The Instant Vortex — now on sale for 43 percent off — is our very favorite air fryer. It comes recommended by three experts, including Bruce Weinstein, co-author of multiple air-frying cookbooks, who says that while some models owe their overall capacity to height, the Vortex has a wide bottom surface area so you can spread out your food. This is the key, he says, to achieving crispy roasted vegetables and perfectly cooked cuts of meat.
The settings are intuitive to use, and it preheats in just a couple of minutes. It automatically pauses when you take the basket out to shake the contents around, too, a big selling point for cookbook author Julia Turshen, who says that’s much easier than tediously flipping food over on a sheet tray. Plus, “it fits way more than a skillet,” she says.
So whether you’re air-frying-curious or want to upgrade from the one you own, it doesn’t get much better than this top-of-the-line model — for less than $100.
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