The Instant Pot brand is one of the most well-known multicooker manufacturers in the world. Complete with a pressure cooker, slow cooker, and steam cooking settings, Instant Pot models became an instant hit thanks to their efficiency and ease of use.
However, despite having released the Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer over a decade ago, many people still go about their culinary duties blissfully unaware that mealtime perfection is a mere "add to cart" button away. After adding an air fryer lid to their pressure cooker unit, Instant Pot created one of the all-time great small kitchen appliances in the Duo Crisp.
Now that you know you can buy an Instant Pot to air fry, I'm going to tell you how to use Instant Pot air fryers (primarily the Duo Crisp), what you can cook in it, and why you should go and buy one the second you've finished reading this blog.
Jump to:
- What Is The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer?
- A Quick Word About The Non-Air Frying Features
- What Is The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer Lid All About?
- What I Love About The Instant Pot Air Fryer
- What Gives Me The Ick About The Instant Pot Air Fryer
- Instant Pot Duo Crisp's Air Fryer Accessories
- How To Insert The Duo Crisp Accessories
- How To Use The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer
- Preheating the Duo Crisp
- What You Can Cook With Each Feature On The Duo Crisp Air Fryer
- How The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Compares To A Traditional Air Fryer
- Frequently Asked Questions About The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer
What Is The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer?
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a kitchen-top culinary Swiss Army Knife that combines the functions of a pressure cooker, a slow cooker, and an air fryer. With its versatile design, it allows users to cook a Gordon Ramsey-like arsenal of meals without breaking a sweat.
The pressure cooking function enables faster cooking times than regular cookers and ranges, so it's perfect for hectic lifestyles or large families. The Duo Crisp can cook everything from soups and stews to grains and meats and reheating fast food.
In addition to pressure cooking, the Duo Crisp also features an air fryer function, allowing for crispy, golden results without excessive oil. This makes it a healthier option for fried foods like chicken wings, French fries, or vegetables.
The appliance comes with a range of preset cooking programs, making it simple to cook different dishes with the wave of a finger and the touch of a button. The large cooking capacity makes it suitable for cooking meals for larger gatherings or meal prepping for the week ahead.
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp offers convenience, versatility, and healthier cooking options, making it a valuable addition to any kitchen.
A Quick Word About The Non-Air Frying Features
In this article, I'll focus on the Duo Crisp's air fryer functions, the air fryer lid, and what you can cook with it. Still, its other capabilities are worth mentioning if you need something to tip the scales in your decision-making later.
Here's what you can expect from the Instant Pot Duo Crisp.
- Pressure Cooker: This feature can cut cooking times in half while ensuring your food is properly cooked and maintains its moisture.
- Slow Cooker: Slow cooking is one of the most underrated cooking methods. Not only will it ensure your meal is ready when you get home from work, but slow-cooked food is way tastier than regular cooking methods.
- Steamer: Steaming vegetables, fish, rice, and boiled eggs has never been easier than whacking them in the steamer, setting the timer, and leaving them to it.
- Saute: The Instant Pot saute feature lets you fry food instantly (heh), which is ideal for bacon, ground beef, or caramelized onions. This setting is also ideal for teaming up with the slow-cooking to form an unstoppable one-pot super-hero squad.
- Sous-Vide: I'm not going to lie; I've never used the sous-vide function and wouldn't know how if I wanted to. But it's there if you need it.
What Is The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer Lid All About?
One of the Instant Pot Duo Crisp's USPs (unique selling points) is the interchangeable air fryer lid and pressure cooker lid. Instant Pot modified its original pressure cooker and adapted it to incorporate a lid with a powerful fan and heating element.
While this extra lid adds exceptional versatility to an already helpful appliance, this adaptation, in my opinion, is one of my few critiques of the Duo Crisp.
Rather than develop a new unit like the Ninja 11-in-1 that uses one lid for all functions, Instant's appliance leaves you needing to find extra storage space for the lid you're not using.
That's not to say these separate lids don't dutifully do everything you ask of them to an exceptionally high standard, because they do. But if you've got limited kitchen space, then the way Instant Pot has engineered this device should be the number one thing you look into before making a purchase.
