Is Instant Pot Clearcook Air Fryer Worth Buying? [Review]
The Instant Pot Vortex comes with the first-of-its-kind OdorErase technology that promises to keep your kitchen odor-free after cooking.
This technology is not present in the Instant Pot Vortex Pro 8 QT dual basket or 10 quart air fryer.
So Instant Vortex ClearCook is a clear winner in this regard.
The design of the air fryer makes it simple to use with an intuitive and easy-to-navigate control panel.
I tested the Instant Vortex air fryer to gauge its performance and to see if it justifies the hype it has created.
| ALSO CHECK: Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 Air Fryer Review
Instant Pot 6-Quart Air Fryer Oven With ClearCook Window [Review]
Below I will share my experience, specs, features, pros, and cons of this Instant air fryer.
Pros And Cons Of Instant Pot Air Fryer
PROS
CONS
Top-Of-The-Range Design
The design of the Instant Vortex ClearCook is much sleeker and more stylish than its predecessor, the Instant Vortex Plus.
The unit looks a little similar to the Instant Pot XL 8-QT air fryer, except that it has one basket for cooking food.
The basket has a viewing window that lets you observe the food during cooking without opening and interrupting the cooking process.
The cooking chamber has a light that enhances the interior’s visibility, giving you more control over the food cooking inside.
Dimensions, Footprint, And Weight
This Instant Vortex ClearCook appliance has a smaller footprint, requiring less space on the kitchen counter.
The size and weight of the air fryer are the following:
- Size: 12.8″D x 11.8″W x 14.9″H
- Weight: 16.19 pounds
At the above weight, the air fryer is bulkier than even the Instant Vortex dual basket air fryer (11 pounds).
So, moving this air fryer around in the kitchen might be challenging. I recommend leaving some permanent space for it on the countertop.
Intuitive Digital Interface
The ClearCook has a digital interface with just one dial to adjust time and temperature effortlessly.
The crispiness and clarity of the display and buttons are commendable.
All the controls are marked clearly, almost preventing you from consulting the manual frequently.
The controls are located near the air fryer’s top, which means they are at your eye level.
Although you need to double-tap the buttons sometimes, overall, they are very responsive to touch.
The angled display helps with easy viewing of the control panel and the settings. It makes the air fryer suitable for under-cabinet use.
Commendable OdorErase Technology
The claims of the Instant Vortex about eliminating food odors are more than gimmicks; the air fryer actually removes the odors.
Even odor-dense foods like bacon can not make the air unbearable when the air fryer is cooking.
During sniff-testing, I got very close to the air fryer; food odors were almost undetectable.
This feature is very rarely found, even in some of the best air fryers. Hence, its presence in the Instant Vortex ClearCook is a huge plus for this appliance.
The air fryer uses removable filters and comes with two extra replacements.
According to the user manual, these filters need to be removed after approximately 45 cooking cycles.
Reasonable Temperature Accuracy
The temperature accuracy of the Instant Vortex is reasonable.
During my first use of this air fryer, I struggled to get it to a higher temperature.
However, in the subsequent attempts, its temperature accuracy improved tremendously.
That said, the air fryer remains within a few degrees of the configured temperature.
Lower-Than-Average Noise
Another surprising aspect of the Instant Vortex 6-in-1 is the quieter operation.
While working, it does not make any unbearable noise.
When measured, the noise was 64dB, which is relatively low for a powerful kitchen appliance.
Praiseworthy User-Friendliness
There is nothing overly complicated about using this air fryer.
After inserting the basket in the cooking chamber, you can choose the desired settings from the control panel.
Pressing down the dial confirms your preferred setting. I like that the shake reminder and preheat alerts are clearly marked.
The air fryer pauses when you open the baskets.
An interesting feature is that the unit alerts you with an alarm if you forget to add the basket—super helpful, right?
You don’t get a recipe booklet with the air fryer.
However, you can access a plethora of the best air fryer recipes online or get inspiration from the Instant Vortex app.
Easy Cleaning And Maintenance
Cleaning the air fryer is pretty easy.
You can clean the basket and crisper plate with a microfiber cloth to remove oil residues and crumbs.
There is a metallic band on the exterior of the air fryer, which is super easy to wipe down.
Avoid using a sponge to wipe the exterior as it can leave water streaks; instead, use a microfiber cloth.
The easy viewing window is a convenient feature; however, it can get pretty dirty with food splatter; therefore, always clean it after every use.
This extra attention to detail in cleaning and maintaining the looks of the air fryer will keep it looking fresh.
The pattern on the crisper tray is a bit tricky to wash as you have to follow it methodically while scrubbing the plate with a sponge.
If not cleaned properly, oil can accumulate in its nooks and crannies.
Cooking Performance Of The Instant Pot Clearcook
As the capacity of the air fryer is 6 quarts / 5.7 liters, you can easily accommodate one pound of steak cut fries in it.
In my testing, I found that the air fryer excels in crisping foods.
Cooking freshly cut homemade fries gives you soft and fluffy yet crunchy potato sticks.
Since the Instant Vortex preheats automatically, the Preheating time of the air fryer must be kept in mind when adding time settings.
For some foods, like chicken wings, the air fryer needs a few extra minutes at the end to crisp the exterior.
But the best part is that the additional cooking time does not make the food dry.
One aspect we liked about this air fryer is that you can alter the cooking temperature in one-degree increments, which makes it suitable for baking.
Verdict
Instant Vortex is an air fryer with smart cooking programs. Its dial and touchscreen controls are user-friendly and easy to use. The ClearCook window with the internal light gives you a clear view of the food during cooking. Furthermore, the variety of helpful cooking options makes it a versatile household appliance.
It does an excellent job of crisping and cooking food evenly without using excessive amounts of oil. However, it does require some experimentation when making frozen food. So, if you are looking for a cooking appliance with a sleek profile and reasonable cooking performance, the Instant Vortex may be the one for you.