Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years as a fast and convenient way to cook fried foods with less oil. The Instant Pot Duo Crisp is a multi-cooker that also has an air frying lid, allowing users to air fry, pressure cook, steam, sauté and more all in one appliance. But how does the Duo Crisp’s air frying capabilities compare to a dedicated air fryer? Here is an in-depth look at how the Instant Pot Duo Crisp performs as an air fryer and whether it can replace a standalone air fryer.
Air Frying Capabilities
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp comes with an air fryer lid that can be used in place of the pressure cooking lid to air fry foods. It has an 8 quart capacity and can air fry up to 2 pounds of food at a time. The Duo Crisp air fryer reaches up to 400°F and has two air fryer settings: air fry and dehydrate. There is also a preheat function to get the air fryer up to temperature before cooking.
Dedicated air fryers like the Philips XXL Airfryer, Ninja Foodi or Cosori Air Fryer range in capacity from around 3 quarts up to 8 quarts or more. They also reach maximum temperatures between 380°F to 400°F, similar to the Duo Crisp. Where they differ is that standalone air fryers will have more customizable settings and cooking functions beyond just air fry, such as roast, broil, bake, reheat and more. The presets and customizable programming allows you to more precisely cook different foods using an optimal temperature and time.
Cooking Performance
Tests show the Instant Pot Duo Crisp can produce very similar results to popular air fryer models. The Duo Crisp yields crispy edges and tender, juicy interiors when air frying foods like french fries, chicken wings, fish fillets and vegetables. Its air fryer basket design allows for maximum airflow and even cooking. One difference is that since the Duo Crisp doesn’t have an exposed heating element, the exteriors of some foods may cook slightly less crisp than a standalone open air fryer.
Here is a comparison of cooking common air fried foods in the Instant Pot Duo Crisp versus the Cosori Air Fryer:
| Food | Instant Pot Duo Crisp | Cosori Air Fryer |
|---|---|---|
| French fries | Crispy exterior, fluffy interior after 25 minutes at 370F | Slightly crisper exterior after 25 minutes at 370F |
| Chicken wings | Tender and juicy inside with crispy skin after 20 minutes at 380F | Crispier skin, similar tender and juicy interior after 18 minutes at 380F |
| Fish fillets | Light and crispy breading, moist fish after 15 minutes at 360F | Very similar results after 13 minutes at 360F |
| Broccoli florets | Tender-crisp broccoli, lightly browned after 10 minutes at 390F | Slightly more browned and crisp after 8 minutes at 390F |
While an exposed heating element may produce a slightly crispier exterior, the Duo Crisp still consistently achieves very similar results to a quality air fryer. The cooking times are nearly identical and the interiors come out tender and moist while exteriors are crispy.
Capacity
The 8 quart capacity of the Instant Pot Duo Crisp air fryer basket is large enough to cook food for 3-6 people depending on the food. Standalone air fryers often range from 3-5 quarts for small capacity models designed for 1-2 people up to 5-10+ quarts for family-sized models. The Duo Crisp falls right in the middle capacity-wise.
Here is how the Duo Crisp 8 quart air fryer basket compares to different capacities:
| Capacity | Food Amount |
|---|---|
| 3 quart | 1-2 chicken breasts, 1 lb fries, 9″ pizza |
| 5 quart | 2-3 chicken breasts, 1 1/2 lbs fries, 2 burgers |
| 8 quart (Duo Crisp) | 4 chicken breasts, 2 lbs fries, 3 burgers |
| 10 quart | 6 chicken breasts, 3 lbs fries, 4 burgers |
The Duo Crisp can hold a good amount of food for small families or couples, but those needing larger capacity may want a bigger standalone air fryer.
Functions
In addition to air frying, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp also functions as a pressure cooker, slow cooker, steamer, sauté pan, food warmer and more with its pressure cooking lid. This gives you a lot more versatility and ability to cook different dishes beyond just air fried foods. Standalone air fryers focus on different air frying cooking programs but don’t offer other cooking methods.
The Duo Crisp air fryer lid has two settings – Air Fry and Dehydrate, while most standalone air fryers have preset programs for fries, chicken, steak, shrimp, baking, roasting, reheating and more. The presets provide optimal cooking times and temperatures for different foods with the touch of a button. The Duo Crisp requires manually adjusting the time and temperature.
