Two-minute review
The Instant Vortex Slim 6-quart Air Fryer, also known as the Instant Vortex Slim 5.7L Air Fryer in the UK, is the latest addition to the brand’s lineup of mini convection cookers, packing quite the punch in terms of performance while saving you some counter space.
Instant Pot is known for making some of the best air fryers, and the slim version of its Vortex product line completes the range. It offers a more compact option to the flagship Instant Vortex air fryer or the more enhanced Instant Vortex Plus air fryer by trimming back 20% of the bulk.
There are a few things you lose by opting for this model, though. It doesn’t have a dehydrate setting, there’s no progress or text bar (instead, a small seven-segment screen displays the time, temperature, and cooking stage), and there’s no window nor a light. In terms of performance, it offers the same high-quality build and fantastic results – and I’ll happily take that in a smaller size over a progress bar. Also missing are a few of Instant Vortex’s more premium features, such as OdorErase and ClearCook; but for the Slim’s price and convenience, this isn’t the end of the world.
At just 12.7 x 12.1 x 15.3 inches / 30.1 x 25.9 x 45.2cm (h x w x d), the air fryer is refreshingly petite and weighs just 6.8kg, making it pretty easy to move around your kitchen if space is limited. It isn’t quite as compact as the Instant Pot Mini, but it feels like an evolution of this older product, especially given that the Slim offers a 6-quart / 5.7-liter capacity, versus the 2-quart/2-liter Mini model.
It has only one tray, but there’s more than enough space for cooking two to three portions of chips (depending on how hungry you are!), a 1.3kg chicken for roasting, or a combination of elements going into your meal.
The manufacturer claims that this Slim model is its quietest air fryer yet, with Quiet Mark certification, meaning that you’ll barely hear the air fryer fan. We measured a noise level of just 50.4dB on test, which is pretty minimal. It’s worth noting that on test, the Instant Vortex Plus 6-in-1 measured 51.7dB.
And less noise doesn’t come at the expense of high-quality results – the Instant Vortex Slim upkeeps its siblings’ fantastic legacy of perfectly air-fried meals. Its temperature settings range from 95ºF / 35ºC to 400ºF / 205ºC, and the timer can go up to 60 minutes.
Plus, when you’re done cooking your delicious meals, both the basket and tray are dishwasher safe, so cleanup takes minimal effort.
Having mostly tested larger air fryers, and as a single-person household, in particular, I was delighted to have the Instant Vortex Slim at my disposal. It doesn’t sit well to be heating up my entire fan oven for what is often just a few items, especially given the cost of energy, so having an appliance that suits my capacity needs so perfectly was a real boon.
Instant Vortex Slim air fryer review: Price and availability
- List price: $129.99 / £99.99
The Instant Vortex Slim 6-quart / 5.7-liter air fryer is available directly from the Instant Pot website (opens in new tab), as well as from various other online retailers such as Amazon US (opens in new tab)and Amazon UK (opens in new tab) for $129.99 / £99.99.
For its price and quality, it’s a pretty good value buy – especially for those who want a smaller air fryer without sacrificing performance. However, there are cheaper options available, and considering some of the premium features seen in other Instant Vortex products are missing here, it’s a little harder to justify the ever-so-slightly inflated price ticket.
Instant Vortex Slim air fryer review: Specs
- Price: $129.99 / £99.99
- Capacity: 6-quart / 5.7-liter
- Power / wattage: 1700W
- No. of baskets: 1
- No. of programmes: 5
- Cable length: 1-metre
- Dimensions: 12.7 x 12.1 x 15.3 inches / 30.1 x 25.9 x 45.2cm
- Weight: 6.8kg
- Dishwasher friendly: Yes
Instant Vortex Slim air fryer review: Design
- Petite at 11.8 x 10.19 x 17.8 inches/ 30.1 x 25.9 x 45.2cm (h x w x d)
- One basket with a lift-out tray
- 6-quart / 5.7-liter capacity
Much like the rest of the Instant Vortex lineup, this slim model is stylish and available in all-black.
Weighing just 6.8kg, the Instant Vortex Slim measures 11.8 x 10.19 x 17.8 inches / 30.1 x 25.9 x 45.2cm (h x w x d) and has a 6-quart / 5.7-liter capacity. It’s one of the most compact units we’ve seen, yet it’s super-impressive given the capacity and performance it delivers.
