Instant
Vortex Plus Dual 8-quart Air Fryer
About the product
We tested the Instant Vortex Plus. Here’s what we thought
The Instant Vortex Plus XL is a dual-basket air fryer that is like having two machines in one.
According to the manufacturer, this air fryer lets you cook different foods in two baskets, but it synchronizes the process so both are done at the same time. The dual-basket system also eliminates the need for back-to-back cooking.
The BestReviews Testing Lab evaluated this product by cooking several recipes and exploring the various functions. We loved the versatility that this dual-basket model offered. However, it was not as speedy as the manufacturer promised; this is understandable because of the 8-quart size — more space takes longer to heat up.
What is the Instant Vortex Plus?
Product specifications
Type: Dual basket air fryer | Capacity: 8 qt | Dimensions: 14.9” L x 11.8” W x 13” H | Weight: 20.1 lb | Material: Plastic with stainless steel accents | Control Type: Push button and dial | Number of Functions: 6 | Temperature Range: 95 to 400 degrees
The Instant Vortex Plus XL 8-Quart Dual Basket Air Fryer is a versatile cooking tool. Each 4-quart basket is large enough to hold a pound of french fries or two burger patties. We could cook two different foods at once, and if we wanted them to finish at the same time, the machine handled all the logistics. Of course, we could also cook in one basket when we just wanted a quick snack. However, if we wanted to cook 2 pounds of french fries or four hamburgers, we could sync the cooking and use both baskets for an 8-quart capacity.
This model has six cooking modes: Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat, Broil and Dehydrate. And one of the best features is the built-in lights that let us check on the cooking without opening the drawers (and letting that precious heat out).
Pros
- Versatile unit: We could cook a little food, such as one burger, or enough for the whole family (2 pounds of french fries). This air fryer has six cooking modes that let us do everything from a long, controlled dehydrate over several hours to a quick crisp in minutes.
- Has two baskets: Since there are two baskets, we could cook two different foods without the need of back-to-back cooking, saving us time in the kitchen.
- Sync features ensure stress-free cooking: Whether we were cooking the same food in both baskets or a different dish in each, we just needed to touch the right button to ensure both baskets would complete at the same time.
- Built-in lights and windows: If we were cooking a new dish, such as a hot dog in a roll, or we just wanted to check to see how things were progressing, we simply turned the light on and peeked through the drawer window. We knew exactly how our food was doing without opening a basket.
- Easy to clean: The baskets slid out and could be washed by hand. The cooking trays could either go in the dishwasher or be washed by hand. The cooking chamber could also be cleaned by wiping it out with a damp, soapy cloth after the air fryer was unplugged and completely cooled.
Cons
- Takes up space: Because this model has two baskets, it was somewhat larger than other models, and it also required 5 inches of clearance on both sides, taking up a total of about 2 feet of countertop space.
- Long preheat: While the company touted quick preheat times, we didn't find that to be the case. It typically took five minutes for this unit to reach cooking temperature. To be fair, when compared to a regular oven, though, that was faster.
- Heat leakage: While the heat was supposed to be dispersed out the back, the unit felt warm in the front between the two baskets. It was not dangerously hot, but some of the heat was obviously leaking out.
- Right side cooked faster: When we tested the individual baskets, we found that the right basket consistently cooked just a hair faster. It wasn't enough to ruin a meal, but when synched, the french fries were darker and crispier in the right basket.
- Longer cook times for crisping: We noticed this model took longer to crisp food than other air fryers. The hot dogs were done in the usual six minutes, but they weren't as crisp as usual. However, for bacon, we had to tack on an additional six minutes to fully cook the meat.
Who is it for?
This air fryer is best for an active family that cooks a variety of foods. Individually, the baskets only cook enough for two people, such as two burgers, but together, you can use them to cook a meal or larger portions. The important thing to remember is it takes up counter space, so you need to have at least 2 feet of counter available to cook the food safely.
