Instant Pot VS Air Fryer, which one is better for you? Well, if you are talking about healthier way of frying foods, then these two things will come to mind. Both of these are kitchen appliances but their cooking technique is completely different from each other.
So which one you buy for your kitchen entirely depends on your cooking requirements and convenience. Let us break down Instant Pot VS Air Fryer in details for you.
How Does Air Fryer Work? Are Air Fryers Worth It?
Air Fryer works like convection oven. As the name suggests, it uses air to cook food. It has a fan that circulates hot air around the food to cook it in all the directions. In the inner section of an Air Fryer, there is a basket made of wires to place your food.
The heating element is at the top. You can prepare French fries, chicken wings, fried chicken, fried fish, and just about any of the frozen foods with it. With a perfect circulation of hot air, it will cook your food to the desired crispiness and in lesser time.
The best part of an Air Fryer is that it uses little to no oil at all. Yet it manages to provide the same fried food texture as a conventional fryer. This makes it a healthier alternative to fry your foods and enjoy the juicy crisp of your favorite dishes.
How Does Instant Pot Work? Is it really healthy?
An Instant Pot can be said as an improved and electronic pressure cooker version of the traditional pressure cooker. It is a multi-purpose appliance that not only lets you cook but also comes with several options.
The selling point of this machine is that it can prepare delicious and nutritious meals in just a matter of minutes. It cooks food with a combination of heat and pressure and the steam that builds inside the appliance.
The hot steam is forced into the food to cook at high speed and locks in all the vital nutrients. The charm of this machine is that it comes with several safety features and can cook a wide variety of items.
You can make soup, stews, chili, baked potatoes, risotto, cheesecakes, hard-boiled eggs, and many more items with it. Overall, this appliance is meant for busy parents, who wish to enjoy healthy dishes without having tons of time in hand.
Air Fryer VS Instant Pot: The Key Differences you must know
| Features | Air Fryer | Instant Pot |
|---|---|---|
| Cooking Technique | Uses little to no oil and superheated air to cook food. | Uses water or broth to produce steam and builds up pressure to cook food. |
| Cooking Type | Mostly prepares crispy fried foods. | Mostly prepares moist succulent dishes. |
| Cook Time | Cooks faster as requires minimal or no preheating at all. | Even though promises to cook fast, it takes time to get up to pressure and depressurize afterward. |
| Uses | Fry, Grill, Roast & Bake. | Warming food, Sautéing, Steaming, Slow Cooker & Pressure Cooker. |
| Size | The average size is smaller. | The average size is larger than Air Fryers. |
| Ease of Use | Timer with auto shut off feature and temperature control with one press makes it more easy to use. | Manually need to get the hang of the appliance keeping track of time, which makes it tough to use. |
| Safety Features | Have fewer safety features with issues such as overheating, melting, smoking, plastic odors and more. | Have more safety features with no issues as such. |
| Versatility | Less versatile. It can deep fry or bake anything. | More versatile. It can make yogurt, boiled eggs and even cook rice, which can’t be made with an Air Fryer. |
Instant Pot VS Air Fryer: Which One is Better?
Before deciding one in the Instant Pot VS Air Fryer argument, you might ask yourself a few questions. What can I use this for? What can I cook with it? Which one is easier to use?
Now if we take a look at Air Fryer VS Instant Pot, we shall say each one has its own specialty. The main advantage of an Air Fryer is its ability to make crispy fried foods, which you can’t do in an Instant Pot.
On the other hand, if you want the widest variety in cooking then an Instant Pot is better. The variety of food you can make with it is far greater than you can do in an Air Fryer.
Overall, which appliance is best for you depends on your meal plans and your family’s taste buds. If you consider Instant Pot VS Air Fryer, then know that both will serve you healthily with their own specialty. So, get yourself the desired one!