Instant Pot - Vortex 6QT

The Instant Pot Vortex 6QT is rated one of, if not the best, available. You already know how to work it. I would try to fix the one you have or get another one.

Getting a pull-out style with a ceramic dishwasher safe basket is the way to go. I have a teflon coated one that isn’t that difficult to clean. Still, using disposable parchment paper liners save a lot of time. The oven style just has many more places that crumbs and oils can gather, whereas the basket is only cooking food in… well the basket.

I’ve had the Instant Pot Vortex 6qt for almost 5 years. It’s not much effort at all to clean. Usually a single half sheet paper towel is enough after 10-15 minutes of cooling off. Usually all there is a little oil and some crumbs. If you’re going to be fully cooking meat there might be a little more cleaning, but shouldn’t need much effort. Spraying it down in the sink and wiping with a soapy sponge or rag will work fine.

It’s one of the better ones I’ve had outside of an original vortex when the instapot stuff was made in Canada.

Instant Vortex 6 qt. I have cooked a whole chicken, wings, and they have come out delicious. They also excel at reheating frozen foods. A comment above also reminded me that my MIL was so excited to get an air fryer and she did not believe me that her CONVECTION OVEN already did the same thing 🙄She also doesn’t understand how the thanksgiving turkey gets done so much faster when I do it (I use the convection oven)

I’ve had the Instant Vortex 6 Quart for years and it’s worked great, but recently the price changes haven’t made it worth it anymore imo. I would recommend the ninja brand, if you’re on a budget the 4 quart is on sale on Amazon right now I believe. If you’re not on a budget the dual basket model could be your friend

I've been using the Instant Vortex 6qt since Nov 2022 and it's awesome. I use it a few times a week at least. Several months in i dropped the basket onto concrete and the handle broke. When i contacted Vortex to find out where i could buy another one they sent me a new basket for free.

I like my InstantPot Vortex 6qt basket. 7 different functions. I use it nearly daily.

I have a 6 quart basket style vortex from instant pot. It is the perfect size for one or two people. I have never had a problem with food coming out “dry“ as long as I’ve prepped it properly. One of the things that I probably cook the most are chicken thighs (bone in skin on). The only prep I do with that is to season them before putting them in. When I cook pork, I do pork loin and sometimes brine it first. I love doing steak bites in mine. One of the things I find the basket style perfect for is “baking sheet meals“. But I also do veggies, potatoes, desserts. I don’t recall ever having a problem with the food being dry.

I have an IP Vortex 6-qt basket. About 5 years old I think. I use it for salmon, pork, beef, and especially chicken. I bought it specifically for chicken, and the good news is that it works for so many other things, as well. I use garlic salt on bone-in, skin on chicken thighs with the roast feature at 3:50° for 25 minutes. I throw in a couple of small red skin potatoes with the chicken, and if I’m having a root vegetable, I throw those in as well. I do not turn or flip the meat. The air fryer is a convection oven with good airflow and the meat gets cooked. If I’m doing asparagus or summer squash, I prep them while the chicken cooks and then those cook in the five to ten minutes while the chicken rests before eating. Brussel sprouts I time a little differently. For salmon, mahi-mahi, swordfish, etc. I also use the roast function and may (or may not) flip the meat during the cooking process. I have done pork loin and tenderloin in the air fryer, but have discovered that I prefer pork bites more than just the loin, or tenderloin. I use a smoked salt on the meat about an hour before cooking. I cook the bites in a mesh basket, spray them with a little bit of oil before cooking. I use the air fryer setting. I do something similar for steak bites . This is purely my preference. I have cooked sausage and peppers in the air fryer with excellent results. The sausage isn’t the healthiest of choices, but I feel it’s offset by the peppers, onion, and garlic. I also use my air fryer for desserts. Using it as an oven. Mine has a “bake“ feature. I mix up a batch of cookie dough, I have a small 4 1/2 inch cast-iron cookie skillet. I bake one cookie at a time which allows me portion control. It is a large cookie. I have also used my air fryer to make fruit, crisp, bread, pudding, pumpkin, custard, all in individual ramekins. I have pretty much not used my oven and barely my stove top since getting my air fryer and coupling that with my IP pressure cooker for soups, stews, chili, etc. I still use my stove top and my toaster. I use my microwave/convection oven for some things, but not as many as I used to.

