Instant Vortex Plus 4QT Air Fryer (Vortex Plus Mini), Stainless Steel

What the Vortex Plus 4QT is and what comes with it

Amazon sells this as the Vortex Plus Mini, but the model is the Instant Vortex Plus 4QT: a 4-quart basket air fryer rated 1600 watts on 120 volts, 9 pounds, with six programs. The listing's part number 140-3079-01 and UPC match the SKU and barcode on Instant Pot's own product page, and the guide attached to the listing is titled Vortex Plus 4QT.

The guide's box list is short: the air fryer, the air fryer basket and a cooking tray that sits inside the basket. Air vents and the power cord are at the rear. The guide says to keep a separate Safety and Warranty insert, and points to a fuller User Manual online, which we did not read.

The six Smart Programs are Air Fry, Roast, Broil, Bake, Reheat and Dehydrate, each with Time and Temp buttons, a control dial, Cancel and Start. One page of the guide refers to four Smart Programs, but its control panel diagram and program tables show all six.

Where it goes: 5 inches of space above and around

The guide asks for a stable, level surface away from combustible material and external heat sources, and says not to set the air fryer on top of another appliance. It needs at least 5 inches, or 13 centimetres, of space above and around all sides.

The guide's specifications put the unit at 13.03 inches deep, 10.12 wide and 11.02 high. Amazon lists 10.2 inches deep and 13.03 wide, close to the same figures with depth and width swapped, so allow for the 13-inch side running front to back, plus the 5-inch clearance on every side.

Amazon's details give the voltage as 110 volts, while the guide's specifications give 120 volts, 60 Hz, and 1600 watts. The guide is Instant's own document, but the listing field conflicts with it, so ask the seller if the difference concerns you.

Program ranges: 95°F is for dehydrating only

The listing advertises 95 to 400°F. In the guide, only Dehydrate goes as low as 95°F, running 95 to 175°F for 1 to 72 hours with an 8-hour default. Air Fry and Roast run 180 to 400°F for up to 1 hour, defaulting to 400°F; Bake runs 180 to 400°F for up to 1 hour at a 350°F default; Reheat covers 120 to 360°F for up to 1 hour.

Broil is fixed at 400°F with no temperature adjustment, and runs up to 40 minutes. You can save your own default time and temperature for any program, reset one program by holding its button for five seconds, or reset all of them by holding the dial until it beeps.

For baking, the guide allows a metal or glass baking dish inside the basket, with about 1 inch of space around it for heat to circulate. For everything else, food goes in the basket on the cooking tray, and the guide says foil or other coverings are not needed.

Preheat, Add Food and Turn Food

The listing says little to no preheating is needed. The guide describes a preheat on the cooking programs: the display shows Preheating, then Add Food when the target temperature is reached, so you load the basket after preheating. Reheat is the exception, starting its countdown immediately with no preheat.

Part way through a cook, the guide's general instructions say the display shows Turn Food; if you leave the basket in, cooking continues after 10 seconds. The Bake entry says no turning is needed. At the end the display shows End, and the air fryer beeps again after 5, 30 and 60 minutes as a reminder.

Before first use, the guide asks for an empty test run on Air Fry at the default 400°F for 18 minutes, following the Add Food and Turn Food prompts. Note that the Air Fry table lists a 17-minute default, so the test-run time and the table differ by a minute.

Cleaning: only the cooking tray is dishwasher safe

Amazon's details list the product care as dishwasher safe. The guide is narrower: the cooking tray is dishwasher safe, though some discolouration may occur, and it has a non-stick coating that metal utensils can damage. The removable basket and the cooking chamber are cleaned with a damp cloth and mild dish soap.

The guide asks you to check the heating coil for oil spatter and make sure the coil is dry before switching on. It gives a method for baked-on grease in the chamber, which you should follow from the guide itself. The guide says never to immerse the appliance.

Sound can be turned off by holding Time and Temp for five seconds, though the guide says safety beeps cannot be silenced. Holding Temp for five seconds switches between Fahrenheit and Celsius. After Cancel, the internal fan may keep running to cool the unit.

Warranty: one year, shipping at your cost

Instant Pot's page gives a one-year limited warranty, running from purchase or delivery, whichever is later, for the original owner buying from authorized retailers. It is not transferable, needs proof of purchase, and covers repair or replacement at Instant's discretion; a replacement is covered for 12 months from receipt.

Exclusions include products used outside the United States and Canada, modification, misuse, normal wear, commercial use and unauthorized parts. The warranty page says Instant Pot is not responsible for shipping costs related to warranty service. Registration is optional; the page says the model number is on the back and the serial number on the bottom.