Instant Pot Air Fryer Combo: The Pros & Cons

There are several products that cause a lot of hype- leading us to wonder if we should really buy it. If you do any type of cooking, you have probably heard of pressure cooking and air frying. The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a combo of both, plus several other features.

This kitchen appliance promises time-saving convenience while also offering healthier frying options than deep-fat fryers. But is it really worth the investment? In this blog post, we’ll explore the Instant Pot Air Fryer combo pros and cons.

We will look at all of the features that make this multifunctional kitchen appliance so appealing, as well as discuss some of the potential pitfalls you might encounter when using it. Read on to decide if an Instant Pot Air Fryer combo is the right choice for you!

instant pot air fryer combo pros and cons

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Table of Contents

The Difference Between An Instant Pot And An Air Fryer

The Instant Pot has been gaining in popularity lately as a multi-functional kitchen appliance, but it certainly isn’t the only kitchen gadget that is worth considering. An air fryer is another smart choice for cooking up delicious and healthy meals. Both the Instant Pot and air fryer provide more efficient ways to cook food, but there are some important differences between them.

Instant Pot – The Instant Pot offers pressure cooking capabilities, meaning that you can make tasty dishes faster than traditional methods because the pressurized steam cooks food quickly. An Instant Pot also offers other features such as slow cooking, sautéing, and even yogurt-making.

Air Fryer – An air fryer relies on hot air circulation to heat and crisp food without the addition of oil. These unique features mean that making healthier versions of fried recipes like French fries or fried chicken can be accomplished with less oil and shorter cooking times than typical deep frying.

How To Use The Instant Pot Duo Crisp

The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a great kitchen tool that allows you to cook meals quickly and easily with both pressure cooking and air frying functions. Using it is simple, whether you are using the pressure cooker or air fryer portions of the appliance.

To use the pressure cooker, begin by assembling all of your ingredients in the inner pot; seasonings, liquids, and proteins can all be added according to whatever recipe you are using. Attach the lid securely on top before turning it clockwise until fully sealed (there will be an indicator when this occurs). Turn the Release Valve to Sealing before selecting one of several pressure settings for whatever recipe you are making (rice, soup/stew, poultry, etc.). Then press Start/Stop to begin cooking. Once done cooking your meal should be warm for up to ten minutes after which point it will slowly cool down over time.

To use the air fryer setting on your Instant Pot Duo Crisp select Air Fry from among its settings menu; additionally set temperature and time depending on desired level of crispness for whatever food item being cooked. Place food into the basket and then press start. You may need to turn food halfway during the cooking process. Once done cooking, just remove the basket carefully with an oven mitt and enjoy your food!

There are several other settings to check out on your Instant Pot Duo Crisp, as it’s an 11-in-1 appliance. Be sure to research those settings as well, to get the most out of your new kitchen tool.

Instant Pot Air Fryer Combo Pros & Cons

The Instant Pot Air Fryer Combo is an all-in-one appliance that allows you to air fry, roast, bake, sauté and pressure cook all in the same device. It combines convenience with advanced cooking technology – making it a great choice for busy households and novice cooks alike. Here’s what you need to know about the pros and cons of this device:

PROS

Fast and easy cooking – With the combination of pressure cooking and air frying capabilities, meals can be cooked up to 70% faster than traditional methods. Plus, one button operation makes even complex dishes simple to create.
One & Done – I hear people say they don’t need another appliance in the kitchen, but that’s the wrong way of thinking. Using the Instant Pot Duo Crisp means you don’t have to dirty a bunch of other pots and pans when cooking. It’s a one and done appliance! And who doesn’t want less dishes to clean?
Versatility – This appliance is designed to handle almost any type of food preparation with 11 smart programs ranging from air frying, baking and roasting to sautéing or pressure cooking up delicious family meals in no time.
Healthy options – The power of combining hot circulating air with little oil creates crispy yet healthier fried foods without having to sacrifice taste for health benefits (such as switching out unhealthy saturated fats like lard for heart healthy options like olive oil).
Prep & Forget – As with any new appliance you will need to read the instructions and look up a few new recipes at first, but then you are just doing a quick dinner prep, pushing some buttons, and moving on. You don’t have to watch food, constantly stir things, or keep an eye out, which in my opinion is so much less stressful when cooking.

CONS

Price tag – While not overly expensive for its level of performance, this device does require an initial investment cost that could be out of budget depending on the kind of kitchen setup required.
Noisy operation – When using certain settings such as crisping or roasting at high temperatures, some users have reported hearing loud fan noise when operating the device which can make kitchen conversations difficult during meal prep times.
Space – This is a big appliance and finding a place to put it can be difficult. It also has plastic parts that are not dishwasher safe, so due to how often you might use this machine to cook in a safe and efficient way you should be prepared to spend some time on maintenance.

Alternatives To The Instant Pot Air Fryer Combo

There are several other easy methods you can use when cooking. From slow cookers to oven-baked recipes, the possibilities are endless. You have to decide what works best for you.

An alternative appliance to consider is a Dutch oven. You can use it on the stovetop or in the oven and it works great for making hearty stews and delicious roasts. Another easy option is sheet pan dinners – all you need is a sheet pan and some ingredients to toss in the oven.

Instant Pot Duo Crisp Cooking Times

Here’s an overview of some of the most common foods you might want to Air Fry, including recommended temperature and cook time:

Bacon – 330 degrees for 10-12 minutes
Chicken breast (boneless tenders) – 400 degrees for 10-12 minutes
Pork chop (boneless) – 400 degrees for 10 minutes
Salmon filet – 400 degrees for 7-8 minutes
Asparagus – 370 degrees for 8-10 minutes
Broccoli – 370 degrees for 8 minutes
Brussel sprouts – 350 degrees for 12-14 minutes
French Fries – 380 degrees for 12 minutes

My Favorite Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes

I’m not going to overload you with new recipes. I’m just going to give you a few recipes, and tips, that I think will truly help you in getting started. Most of us use recipes we find online, but I also highly recommend these two cookbooks by Gina Homolka: Skinnytaste One & Done and The Skinnytaste Air Fryer Cookbook.

I thought I was over cookbooks until I found these. They both contain recipes for the Instant Pot and the Air Fryer, as well as other cooking methods. I use them all the time! A few of my other favorite recipes are ones I’ve found online, or ones that I honestly just make up while cooking.

Instant Pot Recipes

Air Fryer Recipes

Related post: 45 of the Best Instant Pot Dump Recipes

So my final word of advice- if you are considering the Instant Pot Duo Crisp– go for it! I promise you it’s not difficult and you’ll learn how to use it quickly. If you really only want an air fryer, my biggest piece of advice is to get one with large capacity. The Cosori Air Fryer is popular, but I might want even bigger like the GoWISE Air Fryer. Both are highly rated.

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