Instant Pot VersaZone Dual Air Fryer – 8.5L Family Size
Dual Basket Innovation | 8 Cooking Modes | Black Stainless Steel
- Dual Cooking Zones: Use as two separate 4.2L baskets or one large 8.5L compartment for family-sized meals.
- 8 Smart Functions: Air Fry, Grill, Bake, Roast, Reheat, Dehydrate, SyncCook, and SyncFinish—all at your fingertips.
- Time & Energy Saving: Save up to 80% energy and cook up to 50% faster than conventional ovens.
- Healthy Cooking: Fry with up to 95% less oil for healthier meals packed with flavour and crunch.
- Easy Clean Design: Non-stick baskets are dishwasher safe and easy to wipe clean.
| Technical Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Brand | Instant Pot |
| Model | VersaZone Dual Air Fryer |
| Capacity | 8.5 Litres |
| Colour | Black |
| Material | Stainless Steel |
| Product Dimensions | 38.4D x 40.3W x 31.7H cm |
| Special Features | 8-in-1 Cooking, SyncCook, Divider, Energy Efficient |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher-Safe Baskets & Tray |
The functions are awesome, it comes with enough settings to cook a variety of foods. It also encourages me to cook healthy meals at home because it's convenient, quick and easy to clean.
Another plus is you can sync both cooking sides to finish at same time.
If I had to say anything bad it would be the he drawers are a bit on the small size but that’s on me for not paying attention to the capacity before purchase
It's amazing, the expression "Where have you been all my life" comes into play here. It pre-heats faster than my conventional fan assisted oven, cooks faster and the couple of things that I'd consider negative are so mild I can't knock a star of it's rating.
The good things... as stated, it pre-heats faster, cooks faster, has ample space for my requirements, cooks evenly and whilst I haven't tried the rotisserie yet, they've made a very good YouTube clip to show how to prepare the chicken and cook it. To use any of it's cooking types, you choose air fryer, grill, etc. Then you press a button, turn a dial for the temperature, press another button for the minutes, turn the same dial and you're off. amazingly simple to use.
The really not so bad things, Before "proper use" you have to run it for i think 20 minutes at 180 degrees with no food in it, no probs with that but it left a really foul smell in my kitchen for a couple of days, would of been nice to have that written or mentioned in their YouTube video but really a minor thing. Where i can place it in my kitchen, I'd have preferred to be able to change the door direction to make it a bit easier, this however is definitely a "me issue".
TL/DR: It's amazing, would highly recommend.
Sound is low
You have all the options to cook great staff
Once you are familiar with all the different settings, e.g., finish two different food items at the same time, it sets even better.
I've already cooked chicken drumsticks, sausages and baked bread. It cooks everything perfectly! I'm very happy with my purchase! Easy to use and has just the perfect size for family meals.
This air fryer oven performs better than other well-known brands I’ve tried. The results are consistently impressive, whether it’s crispy chips, juicy roasts, or perfectly grilled vegetables. The grill function, in particular, stands out—it cooks food remarkably quickly while locking in flavour and texture.
Over Christmas, this oven was a lifesaver, handling multiple dishes effortlessly and delivering excellent results every time. Cleanup is surprisingly easy, with non-stick surfaces that wipe down quickly, making post-cooking stress-free.
Its sleek black design adds a modern touch to the kitchen, and the large capacity is perfect for families or entertaining guests. We’re absolutely in love with this air fryer oven—it’s a game-changer for quick, healthy, and delicious meals.
EDIT
After a few months, the base plate is very difficult to keep clean. A lot of awkward spaces where grease can collect. The temptation is to not clean which is probably not a good thing.
I’ve use it for cheese on toast, pie and chips even a full English breakfast. I really like the quality of the build and ease of operation. I would recommend any who needs a larger air fryer to get one.
