Instant Vortex vs Plus Air Fryer Comparison
The makers of the Instant Pot also sell other types of small kitchen appliances including two basket air fryer: the Vortex and Vortex Plus. And if you’re interested in buying one and need help figuring out the difference two, here’s a review of the features of each model.
The 4 differences between the Vortex and Vortex Plus are:
- The Vortex Plus includes two additional smart programs for broiling and dehydrating
- The Vortex is less than a half-pound lighter.
- The Vortex Plus has stainless steel accents on the exterior.
- The price on the Vortex Plus typical is higher given the added cooking features.
Dig deeper into the comparison between the two models to look at the appliances combined, smart programs included, and other relevant stats.
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What is the Instant Vortex Air Fryer?
An Instant Vortex Air Fryer is a small convection oven, which circulates air at a high speed in a small space to cook food faster. Similar to an oil fryer, these types of air fryers have a pull-out basket drawer The high-speed air creates a crispy result, similar to oil-based frying. Since a fraction of the oil is used, air frying is considered a healthier cooking method.
Instant® designs and sells different types of small kitchen appliances to be dependable, safe, and convenient. You may know their Instant Pot electric pressure cookers and they also make several types of air fryers as another way to cook healthy food fast.
The Instant Vortex is available in two versions of basket air fryers: the Instant Vortex and Instant Vortex Plus. And if you decide the Vortex Plus is the right one for you, you can choose between a 4 quart and 6 quart size. The company also makes two air fryer ovens and two air fryer toaster ovens. Or if you don’t want to add another appliance to your kitchen, you could also consider buying a combined pressure cooker and air fryer. Check out the Instant Pot Pro Crisp and Duo Crisp as a completely different option.
This comparison will focus on basket-based models.
4 ways the Instant Vortex Air Fryers are different
Overall, after looking at all of the specs and cooking functions these two air fryers are very similar with a few differences that will result in a slight price difference. 4 ways the Instant Vortex vs Plus are different include:
- The Vortex Plus includes two additional smart programs for broiling and dehydrating
- The Vortex is less than a half pound lighter.
- The Vortex Plus has stainless steel accents on the exterior.
- The price on the Vortex Plus typical is higher given the added cooking features.
Smart programs included in the Instant Vortex Air Fryers side-by-side
The Instant Vortex air fryer is designed easy to use smart programs to help you home cook dishes at the push of a button. Instant created the smart programs to control temperature and time automatically. You can set it and go on with your other activities while the air fryer takes care of the cooking for you.
The two Instant Vortex Air Fryer models can be used cook several different ways. If you have small kitchen counters or limited storage space, this is a great benefit. You can potentially limit the additional small kitchen appliances you buy.
And also to note, from time to time Instant updates their models with new features. Double check the actual Instant Vortex Air Fryer you plan on buying before making a purchase to make sure it has the features you’re expecting!
Overview of the Instant Vortex Smart Programs
Across both versions of the Vortex Air Fryers, there are 6 smart programs. The Air Fry, Roast, Bake, and Reheat programs are available in both air fryer models. Here’s a quick review of the cooking options in the Instant Vortex and Plus models.
Air Fry
The Air Fry smart program is used for cooking dishes such as fries, mozzarella sticks, and chicken wings without the oil of deep frying. By default it starts at 15 minutes of cooking time with a temperature of 385F. You can adjust the time from 1 to 60 minutes within 180F to 400F degrees.
Roast
The Roast smart program is used for cooking both meat and fish dishes, fries, and more. By default, it starts at 18 minutes of cooking time with a temperature of 380F. You can adjust the time from 1 to 60 minutes within 180F to 400F degrees.
Bake
The Bake smart program is used for making cakes, muffins, pastries, and vegetable side dishes. By default, it starts at 30 minutes of cooking time with a temperature of 365F. You can adjust the time from 1 to 60 minutes within 180 to 400 degrees.
Reheat
The Reheat smart program helps you heat up your leftovers without overcooking or drying out your food. By default, it starts at 10 minutes with a temperature of 280F. You can adjust the time from 1 to 60 minutes within 120F to 360F degrees. It’s a nice microwave alternative, especially if you want to keep the crispy texture of the dish.
