For those who want to try air frying their favorite foods but have run out of room to store yet another kitchen appliance, Instant Pot's Air Fryer Lid is the perfect solution.
I’ve been wanting an air fryer for a few years. What held me back was a serious lack of storage in my kitchen. Between the food processer, stand mixer, dehydrator, bread machine, crockpot,
Instant Pot and toaster oven, my countertops and pantry are far too overcrowded. So, when I discovered that I can convert my Instant Pot into an air fryer with just a new lid attachment, I thought that’s
absolutely brilliant. I got a whole new way of cooking without taking up a lot of pantry space. The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid comes with a stainless-steel basket that fits inside the Instant Pot’s inner pot, a base for the basket, a tray that fits inside of
the basket that is used for broiling and dehydrating, and a protective pad/storage cover. The lid fits most six-quart Instant Pot models. The first thing I noticed when I took the Air Fryer Lid out of the box was the power cord. It has a shield around it that prevents you from plugging in the Air Fryer Lid and Instant Pot at the same time; you don’t
use both power cords at once. So, when you’re using the Air Fryer Lid, the Instant Pot base is just a vessel and not an appliance; the lid does all the work. The Air Fryer Lid saves so much time compared to cooking in the oven. I use it a lot for roasting vegetables like broccoli, green beans and Brussels sprouts. I prefer them crispy and crunchy. In the oven, that can take close to an hour. In the air
fryer, it takes less than 15 minutes. If you have trouble getting your kids to eat veggies, try cooking them in the air fryer. The vegetable’s crispiness is more like a French fry, so they may find the crunch more appealing. To prep, toss the veggies (I used fresh, but frozen works, too) with EVOO, salt, pepper and a little garlic powder and cook for 12 to 15 minutes at 400 degrees F. Unlike the standard lid on the Instant
Pot, the Air Fryer Lid is not a super tight seal. The first time I used it I expected a perfectly tight seal that is necessary with regular Instant Pot pressure cooking, but not so with the air fryer. It's just a light click to get it in place, and when you do, it plays a little jingle and the controls light up. The controls on the Air Fryer Lid are super simple to use, so if you’ve got teens and tweens using this to heat up tater tots or other snacks, they should have no problem operating it.
However, because the Air Fryer basket and the underside of the lid do become very hot, I’d keep the Air Fryer Lid out of reach from younger kids. The protective pad that comes with the unit should be placed nearby when using the air fryer, so when you lift off the lid, you’ll be prepared to set it down. Easy to use. It's super simple to operate, and the interface is straightforward. It doesn’t fry a lot at once.It’s not a huge surface area if you’re frying something that can’t be layered. I've tried handmaking breaded items like fried pickles and Buffalo cauliflower, and those had to be done in small batches. There's an insert tray that's
used for dehydrating and broiling, but I wish it were a second layer for air frying. I wish more
appliances could morph into other appliances and expand their capabilities; my kitchen needs more transformers.What's Included + How It Works
Why It's Worth the Money: Veggie Fries
Safety Precautions
In a Nutshell: The Pros
It saves
space. If you’re like me and have several small appliances but not a huge kitchen, the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid makes sense. My Instant Pot sits on my countertop, so I leave the Air Fryer Lid on it and keep the Instant Pot’s standard lid in my pantry where it hardly takes up any space. The air fryer’s basket and tray fit inside the Instant Pot and the protective pad fits underneath it, so no extra storage space is needed for those pieces.
It’s easy to clean. In my experience,
food didn't stick to the basket, so it's easy to wash. Crumbs will often fall down into the inner pot, but that’s also easy to empty and wash out.The Cons:
It gets hot. The outside of the Instant Pot does not get hot, but the inside of the unit does, so you'll want to keep out of reach of children. But if you're used to cooking with the Instant Pot, you're familiar with how to deal with the hot steam, and, like with any other cooking gadgets, will want to practice safety precautions.
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The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid is an indispensable accessory for any 6-quart Instapot. It’s such a great alternative if you’re thinking of joining the air frying community.
Chances are you already have an Instant Pot at home, and you’re looking at a few options from the company. Luckily, Instant Brands has three product lines in this category.
If you have already bought a multi-cooker, this Air Fryer accessory is compatible with a wide range of 6-qt models—Instant Pot Duo 60, Instant Pot Duo Nova 60, Instant Pot Duo Plus 60, Instant Pot Duo Gourmet 60, Instant Pot Viva 60, Instant Pot Ultra 60, Instant Pot IP Lux 60, and Instant Pot Nova Plus 60.
Your first order of business is to check if your pressure cooker is on that list.
Here’s a list of non-compatible Instapots: Instant Pot Smart WiFi 60, Instant Pot Duo Evo Plus 60, Instant Pot Duo SV 60, Instant Pot Max, Instant Pot Pro 60 and Instant Pot Pro Plus.
If your multi-cooker belongs to those I just mentioned, your other option would be to get the brand’s standalone air fryer, like the Instant Vortex Plus 6 in 1 Air Fryer. We’re going to publish a guide about it in a couple of weeks.
Or, if this is your first time buying an Instant Pot, two models already come with the air fryer lid—Instant Pot Duo Crisp and Instant Pot Pro Crisp.
The latter is a more recent model with an 8-quart pot suitable for roasting whole chickens.
