REASONS TO BUY
Fantastic cooking performance
Easy to clean
Easy to use
Great temperature accuracy
Multiple cooking functions
REASONS TO AVOID
High cost
Instant Vortex Plus Review
Exceptional frying performance and an easy to clean design makes this one of the best options on the market
Credit: Laura Casner
RELATED: Best Air Fryers of 2024
Our Verdict
Featuring impeccable cooking performance, an easy-to-use interface, and a fry tray that is easy to clean, the Instant Vortex Plus offers a nearly impeccable air frying experience. It even features a larger than average six-quart capacity, allowing you to prepare larger meals or bigger batches of sides. The only slight complaint we can levy against it is the price — it costs a bit more than the average air fryer. However, for those who are looking to approximate the taste of fried food while using a lot less oil, the Vortex Plus delivers results and a user experience that are well worth the extra cost. We feel comfortable saying that this is one of best air fryers we tested.
Editor's Note: This review was updated on April 21, 2024 to include new details and test data.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product Instant Vortex Plus | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Air Fryer |  An Excellent Mid-Volume Model |  Best Air Fryer on a Budget | ||
| Price | $140 List | $130 List $104.00 at Amazon | $130 List $99.95 at Amazon | $70 List $69.99 at Amazon | $70 List $59.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A high-performing and multi-functional device with an outstanding design | Its versatility allows it to cook a wide variety of foods well and it's quite easy to use | This air fryer produces crispy tots and comes with a window for viewing convenience | Good cooking performance for a reasonable price | A small air fryer with average cooking performance and basic options |
| Rating Categories | Instant Vortex Plus | Ninja Air Fryer | Instant Vortex Plus... | Ultrean Air Fryer | Dash Tasti-Crisp |
| Cooking Performance (35%) | |||||
| User Friendliness (25%) | |||||
| Ease of Cleaning (20%) | |||||
| Temperature Accuracy (20%) | |||||
| Specs | Instant Vortex Plus | Ninja Air Fryer | Instant Vortex Plus... | Ultrean Air Fryer | Dash Tasti-Crisp |
| Measured Dimensions | 11.5"L x 13.3"W x 12.8"D | 13.6"L x 11"W x 13.3"D | 11.3"L x 13"W x 14.3"D | 13.2"L x 11.3"W x 12.4"D | 8.6"L x 11"W x 10.7"D |
| Capacity | 6 qt | 4 qt | 6 qt | 4.2 qt | 2.6 qt |
| Accessories | None | None | None | None | None |
| Power Consumption | 1700 watt | 1550 watt | 1700 watt | 1500 watt | 1000 watt |
| Max Outside Temperature | 146 | 160 | 200 | 154 | 164 |
| Measured Cooking Area | 87.8 sq in | 53.5 sq in | 85 sq in | 59.2 sq in | 49 sq in |
| Time to Preheat to 400F | 2:31 | 4:25 | 2:49 | 2:37 | 3:13 |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
The Instant Vortex Plus excelled in every one of our tests, making it a great choice for those looking for a high-quality air fryer, even if it comes at a higher price. It has a 6-quart capacity and doesn't take up too much counter space with dimensions of 11.5" x 13.3" x 12.8".
Performance Comparison
We loved everything about the Instant Vortex.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Cooking Performance
The Vortex Plus left very little room for improvement in our cooking tests, prepping everything to near perfection.
We struggled to find anything to complain about with the Vortex Plus's doughnuts and tater tots. The doughnuts were delectable and fluffy on the inside, while taking on a crispy and flaky consistency on the outside. The tater tots displayed such a combination of crunch and fluffiness that we're pretty sure someone might classify them as deep-fried in a double-blind study — a compliment we would give to very few of the foods we've prepared in air fryers.
The Instant Vortex Plus scored very well in our chicken cooking test.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
When cooking chicken, the Vortex Plus produced cuts so tender and moist they could be cut with a fork. However, the outsides only had a slight crisp to them — some models were able to make chicken taste just a bit crispier.
The Vortex Plus served up some of the most delectable treats in our testing.
Credit: Laura Casner
We've been using sweet potato fries as a bit of a torture test for our air fryers because we've yet to find a model that can get sweet potato fries truly crispy. The Vortex Plus didn't fully scale this mountain, but it made the fries crispier than any other model we've tested. Crispy enough, in fact, that we'd call them a reasonable replacement for deep-fried sweet potato fries.
