Instant Pot with Air Fryer: The Perfect Combo for Busy Families

Like most busy families, you’re always looking for ways to make dinner easier and faster. The Instant Pot with air fryer combo is the perfect appliance for your kitchen.

An instant pot with an air fryer is an instant pot that can also be used as an air fryer. It is an excellent option for making quick, healthier meals for busy families.

With this appliance, you can cook meals quickly and easily. This blog post will discuss the benefits and give you some ideas for recipes that you can try.

Instant Pot Vs. Air Fryer

What is an instant pot?

It is a brand of a pressure cooker. It is a multi-use pressure cooker that can be used for cooking food faster than traditional methods.

With it, you can cook:

Soups
Stews
Tougher Cuts of Meat
Beans
Rice
Steamer, yogurt, slow cooker, or anything that takes a long time to cook will be better done.

What is an air fryer?

cooking in air fryer — Cooking with an air fryer. Credit: canva

It is a kitchen appliance that cooks food by circulating hot air around it. This cooks the food evenly and gives it a crispy texture.

You can use it for cooking:

Frozen Foods
Vegetables
Meat/Steaks
Pork Chops
Shrimp
Any smaller items you want to turn out perfectly crispy on the outside.

Instant pot vs. air fryer: What’s the difference?

Cooking method

The main difference is the cooking method. An Instant Pot uses pressure and steam to cook food quickly, while an air fryer circulates hot air around the food to cook it evenly.

Healthier choice

This all boils down to what you plan to prepare the most. You can make healthy and unhealthy food with almost any cooking device or appliance, just like you can with virtually any other cookware.

I believe the Instant Pot is better if you want to deep fry foods typically cooked in oil, such as french fries, egg rolls, and pizza.

If you want to prepare meals that include processed foods, carbohydrates, and excessive fats, the air fryer is the way.

Cheaper

You can get an air fryer and an Instant Pot for around the same cost when it comes to price.

However, higher-end air fryers or air fryer/oven combinations might be considerably more expensive than the most costly Instant Pot.

Which one is better?

The decision of which one is better depends on what you plan to use it for.

If you want to make quick and healthy meals, the Instant Pot is a great option. The air fryer is your best bet if you want to make crispy and delicious foods.

If you enjoy slow cooker (and other types of) cuisine and want big meals cooked in a shorter period, the Instant Pot may be the appliance for you.

If you frequently cook chicken nuggets, make fried foods, or reheat meals in the oven, an air fryer may benefit you!

Do you need both?

Having both can be convenient if you have the space and the budget. Or you can have a combo appliance that can be used as an instant pot and an air fryer.

Instant Pot with Air Fryer: Is It the Perfect Combo?

Is it the perfect combo?

Here are the pros and cons

Pros

With a 2-in-1 device, you can save space in your kitchen
It is a faster way to cook food
You can cook healthier meals
You can make quick and healthy meals.
You can also make crispy foods and delicious foods.
It is a cheaper option.

Cons

The device is more expensive than buying two separate appliances.
It might not be very clear to use both functions at first.
It takes up more space.
It is not as versatile, and the result is not as crispy as traditional frying.
The lid is heavy and a little bit difficult to store.

Do you think it’s the perfect combo?

How to Use the Appliance?

How does it work?

It’s essentially the same as an Instant Pot, but it has a pressure cooker lid and an air fryer lid that is truly transformative.

Using the regular Instant Pot lid and pressure cooking settings. Using it as an air fryer, use the air fryer lid and settings.

You can also toast and broil with it! Overall, it’s pretty simple to operate.

How To Use The Lid

First, you’ll need to remove the regular Instant Pot lid and replace it with the air fryer lid.
Then, select the “Air Fry” for the functions on your Instant Pot and set the timer.
The device will start preheating, and once it’s finished, it will beep to let you know.
Place your food in the basket, making sure not to overcrowd it.
Then, lower the basket into the pot and close the lid.
It will start air frying your food and beep when the cooking process is done.
Once it’s finished, carefully remove the basket of food and enjoy!

Top Instant Pot with Air Fryer Product

Instant Pot® Duo Crisp™ + Air Fryer 8-quart Multi-Use Pressure Cooker

Amazon rating: 4.5/5 (more than 30,000 ratings)

Specification:

Brand: Instant Pot (Instant Brands)
Capacity: 8 Quarts
Material: Stainless steel
Color: Black/Stainless steel
Item Dimensions LxWxH: 14.76 x 13.58 x 15.28 inches

Description:

11-in-1 pressure cooker, slow cook, steamer, sauté pan, food warmer, sous vide, air fryer, roaster, mini-oven, broiler, and dehydrator
2 convenient, removable lids to transform your Instant Pot into an air fryer
Stainless steel (18/8) inner pot with tri-ply bottom for perfect sautéing
EvenCrisp™technology that gives you the crunch and tenderness of deep-frying with 95% less oil
Customizable temperature range of 105°F (41°C) to 400°F (201°F) for Air Frying Lid
Cook up to 8 portions, perfect for families, meal prep, and big-batch cooking
Up to 70% faster and more energy-efficient than other cooking methods
Dishwasher-safe pressure cooking lid and inner pot for quick and easy clean-up
Accessories include a multi-functional stainless-steel rack, multi-level air fryer basket with base and broil/dehydrator tray, steam rack, and a protective pad and storage cover

Instant Pot Air Fryer Rosemary Potatoes Recipe

Ingredients

2 lb / 900 g potatoes, washed and pat-dried, cut into thin wedges or cubes
Three sprigs of rosemary, needles pulled off and roughly chopped
1.5 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon garlic powder

Instructions

Wash and dry the potatoes. Cut them into thin wedges or cubes.
Roughly chop rosemary needles, and remove the hard stem.
Toss potatoes with rosemary, seasonings, and olive oil in a large mixing dish. Toss everything together gently with your hands.
Place the air fry basket in it. Transfer seasoned coated potatoes into the air fryer basket.
Secure and lock the lid. Set to Air Fry mode at 204 C / 399 F for 20 minutes.
Turn potatoes over or stir around after 10 minutes and again 5 minutes before finishing cooking time.
Serve right away while hot and crispy!

FAQs

Can I use my Instant Pot as an air fryer?

Yes, you can use it as an air fryer by using the lid.

Is it better to have a separate air fryer and Instant Pot?

It depends on your needs. If you want to save space in your kitchen, having a combo is a great option.

Which is better, a pressure cooker or an air fryer?

Again, it depends on your needs. If you want an appliance that can do multiple things, then an Instant Pot with an air fryer lid is a great option. However, a separate air fryer might be a better option if you only want to use it for air frying.