How we tested
To make sure that all the products we test can be easily compared, we cook five recipes that are exactly the same in every air fryer. For example, we cooked chicken wings at 400 degrees for 18 minutes in every air fryer we tested. To gauge how unique features worked, we tested those out as well. For this model, we evaluated the Sync Finish option by cooking bacon at 350 degrees for nine minutes in the left basket and chicken wings at 400 degrees for 18 minutes in the right basket.
French fries
We cooked 1 pound of french fries in one drawer at 400 degrees for 15 minutes. We did not add oil or seasonings. To get a crispy outcome, however, we needed to cook the french fries for an additional three minutes.
Chicken wings
We prepared the chicken wings using olive oil, garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt and pepper. We cooked the chicken wings at 400 degrees for 18 minutes. Again, we needed to add time to fully cook the chicken. In this instance, it was only another two minutes.
Hot dogs in a roll
We cut slits across the hot dogs and cooked them at 400 degrees for six minutes. We added buttered buns and cooked them for an additional two minutes. While this amount of time was sufficient, the hot dogs weren't super crispy.
Brussels sprouts
We trimmed and soaked two cups of Brussels sprouts for 15 minutes. Next, we dried them and added olive oil, salt, pepper and minced garlic. We cooked them in the air fryer for 12 minutes at 375 degrees. This created the best Brussels sprouts of any air fryer we tested. They were full of flavor and had an appealing texture that wasn't too crisp.
Bacon
We could comfortably fit four slices of bacon across the bottom of a single cooking tray. We cooked it for nine minutes at 350 degrees. However, the bacon was not done and needed an additional six minutes to finish.
Reheat
The standard test was to wait till the next day and reheat the french fries we didn't finish from the initial test. The reheat feature warmed the french fries without cooking them further.
Unique features
To make sure we understood how features that were unique to a particular air fryer worked, we tested them independently to learn what they did. For example, for this model, we tested the different ways to use and sync the two baskets. We cooked two items independently, synced the baskets together for a large capacity and synced the finish of two different items so they would be done at the same time. All tests worked as expected. This air fryer effectively takes the guesswork out of cooking meals.
Price and where to buy
The Instant Vortex Plus XL 8-quart Dual Basket Air Fryer is available for $179.95 on the Instant website. It is also available for $139.99 on Amazon.
What can it do?
This Instant air fryer is very versatile. We could cook in either one basket or two baskets. And there were six cooking modes as well as two basket syncs. Plus, we could cook independently in each basket like we had two separate air fryers. The six cooking modes
The Instant Vortex Plus XL can cook at the touch of a button in six different ways. We could air fry, roast, bake, reheat, broil or dehydrate. The unit starts at a default time and temperature for each cooking mode, but we could quickly change those parameters by rotating the large silver dial in the center of the control panel. After the temperature and time were set, all we had to do was press start and wait for the air fryer to preheat and cook.
Sync Cook
The Sync Cook feature is what we used when we wanted to use both baskets at the same time for the same food. For instance, instead of cooking 1 pound of french fries, we tried cooking 2 pounds of french fries (1 pound in each basket). For Sync Cook, we set the temperature to 400 degrees and the time to 15 minutes for the first basket. Then all we had to do was press Sync Cook, and the machine copied the time and temperature, so both baskets cooked as one.
Sync Finish
Sync Finish allowed us to cook two different foods at two different temperatures for two different amounts of time but ensured that they finished at the same time. This was an excellent feature that we used when preparing bacon and chicken wings. We set the bacon at 350 degrees for nine minutes and the chicken wings at 400 degrees for 18 minutes. After all the cooking information was entered, all we had to do was press Sync Finish, and the air fryer handled all the logistics, so both items were cooked according to the parameters and finished at exactly the same time. It was a very convenient feature.
Ease of use
With an appliance that does as much as the Instant Vortex Plus XL, one concern we had was that it might be difficult to operate. Fortunately, the care the manufacturer put into the design made the model refreshingly easy to use.
Are the air fryer settings easy to use?
Just like every other air fryer from Instant that we tested, this one featured an incredibly intuitive design for setting the cooking parameters for the air fryer, as well as all the other features. When the unit was on, we selected which basket we would use (or which one we would use first) by pressing 1 or 2. We then pressed "Temp" and rotated the large silver dial to select the temperature. Next, we pressed "Time" and rotated the large silver dial to select the cooking time. Once those were selected, we simply pressed start and let the machine do its thing.