What I Love About The Instant Pot Air Fryer
I use the air fryer lid on my Instant Pot Duo Crisp more than the pressure cooker, steamer, or slow cook feature. As a result, my love for this machine has grown to levels that would make standard human beings uncomfortable and cross the street to avoid making eye contact.
The build quality for the Duo Crisp is exceptional. Despite my reluctance to accept the detachable lids into my heart, there's no arguing that its implementation is first-rate.
Each component fits together like Cinderella's foot and a glass slipper, giving satisfying clunks and clicks as they fit into place. The audio notifications are like miniature massages for your ear holes, and every feature has been given some serious thought.
Except for 'Dehydrate' ... come on Instant Pot, nobody uses that.
If you're opposed to having airplanes take off from your kitchen, you'll be delighted to hear that this Instant Pot air fryer runs more quietly than any other appliance I've used. This is despite its clearly powerful fan and heating element that cook meals more effortlessly than Usain Bolt jogs to the shop.
Even the most technophobic of chefs (including me) will have no problem cooking with this bad boy, and the clean-up process is just as easy.
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer's results bring me the biggest smile, and I'll show you how to get the most out of this air fryer shortly.
What Gives Me The Ick About The Instant Pot Air Fryer
I've already expressed my dislike that Instant Pot used two lids on the Duo Crisp, but that's a personal opinion influenced by my kitchen-to-family-size ratio. If you have loads of space, then you'll be unmoved by this storage conundrum.
I'm also a fairly lazy beast, and I've rolled more than an eye or two at completely removing the lid to check or shake my food. You get a protective heat pad to set the lid on so it doesn't burn your countertop, but it all seems unnecessary when the Instant Pot engineers could have engineered some kind of hinge.
While the stainless steel inner pot on this behemoth multicooker is positively cavernous, the air fryer basket is a bit on the snug side. The non-stick coated basket has plenty of height but is too narrow for my liking. Any air fryer enthusiast worth their salt knows that perfectly air-fried food needs room to breathe.
I've never had any trouble using the Instant Pot air fryer as the control panel is intuitive and straightforward, but its push buttons and weird texture make it feel dated.
There's no excuse for not having touchscreens in this day and age. But that's me nit-picking, though, as it does not negatively affect Instant Pot Duo Crisp's performance.
Instant Pot Duo Crisp's Air Fryer Accessories
The engineers needed to make several modifications and add a couple of dishwasher safe accessories to transform the Standard Instant Pot into an air-frying marvel with the versatility of multiple appliances. Here's what they did.
Air Fryer Lid
The Duo Crisp air fryer lid is simultaneously brilliant and slightly annoying. Its swirling vortex-like design is aesthetically pleasing and ensures the fan and heating element create a superior air flow path for evenly cooked food.
I was initially surprised by the heft of the air fryer lid and caught out by how tall it makes the unit. I have to store my Instant Pot Duo Crisp with the pressure cooker lid attached because I'm a little unsettled by the close proximity of the top of the air fryer lid to my kitchen cupboards.
Air Fryer Basket
The air fryer basket that comes with this appliance is solid and well-made. I just wish they'd put as much thought into the design. Perfectly air-fried food needs to be cooked in a roomy basket so there's enough space for the super-heated air to make contact with every inch of your food.
While there's plenty of space inside the basket, its height-to-width ratio is all wrong, meaning you can't air fry massive batches of food. Or if you do, you'll have to shake it multiple times during the cooking process.
Air Fryer Basket Base
A traditional basket base that clips onto the bottom of the air fryer basket to improve the airflow and, ultimately, how well your food is cooked.
Stainless Steel Broil/Dehydrating Tray
If you want to grill some burgers or bacon, a handy broil tray slots into the air fryer basket to raise food toward the heating elements.
On more than one occasion, I used the broiling tray to transform the air fryer basket into a multi-level container to create better airflow or cook more than one type of food.
I don't know if Instant Pot intended the tray to be used this way, but it works and reduces my annoyance at the basket's limited capacity.
Protective Heat Pad & Storage Cover
The heat pad seems like a cheap piece of plastic, but I was surprised by its near-magical properties. After placing my blistering hot air fryer lid on top of it to check my fries, the pad almost instantly dispersed the heat away from my countertop. After replacing the air fryer lid, this safety device was immediately cool to the touch.
