You might not want to drop as much money on an air fryer if you’re only whipping up fries and chicken tenders every once in a while. First, we tried out the Instant-supplied recipe, which was for buffalo chicken bites . Then we conducted tests for roasted moosoo air fryer potatoes, Brussels sprouts, crispy bacon, and frozen French fries using the Instant Brands app for guidance on cooking instructions. Finally, we made our own recipe of chicken and waffles to see how the machine would fry chicken and toast frozen waffles.
With almost every recipe I tried—while results worked well for the single-basket Vortex—we had to increase the cooking time in this machine. Unfortunately, we didn’t notice much of a difference with this air fryer. Cooking foods like bacon and fried chicken imparted a significantly strong smell in the kitchen . When we were using the machine, passersby by would immediately ask, “what’s that smell?” We took that as a bad sign.
A graduate of Emerson College, she’s had her work published in The Boston Globe, Culture Cheese Magazine, Modern Luxury, and more. In her spare time, you can find her experimenting in the kitchen, practicing yoga, or falling down a TikTok rabbit hole. When it came to testing the XL Dual model, we experienced similar results to the singular Vortex Plus model—with some disappointing differences. The ClearCook window allows you to monitor your food as it cooks—without letting heat escape. This model also has a stainless steel exterior, which makes for a sleeker look, and dishwasher-safe accessories. The Vortex Plus has stainless steel accents on the exterior.
You can potentially limit the additional small kitchen appliances you buy. Since air fryers are technically oven, it won’t be complete without a muffin tray. Air fryers are available with different capacity baskets, and estimating how much food you’ll cook during each use will help you choose the best option. Are you a solo chef who wants a side of French fries with your meals? A family with a few kids who clamor for heaps of fish sticks? Checkout The Best Air Fryer for a detailed review of all the top air fryers.
If there had been a helpful manual included with the XL Dual, with appropriate and accurate cooking instructions, this air fryer would have been a home run. Its easy-to-use interface makes it easy to roast potatoes and air fry chicken at the same time . We’ve been chatting with our head of reviews, Millie instant pot duo nova Fender, to understand why Instant air fryers are so popular. Aside from their features that we’ve mentioned above, here’s what she has to say about the models she’s had hands-on experience with… If you’re in the market for a Black Friday air fryer deal, then you’ve landed in the right place.