Instant Pot VORTEX PRO - 10-quart Air Fryer Oven Manual

IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS

To avoid injury, read and understand the instructions in this user manual before attempting to use this appliance.

Electrical shock hazard. Use grounded outlet only. DO NOT remove ground. DO NOT use an adapter. DO NOT use an extension cord. Failure to follow these instructions may result in electric shock and/or serious injury.

THE FAILURE TO FOLLOW ANY OF THE IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS AND/OR THE INSTRUCTIONS FOR SAFE USE IS A MISUSE OF YOUR APPLIANCE THAT CAN VOID YOUR WARRANTY AND CREATE THE RISK OF SERIOUS INJURY.

Special cord set instructions

As per safety requirements, a short power supply cord is provided to reduce the hazards resulting from grabbing, entanglement and tripping.

This appliance has a 3-prong grounding plug. To reduce the risk of electric shock, plug the power cord into a grounded (earthed) electrical outlet that is easily accessible.

Product specifications

Find your model name and serial number

Find both of these on the rating label on the back of the air fryer oven, near the power cord.

Read this manual carefully and completely and retain for future reference. Failure to adhere to safety instructions may result in serious injury or damage.

Product, parts and accessories

Before using your awesome new air fryer oven, make sure that everything is present and accounted for.

Air fryer oven

Accessories

Illustrations in this document are for reference only and may differ from the actual product.
Always refer to the actual product.

Get started

Initial set up

"No one is born a great cook; one learns by doing." – Julia Child

1. Pull that Vortex Pro out of the box!
2. Remove all the packaging material from in and around the oven, and make sure to remove all the accessories from inside the oven chamber.
   Don't remove the safety warning stickers or the rating label from the air fryer.
3. You may be tempted to put the Vortex Pro on your stovetop — but don't do it! Place it on a stable, level surface, away from combustible material and external heat sources. Do not place your Vortex Pro on top of another appliance.
   Make sure to leave at least 13 cm / 5" of space above and around all sides of the appliance.
4. Follow the Care, cleaning and storage instructions to wash your new air fryer before using it.

Is something missing or damaged?

Get in touch with a Customer Care Advisor through our chat widget at instantappliances.com/#chat, by email at support@instantappliances.com or by phone at 1-800-828-7280 and we'll happily make some magic happen for you!

Read the Important safeguards before using the appliance. Failure to read and follow those instructions for safe use may result in damage to the appliance, property damage or personal injury.	Do not place the appliance on a stovetop, on another appliance, or in a heated oven. Heat from an external source will damage the appliance.	Do not place anything on top of the appliance, and do not block the air vents.

Initial test run

Do you have to do the test run? No — but getting to know the ins and outs of your Vortex Pro prepares you for success in the kitchen! Take a few minutes to get to know how this baby works.

Stage 1: Setting up for cooking

This section does not cover Rotisserie set up or cooking.
See Rotisserie cooking: Rotisserie accessories for details.

1. Open the oven door.
   Place the drip pan on the bottom of the cooking chamber.
   Close the door.
2. Connect the power cord to a 120 V power source.
   The oven is in standby mode and the display shows OFF.
3. Touch Air Fry.
4. Use the + / – Time keys to adjust the cook time to 20 minutes (00:20).
5. Touch Start to begin!
   The display shows On while the oven preheats, and the cooking status shows Preheat.

The first few times you use your air fryer oven you may notice a plastic smell. This is normal, non-toxic, and goes away quickly.

Stage 2: "Cooking" (...but not really, this is just a test!)

1. When the oven reaches the perfect temperature, the display shows Add Food.
   Do not add food during the initial test run.
2. Open the oven door.
   Carefully insert both cooking trays into the preheated cooking chamber.
   Close the oven door.
   The display alternates to show the cooking time and temperature, and the cooking status shows Cook.
3. Part way through cooking, the display shows turn Food.
   Wait 10 seconds for the program to resume automatically, or, open and close the oven door to pause and resume the program manually.
4. The display counts down the last minute of cooking in seconds.
   When the Smart Program completes, the display shows End and the fan blows for a little while to help cool the air fryer.
5. Touch Cancel to return to standby mode and start cooking for real!
   If you forget this last step, the air fryer will beep to remind you about it after 5, 30, and 60 minutes.