I had to be careful during the first use due to sensitivity to any kinds of fumes. Make sure you initially use near an open window in a room where you can close the doors to stop it spreading through your whole house! It says to run for 20 minutes initially. I did do that, but then repeated that later. For the 3rd time, I put a couple of small potatoes in each side to cook, so that if they were edible, they could be my lunch, but if they smelt of the chemical smell, they could be disposed of. They were fine and there's been no horrible smell since. Only great food.
overall we are satisfied the pre heat function before airfry/ roast the food and it works well
Very easy to clean the base and place in the dish washer
We are two adults and two kids and I'd say the size of this works well for us. With two chambers, it's easy to cook a meal across the two draws.
Cooking definitely seems quicker than in a standard oven and I've noticed a reduction in my electricity bill. Winner.
As we are a family of 5 I needed to make sure it was big enough. This its amazing as you can have 1 big compartment or 2 separate ones.
If you only need to use one side, that is the only side that heats so you don't waste energy.
Really quick heat up time.
Cooks much better than our old airfryer.
The bake function actually cooks some things better than the oven!
Updated review - having FULLY read the instructions I now know you can indeed sync cook and sync finish. Very very happy with the product and apologies for the initial poor review. Couldn’t be happier
Compared to other air fryers I've tried, the Vortex simply cooks food faster and better.
Having used it for over a year now, it's still going strong with no sign of any wear to the non-stick coatings (it has been looked after - no dishwashers, no scourers, soaking rather than scrubbing etc), and the only "wear" is where I dropped the fully loaded drawer on the floor and a small part of the plastic handle broke off. It made a right mess of the floor, but only slight cosmetic damage to the Vortex.
Things I like about it - it's pretty simple to use - set the temp on one side and the time on the other. There's presets but I've never touched them.
You can throw food in from cold, or follow the instructions and wait for it to heat up at which point it tells you to add food. It also tells you when to turn food over, although if you ignore this it carries on cooking it anyway.
Smoke/steam/heat is all well contained. The fryer lives under cupboards and there's only minimal grease on the underside of the cupboards from 12 months of use.
While there are bigger air-fryers now, I consider that if you need anything larger than the Vortex, it's probably better to use a good fan oven. This air fryer for me is the perfect size for couples or small families.
Highly recommended!
access it to replace the bulb?
Is there any solution please?
UPDATED a superb immediate response from the company and a replacement is on its way. Many thanks I just love this air fryer even more. Stars amended to 5 I would give 10 if I could
The intuitive controls and presets make operation a breeze, allowing even novice cooks to achieve perfect meals with ease. The spacious baskets provide ample room for large batches, making it ideal for family dinners or entertaining guests. Cleanup is a breeze thanks to the non-stick coating and dishwasher-safe components, saving me valuable time after meal preparation.
Not only does this air fryer offer convenience, but it also promotes healthier cooking habits by reducing the need for frying in oil. The adjustable temperature and timer settings ensure precise cooking every time, while the sleek design adds a modern touch to my kitchen countertop.
Overall, the Dual Air Fryer has exceeded my expectations in terms of performance, versatility, and ease of use. If you’re looking to elevate your cooking game and enjoy guilt-free indulgence, I highly recommend adding this air fryer to your culinary arsenal. It’s a game-changer!
I BOUGHT IT FROM ANOTHER SUPPLIER WHEN I WENT FOR A VISIT TO THEIR HUGE PREMISES AND PAID £119.00 FOR IT.
THIS OVEN IS ABSOLUTELY FABULOUS...IT EVEN GRILLS TOASTS BETTER AND FASTER THAN THE TOASTER.
DESPITE THE ROTISSERIE WORKING BEAUTIFULLY, I FOUND OUT THAT JUST STICKING THE CHICKEN ON ONE OF THE TRAYS IS MUCH LESS OF A HASTLE AND GIVES EXACTLY THE SAME RESULTS.
I WAS SO HAPPY WITH IT THAT I WANTED TO BUY ONE AS A GIFT FOR MY BROTHER WHO JUST MOVE INTO A NEW FLAT AND FOUND ONE ON AMAZON ADVERISED AS NEW FOR £78.00, WHICH WAS £30.00 CHEAPER THAN MINE!!