The Instant Pot Vortex won the ATK comparison. I bought one on that recommendation, but bought two sets of pot grabbers like you take camping to retrieve the disposable aluminum dishes I use for freezing meal preps.

ATK= America's Test Kitchen. I'll see what I can find on pot grabbers. Stay tuned. I have the six quart Instant Vortex. I did have the air fryer adapter for my six quart instant pot, but it was way too small for two of us. If you're cooking for more than two people, I would get an eight quart.

You could get a very fancy rice cooker for several hundred. Goodwill is full of basic ones that just click on. I've cooked curry in these ones. It shuts off automatically. I'd recommend one of these and if you really want to invest in something better after using a goodwill one after awhile you. For more rice cooker recipes there's a reddit community too. For an airfryer I like the Instant brand. I think mine is 6 quart and I can get a pound of chicken in there. I love it and cook a lot in it. It doesn't heat my house up the way the oven does.

I got instant vortex basket and its pretty good

Same I love my instant vortex for the windows and ease of use, but it doesnt convert the 2 baskets into one.

I bought a instant pot vortex and its worth it so far

Better quality

Just try it for yourself and see if you like it or not.

The instant vortex has option turn the beep sound off

Kettle: Xiaomi We've had ours for 2 years, used everyday. No issues. Airfryer: Instantpot Vortex Used regularly for months now, works great. I like the oven style and tray vs basket style because easier to clean. I just pop the trays in a dishwasher along with the dishes. It also automatically preheats and dings to remind you the preheating is done.

The current multi-day bloat sale for the big online giant has the InstantPot Vortex on sale for $90, if you like the basket type ones. Large capacity, cleans up easily. Cooks fast and food comes out really crisp. Not a Costco purchase, but can highly recommend with no regrets.

> this was a big issue when they first came out; I assume they've fixed it by now Can confirm - it had a smell the first time I ran through a 15m air fryer cycle (empty, per the quick start instructions) and I haven't smelled anything since.

Thanks for your input! We have one of those instant pot vortex air fryers, just with a different label on the front. The house we are moving into has fairly new appliances. They were bought in '22 I believe but it's just the two of us and a dog so we don't often like using the oven if we can help it. I'll take a look at the Bella air fryer! I guess air fryers themselves aren't that expensive. If I'm going to spend $500 on appliances, I might as well look at a combi oven too 😂

For durability, nothing beats a [PHilips](https://s.shopee.ph/5L2rpImD1M), Ive had mine for years now, its mechanical, so less parts for repair, but its a bit small, it can handle most things but unlike the digital, you are doing guess work regarding when to place the food as preheating is done, i do 3 minutes with mine, regarding cleaning,. its easier than most, you press a button and the tray seperates, kahit yn iba mahal, it wont do that. but may trade offs din isa pa yn size nya. but regardings longevity, Philips is great. we are using [midea ](https://s.shopee.ph/50Q1QfEgTp)din, its not bad, good size, good looks and mech din, its another option but it wont remove tray as easily as the Philips. affiliate link posted plus pictures of the unit https://preview.redd.it/xos1b4ef8vrf1.png?width=2019&format=png&auto=webp&s=f5132d1045efa9f213c3e0beb05233934399abd6

but if you have the budget, go for the[ instant pot vortex,](https://s.shopee.ph/1g9ZVD3lY0) got a lot of features, though one problem is cleaning as well, you have to use tongs if hot to remove the draining mechanism, but this thing really removes everything with it, you dont need preheating wait, it tells you, you dont need to second guess, ive used it for a few times already and it does. I need to finihs the testing for the mosquito killers and would be doing the inductions next for that. the [Instant pot vortex ](https://s.shopee.ph/1g9ZVD3lY0)is very good, cooks well, even tells you when to flip. affiliate link posted plus picture of the unit https://preview.redd.it/k4zbaw8bfvrf1.jpeg?width=1080&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=86a4aabcfd392d9560a663b1d2aff430ea62826e

This checks out, I have a instant pot vortex, got it bc it seemed like the most highly recommended one that wasn't a dual zone or an oven style one

I have not had this experience. I started with a ninja basket type. When I was looking for a bigger one, but similar style I got the instapot vortex (no window) and find the performance of both basically the same. Used each for over a year, so it’s not a one-off experience.

