Food24 tests an Air Fryer to see if it lives up to the hype

When an air fryer becomes a popular household term and an even more sought-after kitchen item, we just have to test one out, purely for research purposes, of course, and not because of a crispy nugget addiction … So, we called in some friends and tested out the Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer.

On arrival, admittedly, we were a little sceptical. But a few crispy nuggets later, we got comfortable with the magical little box.

From crispy bacon and paprika chickpeas to chilli-infused broccoli, crisp sweet potato chips and cottage pie, we couldn’t fault our air-frying experience. But the deciding factor was homemade snoek and sweet potato fishcakes … They were crispy with just the right colour and they weren’t oily at all!

Why you should invest in an air fryer

• The most obvious benefit would be healthier cooking as less oil is needed.
• It’s also a huge electricity saver, which makes it rather budget friendly.
• It is easy to use and clean.
• It is compact, which makes it great for small spaces.
• Cooking is very efficient.
• It is extremely versatile – the Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer has both a bake and roast function in addition to the air-fry mode.

  

Are there any cons?

As amazing as our air-frying experience was, there are some cons to note:

• The initial cost of an air fryer is quite expensive, so it is quite an investment should you decide to buy one.
• It isn’t ideal for cooking for large families.
• Although it is compact, it does take up counter space, which could be problematic in spaces where counter space is tight.
• You won’t necessarily use it to fry everything. We still opted to roast butternut in a conventional oven as it made more sense in terms of space and we nuked a whole sweet potato in the microwave for a quick lunch as it was quicker than cooking it in an air fryer.

Nifty little kitchen gadget or wasted counter space? The answer depends totally on you and what your needs are, so do your research before purchasing one. We found it is perfect for veggies and healthy snacks, and could be a great addition to any kitchen!

This article was not sponsored by Instant Pot SA. The Instant Pot Vortex Air Fryer was tested by Food24 in order to review an air fryer as a kitchen gadget. Follow Instant Pot SA on Instagram for more information. Image shared with permission from Jess Levin from the Culinary Cartel – follow along on Instagram.