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Instant Vortex Plus Clear Cook Review

An air fryer with a viewing window that offers somewhat average cooking results, besides crispy tots
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Instant Vortex Plus Clear Cook Review
Credit: Instant
Price:  $130 List
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Manufacturer:   Instant
By Lesley Robinson, Jessica Riconscente, and Hayley Thomas  ⋅  Apr 22, 2024
75
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#3 of 14
  • Cooking Performance - 35% 6.8
  • User Friendliness - 25% 8.2
  • Ease of Cleaning - 20% 7.5
  • Temperature Accuracy - 20% 7.7

Our Verdict

The Instant Vortex Plus Clear Cook produces super crispy tots in 12 minutes. The digital and dial controls are intuitive, and the temperature is mostly accurate. The plentiful cooking options make it versatile, but its cooking performance across the board isn't the very best. The unique viewing window allows you to keep an eye on your food, although it attracts grease, so you must be diligent about cleaning. If you are looking for a see-through air fryer that won't break the bank, the Vortex Plus could be the one for you. However, there are other options in our test suite that offer higher cooking quality in a similar price range. Take a look at our best air fryer review to see how this one ranks against the rest of the lineup.
REASONS TO BUY
Crispy tots
Viewing window
Intuitive controls
Lots of cooking options
Easy cleaning
REASONS TO AVOID
Middling performance overall
Dry chicken
Editor's Note: This Instant Vortex Plus Clear Cook review was updated on April 22, 2024 to include new testing info that includes exterior surface temperature testing.

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Price $130 List
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Bottom Line This air fryer produces crispy tots and comes with a window for viewing convenienceA high-performing and multi-functional device with an outstanding designIts versatility allows it to cook a wide variety of foods well and it's quite easy to useGood cooking performance for a reasonable priceA small air fryer with average cooking performance and basic options
Rating Categories Instant Vortex Plus... Instant Vortex Plus Ninja Air Fryer Ultrean Air Fryer Dash Tasti-Crisp
Cooking Performance (35%)
6.8
8.5
7.5
7.3
5.6
User Friendliness (25%)
8.2
8.0
7.6
6.2
5.6
Ease of Cleaning (20%)
7.5
9.0
7.0
7.5
7.0
Temperature Accuracy (20%)
7.7
7.7
8.3
9.0
8.8
Specs Instant Vortex Plus... Instant Vortex Plus Ninja Air Fryer Ultrean Air Fryer Dash Tasti-Crisp
Measured Dimensions 11.3"L x 13"W x 14.3"D 11.5"L x 13.3"W x 12.8"D 13.6"L x 11"W x 13.3"D 13.2"L x 11.3"W x 12.4"D 8.6"L x 11"W x 10.7"D
Capacity 6 qt 6 qt 4 qt 4.2 qt 2.6 qt
Accessories None None None None None
Power Consumption 1700 watt 1700 watt 1550 watt 1500 watt 1000 watt
Max Outside Temperature 200 146 160 154 164
Measured Cooking Area 85 sq in 87.8 sq in 53.5 sq in 59.2 sq in 49 sq in
Time to Preheat to 400F 2:49 2:31 4:25 2:37 3:13

Our Analysis and Test Results

The Instant Vortex Plus Clear Cook is 11.3 by 13 by 14.3 inches. It offers a six-quart basket, which is good for most meals, although it may be a little small for a big family or party setting. Unlike some of the other options in our test suites, it has a viewing window, which is great for checking in on its progress without having to open the door.

Performance Comparison


instant vortex plus clear cook - the clear cook has a unique window for viewing convenience.
The Clear Cook has a unique window for viewing convenience.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Cooking Performance


The Vortex Plus offers a middling performance across our cooking tests. Like many of the air fryers in our test suite, it fails to create crispy, fully-cooked sweet potato fries. Onion rings are cooked unevenly, leaving the batter closest to the onion a little soggy, while the outermost layer cooks too quickly.


