Do I Need An Air Fryer If I Have An Instant Pot? Complete Comparison

Do I Need An Air Fryer If I Have An Instant Pot

If you also enjoy discovering the latest unique kitchen gadgets to enhance your cooking and eating experience as much as we do — then have no doubt, somewhere along the line you will learn about both air fryers and Instant Pots.

The two devices are a pair of almost law-breaking partners in crime every household chef brags can produce delicious meals and get them there faster.

However, it raises an important question: should you own both of them or having one is enough?

I too used to wonder about this. Counter space is prime real estate in my puny apartment kitchen. I was already a fan of my Instant Pot for fast, easy weeknight dinners. Another bulky appliance I did not need (I ask myself this ALL THE TIME!

After doing some research and comparisons, I realized the air fryer wasn’t just a fancy version of my Instant Pot. Each appliance works differently and excels at different tasks. Once I understood their unique strengths, I decided adding an air fryer to my lineup was well worth it. 

Let me walk you through what I learned about the key differences between Instant Pots and air fryers. I’ll also share when having both can be useful versus when one may be sufficient.

The Crispy Magic of Air Fryers

First, let’s talk air fryers. I know the name is a little misleading – air fryers don’t fry anything. Instead, they use super hot air to mimic the taste and texture of fried food without all the oil.

Here’s a quick rundown of what air fryers do:

• Circulate scorching hot air around the food at high speeds to cook and crisp the exterior
• Produce crispy “fried” results with little to no oil needed
• Excel at making food super crunchy like french fries, chicken wings, fish sticks, etc. 
• Cook foods very quickly thanks to intense heat blasting from all sides
• Come in small sizes perfect for apartments or dorm rooms 

So in a nutshell, air fryers use targeted hot air to make food crispy. Their specialty is guaranteed crunch.

The Magic of the Instant Pot

Now let’s look at the Instant Pot. Unlike the air fryer, this is a multifunctional electric pressure cooker. Here are its key features:

• Uses pressurized steam to cook food up to 70% faster than normal
• Makes tough meats and beans tender and cooks food throughout 
• Has settings like pressure cooking, slow cooking, steaming, sautéing, and more
• Available in larger sizes perfect for big batches or meal-prepping
• Includes safety features like overheating protection 

The Instant Pot takes a different approach to fast cooking by using pressurized steam instead of hot air. This lets it cook food all the way through while also softening tough ingredients.

Head-to-Head Comparison

An air fryer is kitchen equipment designed in such a way that it can crisp and brown better and quickly. The result of air frying is similar to deep frying, and the food items contain depth, crispy, brown calories; however, are devoid of fat, and are nutritionally better.

 Moreover, this appliance helps in fast and almost medical baking grill or fry the French fries, wings, and fish sticks and voilà: roasted vegetables, etc.

 If food is mostly tender inside but needs to be browned or crisped on the outside, the air fryer is the best choice by far.

Meanwhile, the Instant Pot is a workhorse that can produce tender and juicy meats and stews but doesn’t crisp or brown well at all.

Liquid is necessary for pressurization in Instant Pots. Freedom from oil and water allows the air fryer to work its magic. Air fryers can handle small amounts of food and do so with great speed. Your larger Instant Pot can tackle jobs more appropriate for big batches.

Both of these devices can tackle jobs like making fried chicken but with different results. Both are versatile but in different ways. When it comes to crisping, the air fryer is king.

The heating methods of the Instant Pot and the air fryer are not the same. The Instant Pot does not have a basic temperature pacifier; the air fryer does.

Once something is approximately the correct temperature, it remembers that holds it up and maintains a certain heat. Once it gets to that certain level of doneness or not-rawness, an air-fried food will be more like on the edge of being not-raw, but on the raw side.

When Having Both Makes Sense

Now we’ve gotten to the real question – is it worth having both appliances or is the Instant Pot enough? 

In general, the Instant Pot is plenty sufficient for most people’s cooking needs. However, if you cook a lot of traditionally “fried” foods and want that amazing crunch, the air fryer can be a game changer. 

Here are some examples of when I think owning both appliances is worthwhile:

• You cook fried chicken, french fries, fish sticks, etc. all the time. That’s where the air fryer shines.
• You make big-batch meals in your Instant Pot but also need to quickly “fry” small side dishes. 
• You want to use them together, like cooking meat in the Instant Pot and then getting crispy skin in the air fryer. 
• You have room on your counters for another appliance and would use the air fryer often.

For me, even as a small space dweller, buying the air fryer was worth it. I use it several times a week to make chicken wings, Brussels sprouts, and other dishes with crispy edges. It perfectly complements one-pot meals from my Instant Pot.

When to Skip the Air Fryer 

On the other hand, here are some cases where I think the Instant Pot may be enough on its own:

• You mostly cook large batches like big cuts of meat, soups, or stews. Instant Pots excel here.
• You don’t fry foods that often and are happy without crispy edges.
• Your kitchen is very cramped and you need more room for another appliance.
• Most recipes you cook day-to-day don’t require an air fryer’s specialized talents. 

The Instant Pot does an amazing job with steaming, braising, meal prepping, and more. For many home cooks’ needs, it can be the only device needed for fast and delicious dinners. 

FAQs

How do you air fry in an Instant Pot?

Instant Pot vs Air Fryer14 — Instant Pot is not designed to fry ingredients properly. This is because the sealed lid and internal pot unlike an air fryer do not allow any airflow. It might crisp some things up a bit, but it will not be nearly as crispy as an air fryer.

Air Fryer vs Instant Pot for French Fries

There is absolutely nothing like the air fryer for perfect french fries each and every time! Their powerful hot air circulation prepares them up crisp and golden on the outside nice fluffy interior. Woe to the dream of a perfectly crispy fry in there, it never happens.

Can you pressure cook or steam foods in an air fryer?

Nope, air fryers can’t pressurize internally like Instant Pots. Air fryers simply blow around hot air – they can’t deeply cook meats or perform other Instant Pot functions beyond crisping.

Is it worth having both appliances in my kitchen?

It depends on how often you cook certain types of food! For fried food lovers, having an air fryer in addition to the Instant Pot can be awesome. They complement each other when used creatively. But for many others, just the Instant Pot may suffice on its own.

Should I get an air fryer or Instant Pot if I only have room for one? 

If your kitchen space is limited, I’d recommend starting with the Instant Pot. It can perform so many tricks beyond air frying. Unless you cook fried foods all the time, the Instant Pot is probably the more versatile choice for a single appliance.

Conclusion

I hope this comparison has shown clearly the unique and impressive features of both the air fryer and the Instant Pot. My own view has certainly changed after examining the gadgets in my kitchen.

So what I want you to remember from all of this is:

It works well for pressure cooking, so any recipe that only requires a 1-pot should be done in this appliance. Excels at the air frying part of an Air fryer but not too much more

If you are one of those people who only eats occasional fried foods, and does not have an air fryer, then fine for you. I, however like to keep fried foods in my life, and between my air fryer and Instant Pot I get the best of both worlds.