When you’re first starting with a new kitchen appliance knowing the temperature and cooking time for different types of foods can be a challenge. Here is a list of the Instant vortex air fryer cooking times as recommended by the manufacturer.
Your Instant Vortex Air Fryer can cook many different types of foods, from snacks to main dishes, side dishes to appetizers, and even baked goods. To help you get started Instant has a few cooking time and temperature suggestions along with which smart program to use.
If you’re using a recipe created for a basket-based air fryer, you may also want to follow that as well or adjust slightly based on the recommendations from the company.
When you’re cooking in your air fryer make sure to use an oven-safe cookware if needed. And leave enough room for the air to circulate. Air circulation is a critical part of an air fryer to work well.
Cooking times for different types of foods using the 6 quart Instant Vortex Air Fryer
The following cooking times are based on Instant’s recommendations for its 6-quart air fryer models the Instant Vortex and Instant Vortex Plus. Times may vary based on the food you have in your air fryer, especially how thick it is. Always keep an eye on what you’re cooking and adjust accordingly. And make sure you cook all meats to a safe temperature to avoid any unwanted surprises.
Air frying is a fun way to cook food faster and with less oil. Healthy eating is on the 2020 must-do list. Just like when you try any new cooking method, sometimes it takes a few tries to get the routine down 100%.
Also check the recipe you’re using for recommendations for time and temperature. A basket-based air fryer will cook differently than an air fryer over or toaster oven based on the heating element location.
Let’s take a look at the cooking program, time, and temperature recommendations for fries, meats and fish, veggies, snacks, and baked goods.
French Fries (fresh or frozen)
French fries and other “fried” foods are one of the reasons to buy an air fryer so that you can make those amazing treats healthier. Instead of deep-frying fries, you can create a crispy side dish or snack using air.
The cooking times will depend on if you’re using fresh or frozen fries. It also matters if they’re thin-cut or thick-cut. If you’re in a hurry you might be able to shave a few minutes off the cooking time by using 400F instead of 385F.
When cooking fries, you can use either the Air Fry or Roast settings. Make sure you shake the basket partway to ensure even cooking.
| Food | Program | Cooking Time* | Temperature* | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Thin-cut fries (frozen) | Air Fry/Roast | 14-18 minutes | 385 F | Shake partway |
| Thick-cut fries (frozen) | Air Fry/Roast | 16-20 minutes | 385 F | Shake partway |
| Thin-cut fries (fresh) | Air Fry/Roast | 18-20 minutes | 385 F | Shake partway |
| Thick-cut fries (fresh) | Air Fry/Roast | 20-25 minutes | 385 F | Shake partway |
Chicken Wings
There are a few favorites when it comes to air fryers and chicken wings is on that list. And there’s more than few ways to cook up a nice batch of wings for your next snack or even a meal.
The cooking times will depend on if you’re using fresh or frozen wings. And you may also notice differences in both cooking time and crispiness if you stack your wings versus keeping them in a single layer.
When cooking wings, you can use either the Air Fry or Roast settings. Make sure you turn the wings or shake the basket partway through the time to ensure even cooking. Keep an eye on them as some wings are thicker than others. You’ll want to make sure they’re thoroughly cooked to avoid nasty surprises.
| Food | Program | Cooking Time* | Temperature* | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Wings (Frozen) | Air Fry/Roast | 20-30 minutes | 400F | Turn or shake partway |
| Chicken Wings (Fresh) | Air Fry/Roast | 18-25 minutes | 400F | Turn or shake partway |
Meat and Fish
Air fryers isn’t just for snacks. You can also cook up your meat or fish main dish. In addition to chicken you can cook beef and different types of fish.
And while some of these dishes can use the roast or air fry programs, a few work better using the Broil program in the Instant Vortex Plus. If you’re in the process of researching your first air fryer purchase you may want to think about the types of foods you’ll cook before buying a specific model.
The cooking times will depend on the thickness of your food, so keep an eye on it to ensure it doesn’t overcook or undercook. Always cook meat and fish long enough to reach a safe temperature.
| Food | Program | Cooking Time* | Temperature* | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicken Nuggets (frozen) | Broil/Air Fry | 10-15 minutes | 400F | Turn partway |
| Half chicken (up to 2 lbs) | Roast | 30-40 minutes | 380F | Baste partway through (optional) |
| Chicken (quarter) | Air Fry | 18 minutes | 400F | Turn partway |
| Beef steak | Air Fry | 12 minutes | 400F | Turn partway |
| Salmon | Roast | 13 minutes | 380F | |
| Shrimp (Fresh) | Air Fry | 8-10 minutes | 350F | Turn partway |
| Fish Sticks (Frozen) | Broil | 8-12 minutes | 400F | Turn partway |
| White Fish Fillet | Broil | 3-4 minutes | 400F |
Veggies
Here a few veggies to get you started with cooking in your air fryer. This isn’t the end of the list. You’ll also notice that you can either bake or air fry with different types of temperatures. You should turn your veggies partway through the cooking time to ensure even heating.
| Food | Program | Cooking Time* | Temperature* | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asparagus | Broil/Bake | 7-9 minutes | 380F | Turn partway |
| Asparagus | Air Fry | 3 minutes | 400F | Turn partway |
| Cauliflower | Broil/Bake | 6-10 minutes | 380F | Turn partway |
| Cauliflower | Air Fry | 2-5 minutes | 350F | Turn partway |
| Corn, on the cob | Roast | 10 minutes | 400F | Turn partway |
Other Snacks and Appetizers
Part of the fun with an air fryer is quick access to snacks including nachos or creating your own fruit leather if you have an Instant Vortex Plus with the dehydrate program.
