The Instant Pot 4QT Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Mini Air Fryer is the compact model in Instant Pot’s Vortex Plus air fryer lineup. What distinguishes the Vortex Plus 4QT from the larger models in the range is its smaller size, which fits six cooking functions into a 4-quart basket without taking up much counter space. You can air fry, bake, roast, broil, dehydrate, and reheat from one easy-to-use touchscreen, allowing you to prepare an array of meal options without switching between appliances. This model maintains all the core air-frying performance that has made this brand a hit, but helps you save space with a lower volume than its larger family members, so it’s perfect for solo cooks and small househxolds.
A multifunctional cooker that can get dinner on the table in record time
One of the most unique aspects of the Instant Pot 4QT is its EvenCrisp technology. It circulates hot air to achieve an evenly cooked, crispy finish on your food and uses only around 5% of the oil required in a deep fryer. Bake and Roast allow you to achieve results similar to those from a traditional oven. Broil provides high heat directly to the surface of your food, allowing for browning and final finishes. Dehydrating allows you to cook foods at lower temperatures for longer periods, which makes it ideal for drying fruit, making beef jerky, or drying herbs. Reheat allows you to safely warm leftover food back up to proper serving temperature without turning it into mush like microwaves are known to do.
The touchscreen on the front of the unit runs one-touch smart programs for each cooking function. You can also set a custom temperature between 95 and 400 degrees Fahrenheit, giving you control over both gentle dehydration and high-heat crisping.
Cleanup stays simple thanks to the nonstick basket, which lifts out and goes straight into the dishwasher. More than 100 recipes are available in the Instant Brands Connect app, which gives you a starting point for the different functions if you are new to air frying. The stainless steel exterior keeps the look clean whether the air fryer stays out on a counter or is tucked away in a cabinet between uses.
The 4-quart basket is designed for smaller portions, so if you regularly cook for more than 4 people, you may want one of the larger Vortex models instead. The basket also cooks in single batches, so larger meals will need to be prepared in stages. If you want a fully hands-off process, the air fryer still benefits from a shake or flip partway through most cooking, just as with larger units in the lineup.
At $60, the Instant Pot 4QT Vortex Plus is a significant discount on a six-function air fryer in a compact size. Pick one up on Amazon while the discount holds for EvenCrisp air frying with 95% less oil.