The Instant Vortex Mini Air Fryer Replaced My Convection Oven

Moving my 10-year-old Cuisinart convection oven to my new apartment was, to put it mildly, a pain in the behind. The thing weighed a ton, and I could already envision it hogging all my precious counter space in my tiny NYC apartment kitchen. Just imagine me hauling a 30-pound convection oven up two flights of stairs, into a moving truck, and up two more flights in my new place. By the time I plugged it in, I was already questioning why I’d bothered schlepping it to my new digs in the first place. But the real breaking point came during my first attempt at roasting vegetables, when, within minutes, enough smoke started pouring out to set off my smoke alarm. I thought I’d done everything right — cleaning it thoroughly beforehand, barely using any oil — and still it was like a fog machine for Brussels sprouts. 

A week later, Instant Pot’s newest air fryer, the 4-Quart Vortex Mini, arrived for testing right when I needed it most. Spoiler alert: My convection oven is now gathering dust in storage, and I couldn’t be happier about it.

Instant Pot 4-Quart Vortex 6-in-1 Mini Air Fryer

Could this compact 4-quart air fryer really replace the appliance I’d relied on for a decade? Yes, and very easily, it turns out. The Vortex Mini air fries, bakes, roasts, broils, dehydrates, and reheats in one-third the counter space of my old oven. It’s got “EvenCrisp Technology,” which is just a fancy way of saying that it delivers perfectly crispy results with (allegedly) 95% less oil. I was skeptical, until I made peppercorn chicken wings that came out golden and crunchy on the outside and juicy on the inside, without burning the pepper (which occasionally happened in the broiler), and all with just a light spritz of cooking spray. Zero smoke — just really good wings in a little less than 20 minutes. 

I was concerned about capacity at first, but the 4-quart basket can feed one to two people easily, or up to four servings depending on what you’re making. I’ve successfully cooked protein like salmon fillets (with a crackling sear in 10 minutes) and full batches of roasted vegetables. The temperature range spans 95°F to 400°F, and I like that the clear window lets me check progress without opening it every five minutes and releasing heat the way you would with some other air fryers. I found the preset functions to be convenient, but you can also create custom programs by adjusting time and temperature. For example, my roasted cauliflower now takes 15 minutes at 375°F versus 30 minutes in my old oven.

But my favorite feature by far is that the basket and tray are, mercifully, dishwasher-safe. After years of scrubbing baked-on grease from oven racks, five-minute cleanup feels like a godsend. However, there are a couple honest cons: If you’re cooking for a family of four or more, the 4-quart capacity might feel restrictive. (It’s definitely one of the best small air fryers for single living or tight spaces.) There was a bit of a plastic-y smell when I first started using it, but that’s an issue with air fryers in general. And like most air fryers, it doesn’t do everything — you’ll still need your actual oven for sheet cakes or Thanksgiving turkeys. But for daily cooking? I’d say it effectively handles about 90% of what I used to rely on my convection oven for. Admittedly, it does still feel a little weird opening up a giant basket just to make toast, though. 

Beyond solving my smoke problem, the space savings definitely justify this swap. My apartment kitchen has incredibly limited counter space, and the Vortex Mini (roughly 13 x 11 x 13 inches) lives up to its name, tucking neatly into a corner. The minimal preheat time also means I can go from exhausted-brained dinner idea to eating in significantly less time. At $60 (regularly $90), this air fryer also costs significantly less than replacing my convection oven, which could’ve meant hundreds of dollars. So if your convection oven is gathering dust, smoking you out, or just taking up too much precious counter real estate, the Instant Pot 4-Quart Vortex Mini Air Fryer is worth considering.  

We know it won’t replace your full-sized oven completely, but for everyday cooking in a small kitchen, it’s a worthwhile addition to your home cooking arsenal. Eager for a bigger option? Head below to score steep markdowns on even more air fryers.

Shop More Air Fryer Deals on Amazon

Instant Pot Vortex Plus 6-Quart XL Air Fryer

Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 FlexBasket Air Fryer 

Cosori 9-in-1 TurboBlaze 6-Quart Air Fryer

Ninja XL 5.5-Quart Single Basket Air Fryer 

At the time of publishing, the price was $60.