You can try cooking your nachos wither using the broil or air fry programs. Keep an eye on the cheese to ensure it doesn’t fly up into the heating element and melts without burning.
If you’re thinking about cooking pizza in your air fryer find a pizza that will fit within the basket.
| Food | Program | Cooking Time* | Temperature* | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Nachos | Broil | 3-5 minutes | 400F | Check cheese halfway |
| Nachos | Air Fry | 2 minutes | 400F | |
| Falafel | Air Fry | 20 minutes | 380F | Turn partway |
| Spanakopita | Bake | 15 minutes | 330F | Turn partway |
| Pizza (Frozen) | Air Fry | 3-4 minutes | 400F | Set it and forget it |
| Fruit Leather | Dehydrate | 6 to 7 hours | 150F | Thinly slice or puree fruit. Use an oven-safe pan |
Baked Goods
And to wrap up a few cooking times for your 6 quart Instant Vortex, you can also bake a few different types of things. It’s always nice to either have a dessert after a meal or start your day with a muffin.
When baking in an air fryer make sure you use an oven-safe dish and leave it uncovered unless otherwise instructed by a recipe. You’ll also need to find a dish that fits in the basket of your air fryer with enough room left for air to circulate.
With the circulated air, your recipe will typically cook faster than it would in a conventional oven. And if you’re using a recipe designed for an air fryer, you may want to gauge your cooking times and temperatures based on that.
| Food | Program | Cooking Time* | Temperature* | Instructions |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cake | Bake | 25-35 minutes | 365F | Use an oven-safe baking dish and leave uncovered |
| Cupcake | Bake | 10-12 minutes | 365F | Use an oven-safe baking dish and leave uncovered |
| Muffin | Bake | 15 minutes | 350F | Use an oven-safe baking dish and leave uncovered |
What other questions do you have about Instant Vortex Air Fryer cooking times?
Cooking times and temperatures are recommendations only from the company for various popular food to cook in an air fryer. Make sure you use oven-safe cookware if you’re cooking something that needs a pan or dish.
Depending on the thickness of the food you’re making the cooking times could vary. And also double-check any recipes for additional suggestions.
You cook a lot of different things in your Instant Vortex. Don’t take the Instant Vortex Air Fryer cooking times list above as a limit to your options. Use it as a starting point.
What other foods are you thinking of cooking?
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FAQs
How do you know cooking times in air fryer? ›
As a general rule of thumb, reduce the cooking temp by 25-50 degrees and the cook time by 25-30%. For instance, I would normally cook chicken wings at 425 degrees F for 35-40 minutes in the oven. In the air fryer, I would cook them at 400 degrees F for 20-25 minutes.
How do I set the time on my instant Vortex Plus air fryer? ›Select Air Fry or Roast. Touch Start. Touch Rotate. Use the Temp and Time [+ / −] controls to adjust cooking temperature and time as desired.
What is the difference between a classic air fryer and a vortex air fryer? ›This air fryer uses Vortex Rapid Air Technology to circulate the air inside the air fryer more quickly than traditional models (this circulating air is what makes the food crisp). This model has 10 different presets and can do much more than air fry; it can also air roast, air bake, broil, dehydrate and reheat.
How much do I reduce cooking time for air fryer? ›When taking a recipe from oven to air fryer, the general rule is to reduce the temperature by 20ºC – 30ºC, and cook for 20% less time. For example, if you were making these delicious Chilli Cheesy Nachos, you'd need to bake the potato wedges in the oven at 200ºC for 25 minutes.
How long does it take to cook frozen fries in an air fryer? ›Place: Place your frozen fries in the air fryer basket. Season: Spray with olive oil lightly and sprinkle with desired salt. Bake: Air fry at 400 degrees for 10 minutes. Give the basket a good shake and cook for 5-8 minutes more or till done as you like them.
How long does it take to cook a full chicken in air fryer? ›Place the chicken breast-side down into the air fryer basket. Turn the air fryer on to 350°F. Cook for 30 minutes, flip the chicken over and cook for 20-30 minutes or until an instant read thermometer reaches 165°F. Remove from the air fryer and rest 10 minutes before cutting.
What are the cooking modes on instant vortex plus? ›- Material: Plastic.
- Colour: Black.
- Capacity: 5.7 litres.
- Modes: Air fry, roast, bake, reheat, grill, dehydrate.
- Weight: 5.15kg.
- Power: 1700W.
- Size: 33 x 30 x 37.9cm (h x w x d)
However, it's pretty tempting to throw a little foil in there to catch any drips and make clean-up even easier, but is that allowed? The short answer is yes, you can put aluminum foil in the air fryer.