Its touch controls are housed on the angular edge, where the top and front of the unit meet. Once turned on, you’ll also see buttons for its five settings; air fry, bake, grill, reheat, and roast, as well as buttons for the temperature and time. Once pressed, you can adjust the latter two buttons using a silver roller dial. Unlike Instant’s larger models, which come with a progress bar and slightly different display, the Vortex Slim opts for a seven-segment digital display, which displays the time, temperature, any cooking instructions (such as when it’s time to shake) and the cooking stage.
On the front of the air fryer is a handle that’s used to pull out the basket, which requires minimal fuss or force. Inside is a lift-out tray whose metal handle tucks in flush to the tray, meaning you don’t lose precious space in the center of the fryer as we’ve seen with some other models. The tray and basket are both dishwasher-friendly, too, making for fuss-free meals from start to finish.
There’s no reinvention of the wheel here and, personally, I don’t adore the shape and angle of the handle. In addition, this model suffers from a similar flaw to other Instant Vortex models, in that the touchscreen can quickly become grubby. As stylish as the display here feels, greasy, food-stained fingers on reflective surfaces are the downside.
Instant vortex slim air fryer review: Performance
- Maximum temperature 400ºF / 205ºC
- Timer will run for up to an hour
- Reliable performer
For performance, the Instant Vortex Slim delivers exactly what we’ve come to expect from Instant Pot. Maximum cooking temperature is 400ºF / 205ºC and the timer will run for up to an hour.
The air fryer comes with a QR-scannable guide that includes cooking times for various foods. Generally speaking, and as is the case with all air fryers, these serve as a guideline as you grow accustomed to the device. As is the case with cooking in any oven, in reality cooking times may vary depending on the size, quantity, and even quality of the ingredients being used.
First, I put the Instant Vortex Slim to the test with a portion of steak fries and salmon. The recipe book suggested 390ºF / 200ºC for 15-20 minutes for the fries and 350ºF / 176ºC for 8-12 minutes for the salmon. Since I was cooking the fish from frozen, I popped it in the tray once there were 8 minutes left on the timer for the fries.
Emitting a cheerful jingle, the air fryer indicated a few minutes before the end of the cooking cycle that it was time to give the basked a shake, which I dutifully obeyed. Once the time had elapsed, the air fryer automatically switched off – and I was greeted with perfectly crisp and fluffy fries cooked just to my liking, alongside a moist, flavorful fillet of salmon.
Like other Instant Vortex models, you won’t require much oil when cooking in the Slim air fryer. A touch does help potato skins to crisp up better, however. Cooking chicken drumsticks in my favorite Levantine spice mix required only a slight drizzle of oil before cooking at 400ºF / 205ºC for 25 minutes per this Instant Pot recipe to achieve similar results to my salmon and chips meal; the chicken was delicious, perfectly cooked and crisp.
Lastly, I tried a slightly rogue test of frozen cinnamon rolls. I tried the bake setting at 320ºF / 160ºC for 15 minutes, resulting in fabulously flaky pastry with a moist middle.
Note that the Instant Vortex Slim doesn’t come with OdorErase, but I didn’t notice any more cooking smells than I’d experience cooking in my conventional oven. In addition, I didn’t really miss the ClearCook window that features on the front of other models; the Instant Vortex Slim is so reliable with its cooking times, I wasn’t too worried about not spotting burning food.
All in all, I have very few complaints about the performance of the Instant Vortex Slim. It’s quiet, averaging just 50dB on my decibel reader (which is comparable to a refrigerator hum, and far quieter than my particularly raucous extractor fan). Plus, it cooks food perfectly every time, offering the right balance of features to make your cooking experience as low-maintenance as possible.
Should you buy the Instant Vortex Slim air fryer?
Buy it if…
Don’t buy it if…
Instant Vortex Slim air fryer review: Also consider
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How I tested the Instant Vortex Slim air fryer
- I used it as my main air fryer for two weeks
- I used the grill, bake and air fry functions
- I cooked chips, salmon, steak, chicken and veg
I’ve been testing air fryers regularly for a year, and have become very familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of various features, as well as what to look for in everyday use.
I used the Instant Vortex Slim for two weeks, cooking various meals from breakfast through to dinner, as well as a few tasty treats, to test its limits and performance. I used a decibel meter to measure its sound output. I tried official Instant Pot recipes and cooking timelines, but also experimented using my own instincts to see how adaptable the Instant Pot is in use.
Read more about how we test.
[First reviewed April 2023]