UNFORTUNATELY IT DID NOT HAVE ANY OF THE ADDITIONAL UTENSILS, ONLY ONE FORK TO HOLD ANYHING ON THE ROTISSERIE AND THE BOX WAS CLEARLY NOT NEW.
BUT AS USUAL AMAZON ACCEPTED THE RETURN WITHOUT ANY PROBLEM…
The Verdict: The Instant Vortex Plus Dual Basket Air Fryer is a quirky yet capable kitchen companion. It's easy to use, surprisingly versatile, and makes cleaning up a breeze. The overall convenience and healthy-ish cooking options make it a worthy addition to your culinary arsenal. Just remember, this air fryer won't judge you for those late-night chicken-wing cravings. We all have our battles to fight.
Each drawer can be used independently, so just one can be used when cooking. Also, they can cook with different settings. An example is that one might be used for baking and the other for air-drying.
The different drawers can be synced to finish cooking at the same time.
The unit is easy to clean, and the drawers have drainage holes so they can be immersed in washing water. The drawers cannot go in the dishwasher but the inserts can; however, the non stick is so good that there is very little to clean. Even oil does not stick.
The build is sturdy and well made. I expect to get quite a few years of use from this model.
This one offers six cooking options - air fry, roast, bake, reheat, grill and reheat - on one of the two sections or the whole area. (There's a simple slider that lifts out separating the two sides.)
Controls are so intuitive you don't really need a manual. Double click the main button to switch from large section to two small ones, set the temperature and time and go. If you are cooking on two sides and the timing is different, the simultaneous finish button comes on which allows everything to be ready at the same time.
As many people have said before, this thing is a game changer. It is fast to reach temperature and faster to cook. We hardly ever use the oven now. Highly recommended unit.
Design: The design is lovely- the handles are ergonomic; the buttons are easy to use. The only physical button is the dial and it hasn’t been an issue using. It took a minute or so to understand how to cook at different times and temperatures. The fans at the back emit a lot of heat, so I normally leave a gap between the wall and the air fryer.
Cooking: the food cooks very evenly. The unique selling point of this is of course the dual baskets- it works perfectly for what I’ve cooked and it’s incredibly clear to identify the cooking time and temperature. The ability to sync-cook as well is a great convienence.
My main issue with this is the lack of surface area. It’s very good with the volume being large, but the majority of things I cook occupies a larger surface area than this perhaps provides. A good example is chips/ fries. When cooking it, I must do it in more batches as the available area isn’t enough. Of course, I could stack them together to utilise all of the volume, but who wants floppy fries!? I use the air-fryer for myself and one other person, but using it for more people might be an issue.
Sound: Sounds pop up for relevant aspects. It’s very easy to hear when in the same room without it becoming annoying. You get alerted when pre-heating is done, when food should be turned and finally when the timer has reached
Clean up: The baskets are easy to clean by hand, and the grates can easily be thrown into the dishwasher.
Overall, this air fryer is for you if you need to cook items at different temperatures and durations. However, please be aware that the available space isn’t as attractive as I thought when buying it!
After Christmas the interior light stopped working so contacted them direct and they advised me that it was a sealed unit so new machine would have to be sent and could I send my original order details. I did this and it did fall a bit silent for about a week. So I sent another email with the reference no asking what was happening, they apologised and asked where I wanted it delivered. Today, 3 weeks later a brand new air fry was delivered. So again I totally recommend this air fryer and Instant Pot as their service has been excellent. 5⭐️
Touch the "Time" button, and use the large knob to adjust the time to the munute. Touch "Temp" and the same knob adjusts the temperature. Then just 4 options for use - Bake, Air Fry, Roast & Re Heat. One big 5.7 litre basket, though this is not useable capacity, but to the top of the 10 cm deep basket. You certainly can cook a reasonably sized chicken in it. There are recipes you can download, but not specific to this Fryer.
I'll try to find a way to raise the tray at the bottom a couple of inches to be able to grill or toast something a bit easier., but very happy with it so far.