We also like that the Vortex Plus has a 6-quart capacity, which is larger than many of the other air fryers we've tested. And it only takes less than 5 minutes to heat up, which is among the quickest of any air fryer we tested.
User Friendliness
The Vortex Plus provided us with one of the most pleasant air frying experiences we've encountered.
The control panel couldn't be simpler. There are dedicated buttons for selecting each one of its six cooking functions and a knob for quickly scrolling through cooking temperatures and times. The buttons are very responsive, and the knob works flawlessly every time. We like that it makes choosing a cooking setting and setting the temperature simple. Best of all, it's so intuitive that even those who aren't familiar with the Vortex Plus can immediately get it set up.
The basket can easily be slid in and out using just one hand. This makes removing it mid-cooking to shake the contents (a requirement for many recipes) quick and simple. The tray can fall out when you're dumping its contents onto a plate, but this problem is easily remedied with a spatula or potholder.
The fry basket is very easy to remove with one hand.
Credit: Laura Casner
It's also worth noting that the Vortex Plus has a more square shape than many other air fryers. We found this helps it fit better on the counter and take up less space than some of its lower-capacity compatriots.
We like that the Instant Vortex Plus fits our counter better due to its square shape.
Credit: Matt Lighthart
Extra Cooking Features
We are impressed by the 6-in-1 functionality, which allows for a range of cooking methods to suit various dishes and preferences. Simply select a setting in the easy-to-use control panel and you can quickly switch between settings.
Air Fry: Healthier frying with less oil.Roast: Perfect for meats and vegetables.
Bake: Treat yourself to cakes and pastries.
Broil: Ideal for topping off dishes with a crisp.
Reheat: Gently warms leftovers while retaining texture and taste.
Dehydrate: Create your own dried fruits and snacks.
Ease of Cleaning
Thanks to a unique fry basket design, the Vortex Plus is easier to clean than most air fryers on the market.
Most air fryers utilize fry baskets with small holes to maximize airflow. These small holes tend to get gunked up with grease and present a cleaning challenge. The Vortex Plus uses a removable tray that allows air to circulate under the food. We found this tray much easier to clean than the more common fry baskets. The basket can be put in the top rack of the dishwasher, but hand washing is recommended. And when it's this easy, we don't mind giving it a quick wash in the sink.
The basket of the Vortex Plus is one of the easiest to clean.
Credit: Laura Casner
As with all stainless steel appliances, the Vortex Plus does show fingerprints. This isn't a huge issue though, as it's effortless to wipe the fingerprints off when cleaning.
Temperature Accuracy
The Vortex Plus displayed near-perfect temperature accuracy in our testing, reliably hitting the set temperature every single cook cycle. Not only did it hit the programmed temperature consistently, but it did not experience large swings throughout the cycle. Many of the other units we tested are technically consistent at hitting the temperature, but they have 30-degree swings throughout the cycle. Not the Vortex Plus. It hit the desired temperature each test and only strayed about 15 degrees throughout the cycle. While it didn't get the absolute highest score for temperature accuracy, we think this combination of consistency and accuracy, without large temperature swings, could be the reason all of the food types turned out so delicious.
The outside of the Vortex Plus clocked in at 146, just barely surpassing our 140 threshold. It was among the lowest outside temperatures we experienced.
The results of our temperature accuracy test.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente
Should You Buy the Instant Vortex Plus?
The Instant Vortex Plus is one of the best air fryers currently on the market. Its exceptional performance and larger six-quart capacity make it the perfect choice for any air frying application. Add in the intuitive control panel and the high scores for ease of cleaning, and, simply put, this air fryer can't be beat.
What Other Air Fryers Should You Consider?
If you want two baskets that can be set to different temperatures, take a look at the Instant Vortex Plus XL. It also performed very well in testing and has an 8-quart capacity, making it an ideal option for anyone who hosts parties or cooks for a large family. Or if you're looking for something with an equally delightful user interface that has the ability to work as both a toaster oven and an air fryer, check out the Breville Smart Oven Air.
—
Lesley Robinson, Max Mutter, Mallory Paige, and Michelle Powell
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