Control panel

Illustrations in this document are for reference only and may differ from the actual product.
Always refer to the actual product.

Settings

Status messages

	The Vortex Pro is in standby mode.
	A smart program is in the Preheat stage. Not applicable to Toast, Proof, Reheat and Dehydrate.
	This message appears to let you know that the air fryer oven has reached the perfect cooking temperature and food can be added (if it hasn't been already). Not applicable to Toast, Proof, Reheat and Dehydrate.
	The display shows the cooking time and on-screen messages.
	The display also shows the set cooking temperature and on-screen messages.
	Food is ready to be turned or tossed, as recommended by your recipe. Only applies to Air Fry and Roast.
	The Smart Program has finished.

Cooking

Cooking in the Vortex Pro is quick and easy — food goes in, crispy deliciousness comes out!

Check out the cooking timetables for guidance, or visit our recipe site for fun, easy-to-follow instructions. You can also download the free Instant Pot app to search recipes, save favorites and more.

Cooking accessories

The non-stick cooking trays are perforated for airflow and should be used for most foods, like wings and cauliflower bites.

The non-stick drip pan doubles as a flat cooking tray when you're baking cookies, or cooking fragile food like fish, and filled-foods like jalapeno poppers or cheese-stuffed chicken.

You can place food right on the cooking tray(s) or the drip pan, or, in/on any oven-safe cookware on the cooking tray.

For information on the rotisserie accessories, see Rotisserie cooking: Rotisserie accessories.

Air Fry, Roast, Broil and Bake

These programs give your meals all the rich, crispy flavor of deep frying with little to no oil, so you can say, "See ya!" to the greasy mess and extra calories! The presets are a starting point that you can experiment with to get the results you prefer.

Stage 1: Setting up for cooking

1. Follow steps 01 and 02 in the Initial test run: Stage 1 to set up the air fryer oven.
2. Select a Smart Program by touching: Air Fry, Roast, Broil or Bake.
3. Use the + / − Temp keys to adjust the cooking temperature.
4. Use the + / − Time keys to adjust the cook time.
   Smart Programs automatically save the adjustments you make to the temperature and time settings when you touch Start.
5. Touch Start to begin!
   The display shows On while the oven preheats.
   You can adjust the time or temperature any time with the + / − keys (then press Start to confirm the change) but changes made after the Smart Program begins are not saved.

Stage 2: Cooking

1. When the display shows Add Food, open the oven door and carefully place your food items inside.
   Except when rotisserie cooking, you can put food in the oven before or after preheating, as your recipe recommends. Cooking will start 10 seconds after the notification appears, whether food has been added or not.
2. Close the oven door. The display alternates showing the cooking time and temperature.
3. Part way through cooking, the display may show turn Food.
   This message only appears during the Air Fry and Roast Smart Programs.
   Open the oven door if you want to turn or toss your food, or, if you're using both cooking trays, swap their positions in the cooking chamber for more even results.
   Close the oven door to resume the cooking program.
   If your food doesn't need to be flipped, wait 10 seconds for the program to resume automatically.
4. When the display shows End, carefully open the door, and, using proper hand protection, remove your food from the cooking chamber.

Cooking tips

Give all your favorite fresh and frozen oven-baked and deep-fried snacks a fighting chance!

• Preheating is an important step! Wait for the Add Food message to appear before adding food to the cooking chamber.
• When baking cake, pie, quiche, and other treats, use an oven-safe baking dish covered with foil (or an oven-safe lid) to prevent the top from overcooking.
• When cooking pizza, put both cooking trays in the oven, and place the pizza on the bottom cooking tray. This keeps the top from overcooking!
• For coated food, like onion rings or deep-fried pickles, use an egg wash with breadcrumbs rather than liquid-based batters to make sure that batter sticks to the food.
• Spray food items with cooking oil before adding seasoning to get the seasoning to stick well.
• For super crispy fries, soak your fresh-cut potato sticks in ice water for 15 minutes, then pat them dry and spray them lightly with oil before cooking.
• Patting dry moist food items before cooking prevents excess steam and splatter and gives you crispier results.
• Air frying can cause oil and fat to drip, so always use the drip pan. To prevent excess smoke, watch the oil levels and carefully remove and drain the drip pan as needed.