Yeah, replaced our Instant Pot Vortex with one and its been excellent, lots easier to clean too.

Pretty happy with our Instant Pot Vortex. Decent size, easy to clean, easy to use. And it's held up now for about 2-3 years with almost daily use, so that's saying something.

Ended up getting that.

Di ko alam price now, but we use the instant pot vortex, yung may roleta sa loob 3 layer frying pa kaya very convenient The cleaning is pretty much similar to an oven, nadedetach din yung catch at front cover kaya madali lang

Thanks for sharing - I’m sure cost is a factor as well when purchasing but the instant pot vortex is awesome!

Ya I’ve had over 500 uses with mine and it’s going great!

I had an IP vortex for a while that I ended up returning within the 30 day return period because the plastic burning smell never went away (this was a big issue when they first came out; I assume they've fixed it by now). I replaced it with an 8 qt Gourmia from Costco - you can buy the newer version (with the window) for $49.99, and it seems broadly similar. I would recommend doing that - most AF's aren't particularly durable, so the Costco return guarantee is nice to have.

Couldn’t keep my fries crispy. Instant pot vortex is the way to go

Go for what America’s Test Kitchen recommends, which is the Instant Pot vortex. It’s a good model because you can see your food cooking through the window, so you can monitor what you’re cooking. The cleanup is pretty easy as well.

Id go with the instant pot vortex. Its around $50-60 now and is the recommended budget air fryer on wirecutter

We love our Instant Vortex basket model. We also have a counter-top convection oven that we like, but it sounds like you already have one of those.

Philips, Instant Pot/Vortex, and Cosori are all better than Ninja. Ninja has bad non-stack and low power.

Mine is the Instant Vortex. Slightly smaller than a standard microwave. Has two shelves. I use it for so much. Its great for chicken thighs, sausages, raw vegetables, making toast. And of course also from freezer to plate items. It heats up leftovers 10x better than a microwave. Pizza and fries especially.

Ours just died after using it almost every day for two years, which is why I’m in this thread. We liked it quite a bit, but agree with Wirecutter’s criticism that the Instant Vortex’s user interface is crap - it’s just a cheap touchscreen with poor sensitivity. I’m looking at other models now - the Instant Vortex was a lovely gift but I don’t think I want to buy another.

Just bought this to replace my Instant Vortex. I was looking for a ceramic basket fryer and this looked to be the best one I found, especially for the price. I haven't used it enough yet to really evaluate, but so far it seems great, and also looks good on my countertop. It's very compact for it's capacity. I few things I miss from my Vortex is the shake/flip alert, which is such an easy thing to include that I don't know why all fryers don't have this. The other thing I miss from my vortex is the knob, which makes it so much faster to dial in the temp/time. I'm still debating whether I miss the window or not. It's sometimes useful, but not sure if it's really a crucial feature. But otherwise it's a great air fryer.

I bought a insta pot vortex on black Friday. Fucking love this thing. Is it loud? It's my first air fryer so I don't know shit

I’ve had the insta pot vortex for a couple of years- I really like it, but all the window does is get dark and yellow, even wiping it down every time we cook. So you have to open it anyway to check. The other thing I don’t like is how easy the teflon scratches the screen pan- I’m definitely in the market now for glass or ceramic. Size wise and cooking wise, it’s been amazing

I have an Instant Vortex and its been great for years!

I have the instant vortex and it is hands down the best air fryer and most versatile I’ve ever had. Yes, miles beyond the ninja, contrary to what this sub says most of the time

Downvote me all you want people, this thing is going strong for 4 years now and it’s got a rotisserie! I don’t have the shake anything 😎

I like my instant vortex

If you’re cooking small meals, a single basket like the Ninja AF101 or Instant Vortex does the job well. Duals are great for variety but take more space. Go Ninja if you want durability, Instant if you want presets and ease.

