to tell me when the oven is preheated, to add food (wait, I'm coming!), when to turn it (or tell it the food didn't need turning), and when it's done. That will probably come out in version 2.0 and add $50 to the price. 😁

It did have a funny smell at first, but it's gone away after a month of regular use. Cleanup is easy. Size is good for me for most things. I probably wouldn't try cooking a whole chicken in it, but 2 game hens would be perfect!

Overall, I really like this unit and recommend it for individuals, couples, and small families that like to cook multiple things at once. Do look for a good sale. I got it on Prime Day, and I'm happy. I might be less so if I'd paid full retail price due to the small size when I cook for friends or extended family.

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for individuals, couples, or small families
By Will Murray (Willscrlt) on August 28, 2022

Generally: Lower temperature by 25°F and set cooking time to 80% of the middle of the recommended cooking time for conventional oven instructions when cooking using air fryer mode. This usually gets you in the ballpark, but with a minute or two to go, you might have to stop it or add time. I've been using that method from the beginning, and it has served me well.

The two trays are perfect for cooking for one to four people. Beyond that, you would probably be better off buying a larger single basket air fryer or even two of you need dual options.

As you'd expect from Instant, the machine just works. I've only tried Air Fry, Bake, and Reheat modes. Looking forward to trying Roast, Broil, and Dehydrate. The synchronous cooking modes work generally speaking, but it seems a little kludgy. Even if you set the baskets to finish at the same time, they often don't. I'm only talking about a matter of seconds to maybe a minute apart, but it's annoying. It seems this is mostly caused by the preheating cycle taking different times, or if I leave one tray open longer than the other. I guess that's more of a user error though.

I have made the usual fries and chicken nuggets (beautifully cooked). I also baked a loaf of bread (frozen preprepared dough, thawed overnight, then baked) that came out delightfully brown and crackly on top but slightly undercooked in the middle (my first attempt, so it's probably me).

I love thawing frozen breakfast sandwiches and burritos in the microwave for a half their recommended cooking time, then throwing them in the cold air fryer, setting it for 3-5 minutes at 350-375°F, and letting them brown and crisp up. You can easily fit up to 4 using both baskets. They are so much better than in the microwave or toaster oven and so much quicker than baking.

I made a meatloaf from scratch, and it was the best I've ever made. It was one of the first things I made in it. I was worried about the food burning or getting stuck on. I did use a little cooking spray, and everything washed up with ease. The bacon and sauce had an amazing crispiness to it that I could never duplicate in an oven.

I've made a few frozen pizzas in it, to. First, while the air fryer is preheating, I score the frozen pizza in half with a pizza cutter, then I cut through the pizza and the cardboard with kitchen shears. When the oven is ready, using the cardboard, I slide one half into each tray. Freschetta Naturally Rising Crust is my favorite, but you have to fold the end of the pizza to get it to fit, and then it rises, making it tricky to get out. Other smaller pizzas for better and are easier to get out.

The trays and inserts are easy to hand-wash, and the trays HAVE to be hand-washed, but the air fryer inserts are dishwasher safe, and I've done that twice after cooking really messy dishes.

It does take up a large chunk of counter space, but since I use it pretty much every day, I don't mind. The back of the unit did put out quite a bit of hot air, so I don't keep anything heart sensitive nearby. It fits nicely under my cupboards. I usually keep a pair of tongs on top so I can quickly adjust food or grab things out when they are done.

I have it 5/5 stars in everything except for "easy to use". That one missing star is because it has so many options it can be confusing to learn, and the synchronous cooking either doesn't work quite right or is so confusing I can't get it right. Also, the beep tones are really quiet, and it's easy to miss the prompts to insert the food or turn it. If you're not in the kitchen, you'd better set your own timers to keep track. This is one case where a "smart" controller on my phone would be super handy to tell me when the oven is preheated, to add food (wait, I'm coming!), when to turn it (or tell it the food didn't need turning), and when it's done. That will probably come out in version 2.0 and add $50 to the price. 😁

It did have a funny smell at first, but it's gone away after a month of regular use. Cleanup is easy. Size is good for me for most things. I probably wouldn't try cooking a whole chicken in it, but 2 game hens would be perfect!

