I have added to my arsenal of kitchen appliances.
Recently I picked up a new Instant Pot lid (from Amazon) which essentially transforms my pot into an air fryer. The new lid adds five more smart functions to my InstantPot – baking, broiling, dehydrating, reheating and air frying.
Now I don’t NEED an air fryer but I really, really wanted one after seeing so many pictures of air fried tofu on Instagram. I thought long and hard about making the $100 purchase. I considered buying a separate air fryer but I didn’t want ANOTHER appliance jostling for attention.
Buying a lid made the most sense because it doesn’t take up a lot of space and it fits on my 6-quart Instant Pot. I love multi-use. The lid does not stay attached to your Instant Pot (see above photos) so it’s easy to swap lids between pressure cooking and baking or air frying.
The lid comes with an air-frying multi-level basket – big enough to fit in my 6 quart Instant Pot – a metal broiling tray for dehydrating and a protective pad. At first I thought the basket was too small then I remembered I am not a family of four.
The way it works
Essentially the lid circulates rapid hot air to cook the food “all the rich, crispy golden flavour of deep frying with little to no oil,” according to Instant Pot. The supplied basket fits inside the Instant Pot’s inner pot. You can also swap in steamer baskets and other oven friendly dishes.
My food has stuck to the basket on a few occasions so I rubbed a little oil over the basket. I have since found some handy round shaped parchment paper that does the trick without oil.
Halfway through the program, you will receive an alert to ‘turn food’ so the food cooks evenly. The basket and inner pot are SUPER hot so always used a pot holder when shaking the basket.
What’s really cool about the lid is that you can check on your food as much as you want. The manual that came with the Instant Pot lid didn’t offer much guidance for times. The smart programs offer default settings but you really just have to guesstimate based on the food’s texture.
When the program ends, the lid beeps and displays “end” and “cool.”
What have I made using my new lid?
French Fries. French Fries. French Fries.
Tofu.
Bread.
Cauliflower. Broccoli. Seitan wings. Zucchini.
I am still figuring out this thing but so far, so good. I have burnt my fries and broccoli a few times but it’s all about experimenting.
Early results: Air fried cauliflower with or without breading (cornstarch or flour) tastes amazing. Perfect every single time.
So the tofu? …. Crispy. Crunchy. I have made tofu using nothing at all then with a breading of flour, spices and Panko, and finally with a dash of cornstarch and spices. No fails. Oh so good. If you have been eating tofu as long as I have, you can appreciate the new trick of the kitchen.
I preferred to marinate my tofu in veg broth or some sauce before I air fried it. Then I would toss it in a sauce or add it to my salad or whatever depending on what I ate that day. So many options.
I started using the “baking” smart program last weekend with a small loaf of bread. I proofed my dough in my Excalibur Food Dehydrator – although I could have used the Instant Pot.
It turned out pretty good. I liked that I didn’t have to use my oven for such a small bake. (I found a basic bread recipe online that I used for this basic white bread.) I’m excited to try baking a few more smaller dishes in the coming weeks.
Also the dehydrating function is intriguing.
I will be sharing some recipes in the coming weeks so stay tuned!
Should you buy an air fryer?
Just the other day, my friend said “maybe I should get one.” after I texted a picture of my crunchy oyster mushrooms. OK HOLD UP. Before you start plugging your credit card number into the checkout cart at Amazon, give yourself a minute.
I have wanted an air fryer for more than a year. I have looked at models at various stores and I have come very close to purchasing one “on a whim.” Before I make any big purchase, I have to really think about whether or not I would realistically use it. I have heard countless accounts of people who buy Instant Pots or the like and NEVER use them. What a waste!
But if you are sure this would fit into your kitchen arsenal, and it would be worthwhile – pick one up! I love experimenting and trying new dishes. Are you like me? There are so many options out there at various price points. Also if you deep fry your food (gosh I hope you don’t), air fryers are a “healthier” option because you don’t need to use oil to get that “deep fried” taste or crispy texture.
I would love to hear from you in the comments below. Do you have an air fryer? Why or why not? What is your favourite vegan dish to make in it?
Why cant you get one for my 8qt duo?
I don’t believe they make one for the 8 quart duo. You would have to check with Instant pot.