If may budget ka is [Instant Pot Vortex](https://s.shopee.ph/VsGwNfKWA) ang best option. Top air fryer iyan sa UK and medyo na-didiscover na rin sa Philippine. Bumili kami dahil ni-recommend siya ng tita ko and 4 years na namin gamit. 7 iyong pre-set functions niya kaya versatile talaga.

Instant Vortex is wonderful.

can't go wrong with an instant vortex

Same issue, same instant vortex, just outside of warranty. We took it completely apart. The switching mechanism for the door is super cheap and fails with heat. To be honest, the entire unit was pretty cheaply built and not meant to be serviced. We bypassed the door switch and everything works fine now. Probably took us more time than money saved but we hate throwing stuff away. As for their customer service, when we had things fail under the warranty period they were pretty good about just sending us replacements. I probably had the receipt, I don't recall. That was also over a year ago, probably longer. I definitely agree having seen the unit inside and out, it is indeed cheaply designed and will fail far sooner than one would like. It was very obvious it was designed to be a consumable.

The instant vortex can. It's pretty rad for actual cooking and baking. The ninja foodi also can, but it sucks at actual cooking so I doubt it can bake. It's really for reheating processed foods and toast.

Since you mentioned how hot it gets on the outside, I thought I would share my experience. We've used a breville toaster oven forever, and since it even fits a pie, we almost never use the actual oven anymore. A friend let us borrow a spare instant vortex air fryer and we loved it, so we thought we would try an air fryer toaster oven so we could still just have one appliance. It did not do nearly as good a job at "air frying", but the big issue was that it absolutely radiated heat because there seems to be no insulation in there at all, to where it actually heated up the kitchen more than the full size oven does. We returned it, kept our toaster oven, and just added an air fryer to our repertoire. 🤷‍♂️

Sorry for your expensive. I've had 4 different types and brands of air fryer. My instant vortex is my favorite by a large margin, and been going strong for over 2 years.

I absolutely love mine. I have the instant vortex. The fry basket rotisserie attachment alone is worth it to me. However. Look at multiple UNBIASED reviews. They are not all created equal. But if you don't want to do that type of research. You want one that is an air fryer first that also has other settings and NOT a convection oven that also has an air fryer setting. They are not the same.

I have the Instant Vortex. Using the Roast function to make salmon right now.

We have an instant vortex and it gets used practically daily. Roasts potatoes, reheats pizza perfectly, makes things crispy, etc. I baked a tiny cake in it and roasted a whole chicken, too. My household is me and my partner only so it’s just a small countertop oven that replaced the convection oven when it died so we don’t have to turn on the whole oven. I wish it were quieter but it’s pretty perfect and definitely will be replaced if something happens.

Love my instant vortex

We had an Instant Brand Vortex that the display started failing 1 year in. I replaced it with a Gourmia and its performed perfectly for 13 months. It cost less than 1/2 what the vortex did.

My 2 cents: I've had an Instant Vortex, which lasted 3 years of daily use. It was fine until the handle detached from the basket and couldn't be reattached. Replaced it with a Gourmia 2 months ago. It's fine too, The top fan seems significantly stronger - it blows cheese and seasoning off the top unless I weigh it down with a spray of oil. The biggest difference to me is that the Instant Vortex has a physical knob to adjust timer and temp (I prefer that), and no window the Gourmia has touch buttons and a window. The window is helpful.

How long does it take for the plastic smell to go away? I just got one and can't handle the smell 😩

Right? It's so bad and the plastic smell gets into the food. Granted I've only had it for a day but I'm going to return mine if it doesn't go away. I don't know any alternatives that don't do that though! I was considering the Ninja AF101 but there were reviews about it smoking and catching on fire so now I'm paranoid about even getting a new one 🥲

I did that and it still stinks 😂 I just use it for reheating food now since I don't have a microwave lol the taste is less noticeable though

I have the Instant brand (think Instant Pot) Vortex. It works for my wife and I , however if we had a large family, we might want a bigger one.