Broil
The Broil smart program is used for top-down heating, similar to what you’d do in a regular oven. By default, it starts at 8 minutes of cooking time with a temperature of 400F. You can adjust the time from 1 to 20 minutes. When broiling the temperature cannot be adjusted.
This smart program is only available in the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer.
Dehydrate
The Dehydrate smart program can be used to make your own jerky, dried fruit leather and chips. Would you like another option for eating kale? By default it starts at 8 hours with a temperature of 130F degrees. You can adjust the time from 1 to 72 hours within 95 to 175F. It’s a low heat, extended time cooking method.
This smart program is only available in the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer.
Smart Programs included in the Instant Vortex vs Plus Air Fryers
Here’s a quick view of the cooking options combined in each Instant Vortex Air fryer.
| Cooking Option | Instant Vortex | Instant Vortex Plus |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking options included | 4 | 6 |
| Air Fry | Yes | Yes |
| Roast | Yes | Yes |
| Bake | Yes | Yes |
| Reheat | Yes | Yes |
| Broil | Yes | |
| Dehydrate | Yes |
With 4 cooking options, the base Instant Vortex is called the 4-in-1 model. And you’ll see the Plus referred to as the 6-in-1 model.
Instant Vortex Air Fryer Dimensions
From a size perspective, Instant Vortex and Plus aren’t 100% identical. The Vortex Plus weighs slightly more as it has additional cooking features. The Vortex is primarily a black plastic air fryer and the Plus has additional stainless steel accents.
| Spec | Instant Vortex | Instant Vortex Plus | Instant Vortex Plus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Size | 6 Quart | 6 Quart | 4 Quart |
| Heating Element | 1700W | 1700W | not listed |
| Dimensions (in inches) | 12.36 L x 14.92 W x 12.83 H | 12.36 L x 14.92 W x 12.83 H | 13.03 L x 10.2 W x 11.02 H |
| Weight | 12.08 lbs | 12.46 lbs | 10.88 lbs |
| Power | 120V – 60Hz | 120V – 60Hz | 120V – 60Hz |
| Power Cord | Hardwired, grounded polarized plug | Hardwired, grounded polarized plug | Hardwired, grounded polarized plug |
| Exterior | Black heat-resistant plastic housing; | Brushed stainless steel accents with black heat-resistant plastic housing; | Brushed stainless steel accents with black heat-resistant plastic housing; |
| Display | bright LED display | bright LED display | bright LED display |
| Includes | Cooking Tray | Cooking Tray | Cooking Tray |
Is 6-quart the only air fryer size available?
No! If 6-quarts is a little too big for your cooking needs, you can also check out the 4-quart Plus model. It’s a smaller version of the Instant Vortex Plus model.
That means this smaller model has the features of the 6 quart model in that it is an air fryer, broiler, roaster, dehydrator, while also enabling baking and reheating.
The smaller Plus model is 13.03 L x 10.2 W x 11.02 H in inches and weighs just under 11 lbs at 10.88 lbs.
And if you need something even smaller, a new mini model was released in 2021. It’s a simpler model and might just be right for your kitchen and cooking needs.
Is there a mini Instant Vortex Air Fryer available?
YES! An Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer has been released as a 2 quart mini version of their 4-in-1 air fryer.
The smart programs it will include are: air fry, bake, roast, and reheat. Looking at the specs, the cooking times and temperature options will be about the same with the exception of air fry. The default cooking time will start at 10 minutes for the mini model.
The other fun part is that it will be available in several colors: Aqua, Red, White, and Black.
After looking at the specs, which Instant Vortex model do you prefer?
When you consider buying an air fryer, you’ll need to think about which cooking features you want along with which price fits your budget. With sales and promotions, you can typically save some money if you’re not in a rush. Or you can pick one for now and potentially upgrade in the future as your needs change.
So based on that, which features are helping you decide which Instant Vortex vs Plus air fryer to buy?