How To Insert The Duo Crisp Accessories
Instant Pot provides a few accessories to make your cooking experience more pleasurable and ensure your food is perfectly cooked. Here's how you use them.
Air Fryer Basket Base
To ensure the most optimal airflow, the air fryer basket base raises the basket to create space between it and the inner pot. This allows hot air to pass through and around the non-stick accessory, so your food cooks beautifully thanks to an even internal temperature.
Turn the basket upside down and line the base up to the bottom. Give it a firm push, and it'll click securely into place. Reverse the process to remove it when you're ready to clean the basket and base.
Dehydration Try & Broil Rack
The grill tray doubles as a broil rack and a tray for dehydrating apples, jerky, and whatever else you'd like to be dryer than the Sahara.
To install the tray, slide it into the upright air fryer basket on a ledge inside. The grill effectively doubles the cooking space, allowing you to make multiple food types.
Stainless Steel Rack
You'll use the stainless steel rack to cook significant cuts of meat that won't typically fit in the basket.
Remove the air fryer basket from the stainless steel inner pot and replace it with the rack. Your whole chicken, roast beef, or honey-glazed ham will cook beautifully with the rack, allowing the air to circulate under your food.
Alternately, you can flip the stainless steel rack upside down and slip it into the air fryer basket to separate different types of food or lift your food closer to the element if you're using the broil feature.
How To Use The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer
This step-by-step guide will make you as confident in operating the Duo Crisp as you are buttering a slice of bread. Partly because of my air fryer expertise but mostly because Instant Pot has made this appliance so easy to use that it's not going to take much explaining.
Before You Start - Wash The Air Fryer Lid, Inner Pot, Basket, & Tray
If this is your first time using your air fryer, soak all the accessories you intend to use in hot, soapy water and gently wipe them with a non-abrasive brush or sponge.
Don't forget to get a damp cloth and hot water to wipe around the heating element on the air fryer lid being careful not to get any of the electronics wet.
Brand-new units tend to have residual oil and chemicals on the components, and if you start air frying without cleaning them, your kitchen will end up smelling like Homer Simpson's lunch box.
Selecting Your Cooking Function a Control Panel Breakdown
The Duo Crisp's control panel makes using this Instant Pot air fryer a breeze. Here's how to use it:
Lid Check: Make sure the air fryer lid is securely on. The control panel detects the lid and unlocks air fryer functions. You can only operate the panel once the air fryer lid is in place.
Function Focus: Look for the "Air Fry" icon (a little fan); all the sections within this group need the Duo Crisp vortex lid to work. You'll find Roast, Bake, Grill, and Dehydrate. These use the air fryer function with slightly different settings that you can alter if they don't quite meet your needs.
Temperature Control: Once you've chosen your function, locate the temperature display. Use the '+' and '-' buttons (next to the LCD) to adjust it. Air fryers typically range from 175°F to 400°F, so you can set it low for delicate fries or high for crispy wings.
Time it Right: Next to the temperature is the time panel. Use the same process to set your cooking time. Times vary based on what you're making, so consult a recipe or the included cooking guide for recommendations. Bear in mind that air fryers tend to cook way faster than traditional cookers, so it's best to start with less time and work your way up. It's much easier than un-burning food.
Start Cooking: Once temperature and time are set, press "Start." The Duo Crisp will begin air-frying your food.
Shake it Up (Optional): Some recipes recommend shaking the basket halfway through for even browning. Use oven mitts, carefully pull out the basket, and give it a gentle shake before returning it.
Enjoy: The Duo Crisp will beep when your air-fried creation is done. If needed, you can use the cancel button to finish the cooking cycle early. Then, carefully remove the air fryer lid, place it on the heat mat, and remove the basket with oven mitts. Dig in!
Bonus Tip: Want to keep warm or dehydrate after air frying? The Duo Crisp's keep warm feature will ensure your food is still hot when you're ready to eat.
Preheating the Duo Crisp
Some recipes require a preheated air fryer. There's no special way or fancy function to do this; it's as easy as removing the baskets and setting the appliance to the air fryer for 2 to 3 minutes.