Overall, I really like this unit and recommend it for individuals, couples, and small families that like to cook multiple things at once. Do look for a good sale. I got it on Prime Day, and I'm happy. I might be less so if I'd paid full retail price due to the small size when I cook for friends or extended family.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on August 15, 2022

I bought this after first getting a competing mfg’s multi-purpose grill-air fryer-dehydrator-griddle. That unit was too heavy, you could not clean the inner lid area well or easily, and it was not great as an air fryer. As a grill, the food would slide off the angled grill surface. After reading reviews I decided to get single function devices instead of the “jack of all trades, master of none” unit. I returned the other unit, but Amazon will not let me review it now, saying “unusual review activity” means only confirmed purchasers can review it. I think that is cover for a number of bad reviews it may be getting.
It was a smart move. This InstantPot Vortex XL 8-quart air fryer has two smaller 4-Qt baskets that let me cook two different foods that finish cooking at the same time. The windows and light in each basket let me see how brown foods are without opening the baskets. Great function. The baskets and bottom grate platform are nonstick coated metal and should hold up well. No missing or broken parts.
The unit has a surprisingly small footprint for being a dual basket model. After reading many air fryer reviews I came to the conclusion that I’d either need two machines, or a dual basket model even though both baskets would be smaller.
I paid extra for a model with minimal “metal look” external decoration because in my experience, it is just more to keep clean and adds to the busy look of my kitchen. I plan on keeping it out because I’ve used it almost every day since Ive had it.
When the unit is unplugged, it is nearly all black and non-distinct and that’s a plus because I replaced the rarely used toaster oven with this machine and am trying to minimize counter clutter.
I do recommending using a microfiber cloth for wiping the large expanse of smooth plastic that shows the touch controls when in use, because I used a paper towel and then a cotton dishtowel to wipe it and I can see some light swirly scratches on the surface.
The only working surface that is not easy to clean is the part with the heating coil over each basket. They recommend wiping it as needed if food or grease ever stick, so I will. I assume most residue would burn off as the coils heat to high temps while in use.
I did follow the instructions to run both sides once before actually cooking anything. There was a slight odor but it went away quickly.
I’ve cooked fish sticks and reheated fried fish fillets from restaurant leftovers and there was some “cooking fish” smell for both at the start but 1. I <was> cooking fish! And 2. It went away pretty quickly. I did not want the model that required replacement filters regularly and I’m happy with my choice.
I never had an air fryer with pre-set values so I dont miss that feature. Also, having to let the unit cool down before restarting a new program should not be an issue because 1. I already have two baskets to use at once if needed and 2. When a program is done and I remove a basket to get the food out, that cooking “bay” seems to cool quickly and then shut off completely with the basket out.
I can recommend this air fryer without hesitation!

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 7, 2022

I love this thing. I had owned another brand that was super hard to clean and decided to give it up. I ended up with the IP in the pot one which worked ok but not as good as a standalone so I went shopping for a basket model that would be easy to clean. Preferably without a separate basket with this annoyingly hard to clean fins on the side. I was pleasantly surprised to see that IP made one that fit this bill with only the plate in the bottom to provide air flow. I have used it about 30 times now since I got it and it is doing everything I need from baking to air frying very well. It did have the normal and expected plastic smell at first use but this was gone within a few days and did not affect the food taste. I did run it outside for a few cycles to clear that.

Reviewed in the United States 🇺🇸 on November 19, 2022

I loved our original air fryer but we often needed to cook more then one item. Hence daul basket. First thing we cooked was fresh cut fries and notchicken strip. There was a noticeable difference in texture and flavor in a good way. Definitely google how to breakin and season the unit. We did have to run it 4 time highest temp for 45 min with all the windows open. The smell was very strong of plastic and chemicals. Many people don't think to do these things but those smells are transfered to your food and then you if this step is skipped.

