Instant Pots have become known for their ability to cook a variety of quick and easy recipes. You can make anything from roasts to veggies to dessert, and you can often prepare a meal in a fraction of the time it would take using another cooking method. Historically, one thing the Instant Pot has not been able to do, however, is create dry or crunchy foods like french fries and fried chicken. Typical Instant Pot models also lack the ability to create a finish on certain recipes, like a rotisserie chicken. Enter the Instant Pot Air Frying Lid, which addresses these very issues and provides a typical 6-quart Instant Pot with the ability to air fry.
What is the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid?
The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid is a separate, add-on accessory you can buy for your existing Instant Pot. When you attach the lid, it allows you to air fry in the same Instant Pot you use for pressure cooking. So, you don’t need a separate air fryer, you just need the lid.
What comes with the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid?
The package includes the air fryer lid, a multi-level air frying basket, a base for the air frying basket, a broil/dehydrating tray, a protection pad to set the lid on when it’s hot, and instruction materials.
The packaging is fairly large, measuring 13.9 by 12.8 inches and weighing 11.6 pounds. The package looks large enough to hold a small Instant Pot, but it only houses the lid and accessories in protective packaging.
How does the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid work?
All of the air frying functions and cooking programs are located on top of the lid, so it operates independently from the Instant Pot’s pressure cooking functions.
When you remove the Instant Pot’s regular lid, you add the air frying basket into the inner pot just like you would with a traditional air fryer. Then, you place the air fryer lid onto the Instant Pot and select your cooking program. The air fryer lid contains a burner and fan, which blows the hot air around the cooking chamber (just like a traditional air fryer).
Which Instant Pot models are compatible with the Air Fryer Lid?
The Instant Pot Air Fryer lid is only compatible with 6-quart models, including the Duo 60, Duo Plus 60, Lux 60, Ultra 60, Viva 60, Nova Plus 60, Duo Nova 60. The Instant Pot Air Fryer lid will not work with the Smart WiFi 60, Duo Evo Plus 60, Duo Evo Plus 60, Duo SV 60 or Max 60
You also have to use a stainless steel inner pot, and you can’t use the air fryer lid with a ceramic inner pot.
What types of recipes can you make with the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid?
You can make a batch of fresh French fries, chicken tenders, wings, or nachos. The lid can air fry, bake, broil, roast, dehydrate, and reheat. So, you can create any recipe that’s prepared using one of those cooking functions. You can bake cookies, or even make donut holes.
According to the Instant Pot website, you can cook pretty much anything, but it’s best to stay away from “foods dipped in batters, such as calamari, tempura shrimp, and buttermilk fried chicken. If you want breading, go for an egg wash and breadcrumb coating.”
How much does the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid cost?
You can typically find the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid on sale for around $80, which isn’t cheap, especially considering you can often find an Instant Pot Duo 60 for less (around $60 to $80).
However, when you compare the cost of the lid to the price of a standalone 6-quart air fryer, it’s pretty comparable. The air fryer lid also takes up less storage space than a separate air fryer.
Does the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid work well?
We made fresh-cut french fries using the air fryer lid, and we had to go through a bit of trial and error. We were able to make a perfect batch of French fries, but only when we made smaller batches (two servings at a time) and greased the air frying basket with a small amount of cooking spray (to prevent the potatoes from sticking to the basket’s surface).
We also tried baking and experienced similar results. The cookies came out excellent, but only in small batches. We couldn’t make more than a few cookies at a time without compromising on the quality.
We reheated leftover buffalo wings and nachos, and the air fryer lid shined in its reheating capabilities. It did an excellent job of evenly reheating leftovers, making the meal taste as though it was just prepared.
What are some downsides to the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid?
The biggest downside to the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid is the capacity. The air frying basket is pretty small. If you think about how narrow a six-quart Instant Pot’s inner pot is, you may get an idea of the air fryer’s capacity. The air fryer basket measures roughly 7.5 inches in diameter, and air frying works best when you arrange your ingredients in a single layer. The lid may have been better if it came with the 8-quart Instant Pot models, rather than the 6-quart.
Another small hiccup we experienced with the air fryer basket was with the handles, which are also way too small. The tiny handles make the air fryer basket difficult to lift up out of the inner pot after you air fry a batch of food.
Is the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid worth it?
Yes. The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid gives the Instant Pot so much extra functionality. It’s not perfect, but it does a good job at air frying, reheating, and even baking. The lid could be especially useful for reheating leftovers, making a quick lunch, or for a smaller household. It may not be the best solution for large families, but it definitely performs well overall.
