Part of our air fryers reviews hub — all reviews, comparisons, and buying advice in one place.
The Instant Pot Vortex Plus’s standout feature is the one you notice before you even turn it on: a clear window across the front of the basket. Most air fryers hide the food behind a solid drawer, so you either open it repeatedly (letting heat escape and slowing cooking) or guess. This one lets you glance in.This post contains affiliate links. If you buy through our links, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. This review is based on published specifications, verified current pricing, and a side-by-side comparison against its closest competitor, the COSORI Pro Gen 2 — not hands-on testing of this specific unit.
The verdict up front: recommended if you want a reliable, no-nonsense 6-quart air fryer and don’t need app control. If you want more presets or phone-based control, the COSORI Pro Gen 2 is the better pick — see our Instant Vortex Plus vs COSORI Pro comparison for the full breakdown.
Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 6 quarts |
| Functions | Air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, dehydrate |
| Presets | 6 customizable |
| Controls | Touchscreen, no app |
| Basket window | Yes (ClearCook) |
| Dishwasher safe | Basket and tray, yes |
| Price | $99.99 |
| Rating | 4.6★ (20,578 ratings) |
Who It’s For
- Cooks who want a straightforward 6-quart air fryer without learning an app
- Households of 3-4 people — the 6-quart basket handles a full side dish or a small main
- Anyone who’s been annoyed by not being able to check food mid-cook on other air fryers
- Buyers who value a long, proven track record (20,578 ratings) over a newer, less-reviewed alternative
Who Should Look Elsewhere
- Anyone who wants app-based control or remote monitoring — this model is touchscreen-only, no app. The COSORI Pro Gen 2 has an app; see our comparison
- Buyers who want more than 6 presets — COSORI’s Gen 2 offers double that
- Anyone cooking for 5+ people regularly, who should look at an 8-quart or dual-basket model instead
Performance
The core air-frying function is what you’d expect from a basket-style air fryer at this price: hot air circulated around food for a crisp exterior without deep-frying oil. The 6-in-1 label covers air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, and dehydrate, but in practice most owners use air fry and reheat far more than the other four — that’s normal for this category, not a flaw specific to this unit.
The ClearCook window is the genuine differentiator. Being able to glance at food browning without opening the basket and losing heat is a small thing that adds up over regular use — it means fewer temperature dips and fewer guessing games on new recipes. It’s a simple feature, but it’s one most competitors in this price range don’t bother with.
The touchscreen with 6 presets covers the basics (fries, chicken, fish, vegetables, and similar), but there’s no app to expand beyond those or sync recipes from a phone. If preset variety and app integration matter more to you than the window, the COSORI Pro Gen 2 is worth the price difference.
Design and Build Quality
The exterior is straightforward plastic-and-metal construction typical of this price tier — nothing premium, but nothing that stands out as flimsy in the spec sheet or long review history either. At 6 quarts, it’s sized to sit permanently on a counter for most kitchens without being unwieldy to move.
Cleaning and Maintenance
The basket and tray are dishwasher-safe, which matters more than it sounds — hand-washing a nonstick air fryer basket daily is one of the more common reasons people stop using theirs. The nonstick coating on any basket-style air fryer will wear with heavy dishwasher use over a few years; this isn’t unique to the Vortex Plus.
Value
At $99.99, the Vortex Plus sits in the middle of the 6-quart air fryer market — cheaper than premium app-connected models, more expensive than bare-bones single-function fryers. Against its closest direct competitor, the COSORI Pro Gen 2 (currently $72.99), the Vortex Plus actually costs more for fewer presets and no app — the ClearCook window and the Instant Pot brand’s longer track record are what you’re paying the premium for.
Durability
With 20,578 ratings at a 4.6-star average, this is a well-established product with a long track record rather than a new, unproven release — that volume of sustained rating is itself a reasonable durability signal. The nonstick basket coating is the most likely wear point over years of use, as it is with any air fryer in this category.
Alternatives
Cheaper: The best cheap air fryer picks on this site cover single-function baskets well under $100, if you don’t need the crisp/roast/bake versatility here.
More expensive: The COSORI Pro Gen 2 ($72.99, actually cheaper but positioned as the premium alternative in terms of features) adds app control and double the presets — full breakdown in our head-to-head comparison.
Similar price, different strengths: The Ninja Foodi 9-in-1, reviewed in our Ninja Foodi review, adds pressure cooking at the cost of counter space and a steeper learning curve.
Verdict
The Instant Pot Vortex Plus is a solid buy if you want a reliable 6-quart air fryer that does the basics well and lets you see what’s happening without opening the basket. Its strongest case: a long, proven track record and a genuinely useful window feature most competitors skip. Its main weakness: no app and fewer presets than the COSORI Pro Gen 2, which now costs less. If app control and preset variety matter to you, go COSORI. If you want the simpler, more established option and like being able to check on your food, this is the right choice. See our full Best Air Fryers guide for how it stacks up against the rest of the field.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the ClearCook window actually useful, or just a gimmick?
It’s genuinely useful. Being able to check browning progress without opening the basket avoids the heat loss and cook-time extension that comes with repeatedly opening a solid-drawer air fryer.
Does the Instant Pot Vortex Plus have an app?
No. It’s controlled entirely through the touchscreen and its 6 presets. If app control matters to you, the COSORI Pro Gen 2 has one.
Is 6 quarts big enough for a family?
For 3-4 people it’s a reasonable fit — enough for a full side dish or a modest main course. For 5 or more people regularly, an 8-quart or dual-basket model will serve you better.
Is the Instant Pot Vortex Plus worth it over the COSORI Pro Gen 2?
It depends on what you value. The COSORI is currently cheaper and offers an app plus double the presets. The Vortex Plus offers the ClearCook window and a longer, more established review history. Neither is a wrong choice — see our full comparison for the complete breakdown.
Can I use metal utensils in the Instant Pot Vortex Plus basket?
No — like any nonstick air fryer basket, metal utensils will scratch the coating and shorten its life. Use silicone or wood tools when handling food inside the basket.
Glenn is the founder of Kitchenware Compare and has spent years researching, testing, and reviewing kitchen appliances, cookware, and gadgets. A lifelong home cook raised in a family that treated every meal as an occasion, Glenn started this site to cut through the noise of conflicting product reviews and give readers honest, practical guidance. When he is not testing the latest air fryer or digging into the specs of a new espresso machine, he can usually be found experimenting with new recipes or hunting for the perfect cast iron skillet at a flea market.
Leave a Reply