Do you have to preheat the instant vortex air fryer? ›Overall it Doesn't Make Much Difference: For most things cooked in the air fryer, it doesn't make too much difference if you preheat and cook for a little less time or if you don't preheat and cook a little longer. For simplicity, we find Not Preheating is easier and cooks about the same on most recipes.
Is Vortex air fryer worth it? ›When it comes to style and performance, the Instant Vortex Plus Dual Drawer is simply one of the best air fryers you can buy right now. Cook times are speedy, and the results are as good, if not better, than using a conventional oven whether you're cooking homemade chips or a full English breakfast.
Do you use any oil in a vortex air fryer? ›
Yes, and you should be using oil in some capacity for almost 75% of what you cook. It can sound deceiving knowing an air fryer is so you don't have to deep fry foods then finding out you need oil to cook in it. This post may contain affiliate links.
What is the 25 rule for air fryer? ›To convert baking time to an air fryer, reduce the temperature by 25 degrees F and reduce the cooking time by 20%. These are general rules, so you'll want to keep an eye on your food (at least the first time you try out a new recipe) to make sure that it's cooking correctly.
What can you not air fry? ›- Battered foods. Avoid placing wet batter in the air fryer. ...
- Fresh greens. Leafy greens like spinach will cook unevenly because the machine uses high-speed air. ...
- Whole roasts. ...
- Cheese. ...
- Raw grains. ...
- Hamburgers. ...
- Toast. ...
- Popcorn.
Just as you would if you were cooking on a grill or in a skillet, you need to turn foods over so that they brown evenly. Open the air fryer as often as you like to check for doneness.
Why are my frozen french fries soggy in the air fryer? ›Your air fryer French fries could come out mushy or soggy if you don't air fry them at the right temperature. Follow my directions and you should be fine! Another thing to look out for is an overcrowded basket. If the hot air is unable to pass between the potatoes, they won't get crispy.
Why are air fryer fries not crispy? ›Why is my food not crispy in the air fryer? If the air is not hot enough, or if you overcrowd the basket, your food will not come out crispy. Preheat the air fryer for at least 3 minutes, and work in batches if you need to.
Is Pam safe for air fryer? ›Can you use PAM in the air fryer? You should not use nonstick cooking spray such as PAM in an air fryer because it can damage the lining of the air fryer basket. Avoid any pressurized, propellant oil sprays which have chemicals added to them. You can use a non-aerosol pump-style oil spray that has no propellant.
Is it faster to air fry or bake chicken? ›It's fast: Compared to an oven, chicken cooks quite efficiently in the air fryer. Typically, you'll shave off about 30 percent to 40 percent of the cooking time by using an air fryer. Again, this is thanks to its compact size, which allows hot air to circulate more rapidly.
How often do you flip chicken in air fryer? ›The Best Air Fryers
This all may sound self-explanatory, but it's an important fact to remember: Even if your air fryer has top-notch air circulation from its fan, you need to give most larger pieces of food (such as pork chops, burgers, and chicken cutlets) a turn about halfway through cooking.
- 400 ÷ 450 = 0.89 or 89%. From here, you can adjust the expected time. Following the example above, if your food takes 50 minutes to cook at 400˚F:
- 50 minutes x 0.89 = 44.5 minutes.
Do air fryers cook more than one thing at a time? ›
Multiple dishes at once
With an air fryer, you can prepare multiple ingredients at the same time. The separator that some of them come with the appliance will enable you to divide the ingredients in the basket or pan and cook both foods at the same time.
Look for single or dual -/+ buttons to adjust time and temperature. On popular models like this Cosori Premium Air Fryer, there is a button to shift from time or temperature to adjust both. On models without an LCD screen, the -/+ buttons are replaced by knobs or dials.
How fast does meat cook at 450? ›For thicker cuts of meat, in your 450° oven, you should expect about 10 minutes after searing on the stovetop. For thinner cuts of meat, under the broiler, it's about 6 minutes per side.
How fast does meat cook at 400? ›130-135 °F internal temperature.
At 400°, cook for 3:30 minutes per side. A medium-rare steak is the recommended doneness to taste the meat's natural flavor. It's usually how meat connoisseurs and chefs like to eat it.
What is this? So for example, if a recipe calls for a cooking temperature of 400°F in the oven, set your air fryer for 375°F. If the cooking time is 30 minutes in the oven, expect to cook your food about 24 minutes in the air fryer but start checking at 15 minutes (the halfway point).
Can you air fry egg? ›Preheat a 3.5-quart air fryer to 270 degrees F. Add the eggs to the fryer basket and cook 15 minutes for hard-boiled eggs. Remove the eggs and plunge them into an ice bath. Peel when cool enough to handle.
What cooks best in air fryer? ›- Roast chicken. ...
- Tofu. ...
- Whole roasted garlic. ...
- Burgers and patties. ...
- French fries. ...
- Single-serve desserts. ...
- Reheated leftovers. ...
- Frozen chicken goujons.
The short answer is yes, you can put aluminum foil in the air fryer.