Unlike sweet potato fries and onion rings, the Vortex Plus produces a fully cooked and crisp tater tot. With the exception of a few slightly overcooked tots, the batch is even.

instant vortex plus clear cook - the clear cook provides crispy, golden brown tots.
The Clear Cook provides crispy, golden brown tots.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente


The Vortex Plus does a great job of cooking donuts through to the center; however, the outside is left undesirably soft. Taste-wise, this is a nonissue, but the donuts had more of a doughy texture rather than cakey. The chicken is also not much to write home about. The Vortex Plus takes roughly 24 minutes to cook a chicken breast, and the result is quite dry.

instant vortex plus clear cook - unfortunately the chicken that the clear cook yields is consistently...
Unfortunately the chicken that the Clear Cook yields is consistently dry.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente


instant vortex plus clear cook
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

User Friendliness


The Clearcook rocks a digital interface with a dial for easy time and temperature adjustments. Although they occasionally require a second tap, the digital buttons are very responsive to a gentle touch. The display is nicely angled for ease of viewing, and the buttons and display are crisp and clear.

The Clear Cook window makes it easy to keep an eye on your food.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

The preheat and shake notifications are clear, and the window allows you to keep an eye on your food without having to remove the basket. That said, the cooking is automatically paused when the basket is removed, and an alarm sounds if you forget to close it again, which is super helpful. All the controls are intuitive and clearly marked, almost eliminating the need to refer to the manual.


The 9.5 by 9 inch basket requires a solid tug to remove, so it is best to brace the Vortex Plus Clear Cook with both hands. Emptying the contents of the drawer is easy, although if you flip it more than 90 degrees to remove stickier food items, the basket falls out. The viewing window is a huge plus, as it allows you to make minor adjustments while not having to open the basket.

Ease of Cleaning


Wiping out the basket is pretty straightforward, which makes clearing the drawer of crumbs a breeze. The Clear Cook has a metallic band where other air fryers tend to accumulate fingerprints. This metal band is super easy to wipe down, keeping your appliance looking fresh; however, wiping the outside down with a sponge often leaves the interface and window looking streaky. The window can become pretty mucky if you don't clean it every time, which some of our testers find irritating, but the extra attention to cleaning detail is worth it for the visibility you get from the window.


The pattern on the tray requires you to wash out each section with the sponge methodically, while others need a quick swipe. The sides of the basket also seem to retain a little more oil than other options in our test suite.

instant vortex plus clear cook - the clear cook tray has a lot of holes in it, so washing it...
The Clear Cook tray has a lot of holes in it, so washing it thoroughly in the sink is the best way to ensure there are not pesky food bits stuck in the grate.
Credit: Abriah Wofford

Temperature Accuracy


Overall the Clear Cook offers accurate temperatures, but it is not without its faults. During our first round of testing, we had some difficulty getting it up to the higher temperatures. That said, during our second round, it did much better. At 300, 375, and 400 degrees, the Clear Cook remains within a few degrees of the set temperature; however, when we set it to 350, it hovered closer to 340 degrees. The Clear Cook reached an outside temperature of 200 degrees.

Our outside temperature reading of the Instant Vortex Plus Clear Cook.
Credit: Matt Lighthart

instant vortex plus clear cook
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

Should You Buy the Instant Vortex Plus Clear Cook?


The Clear Cook is easy to clean, delivers accurate temps, and the viewing window is a dream — when it's clean. Unfortunately, it falls a little short in the cooking department. Other than tater tots, most of the food items we tried cooking came out a little uneven or dry. While the Clear Cook scores highly overall, its lack of ability to properly cook various foods deters us from recommending that you purchase this air fryer.

instant vortex plus clear cook - the clear cook yields crispy tots but there are more affordable...
The Clear Cook yields crispy tots but there are more affordable options that offer a more versatile cooking experience.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

What Other Air Fryers Should You Consider?


If you are looking for an air fryer that offers the perfect crunch that most people can only achieve through deep frying, the Instant Vortex Plus is the one for you. Not only does it perform well, but the low price is extremely hard to pass up. If you're looking for the least expensive air fryer to satisfy your occasional tater tot craving, take a look at the Ultrean Air Fryer. The Instant Vortex Plus XL also offers two drawers for parties or big families, but the extra space will cost you.

instant vortex plus clear cook - the clear cook's claim to fame is its viewing window and crispy tots.
The Clear Cook's claim to fame is its viewing window and crispy tots.
Credit: Jessica Riconscente

Lesley Robinson, Jessica Riconscente, and Hayley Thomas