Tom's Guide Verdict
The Instant Vortex Slim is an ultra-quiet space-saving air fryer that delivers brilliant value for money. If you're not short on counter space, there are other air fryers which could be more suitable, but with a 6-quart capacity and a width of 10 inches, this air fryer is a compact option that doesn't compromise on performance.
Pros
- +
Narrow and deep basket is surprisingly useful
- +
Easy to keep clean
- +
Smart and intuitive controls
- +
Perfect for small spaces
Cons
- -
Control panel scratches and marks easily
- -
Max temperature could be higher
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Capacity: 6QT
Dimensions: 17.78"D x 10.2"W x 11.85"H
Settings: Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, Reheat
Noise level: 62 dB
Max heat: 400°F
Weight: 14 pounds
I've tested so many air fryers that I'm at risk of losing count, and while they're best known for their famous Instant Pots, I've always found that Instant makes a strong contender. Uncomplicated, well-built, and with tactile controls, they're easily some of the best air fryers on the market. But if, like me, you find yourself short on counter space and still want to use an air fryer that can cater to a family, Instant's standard Vortex line might not be for you. Enter: the Instant Vortex Slim.
As the name suggests, the Instant Vortex Slim is a narrower air fryer that will easily slot between appliances on your kitchen counter. It makes up for its 10-inch width by extending the basket, so you'll still benefit from a standard 6-quart capacity, but in a deeper drawer.
I was interested to find out if the Vortex Slim's unusual dimensions would have an impact on cooking performance, or if it would live up to the brand's typical prowess. Here's what happened when I put it to the test.
Instant Vortex Slim review: Price and availability
The Instant Vortex Slim is listed as the Instant Vortex Slim XL 6QT Air Fryer on Amazon, but they're the same model and can be bought for $119. It's worth noting that, as with other Instant air fryers, I see it go on sale relatively often. You can also buy it from Target for the same price.
Instant Vortex Slim review: First impressions
My first impression of the Instant Vortex Slim was that it's surprisingly weighty. In terms of size, it's notably narrower than most air fryers from the front, and significantly deeper. For comparison my top-rated air fryer for most people, the Ninja Pro 4-in-1, is an inch and a half wider but 4 inches shallower, which explains why it's got a smaller capacity of 5 quarts compared to the Instant's 6 quart basket.
The basket features a sturdy handle that will allow you to grip and support the entire basket, even when it's weighed down by food. And it's also great for shaking food like fries or vegetables to ensure they cook evenly without having to turn them.
I also enjoyed the control panel, which is made of a seamless black layer and topped by a dial button that twists to allow you to increase time and temperature. There are 5 cooking modes to choose from: Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Broil, and Reheat.
The temperature range is good, accounting for the lower temperatures you might need to reheat. I tested from the U.K., hence the °C display, but the Instant Vortex Slim offers temperatures between 120 and 400°F (49 to 205 °C) which can be increased in 5-degree increments using the dial. The timer goes up to one hour.
A max temperature of 400°F is fairly standard, but alternatives such as the Cosori TurboBlaze 6-quart can go up to 450°F for extra-speedy cooking.
Instant Vortex Slim review: Performance
When testing air fryers, I try to cook a range of standard meal components such as chicken, vegetables, and potatoes. In the Instant Vortex Slim I also used the reheat setting to see if I could add some crisp back to some fries I'd made the day before.
Roasting baby potatoes
Roasting baby potatoes can take a long time in the oven, so I was interested to see how long they'd take to cook through and crisp up in the Instant Vortex. I set the timer to 45 minutes and the temperature to 180°C (360°F), hopeful that the potatoes might be done before the instructions suggested.
The Instant Vortex Slim, as with all Instant air fryers, runs a brief pre-heat cycle before it starts cooking. I tend to just add my food in before clicking start, so I don't need to go back and re-add it once the machine beeps to tell me it's ready.
I do appreciate that the timer doesn't immediately start counting down like it does with a Ninja air fryer, as this can lead to slight inaccuracies which could impact more time-sensitive foods such as fish, which you wouldn't want to undercook.
As expected, the potatoes were sizzling and browned to perfection at the 30-minute mark, beating the oven instructions by 12 minutes.
Cooking vegetables
These testing days can get unhealthy pretty fast, so I like to cook vegetables to go with my meal. While many people would turn to steaming or boiling to cook their vegetables, I do think you can get a really nice flavor from air frying veggies such as carrots and broccolini.
I added a full pack of broccolini to the basket, which was perfectly sized to line them up, and set the timer to 8 minutes, as I've fallen foul of burning vegetables when following pack instructions in the air fryer before!
The broccolini stems were softened and the heads a little crisp once cooking was finished. One thing I noticed was just how quiet this machine is. It's been awarded a Quiet Mark accreditation, meaning it's one of the quietest air fryers you can buy, and my experience supports this. It hit heights of 63dB when I was pre-heating it, which fell to a gentle whirring 61dB when cooking for longer periods. Another win for small homes.
Air frying chicken tenders
One thing you'll not miss with the Instant Vortex Slim is a generous capacity. In fact, the narrow and deep design would work well for roasting a small chicken or a longer cut of meat such as pork loin or ribs.
A pack of chicken tenders had plenty of space to cook, again thanks to the shape of the basket which roughly matched them for width and allowed me to line them up nicely. The only con of this basket shape would be if you wanted to cook something more squared, maybe an oven pizza or a cake. But for typical freezer food, it's very convenient.
I wanted to see how hot this air fryer could get. When reviewing, I tend to cook breaded food on the highest temperature for 12 minutes and see if it can crisp up in this time, and I did the same for my chicken tenders. I slightly regretted not setting the timer for 10 minutes, because leaving them for 12 pushed them over from crispy into slightly burnt, and the interior from juicy to a little dry. Lesson learned: it's quiet but it works fast.
Reheating fries
Not pictured here, but I also reheated some fries in the Instant Vortex Slim as a test of its reheating function. I was impressed to see that it didn't add any real color to my fries (which ironically could probably have used some, as they were a little anaemic looking after having cooked them in a toaster oven earlier that day for testing.)
However, the air fryer only took 5 minutes at 250°F to get them heated through once more, a handy setting for those who batch cook and would prefer to get some crisp back that a microwave can't offer.
When handling these greasy fries, I did notice that my fingers left oily marks on the control panel of the Instant Vortex Slim. It didn't impact performance, but it's something to be aware of if you'd be irked by constantly having to clean the glossy control panel.
Instant Vortex Slim review: Verdict
Quiet, quick, and unobtrusive, the Instant Vortex Slim is an awesome choice for smaller kitchens. If you're not short on space though, you could probably get more versatility from conventionally-sized baskets such as the Philips Premium Airfryer XXL which will accommodate wider foods like cake or pizza, as well as your conventional freezer foods or smaller servings of vegetables and chicken.
I was impressed at how low the noise levels sat throughout testing, and while not everyone will appreciate the inclusion of a pre-heat time and a reminder to shake (depending on which setting you use), I like it. It makes me feel more exact in my cooking. One minus point would be the control panel, which while sleek and tactile, does mark easily when handling with greasy fingertips. You might prefer the likes of the Ninja 4-in-1, which is controlled by buttons, if smudges would bother you. In terms of performance though, the Instant Vortex Slim is hard to fault. For apartment-dwellers or those like myself who have a smaller kitchen to work with, it's a no-brainer.
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