Now, let’s move on to the pros and cons of the Instant Pot Air Fryer Accessory…
PROS
- Turn your already awesome Instapot into something more
- Affordable attachment
- 6-in-1 piece of equipment
- 6 one-touch and customizable programs
- Adjustable settings (Celsius or Fahrenheit, sound)
- Includes air fry basket, air fry base, dehydrating tray, Protective Pad and Storage Cover
- Non-stick ceramic-coated basket
- Multi-level air fry basket to make room for more food
- EvenCrisp Technology
- PFOA, PTFE, and BPA free
- Dishwasher safe basket and tray
- 1-year warranty
CONS
- A tad heavy and bulky
- Only compatible with selected 6-quart models
- Not the most comfortable type of air fryer
- Even with multi-level basket, you can only place limited food
- Some reviews reported that the coating chipped after some use
What can you cook with the Instant Pot Air Fryer Attachment?
The Air Fryer Attachment augments your Instapot Multi-Cooker with six more functions.
Air Fry
With air frying, you can crisp up fries, chicken, etc., using little to no oil. In other words, your recipes will undoubtedly be cheaper, and best of all, healthier!
What can you cook: Fries, crispy chicken, fish and chips, chicken wings
Roasting your side dish or perhaps a significant portion of protein is also possible with the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid. A medium-sized chicken can fit a 6-quart pressure cooker. If you want more room for your chicken, 8-quart Instapots are the way to go.
Roast
Broil
And if you want to add that golden brown finish to any dish, that’s what this function is for. It works the same way as your standard oven but in smaller quantities.
For small pastries, this function will be an excellent substitute for the oven. It consumes less energy, and it preheats quickly, so less waiting and more baking!
Bake
Dehydrate
For light dehydrating recipes, the Air Fryer Attachment For Instant Pot will undoubtedly do the trick.
When reheating fried leftovers, using this attachment proves to be better than a microwave. With a Microwave, you get soggy results. In contrast, the Air Fryer Lid for Instant Pot produces crispy results as if it’s freshly cooked.
Reheat
See Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid in Action
Don’t take my word for it, here’s a short video demonstration from Six Sister’s Stuff.
The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid is a fantastic accessory for your 6-quart (5.7 L) pressure cooker. This attachment will unlock six more cooking functions—Air Fry, Broil, Bake, Roast, Dehydrate, and Reheat. It’s a cheaper and space-saving alternative to buying an actual air fryer.
Is Instapot Air Fryer Lid easy to use?
Sadly, there’s a caveat or two:
First, the lid lifts uncomfortably due to its weight. Thus, if you have mobility issues, you should check the Ninja Air Fryers instead for a more straightforward machine.
Secondly, it’s not ideal for hefty portions. If that’s your goal, I highly recommend either the Instant Pot Pro Crisp or the Ninja 2-Basket Air Fryer (for the most substantial capacity).
Thirdly, this accessory has its own power source. It comes with an oddly-shaped plug.
On the bright side, if none of those issues bother you, then the Air Fryer Attachment for Instant Pot will suit you flawlessly. For one, it takes less footprint in the kitchen than having two separate appliances. And more importantly, it’s more budget-friendly. That’s a win-win right there!
On the flip side:
Fortunately, the lid features easy-to-understand controls. Moreover, thanks to the digital display, you don’t have to play a guessing game whether your recipe is done or not.
Other included accessories such as the non-stick basket should only be used with plastic/silicone cooking utensils. By doing so, you can prevent the ceramic coating from chipping and prolong its quality.
Likewise, solely use soft sponges when cleaning the non-stick accessories. Or, when utilizing the dishwasher, ensure to not use harsh chemical detergents.
The lid, on the other hand, only needs some wiping with a damp cloth.
*Product Images and Video Courtesy of Instant Brands
Technical Specifications
| Type | Attachment / Air Fryer |
| Brand/Series | Instant Pot by Instant Brands |
| Model # | 140-3003-01, AIR FRYER LID 6 |
| Price | $ |
| Rating | 4.3 out of 5 |
| Wattage | 1500-watt |
| Functions | 6-in-1:Air Fry, Broil, Bake, Roast, Dehydrate, and Reheat |
| Temperature range | 105 to 400 °F (41 to 205 °C) |
| Dishwasher safe | Air frying basket and broil/dehydrating tray only |
| PFOA, PTFE, and BPA free | Yes |
| Color | Black |
| Dimensions (LxWxH) | 11.61 x 10.7 x 6.14 inches (29.4 x 27.1 x 15.6 cm) |
| Cord Length | 35 inches (0.9 m) |
| Application | Home and Personal Use |
| Warranty | 1 Year |
| Compatible Instant Pots | IP Duo 60, IP Duo Nova 60, IP Duo Plus 60, IP Duo Gourmet 60, IP Viva 60, IP Ultra 60, IP Lux 60, IP Nova Plus 60 |
Getting the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid Attachment is a no-brainer if you have a compatible electric pressure cooker. It’s cheaper than buying a standalone air fryer.
If that’s not the case, the Duo Crisp and the Pro Crisp with 8-quart capacity are far better options, particularly if you want to roast a whole chicken quite often.
FAQs
How does the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid work?
The Instant Pot Air Fryer Attachment is equipped with a heating element and a robust fan which essentially turns your pressure cooker into a full-pledged convection oven.
Are 3 quart Instant Pots compatible with the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid?
Sadly, 3 quart Instant Pots are not compatible with the air fryer accessory.
Are 8 quart Instant Pots compatible with the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid?
The Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid is only compatible with selected 6-quart Instant Pots. If you want an 8-quart Instant Pot with an air fryer attachment, you’re only option is to get the brand’s Instant Pot-Air Fryer Combo—Instant Pot Pro Crisp.