Top reviews from other countries

5.0 out of 5 stars No complaints

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on January 16, 2022

After having two other air fryers from Costco that both died after 2-3 years I decided to look around and found this one. Immediately I can tell you it's much better because of:
The handle is connected top and bottom (other type of handle always felt flimsy, especially when shaking the contents during air fry)
Having a window with light is amazing (you don't have to keep opening the drawer to see how food is cooking)
Having a removable bottom inside the drawer is much better than a basket (with the basket-style you'd have to be careful that the drawer doesn't fall off when shaking the contents... it would happen only occasionally but when it did it would make a mess! ...removable bottom is also easier to clean)

I have nothing bad to say about this air fryer... I only wish I'd found it sooner. They also now have an 8qt. two drawer fryer which I would have purchased but it wasn't available in Canada yet.

5.0 out of 5 stars GAME CHANGER!!

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 16, 2022

I don’t particularly like to cook & sit down restaurants or takeout has been our weekend go-to for many years. I also wasn’t much of a meat eater—-but I’ve used this multiple times per week over the last month. In fact, no restaurants since I’ve had it—and let me tell you THIS THING IS AMAZING FOR MEATS.

I’ve cooked pork chops, steak, whole chicken (fits a 4-5 lbs), salmon and I quote my boyfriend: “This chicken is the best I’ve ever eaten…these chops slice like filet mignon…I’m not crazy about salmon but boy is this good.” He’s definitely not complaining about this purchase.

I haven’t mastered vegetables yet, though I roasted quartered potatoes in the chicken juices in a small ceramic dish and they turned out great. Also made apple crisp which was very good.
WINDOW: I love it, I had a cheap fryer just prior to this which I used a couple of times and was constantly sliding out the drawer to check on doneness so for me, the window was a must—for example when I’m melting cheese on naan bread (yum) I want to see how brown it’s getting.

BASKET SIZE: interior is square 9.5 x 9.5 so you can fit just about anything in here—I cook 2 decent sized steaks at the same time, fits a 4-5 lb chicken. I prefer the square shape to round, I believe you can fit more & more versatile— I can usually use my regular square pans for desserts. I didn’t need to buy any special accessories to fit in it, except heat resistant rubber tongs & silicone mat to put under pans so as not to scratch the interior cooking plate.

I LOVE the turn reminder, and the preheat cycle is ok too, though I’ve heard some people prefer without it—regardless it’s no big deal.

I highly recommend this fryer and I hope it lasts a good while. It’s been one of my better kitchen appliance purchases ever— I even convinced an extended family member to buy one.

Note: I also have a dual basket from another maker since my SO and I don’t currently live together, and though it also works very well, it’s not as convenient as this single square basket type.

I LOVE THIS FRYER and would not hesitate to buy it again.

5.0 out of 5 stars The air fryer works well

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on May 8, 2022

Nice and quiet. Easy to use cleans up nicely. The only one thing on the negative side for the first twenty or so uses it has a terrible chemical smell to it. So I ran about 20 Cycles in the garage and it seemed to her gotten rid of that smell

5.0 out of 5 stars Loved it

Reviewed in India 🇮🇳 on September 26, 2022

I have used multiple air fryers. But this one is best and value for money

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Wow

Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 21, 2021

I’ve had an original instant pot since before they were cool. I’ve had a toaster oven, that got used hard, for years, and although the Cuisinart did a great job for lots of years. It was time to upgrade. I could not be happier with this baby. It did take a week or two to get past the “cooks in 1/2 the time the old oven did”. (Or any recipe for that matter) But. We got her dialed in now. Cleaning is way easier. The door, like a regular over door, the light, the dehydrator,…..
This sucker is a gem. Highly recommend!

5.0 out of 5 stars Just Wow
Reviewed in Canada 🇨🇦 on October 21, 2021

I’ve had an original instant pot since before they were cool. I’ve had a toaster oven, that got used hard, for years, and although the Cuisinart did a great job for lots of years. It was time to upgrade. I could not be happier with this baby. It did take a week or two to get past the “cooks in 1/2 the time the old oven did”. (Or any recipe for that matter) But. We got her dialed in now. Cleaning is way easier. The door, like a regular over door, the light, the dehydrator,…..
This sucker is a gem. Highly recommend!

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