Instant Pot Vs Air Fryer: Which One is Best for You?

When deciding on a new kitchen device to buy, you need to consider many factors ranging from energy efficiency to the types of food they can cook. Among the many appliances you can consider, instant pot and air fryer are top on the list. These two appliances are increasingly becoming popular as they make healthier meals. But which one is the best between instant pot vs air fryer? Keep reading to learn which one is best for you.

How do the appliances work?

An instant pot cooks food using pressure cooking technology that involves steam and pressure build-up inside the pot. Water or broth is required to help produce steam and increase pressure inside the cooking pot. On the other hand, an air fryer cooks food using hot air circulated around food in the air fryer basket. Both appliances can cook a wide range of tasty meals.

Instant pot vs air fryer: what to cook?

Instant pots can cook the most common foods. Note that the instant pot is preferred for stews and food requiring boiling. But it has different cooking functionalities that can enable it to function as a slow cooker, sauté pan, and more. It can cook beef, chicken, bread, soups, vegetables, eggs, rice, noodles, cakes, multigrain, porridge, and even prepare yogurt.

The air fryer has a long list of foods you can cook in it. The appliance can bake, air fry, roast, grill, dehydrate and reheat. It is preferred for making French fries, baked potatoes, omelets, hard-boiled eggs, egg rolls, cakes, banana bread, fried chicken, turkey, muffins, air-fried fish, air-fried bacon, and much more.

If you want stew, soups, boiled rice, and multigrain meals, consider an instant pot. However, if you like air-fried, crispy meals on the outside and juicy on the inside, an air fryer is the better option.

Air fryer vs instant pot: which one is faster?

The air fryer typically cooks food faster compared to an instant pot. The air fryer is compact, ensuring the heating element is closer to the food, and with rapid hot air circulation technology, food cooks faster and evenly. On the other hand, an instant pot takes 5 to around 30 minutes to build up pressure and start cooking. As a result, it takes up more time to cook food but is very efficient in boiling grains, meat, and other foods.

But all in all, note that cook time varies with the type of food you want to cook and the settings on the cooking appliance.

Between air fryer and instant pot, which one is more versatile?

An instant pot with an air fryer lid can be used as an air fryer, but an air fryer cannot function as an instant pot. As such, you can note that an instant pot has more cooking functions allowing it to boil, air fry, bake, slow cook, broil, pressure cook, and make yogurt, compared to an air fryer that mainly air fries, grills, and bakes. An instant pot is more versatile than an air fryer.

Which one is healthier?

The instant pot vs air fryer battle gets complicated when checking which one is healthier. It all depends on the amount of oil your use and the type of food you are making. However, an instant pot uses steam to cook and can be considered healthier as it keeps vitamins and other nutrients locked inside the food. The air fryer uses hot air and some oil to make food crispier, likely to lose some nutrients and soak up some oil in the process.

Final Words

The instant pot vs air fryer contest has no clear-cut winner. Each appliance is unique in its ways. If you want an appliance that can do more than pressure cooking and air frying, an instant pot with an air fryer lid or instant Pot Duo Crip is your best option. The appliance doubles up as an instant pot and air fryer. However, consider the air fryer if you just like air-fried, healthier foods.

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