My totally honest Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid review. Find out how you can turn your existing Instant Pot into an air fryer, and see if an air fryer lid would work for you.
When I started using our Instant Pot a few years ago, it completely changed how I did meal prep.
Instead of having to plan ahead all the time, I used my Instant Pot as a tool to help me throw together last-minute meals that I’d normally spend hours thawing and preparing.
So, when I heard that the Instant Pot company made a special lid that could convert our pressure cooker into an air fryer, I knew I had to try it out.
Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid Review
When we first got our air fryer lid for the Instant Pot, I was surprised by how big it was.
I had hoped that I might be able to save some space in our cabinets by using an air fryer lid on our Instant Pot instead of a separate air fryer.
Sadly, that really wasn’t the case.
The air fryer lid isn’t as tall as our conventional air fryer, but it takes up just as much “floor space” sitting in our cupboards.
Can I Turn My Instant Pot Into an Air Fryer?
If you have an Instant Pot Air Fryer lid, yes!
The Instant Pot Air Fryer lid really does allow you to air fry food in your Instant Pot.
After testing it out, I couldn’t tell a big difference between the results from our regular air fryer and our Instant Pot air fryer lid.
The air fryer lid only fits certain Instant Pot models, so make sure your Instant Pot is compatible with the lid before purchasing.
Related: Instant Pot Air Fryer Gadgets to Make Your Meal Prep Easy
How Does the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid Work?
To use the air fryer lid on your Instant Pot, you plug the air fryer lid in to an electrical outlet.
You do NOT plug in your actual Instant Pot.
This surprised me at first, and I felt like I was doing something wrong, but after I used the air fryer lid for the first time it made more sense.
To cook something, you need to use the provided basket inside your Instant Pot to hold the food that you want to air fry.
Then, you plug in the air fryer lid, and place it on top of the Instant Pot.
From there, you can set the temperature, timer, and more.
The directions booklet provided with the air fryer lid tell you exactly what you need to do.
Should I Buy an Instant Pot or an Air Fryer?
I get a lot of questions about the merits of an air fryer versus an Instant Pot.
If you don’t have an Instant Pot or an air fryer and you’re on the fence, I’d buy an Instant Pot and then also purchase an Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid.
There are so many things you can make with an Instant Pot – I’d definitely purchase that first.
If you still want to be able to air fry foods at home, adding an Instant Pot Air Fryer lid would be a wise choice.
Related: Is an Air Fryer Right For You?
Should I Replace My Air Fryer with an Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid?
Although the air fryer lid works well, I wouldn’t get rid of an air fryer you already have and replace it with an air fryer lid. It would be a waste of money.
The Instant Pot air fryer lid takes up a lot of space, and I didn’t see a big difference in the results for the air fryer lid vs a regular air fryer.
Where Can I Buy an Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid?
The air fryer lids for Instant Pots have been in high demand since they were released in late 2019.
Here are some places you can look to see if they’re in stock:
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