Instant pots and air fryers are kitchen appliances that help you cook a variety of dishes. An air fryer is ideal for making healthier, air-fired foods with a crisp flavor. The instant pot is perfect for slow cooking and steaming and it can also be used as a sauté pan. Both appliances differ in functions and use distinct methods to deliver consistently cooked meals. It is important to know all the differences between an instant pot vs air fryer when choosing the right appliance.
What is an Instant Pot?
An instant pot is an electric multi-cooker that uses a pressure cooking method to heat the food ingredients evenly. You can use this cooker to sauté, slow cook, make rice and steam your veggies and poultry. This is a versatile kitchen gadget that you can use for making yogurt or browning your chicken. Many top-reviewed air fryers often include stainless steel interior plate that is easy to use and offer durable usage.
What is an Air Fryer?
An air fryer is a cooking appliance that uses hot air convection to heat up your food items at a high temperature of up to 400-degree F. It is easy to operate with intuitive controls and preset menus for cooking vegetables, frozen snacks, seafood, and poultry. This gadget comes in different parts including an air fryer base, the basket, and the basket base. You can make a variety of dishes in an air fryer in just 8 to 15 minutes. Read our blog to know how does an air fryer work.
Instant Pot Vs Air fryer
Cost
The price of an instant pot can go from $80 to up to $160 or more. The high-end models usually have a high capacity of about 8 quarts, while the models with a low capacity of 5 quarts or 6 quarts can cost you around $90 to $130. You can buy a good quality air fryer for around $60to $100. The high-end models can even cost you more than $200 too. The cost of both the appliances is almost in the same range, but you can buy air fryers at a better-budgeted price.
The Proscenic T21 Smart Air Fryer with a cooking capacity of 5.8 quarts is available for just $129. You can also buy an 8-quart instant pot like Instant Pot Ultra for $159.99.
Cooking Time
The air fryer has only one cooking cycle to heat food contents, whereas an instant pot takes time to build up heat pressure. You can cook many dishes in air fryers in less than 10 minutes or 15 minutes. It may take you around 20 to 30 minutes to cook most dishes in an instant pot. The exact time depends on the food type, capacity, and model, but on average, an air fryer is faster than an instant pot.
Versatility
Instant pot is more versatile than air fryer. You can use the instant pot for many cooking purposes, whereas an air fryer is only limited to air frying. You can use an air fryer to cook bacon, air-fried doughnuts, or any other food item that requires hot air for cooking. An instant pot can be used as a slow cooker, rice cooker, yogurt maker, and more. You can read our blog to find the best air fryer dessert recipes.
Air Fryer vs Instant Pot: Which Is Healthier?
It depends on your cooking process and dish type. Both the appliances are known for making healthy meals. The instant pot uses hot steam to cook your foods. An air fryer also uses hot air, but you may be required to add a stash of oil for the brown effect. Adding oil to your foods can lead to the loss of nutrients.
Best Instant Pot and Air Fryer to Buy
Ultrean Air Fryer
The reviews of Ultrean Air Fryer mark this model as one of the best budget air fryers in the market. It has 4.2 quarts of capacity with easy temperature control buttons. You can adjust the temperature of your choice from 180°F to 400°F. This model includes a nonstick pan, a heat-resistant handle, and a detachable dishwasher-safe basket that makes it easy to clean.
Ninja AF101 Air Fryer
The top-reviewed Ninja AF101 Air Fryer has a capacity of 4 quarts and is perfect for cooking crisp food by using heat convection. It air fries your food with 75 percent less fat than traditional frying. This air fryer comes with a temperature range of 105 degrees F to 400 degrees F. The ceramic-coated nonstick basket and the crisper plate are perfect to accommodate 2 pounds of french fries. It has got good reviews for its dishwasher-safe parts.
Instant Pot Duo Electric
The Instant Pot Duo Electric is a versatile kitchen gadget with 7-in-1 functionality. It can be used as a slow cooker. rice cooker, yogurt maker, steamer, sauté pan, and food warmer. This pot has a capacity of 6-quart and is made of stainless steel material. The 13 customizable smart programs help you make a variety of dishes in just some minutes.
Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1
The Instant Pot Duo Plus 9-in-1 is equipped with 9 versatile cooking functions to ease your cooking process. It comes with intuitive controls that make it easy to use. The easy-release steam switch makes removing the trapped steam easy and simple. It has 13 customizable cooking programs to offer you a one-touch cooking experience. You can cook fast or slow at your convenience with this model.
Conclusion
An air fryer and instant pot are used to make delicious meals in a few minutes. Both kitchen gadgets are durable, reliable, and offer convenience, but both have different uses. Make sure you choose the right model after reading through the honest reviews of customers. You can go with instant pots if you want an appliance for versatile cooking tasks.
Deciding between top-rated deep fryers vs air fryers can be confusing. Browse through our blog to decide what to choose between deep fryers vs air fryers.
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