But if I'm being honest, I rarely, if ever, preheat my air fryer. These mighty monsters get up to temperature so quickly that the temperature differential is negligible. However, it's easy to do if you're a stickler for the rules.
What You Can Cook With Each Feature On The Duo Crisp Air Fryer
You can whip up an infinite number of meals, snacks, and desserts using the Duo Crisp air fryer lid. I'll walk you through the basics before you unleash your culinary creativity on your family.
Air Fry - Sausages
The Duo Crisp's air fryer function lets you achieve restaurant-worthy crispy textures without deep-frying. Take sausages, for example. Preheat your Duo Crisp using the "Air Fry" button and adjust the temperature to 400°F. While it preheats, toss your sausages in a light oil coating (about a tablespoon) to ensure even browning.
Once preheated, place the sausages in a single layer within the air fryer basket. Remember, don't overcrowd the basket for optimal air circulation and crispness. Set the timer for 15-20 minutes, depending on the thickness of your sausages. Shake the basket gently halfway through to ensure even cooking.
The Duo Crisp will beep when your golden brown sausages are cooked through. Let them cool slightly before devouring – perfect for dipping or enjoying themselves. This air fryer method offers a healthier and more delicious alternative to traditional pan-frying, so get creative and explore the endless possibilities for air-fried goodness!
Bake - Muffins
Because the air fryer lid turns the Instant Pot into a tabletop convection oven, you can use the Duo Crisp for all kinds of sweet treats and desserts. While you can't whip up huge batches of brownies or massive cakes, making a couple of muffins for an after-dinner treat is easy.
Here's what you'll need for some naughty but nice chocolate chip muffins:
- 75g Chocolate chips
- 60ml Vegetable oil
- 75g Natural yoghurt
- 1 Large egg
- 2 tablespoon Whole milk
- 100g Caster sugar
- 150g Self-raising flour
- ¼ teaspoon Baking powder
Heat your Duo Crisp at 160C for a couple of minutes while you combine your ingredients. Grab a large bowl and throw in the yogurt, oil, and milk. Whack the egg in there, too, and give it a whisk. Fold the flour, baking powder, and sugar and beat it like it stole your car.
Once all the ingredients are combined, stir in your 75g of chocolate chip cookies (put a little extra in if you're feeling rambunctious. You'll have enough mixture for 6-8 muffins. Scoop the muffiny goodness into your silicone bun cases and pop two to three in the air fryer basket.
With the air fryer lid back in place, select 'Bake,' set the temperature to 160C again, and set the timer with the + or - button to 12 minutes. Ignore the shake reminder at the halfway point and test your muffins after 12 minutes by sticking a skewer in the middle. If it comes out clean, your muffins are ready, or give them a couple more minutes if there's mix stuck to it. Easy as ... well ... muffins.
Roast - Whole Chicken
One look at the air fryer basket that comes with the Duo Crisp, and you'd think I was crazy to suggest you'd be able to air fry a whole chicken. Well, you'd be right! Unless you've got the world's smallest bird, there's no way!
However, following this simple recipe, you can make the perfect roast chicken with tender meat and crispy skin using the reversible rack, the pressure cooker lid and setting, and the 'Roast' function.
Technically, it's not an entirely air-fried chicken, but if you've got the tools at your disposal, you might as well use them, right?
Grill - Broiled Burgers
You can opt to air fry your shop-bought or homemade burgers if you wish, but if you're a bit of a burger traditionalist, using the broil (or grill if you're in the UK) feature can give you a bit more control of your doneness.
The broil function uses the heating element but does not utilize the fan's unbridled Death Star-like power, so you need to elevate your meat using the stainless steel broiling tray.
Slot your tray into the air fryer basket and place your burgers on top. Set the time and temperature to suit your burger thickness, and away you go.
When the shake reminder goes off halfway through your cooking cycle, flip your patties and replace the lid.
Dehydrate - Cinnamon Apple Slices
If you've been paying attention, you'll know that I have never used the dehydrate feature on this or any other appliance, but I'm nothing if not dedicated, so I donned my research hat to finally figure out what this function does and how to use it to make some cinnamon apple slices.
To use the Instant Pot Duo Crisp's dehydrating feature, start by selecting the "Dehydrate" function on the control panel.