Needless to say, I was pessimistic when I thought for a test run I'd do a batch of homemade chips using the same recipe I had done in an oven. I was quite smug at this point thinking I can't wait to expose the fraud in our midst.
I was wrong. So very incredibly wrong. Those chips. I didn't know potatoes could do that.
I now exclusively use the air fryer for everything and haven't touched the oven in weeks. It's cheaper on the leccy, easy to clean and the "crisp" is unmatched. Also hardly any oil is used so a lot healthier. The only downside really is that you need everything to be on a single layer, so it does mean for larger portions you have to cook in batches. However for 2 adults we have no issue, and I believe you can get air fryer shelves to double the capacity. You can even get silicone inserts to reduce cleaning time massively.
I'm not an expert or by any means affiliated to the brand. I am but a mere humbled man.
The two drawers both hold a good amount, and the non stick makes cleaning super easy.
First use was the obligatory chicken thighs and chips. While the chicken started off, I did some corn on the cob, which cooked beautifully, I wrapped that in foil with some butter and it stayed nice an hot, while i waited for the chips to cook and the chicken to finish off.
Overall, I was very impressed at how intuitive it was, although they could have included a cook chart for cooking times, but this is all available on line anyway.
Great value for money on the Black Friday deal £95.
I do think one large basket with a divider would have been good, but that’s a personal preference.
This air fryer is pretty simple to operate: press the centre control twice & it alternates from single to dual controls. All the other controls are touch sensitive so the panel is smooth therefore easy to clean. You select the function that defaults to Air Fryer then select Time or Temp then rotate to change. A minor quibble is the rotary control is linear rather than being rate-sensitive so can take a while to get to the required setting.
The centre divider pulls up but do so gently otherwise the silicone corner pieces need reseating. The base plate has silicone feet & to hinging metal hoops in the middle of either side - removing it will give an extra 8mm of depth. To set each side independently, you press the “1” or “2” button then set as before but you can then choose to duplicate the other side's settings or set one independently then sync so they finish together. There's no auto-sensing with this model unlike the more expensive Ninja equivalent but is excellent value. As for results - they are good with oven chips coming out crispy. How even food cooks depends on your willingness to shake, stir, turn or baste. Although it early days, the results do reduce cooking times by 40-60%.
Any downsides? Cleaning after each use is needed. If new to air frying, some accessories will help such as a meat thermometer, racks & silicone inserts. I'm very pleased with this highly flexible model so recommend it.
I found this simple to operate and very efficient as well as being good value. There was a nasty smell, which, despite cleaning many times for two weeks, has only just disappeared.
Also there was an annoying rattle which was caused by the heating element rubbing on itself when vibrated by the fan. I fixed this by gently bending the element away from itself. It should have been fitted with a 2nd metal bracket to avoid this issue.
The big advantage of this fryer is that the 'basket' is big enough to take a full sized ready meal (e.g. roast beef+pots+carrots+peas) so I do not have to use my large oven for those.
Also, the tray will take my small Pyrex dishes, so I do not have to get the tray dirty at all when cooking raw food, etc. It is much easier to clean a Pyrex dish than the whole tray/basket and trivet.
I can put chicken breasts in a Pyrex dish and add garlic, butter, olive oil, slices of lemon, paprika, cover with foil and cook until my oven probe reads 60 deg C and then remove foil and add freshly microwaved potatoes/chips on top for final 10 mins at 205 deg C to brown.
It is about 1/3 cheaper than using my small oven each day so it saves me about £20 a month as I use the oven most days.
I wouldn't know if it is better than other air fryers, but I use it every day and it cooks well. Recommended.
So far I have only cooked jacket potatoes (kids sunday dinner demand) in here but im excited to see the rotisserie function in action.
Really easy to use, used one tray half way up and a bottom tray to catch any oil from the skin to crisp it up, it was a case of put it on 205 degrees (max heat) 1 hour time (max time) and just pressed start to bake....we just left it and the skin was mega crispy, the middle was soft and fluffy and the kids said they were the best ever.
