‎Instant Pot ‎9Qt VersaZone Air Fryer - Review

The Instant Vortex Plus VersaZone Air Fryer is a versatile multi-cooker that can air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, dehydrate, and rotisserie cook. This 9-quart model builds on the popular Instant Vortex line with an updated, sleek design and enhanced cooking capabilities.

With its Element iQ system, the VersaZone offers precise temperature control and the ability to customize settings for different cooking modes. It comes with a rotating mesh basket and racks to accommodate everything from full chickens to french fries. The large capacity is suitable for families or meal prepping. Overall, this is an attractive option for home chefs seeking an all-in-one countertop appliance.

Design and Appearance

The Instant Vortex Plus VersaZone air fryer has a sleek and modern design that will look great on any countertop. It has a rounded square shape with gently curved edges and comes in either black or white color options.

The appliance is fairly compact in size with dimensions of 11.75 x 11.75 x 14.96 inches, so it won't take up too much space. The body is made of plastic with a smooth matte finish that resists fingerprints and smudges. There's a large digital touchscreen on the front that displays settings and cooking progress.

The interior cooking chamber is roomy enough to prepare meals for a family, while the exterior remains compact. The basket has a non-stick coating for easy cleanup. Overall, the design is stylish yet functional, suiting both modern and more traditional kitchen decors.

Features and Technology

The Instant Vortex Plus VersaZone Air Fryer is packed with advanced cooking features and technology to deliver outstanding versatility and performance.

It offers 10 built-in smart programs for air frying, roasting, broiling, baking, reheating, dehydrating, and more. The programs are optimized with the ideal time and temperature settings to ensure perfect results. There's also a customizable program to manually adjust time and temperature.

The VersaZone technology features 4 intelligent cooking modes - air fry, bake, roast, and reheat. Each mode uses a customized heating pattern and airflow for superior cooking. Air Fry circulates hot air all around for crispy fried favorites with little to no oil. Bake uses upper heating for even browning and caramelization. Roast focuses heat at the top for meats and veggies. Reheat gently warms leftover foods.

Dual-zone heating provides two independent heating systems to cook different foods at varying temps simultaneously. This is great for cooking chicken and vegetables together but finishing at the right times.

The Instant Vortex Plus has an easy-to-use control panel with a dial and preset function buttons. The bright LED display shows cooking settings. There are also manual options to tailor time and temperature as needed.

Cooking Performance

When it comes to cooking performance, the Instant Vortex Plus VersaZone air fryer excels across a variety of cooking methods.

Air Frying

Air frying with the VersaZone produces crispy, delicious results without the need for copious amounts of oil. Foods come out with a light, crunchy exterior and a moist, tender interior. The air fryer basket has plenty of capacity, allowing you to cook meals for the whole family. Whether you're cooking frozen foods like fries and nuggets or fresh foods like chicken wings and vegetables, the VersaZone delivers excellent air fried results.

Roasting

The VersaZone also doubles as a countertop convection oven, perfect for roasting vegetables, meats, and more. The convection fan circulates hot air around food for even browning and cooking. Roasting in the VersaZone is fast and convenient, without heating up the entire oven. Roasting a whole chicken or vegetables comes out perfectly browned and flavorful.

Baking

You can also use the VersaZone for baking cakes, cookies, and other goodies. The convection baking function ensures heat is evenly distributed for light, fluffy baked goods. Baking performance is consistent and reliable. Items like cakes have a nice domed top and evenly browned exterior. Cookies retain moisture and have a nice chewy texture. The VersaZone makes baking quick and easy.

Ease of Use

The Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer is designed to be very user-friendly. The controls are simple and intuitive, with just a few buttons to operate the different cooking functions. There is a large LED display that clearly shows the cooking temperature, time settings, and selected function.

Cleaning the air fryer is also quite straightforward. The fryer basket and tray are dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. The interior of the appliance just needs a quick wipe down occasionally to keep it clean. The exterior can be wiped down with a damp cloth if needed.

The air fryer comes with a recipe booklet that provides cooking times and temperatures for common foods. The recipes are easy to follow along with. You can also find many more air fryer recipes online once you get the hang of using this appliance. Overall, the Instant Vortex Plus is designed to be very simple and convenient to use on a daily basis.

Accessories

The Instant Vortex Plus 9Qt VersaZone Air Fryer comes with a good selection of accessories to get you started on air frying, roasting, baking, and more.

Here's what's included:

• Air fry basket - The main air fry basket has a non-stick coating and a capacity of 5.7 quarts. It's dishwasher safe for easy cleaning. The basket has an embossed bottom design to maximize airflow and ensure even cooking.

• Roasting tray - A multi-purpose stainless steel roasting and broiling tray is included. It fits a 5 pound chicken or pork roast and can also be used for baking. The tray helps food cook evenly.

