Using the air fryer rack in an Instant Pot is a common question for those who own both appliances. The short answer is yes, you can use an air fryer rack or basket in an Instant Pot, but there are some important considerations to keep in mind.
Benefits of Using an Air Fryer Rack in Instant Pot
There are a few potential benefits to using an air fryer rack or basket in an Instant Pot:
- Makes crisping and browning foods easier – The elevated, open rack design allows for better air circulation than cooking foods directly in the pot.
- Larger cooking capacity – An air fryer rack adds more usable space over stacking foods directly in the pot.
- Prevents greasy spatter – Foods cooked on a rack won’t sit and fry in rendered grease.
- Enables flipping and removing foods easily – A rack makes removing and flipping breaded foods simpler.
- Elevates foods out of liquids – If cooking foods in sauce, a rack prevents sogginess.
For these reasons, using an air fryer rack in the Instant Pot can result in food with a crispier, crunchier, browned exterior.
Considerations When Using an Air Fryer Rack in Instant Pot
However, there are some important considerations to keep in mind when using an air fryer rack in an Instant Pot:
- The rack must fit properly – Be sure to use a rack designed to fit your specific Instant Pot model. Improperly sized racks are a safety hazard.
- Pot needs extra headspace – Accommodate for the height of the rack when max filling your pot.
- Adjust cooking time – The rack stops condensation from creating a steaming effect, so foods may cook faster.
- Use cooking spray or oil – Lightly coat racks before adding food to prevent sticking.
- Secure foods on rack – Breaded foods especially should be in a single layer and anchored to prevent shifting.
- Rotate rack 180 degrees – Flip the rack over halfway during cooking for even browning.
- Allow pressure to release before removing rack – Do not try to remove the rack until pressure has fully released.
Following air fryer basket cooking guidelines in your Instant Pot will produce the best results. While convenient, the Instant Pot is not a true replacement for an actual air fryer appliance.
Steps for Using an Air Fryer Rack in Instant Pot
If you want to try using an air fryer rack or basket in your Instant Pot, follow these steps:
- Select a rack designed for your pot’s dimensions.
- Lightly grease the rack with cooking spray or oil.
- Place food on the rack in a single layer, leaving space around pieces.
- Insert rack in pot gently, avoiding scratching the nonstick surface.
- Secure lid, ensuring it is properly sealed.
- Select a pressure cooking program and adjust time if needed.
- Allow pressure to release naturally before removing lid.
- Remove rack and check food for doneness.
- Repeat steps as needed for additional batches.
As with any Instant Pot cooking, keep safety top of mind. Only fill the inner pot up to the maximum fill lines and ensure the lid seals properly before starting pressure cooking.
Tips for Getting Crispy Foods
For getting the crispiest possible results when using an air fryer rack in your Instant Pot, keep these tips in mind:
- Use a thin breading – Thick batters and breaded coatings will steam and lose crispiness.
- Let breaded foods rest before air frying – Letting cutlets, breasts, or fillets sit 5-10 minutes allows coating to adhere.
- Preheat rack before adding food – Insert empty greased rack and preheat on sauté for faster crisping.
- Cook in batches – Overcrowded racks cause steaming, so cook foods in smaller batches.
- Brush racks with oil – Coating the rack periodically helps promote browning.
- Flip and rotate rack mid-cycle – This exposes all sides to the heating element.
- Broil after pressure cooking – Quick broiling after pressure cooking sets the crust.
Getting a perfect crisp in the Instant Pot takes some trial and error. Varying the preheat, release method, cook times, and rack rotations can all impact results.
Best Foods to Make in an Air Fryer Rack
Here are some of the top foods to try making in an air fryer rack in your Instant Pot:
- Fried chicken
- Chicken wings and drumettes
- Chicken nuggets
- Breaded pork chops
- Breaded fish fillets
- French fries
- Mozzarella sticks
- Onion rings
- Egg rolls
- Falafel
- Potstickers
The key is selecting foods that benefit from a crispy exterior. Thinly breaded foods, fried vegetables, and snacks tend to work best. The rack keeps these foods elevated out of moisture for improved texture.
Tips for Perfectly Fried Chicken
One of the most popular uses of an air fryer rack in the Instant Pot is making fried chicken. Here are some tips for getting perfectly crispy fried chicken every time:
- Pat chicken dry before breading – Any excess moisture will make the coating soggy.
- Use buttermilk or eggs in the breading – Dairy ingredients help adherence for a thicker crust.
- Press coating on firmly – Packing the breading on creates a protective shell.
- Let chicken rest 5-10 minutes before cooking – This helps the coating stick better.
- Preheat pot and rack 3-5 minutes – Quickly browns the coating.
- Spray pieces with oil before adding to rack – Promotes even browning.
- Leave space between pieces – Tightly packed chicken will steam.
- Quick release pressure – NPR will overcook the crust.
- Brush racks with oil mid-cycle – Adds extra crispness.
- Broil after pressure cooking 2-5 minutes – Finishes the crust nicely.
Following these steps will help you achieve tender, juicy chicken interiors with an ultra crispy, crunchy exterior crust when using the air fryer rack.
Common Problems and Solutions
When using an air fryer rack in the Instant Pot, you may encounter some common issues. Here are some troubleshooting tips:
| Problem | Solution |
|---|---|
| Breading falls off food | Let food rest before cooking, press coating on firmly, use a binder like egg/buttermilk in coating |
| Foods sticks to rack | Grease rack well before adding food, don’t overfill rack |
| Foods not crispy | Use thinner breading, don’t overfill rack, quick release pressure, preheat empty rack first |
| Foods burns or scorches | Don’t preheat rack too long, reduce cooking time |
| Pressure release stuck | Ensure rack handles are not blocking valve, use QR instead of NPR |
With a little trial and error, you’ll get the hang of cooking on an air fryer rack for crispy, perfectly browned results every time.
Frequently Asked Questions
Here are answers to some common questions about using air fryer racks in the Instant Pot:
What size air fryer basket fits in an Instant Pot?
The most common basket sizes are 5qt round baskets for 3qt Instant Pots, and 5qt x 7qt oval racks for 6qt models. Always check exact dimensions before purchasing.
Do you need the air fryer lid to use a rack?
No, the regular pressure cooking lid is needed. The rack elevates foods closer to the heating element for air frying effects.
Should the Instant Pot be preheated before adding food to the rack?
Yes, preheating 3-5 minutes on Sauté helps start the browning process sooner for crispier results.
What temperature should be used with an air fryer rack?
Most recipes use the highest Sauté temperature around 300°F to preheat the pot and racks for optimal crisping.
Can all pressure cooking modes be used with an air fryer rack?
Yes, but manual or pressure cook modes work best. Avoid slow cook, sauté, yogurt, and sous vide modes with racks inserted.
Is quick release or natural pressure release better for air fried foods?
Quick release is recommended to prevent overcooking the exterior. But allow pressure to fully release before attempting to remove the rack.
Conclusion
Using an air fryer rack or basket in the Instant Pot is a great way to get crispy, golden results similar to deep frying. With a properly fitting rack, the right cooking guidelines, and creative use of Instant Pot programs, you can make anything from juicy fried chicken to crispy french fries. Just keep in mind key tips like properly preheating, not overfilling racks, quick releasing pressure, and avoiding common pitfalls. With the right techniques, an air fryer rack unlocks a whole new realm of recipes for your Instant Pot pressure cooker.