Gone are the days of a half hour gas oven warm up as well as an hour plus to cook, I will add more once I have tried the rotisserie and other functions, but to be able to do chicken AND chips in one device like this will save me a fortune in bills and in time.
Great product and such a cheap price compared to a lot of others....looks fantastic as well, a lot snazzier than the others I looked at.
The Vortex Plus Dual Basket has been an absolute game-changer in my kitchen. I don’t think I’ll ever use my oven again.
It’s not just good; it’s exceptional. What truly sets it apart from my traditional oven is its remarkable speed. This air fryer cooks food in no time, which is a huge plus—not to mention the cost saving on electricity.
I opted for this rather than the ninja as it cost less and looks just as good.
The dual basket feature allows me to prepare multiple dishes simultaneously, cutting down cooking time even further. The build not only looks sleek but also ensures durability.
It’s a workhorse in the kitchen, and I appreciate the quality.
The results are consistently delicious, with a perfect crispy texture on chips and fried chicken. I’m thrilled with my purchase and can’t recommend the 8QT Vortex Plus Dual Basket enough for those who want both quality and speed in their cooking.
The only thing I don’t like is the instant logo, looks cheap and nasty like a five year old was let loose with adobe illustrator. However, the fryer is amazing so I can live with it.
We bought this (Vortex Plus Clear Cook) for my mother, thinking that she would be able to lift the baskets easily with arthritis, and she asked us to use it for a few weeks before we gave it to her, so that she could ring us if she got stuck.
It's been a game-changer!
The two baskets are great! You can load one up with veg and the other with a chicken crown or sausages, set the timers, and this will just work everything out so that it all finishes at the same time, which is fab!
The glass windows are also just inspired. It'll actually be hard to go back to our own circular InstantPot now.
I would most definitely recommend getting two small baskets rather than the one double-width one. The ability to lift things in and out, and to cook separately, is such a great idea.
The glass panels and the ability to turn a light on inside the cooker, to see what's going on, is also fantastic--so much better than the older versions.
The controls are very clear--much like using a standard double oven with a rotating timer and heat dial--which is great for nervous cooks who think this whole air-fryer thing is like voodoo (yes, I was one of them once!). The unit is average-sized for it's type--maybe a fraction taller than a standard microwave. The lights on the control -panel are a little dim when the whole unit is in bright daylight, but I'd say that's it's only fault. That and, of course, the lack of even the most basic cooking guidelines. There's a half-hearted 6-page booklet which explains the controls, but not even a hint at the basics of cooking. I think that can feel a bit overwhelming to a newcomer. I know our previous one sat in the cupboard for about a month before I screwed up the nerve to start cooking in it.
I'd say this one is the easiest yet to use though; it's all very intuitive for anyone who's ever cooked in a conventional oven.
Definitely give this a go!
I wanted a cheap one to see if having an air frier was worth the money (as in if I would even use it). It makes the most AMAZING oven chips!! So much nicer than the actual oven that the oven has never seen oven chips since. Homemade chips are good too!
Cover in a bit of oil, salt, herbs etc, while it heats up, takes only a few minutes. I admit I mainly do chips in there and I throw in the odd meat free burger/sausage/fish fingers and cut up sweet potatoes and in 20 min you know you are in for a good Yorkshire meal. There is enough room for chips for 3 people and room for a few extra pieces. Washing up is nice and easy after also.
I recently tried cheese on toast in it (after toasting one side of the bread) and that came out rather well. I have also tried roast potatoes and baked potatoes - all came out nice. Roasted carrots in oil and herbs are amazing to.
Everyone in my household agrees the chips and veg are amazing and I have since been dubbed the Air Fryer Chef and am in charge of its use.
I will admit that I chose this model primarily for the interface! Every other model has a single display for both the temperature and time. I much prefer separate displays, so I really liked the look of this model.
This thing is brilliant! Not only can I cook sausages and chips separately, I can have them finish at the same time! This is actually much more convenient than it sounds. I had taken to grilling the sausages whilst air frying the chips, and timing them both to finish together was tricky at best.