• Rotisserie basket - For making rotisserie chicken and meats, a rotisserie basket is provided. The basket spins constantly to self-baste meats for juicy results.

• Rotisserie forks - Two metal rotisserie forks are included for securing food in the rotisserie basket. The forks have grips on one end for easy handling.

• Dehydrating trays - You get two stainless steel dehydrating trays for making beef jerky, fruit rolls, dried herbs, and more. Each tray provides 2 square feet of drying space.

• Protective pad - A silicone protective pad goes under the cooking accessories to protect the fryer basket from scratches.

• Crumb tray - To catch any food drippings and crumbs, there's a slide-out crumb tray. It's dishwasher safe for simple cleaning.

The accessories included provide everything you need to start cooking right out of the box. Popular accessories like the air fry basket and rotisserie kit make this a versatile multi-cooker.

Noise Level

The Instant Pot Vortex Plus air fryer operates quietly while cooking. Many reviewers mention how impressed they are with the low noise levels, especially compared to previous air fryers they've owned.

There is minimal noise when the air fryer is preheating. Once it reaches the set temperature, the fan kicks on to circulate hot air and the noise increases slightly. However, even while cooking it remains quieter than most other air fryers. The sound is comparable to a small fan on low speed.

The noise level will vary slightly depending on what you're cooking and the selected temperature. Foods like french fries that cook at higher temperatures around 400°F will make it run a bit louder. But in general, it maintains a gentle hum rather than loud and disruptive noise.

You can comfortably have a conversation near the air fryer while it's running. The fan and motor are well insulated and designed not to vibrate excessively. Owners are pleased that they don't have to raise their voice or pause shows/movies when air frying a quick meal or snack. The relatively quiet performance makes it suitable for open concept kitchens and smaller homes where noise travels easily between rooms.

Safety Features

The Instant Vortex Plus 9 Qt Air Fryer comes with several important safety features to provide peace of mind.

• Auto Shut Off - This air fryer has an automatic shut off function if it is left idle for a certain period of time. This prevents overheating and potential fire hazards if the unit is accidentally left on.

• Overheat Protection - There are built-in overheat sensors that will automatically turn the unit off if it reaches unsafe high temperatures internally. This protects against motor or electrical failures leading to overheating.

• Cool Touch Exterior - The exterior of the air fryer remains cool to the touch even during cooking. This protects against accidental burns if you need to move or adjust the unit.

• Non-Slip Feet - The feet on the bottom of the unit are made of rubberized non-slip material to prevent sliding on countertops during use or cleaning. This added stability prevents potential tip-overs.

• Magnetic Power Cord - The power cord can be neatly stored by magnetically attaching back to the body of the air fryer. This reduces clutter and tripping hazards.

• Safety Certifications - This model meets the safety standards for UL, FCC, ETL, and FDA. It has been independently tested and certified for safe home use.

The multiple built-in safety features allow you to use this air fryer with confidence knowing it has been designed and engineered with protection in mind. You can cook your favorite crispy foods safely and conveniently.

Pros and Cons

The Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer has many excellent features as well as a few drawbacks to consider.

Pros

• Large 9 quart cooking capacity can handle family-sized portions
• VersaZone technology cooks food evenly from all angles
• Air frying, roasting, broiling, baking, reheating, dehydrating modes provide versatility
• Easy to use control panel and settings
• Components are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup
• Recipe book included for inspiration and guidance
• 2-year warranty provides peace of mind

Cons

• Bulky size takes up significant counter space
• Need to frequently shake or turn food for best results
• Basket does not have a non-stick coating
• Noise level can be disruptive during cooking
• Exterior gets hot to the touch during cooking
• High price point around £200 USD

In summary, the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer is a high-performing multi-cooker with extra-large capacity perfect for families. Some downsides exist like noise and size, but for most users, the cooking benefits outweigh the negatives.

Conclusion

The Instant Vortex Plus VersaZone 9QT Air Fryer is an excellent multi-cooker that can air fry, roast, broil, bake, reheat, and dehydrate. It offers a large 9 quart capacity to cook meals for the whole family. The square design allows for more cooking surface area than round air fryers.

The VersaZone technology provides even heat distribution and circulation for crispy, delicious results. The touch screen interface is intuitive and easy to use with preset programs and customizable settings. It includes a rotisserie spit, cooking trays, and dehydrating racks.

Compared to other air fryers, the Instant Vortex Plus stands out for its versatility to not just air fry, but bake, roast, broil, reheat, and dehydrate as well. The combination of features, performance, and large capacity in this all-in-one appliance makes it a great value.

Overall, the Instant Vortex Plus VersaZone is highly recommended for households that want an air fryer and more. It can replace several other small appliances and cooks food conveniently with great results. The size, technology and accessories make this an excellent air fryer choice for families.