Are the other functions easy to use?
Besides Air Fry, there are five other cooking modes. When we wanted to use any one of them, all we had to do was press the rectangle containing the feature we preferred, and it switched the unit into the proper mode. If we wanted to sync the cooking or sync the finish of two different items, that was also accomplished with just the press of a button. After once or twice, we didn't even need to reference the directions anymore.
Does the ClearCook technology add to the experience?
We definitely enjoyed using the ClearCook technology. Basically, it was a combination of a translucent basket and an interior light. When we wanted to see how our food was progressing, instead of opening the drawer and letting out the heat, we simply pressed the button that turned on the basket light and peeked inside. While we had to bend to peer inside, we loved this feature. It was very easy to use and a welcomed addition.
Design
The Instant Vortex Plus XL is a large air fryer that has a modern look, a solid build and easy-to-use controls. While it is large, the unassuming design makes it an appealing addition to the decor.
Look and feel
Unlike the typical air fryer, this model has a bulkier build that gives it a more impressive look on the counter. It has a modern design with a matte and glossy black finish and stainless steel accents. Though this model might take up a couple feet of counter space, it is an attractive appliance.
Durability
At 20 pounds, this air fryer was slightly heavier than other models. This was actually a bonus, in our opinion, because it made it feel extra sturdy and stable on the counter. The baskets felt like high-quality parts, and we didn't need to handle this appliance with kid gloves — it could endure not-so-gentle use. The smooth modernistic form gives the impression that this model will still look good on the counter after several years.
Controls and settings
The controls were a little sneaky on this air fryer. When it was turned off, the control panel was a sleek black. We could not see all the buttons and displays until it was plugged in. When the control panel was lit up, there were 16 buttons we could press, plus a knob we could spin to select time and temperatures. The large display and message bar let us know exactly what the air fryer was doing at all times, which gave us confidence that it was cooking as expected.
Cleaning the Instant Vortex
This air fryer was not hard to clean. We found that removing the baskets and the cooking tray and washing them both by hand was the best way to get the job done. The food came off easily. We did pay special attention to grease buildup on the window, but other than that, a light cleaning with mild dish soap and a nonabrasive sponge was all that we needed.
The manufacturer also recommended cleaning the cooking chamber. Because we would be wiping down the heating element, this could only be done after the unit was unplugged and completely cooled. We used the same tools for this task: mild dish soap and a nonabrasive sponge.
How does it compare to other models?
When we compared this to other models we tested, this one excelled in some areas but fell a little behind the curve in others. For instance, this had the largest, most versatile cooking space of any basket air fryer we tested. The 8-quart capacity meant we could easily fit enough food for a family of four. And the long shape of the individual baskets was a benefit. The Ninja Speedi Rapid Cooker could only fit one burger on its crisper tray (6-quart capacity), while this model could fit two in a 4-quart basket.
On the downside, the cooking wasn't as even as other models. When we cooked hot dogs and fries, the food near the sides of the basket cooked faster, leaving the middle a little less done. And because of the larger cooking chamber, depending on the recipe, we needed to add anywhere from one to six extra minutes of cooking time.
Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer Oven review: Should you get one?
The Instant Vortex Plus XL 8-Quart Dual Basket Air Fryer is a product you definitely want to have on your radar, and possibly in your kitchen. It can cook a single burger, 2 pounds of french fries, or two burgers and a pound of french fries at the same time. It’s an extremely versatile, quality appliance that’s reasonably priced for all that it offers.
However, there are a couple of caveats to consider. This model has a comparatively long preheat time, which tracks for the larger cooking chamber. But it also can take a few minutes longer to crisp. When we cooked bacon, we had to add six minutes to the recipe to get satisfactory results. Also, the unit takes up a lot of space on your counter — you need 2 feet.
If you have the room and you don't mind waiting a few extra minutes for your food, the versatility this model offers makes it a great option.