The control panel initially took some getting used to, not helped by the fact there are no printed instructions. You do get a QR code to scan, however, and this will supply you with both a quick start guide, and a detailed manual.
If I have one complaint, I wish the display was brighter and the beeper louder (actually that's 2 complaints!). The beeper reminds you to add the food after preheating and also to turn during cooking, a great idea, but difficult to hear from another room.
I really like this, and I am getting used to all the different functions, I've used air fry for the aforementioned sausage and chips, and also roasted pork and gammon, both of which came out great.
I highly recommend this air fryer, you won't be disappointed.
Thanks for listening.
This unit does not come with any accessories so also got a set of steel cooking racks and some silicon cooking baskets that come in handy. The dual drawers have windows so you can keep an eye on the food and each draw has its own light. It has a touch control panel except for the one main control knob which is great as it's all just wipe clean. The unit i bought is the 7.6litre version, so 3.53litres per draw and they cook independently. One draw has enough room for one small chicken. Quicker cheaper and cooks well.
A oven might only take 8-10min to heat up to your chosen temp, but chances are you never put your food in exactly once its at your needed temperature, because you get distracted or are multitasking. So food that takes 25min in the oven really might take 10min heat up, 5min until you notice to put food in, 25min in the oven= 40min. Then you've got a warm kitchen as the oven cools off, and a tray to put somewhere and leave to clean for later as now your lunch break is over, or you wanna break after dinner.
With the air fryer its heat up time is so quick, only 1-2min that you end up putting your food in right away, plus items that used to take 25min in a conventional oven only take 15ish in the air fryer, and come out tasting better. Total time 15+2=17min vs 40min in an oven. Plus cleanup is quicker, often a quick rinse and your done, and if you don't clean up right away you can put the tray back in place on the fryer and your kitchen won't have anything extra laying around. Foods like chicken wings used to leave my oven needing an immediate power wash, while the air fryer just needed a quick few minutes in the sink.
There are drawbacks, like making a big roast, you can't do potatoes, and veg, and meat all at the same time due to lack of space. But you can do 50/50 meals quite well, so meats on one side, and veggies on the other. I need to try longer roasts at lower temps but I'm worried slow roasted meats might dry out, and the cost advantages of the air fryer might be lost on long cooks.
Overall it's more useful than a microwave, better at cooking than an oven, and feels almost twice as fast as an oven while being easier to clean.
In a bid to convince that we DID need another cooking appliance (LOL), I made teriyaki salmon for the first time in years in the Versazone. Dumped some frozen sweetcorn cobettes into the other basket to make a complete meal (got leftover rice in the fridge as the carb). Both the salmon and the cobettes were cooked to PERFECTION. And it was soooo easy!!!!!
For me in particular, I find the air fryer really really convenient for cooking frozen vegetables. With fresh vegetables being so expensive these days, I am so pleased to have discovered a simple way of cooking cheap frozen vegetables that requires virtually NO PREPARATION - I've tried Brussels sprouts (1 kg for about 1 pound from Iceland), pre-cut Mediterranean vegetable mix (maybe 2 pounds for a bag; I get 4 portions out of it) and sweetcorn cobettes (4 for 1 pound from Iceland) so far and everything tasted absolutely amazing with just a few spritzes of oil and some salt and pepper. No cutting, no defrosting, no washing needed!!! WOW!!!!
Oh, and I've already baked a cake and a batch of cookies in it too. It all tasted amazing and took less time than the oven!!!
Honestly, SUCH a game-changer... It IS bulky, but soooo worth it!!!! I would honestly recommend this to anyone who cooks regularly and wants to save time and money.
I found the Synch Cook so both baskets end at the same time irrespective of the temp/time they are set to as really helpful.
You need to be with it throughout the cooking as it warms first for a moment or two then beeps asking for the food to be put in, then a few minutes later it beeps for you to turn it (or it doesn't beep but you know that chips will need turning every 5 minutes.).