Adjust the temperature and time settings to 150C. Slice your apples (Gala or Granny Smith work best), line them up on the dehydrating tray, and sprinkle them with cinnamon. Put the tray inside the air fryer basket and set that puppy going for about 7 hours or until they reach your preferred doneness.
While I'm committed to finding out how the dehydrate function works, I can't bring myself to wait 7 hours for a bowl of crunchy apple slices. If dehydrating is your thing, you'll be happy to have the features.
I can definitely live without it.
Cleaning Your Air Fryer Lid and Accessories
If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times: I HATE cleaning so much that a difficult-to-clean appliance is a deal breaker.
Fortunately for the Instant Pot Duo Crisp, this air fryer is a breeze to clean. All the removable components are dishwasher-safe, and even if you don't have a dishwasher, they're so easy to clean by hand that it doesn't warrant an explanation.
The air fryer lid is a little trickier to restore to its former glory, but it shouldn't pose too much of a challenge.
To effectively clean the heating element of the Instant Pot Duo Crisp air fryer lid, start by ensuring the appliance is unplugged and completely cooled down. Using a damp cloth or sponge, gently wipe away any fat residue, grease, or bit of lying cheese from the heating element. Don't use harsh chemicals, abrasive cleaners, or scrubbing tools that could damage the heating element.
For stubborn stains, a mixture of mild dish soap and hot water can be applied with a soft brush, followed by thorough rinsing and drying. Always take care not to let any liquid drip into the internal components of the lid. Regularly maintaining your Duo Crisp will help ensure the optimal performance and shelf life of your air fryer lid.
Do not, under any circumstances, submerge the air fryer lid in water. The power connector is at the back of the lid, and if you get it wet, you'll be left with a very expensive Instant Pot branded paperweight.
How The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Compares To A Traditional Air Fryer
I shared the pros and cons of the Instant Pot Duo Crisp in my definitive review of this legendary multi-cooker, but I thought it would be helpful to see how the Duo Crisp stacks up against a dedicated air fryer.
Air Frying Prowess
Given the same breathing space inside each basket, this Instant Pot air fryer offering is neither better nor worse at air frying than a traditional unit. Even Stevens.
Cooking Capacity
Unit size being equal, a regular air fryer will have a far superior cooking capacity to the Duo Crisp because it won't need to incorporate an inner cooking pot, leaving a cavernous space for air frying crunchy fries and juicy sausages.
Ease of Use
Typically, a standard air fryer will have far fewer options on its control panel because it's generally built for one purpose, making it more intuitive to use. However, Instant Pot has done a stellar job with this simplistic user interface, and even the most technophobic people can get the most out of this machine easily.
Price Point
Bog standard air fryers will always be more affordable than chunky multicookers. When you pay for an Instant Pot Duo Crisp, you're buying more than an air fryer; you're buying a multifunctional sous chef who can perform almost any culinary task you ask.
Frequently Asked Questions About The Instant Pot Duo Crisp Air Fryer
Here are a couple of questions I frequently get asked about my Duo Crisp, its air fryer settings, and what is and isn't possible with this ingenious small kitchen appliance.
No, but you can if you want to. Choose the Air Fry setting and your desired temperature, set it for a couple of minutes, and the pot will automatically preheat, ensuring your food cooks evenly from the start.
No. For best results, use the air fryer basket that comes with your Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid. The basket allows air to circulate around the food which ensures even cooking and a crispy texture.
Yes! The removable parts (like the air fryer basket and inner pot) are dishwasher safe. The air fryer lid usually just needs a wipe with a damp cloth to remove food particles.
Avoid cooking loose ingredients or dishes with toppings that can easily blow around in the air fryer (like grated cheese). These will likely end up on the heating element, causing smoke and unpleasant smells.
If you want a versatile appliance that pressure cooks, air fries, and more, the Duo Crisp is a great choice. Consider your cooking needs—if you only need an air fryer, there might be cheaper options. However, the Duo Crisp offers excellent value when you want a multi-functional kitchen tool.
If you're looking for a kitchen powerhouse that does it all, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a fantastic investment. Its versatility lets you create delicious and healthy meals with ease.
You can find the Instant Pot Duo Crisp on Amazon, the Instant Pot website, and other major retailers for around $149. Upgrade your cooking experience today!
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