A benefit of the Duo Crisp is being able to sauté or pressure cook ingredients then finishing with crispy air frying all in one pot. For example, you can pressure cook chicken and sauté veggies then air fry it all into a crispy rice bowl. Standalone air fryers require using multiple appliances.
Price
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp retails for $199.99 while standalone air fryers range from $60 for basic 3 quart models up to $250+ for 8 quart smart air fryers with lots of features. Mid-range 5-6 quart air fryers like the Cosori or Chefman cost $100-150. Given all the cooking functions of the Duo Crisp, its price is very reasonable compared to competitors.
| Appliance | Price |
|---|---|
| Instant Pot Duo Crisp | $199.99 |
| Ninja Air Fryer AF101 | $129.99 |
| Philips XL Airfryer | $249.95 |
| Chefman 6 Qt Air Fryer | $99.99 |
| Cosori Air Fryer Max XL | $119.99 |
Considering most mid-size air fryers cost $100-150, the multifunctional Duo Crisp provides good value at just under $200.
Ease of Use
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp has a simple control panel with manual dials for temperature and time. There are no presets for different foods. To air fry, you simply turn to the air fry setting, set the temperature and time, and press start. The buttons are easy to operate.
Many standalone air fryers feature digital displays with presets and customizable programs. You simply press a button for fries, fish, chicken etc, adjust time if needed, and press start. The presets take the guesswork out of settings. However, a display panel and buttons can be more difficult to operate than manual dials for some users.
Both the Duo Crisp and standalone air fryers are easy to clean with dishwasher safe air fryer baskets and nonstick interiors. The Duo Crisp contains some more parts between the lids and accessories. But clean up is straightforward for both appliances.
Size
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp measures 14.5 x 14.5 x 14.8 inches. This is similar in footprint to average 6 quart air fryers. But it is several inches taller to accommodate the dual-lid design. It has a larger footprint than 3-4 quart air fryers but smaller than jumbo air fryers.
| Appliance | Dimensions (Inches) |
|---|---|
| Instant Pot Duo Crisp | 14.5 x 14.5 x 14.8 |
| Philips Airfryer XXL | 16.7 x 13.4 x 13.9 |
| GoWISE USA 3.7 Quart | 11 x 9 x 11.5 |
| Chefman 6 Quart | 13.7 x 11 x 12.2 |
The Duo Crisp is quite large due to its dual functionality. Those limited on counter space may prefer a smaller air fryer. But it offers similar or smaller footprint than many family-sized models.
Storage Size
In addition to counter space, storage size is an important consideration. The Duo Crisp is quite tall, especially with both lids. Make sure you have at least 15 inches of storage height.
Here are the storage dimensions of various models:
| Appliance | Storage Height (Inches) |
|---|---|
| Instant Pot Duo Crisp | 15.6 |
| Ninja Foodi | 15.3 |
| Cosori Air Fryer | 12.6 |
| GoWISE 3.7 Quart | 12.5 |
The Duo Crisp requires several more inches than the average air fryer. Measure your cabinet or storage space before purchasing.
Conclusion
The Instant Pot Duo Crisp performs nearly just as well as a quality standalone air fryer in terms of air frying capabilities. It can achieve crunchy exteriors and moist, tender interiors with minimal oil. Cooking times and results are comparable to popular air fryer brands.
The 8 quart capacity can feed small families but those needing larger capacity may want a bigger air fryer. The Duo Crisp also lacks preset functions found on standalone models but is still easy to operate. And its dual-appliance design allows pressure cooking, sautéing and more.
At just under $200, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp provides great value when you factor in its versatility and large capacity. However, space constraints, limited air fry settings and capacity for larger families are downsides to consider.
For many home cooks that want the option to pressure cook or slow cook along with air fry, the Duo Crisp eliminates the need for multiple appliances. But those wanting the maximum air frying functionality and capacity offered by brands like Philips or Cosori may prefer investing in a separate premium air fryer.
In summary, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp can absolutely replace a standalone air fryer for cooks that value its multifunctionality. But it may not match up to premium air frying-focused models for features and capacity.