Check out the cooking timetables, download the Instant Pot app, or, visit our recipe site for fun, easy-to-follow recipes.

To avoid the risk of fire and/or property damage, do not spray oil into the cooking chamber.

When cooking meat, always use a meat thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches a safe minimum temperature. Refer to the USDA's Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart or Health Canada's Cooking Temperatures Chart for more information.

Proof, Dehydrate and Reheat and Toast

1. Follow steps 01 and 02 in the Initial test run: Stage 1 to set up the air fryer oven.
2. Open the oven door and place your food items inside.
   Close the door.
3. Select a Smart Program by touching: Proof, Dehydrate or Reheat.
4. Use the + / – Temp keys to adjust the temperature.
   If the ambient temperature of your home is higher than the set temperature for Proof, the air fryer oven will not operate effectively.
5. Use the + / – Time keys to adjust the time.
6. Touch Start to begin!
   The display starts to count down right away.
7. When the display shows End, carefully remove your food from the air fryer.

The air fryer oven and air frying accessories will be hot during and after cooking. Do not touch hot surfaces with unprotected hands. Allow all items to cool to room temperature, then clean them according to Care, cleaning and storage instructions.	To avoid burn injury, always use proper hand protection and exercise extreme caution when adding or removing food from the hot cooking chamber.

Toast

1. Follow steps 01 and 02 in the Initial test run: Stage 1 to set up the air fryer oven.
2. Open the oven door and place your food items inside.
   Close the door.
3. Touch Toast.
4. The Temp keys are disabled, so use the + / − Time keys to select a toasting level: L1, L2 or L3.
   The time changes automatically with the toasting level.
5. Touch Start to begin!
   The display starts to count down right away.
   Instant Tip: Flip your toast around the halfway point to make sure it's toasted evenly on both sides.
6. When the display shows End, carefully remove your food from the air fryer.

The air fryer oven and air frying accessories will be hot during and after cooking. Do not touch hot surfaces with unprotected hands. Allow all items to cool to room temperature, then clean them according to Care, cleaning and storage instructions.	Always use proper hand protection and exercise extreme caution when adding or removing food from the hot cooking chamber.

Rotisserie cooking

The Instant Vortex Pro is equipped with EvenCrisp™ technology for simple rotisserie-style cooking with delicious results.

Always insert rotisserie accessories and food items into the cooking chamber before preheating the air fryer oven.

Read the instructions below and watch this short video to make sure the rotisserie accessories are being installed correctly. Failure to follow these steps could result in irreparable damage to the rotisserie catch.

Rotisserie accessories

The rotisserie basket is perforated to allow maximum airflow for the perfect crisp all over.

1. Place food items in the rotisserie basket. Do not overfill the rotisserie basket.
   
2. Align the tab on the rotisserie basket with the notch in the lid, then place the lid on the basket.
   
3. Turn the lid clockwise to secure it.
   
   Optionally, spray the basket with non-stick cooking spray before adding food to help prevent sticking.

The rotisserie spit and forks are perfect for roasting whole chicken, tenderloin and much more.

1. Unscrew the 2 setting screws.
   
2. Remove the forks from the spit.
   
3. Push your food item onto the spit.
   
4. Slide the forks onto both ends of the spit, making sure the prongs are inserted into the food item securely on both sides.
   
5. When you're happy with the positioning, tighten the setting screws to hold the forks in place.

Stage 1: Setting up the rotisserie accessories

Follow the steps in Rotisserie cooking: Rotisserie accessories to prepare your food.

1. Open the oven door and slide the rotisserie basket or rotisserie spit onto the guides in the cooking chamber.
   
2. Move the red rotisserie catch lever to the right and hold it in position. Notice that the rotisserie catch inside the cooking chamber withdraws slightly when you move the lever.
   

   Read these instructions carefully and/or watch the tutorial video to ensure you are using the rotisserie properly. Failure to follow these steps could result in damage to the rotisserie catch.

3. Align the left side of the accessory with the hole in the rotisserie catch, and set the right end of the accessory in the notch on the right.
   
4. Release the rotisserie catch lever.
   
5. Rotate the accessory in place to make that it's being held securely. The rotisserie catch inside should move with the accessory — if it does not move, keep rotating the accessory until the rotisserie catch "catches" it completely.
6. Close the oven door.