At first I really thought why have I wasted my money on this, but after a week I did not use my oven and 2 weeks later, I have still not used my oven. It copes well to cook for 2 people and the results are really nice and tasty with crisper textures. I don't use the spray oil as concerned it may damage the coating, and I do use paper liners with oozy cheese type foods. Glad I bought it and glad I have the kitchen space to keep it out all the time.
Cleaning is very easy. We have just hand washed in hot soapy water because it's been so easy. Not yet put anything in the dishwasher, so can't comment.
The instruction book is a little sparse. However a quick internet search will tell you the the general rule of thumb is 20C lower temp than a Fan Oven and 20% less time, and so far this seems to be working.
Since getting this we have probally used the large oven 70-80% less, and had better results. Very pleased with the purchase and we just know this will be used weekly. Not one of those gadgets you buy and then it gets pushed to the back of the cupboard. If you buy one, you won't be disappointed.
I got this one for £60.00 and I love deep frying as I hated soggy fries in the oven with little burnt bits on the end.
I bought curly fries and whole onion rings yesterday for the first time, and I could not tell the difference between my deep fryer and this. Also they were not soaked in oil, but crispy all over. not burnt on the ends.
I gave my tower one to my ex partner and I am very happy with this.
But I have to say.. The first cook, the unit stinks of plastic and smells all over the house. But this seems normal looking online and goes away with several uses. But wont take a star off for that as my fries were super crispy just like a deep fryer.
I used to be a chef, and I could not tell the difference from my deep fryer to this air fryer, apart from the oil and smell in the house the deep fryer left. Oh also the cost, of buying oil and cleaning the deep fryer every couple weeks. I am saving money all around.
I specifically wanted a dual basket fryer as I wanted the option of cooking different foods at the same time, the Vortex plus does this with consummate ease as it has a sync finish function which allows you to have both baskets finishing at the same time regardless of the amount of cooking time or temperature each basket needs, it also has a sync finish for both baskets to finish simultaneously if you want to bulk cook both baskets with the same food, (cook fries or whatever).
I like the versatility of it to air fry, bake, roast, reheat, grill, and dehydrate at the touch of a button, I also like the fact the basket light comes on with one minute of remaining cooking time so you can see how things are doing and it also has several audible warnings, (Add food/turn food/finish etc) so far I've only used two of the cooking functions, air fryer and reheat, I also wanted the widow option so I could see how things were cooking without opening the drawers which is easy when you switch the light on, just one of the reasons I bought this one rather than the Ninja.
My first attempt at using it was frozen spicy breaded chicken strips and frozen potato wedges in one basket and some small petite pains in the other basket, I won't go into timings/temps here as there is a small learning curve to absorb but there is a lot of info available on you tube etc.
The chicken was crisp on the outside but moist and tender, the wedges were nice and crisp on the outside as well, along with crisp hot crusty rolls which remained soft on the inside, all set to finish at the same time effortlessly.
I have only had it for three days so far but have also done croissants, pakora, pigs in blankets, baked potato's (with slightly crispy skins) which all turned out really well and very tasty, my oven is now redundant as far as cooking for myself is concerned.
It's just so much quicker and easier to do with the air fryer and far quicker/easier to clean than an oven, the Non stick baskets and insert trays are dishwasher safe but I'll clean them in soapy water for a longer lifespan.
My only criticism would be there is no guidance book for cooking ie:- How long to air fry raw chicken/Frozen chicken, fresh/frozen/chips, frozen potato wedges, raw fish, etc etc, manufacturers really have a duty to supply such basic information with an item like this from my perspective.
That said, I strongly recommend the Instant Pot Vortex, if you are in the market for this type of gadget, it is a fantastic option to have in the kitchen, and cheaper to operate than a conventional oven, I really do wish I'd bought one sooner but we learn something new everyday as they say.
I took on board information from the Internet that says cook things at a bit of a lower temperature and for a shorter time and feel like this is a hugely improved version of an oven! For 1 to 2 people the size is absolutely sufficient. My next big experiment will be a roast chicken dinner, when I will write a new review about this.
If you’re sitting on the fence about an air fryer, get off it and buy one! You shouldn’t be disappointed!