Stage 2: Setting up for cooking

1. Connect the power cord to a 120 V power source.
   The oven is in standby mode and the display shows OFF.
2. Select a Smart Program by touching: Air Fry or Roast.
3. Use the + / – Temp keys to adjust the cooking temperature.
4. Use the + / – Time keys to adjust the cook time.
5. Touch Start to begin.
   The display shows On.
6. Touch Rotate to start rotisserie cooking!
7. When the display shows End, carefully remove the rotisserie accessory as described in Rotisserie cooking: Removing the accessories.

Removing the accessories

The rotisserie basket and rotisserie spit are installed and removed the same way, but backwards!

1. Open the oven door.
2. Position the hooks on the rotisserie lift beneath the left and right arms of the accessory.
3. Move the rotisserie catch lever to the right and hold it in position to release the accessory.
4. Pull the accessory towards you, then release the rotisserie catch lever.
5. Carefully remove the accessory from the cooking chamber and place it on a secure, heat-resistant surface.
   
   Make sure to place it somewhere it won't roll away on you!

Care, cleaning and storage

Clean your Instant Vortex Pro and accessories after each use.

Always unplug the air fryer oven and let it cool to room temperature before cleaning. Never use harsh chemical detergents, scouring pads, or powders on any of the parts or components.

Let all surfaces dry thoroughly before use, and before storage.

Some discoloration may occur after machine washing, but this will not affect the cooker's safety or performance.

To avoid risk of electrical shock and personal injury: Do not immerse the appliance in water. Do not rinse the appliance under a tap. Do not wet prongs of the power cord.	Without proper cleaning, food and grease splatter may build up around the heating element, causing the risk of smoke, fire, and personal injury.	If you see or smell smoke, touch Cancel, unplug the appliance, and allow it to cool. Follow instructions above to clean the appliance and accessories.

The oven door

The oven door is installed and removed the same way, but backwards!

Remove the oven door

1. Place one hand on top of the air fryer oven to hold it firmly in place.
2. Open the oven door to a 45º angle from the oven.
3. Pull the oven door up from the right side until it pops out of its track.

Reinstall the oven door

1. Hold the oven door at a 45º angle from the oven.
2. Align the teeth at the bottom of the oven door with the grooves in the air fryer oven.
3. Press down on the right side of the oven door until it pops into place, then press the left side down.

Troubleshooting

Register your Instant Vortex Pro today!

If your problem persists or if you have questions, get in touch with a Customer Care Advisor through our chat widget at instantappliances.com/chat#, by email at support@instantappliances.com or by phone at 1-800-828-7280.

Problem		Possible reason	Solution
Black smoke is coming from the air fryer.		Stop cooking immediately. Cancel the Smart Program then unplug the air fryer and allow it to cool to room temperature.
		Using an oil with a low smoke point.	Choose a neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as Avocado, Canola, Soybean, Safflower, or Rice Bran oil.
		Food residue on the heating coil, in the cooking chamber or on the accessories.	Remove all accessories from the cooking chamber and clean the area as well as all accessories thoroughly.
		Faulty circuit or heating element.	Contact Customer Care. Note: Do not attempt to repair the appliance.
White smoke is coming from the air fryer.		Cooking foods with a high fat content, such as bacon, sausage, and hamburger.	Avoid air frying foods with a high fat content.
		Water is vaporizing, producing thick steam.	Pat dry moist food ingredients before air frying. Do not add water or other liquid to the cooking chamber when air frying.
		Seasoning on food has blown into the element.	Be mindful when seasoning food. Spray vegetables and meats with oil before seasoning to help the seasoning stick.
The air fryer is plugged in but will not turn on.		The appliance is not properly plugged in.	Make sure the power cord is plugged into the outlet firmly.
		Outlet is not powered.	Plug another appliance into the same outlet to test the circuit.
		The oven door is open.	Make sure the door is fully closed.
All lights flash and a code appears on the display.	E1	Temperature sensor issue.	Contact Customer Care.
	E2	Temperature sensor short circuit.	Contact Customer Care.

Any other servicing must be performed by an authorized representative.

Download the Instant Pot app with 1000+ recipes at instantappliances.com/app.