Instant Pod VORTEX AIR FRY OVEN - 10-quart Air Fryer Manual

Table of Contents

Contents

1 IMPORTANT SAFEGUARDS
2 Product, parts and accessories
- 2.1 Air fryer oven
- 2.2 Accessories
3 Get started
4 Control panel
5 Settings
6 Status messages
7 Cooking
8 Rotisserie cooking
9 Care, cleaning and storage
10 Documents / Resources
- 10.1 References
- 10.2 Download 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 death.

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 (0.6 m to 0.9 m / 24" to 35") 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

Overview

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

Pull that Vortex out of the box!
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.
You may be tempted to put the Vortex 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 on top of another appliance.
Make sure to leave at least 13 cm / 5" of space above and around all sides of the appliance.
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 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 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.

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

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

When the oven reaches the perfect temperature, the display shows Add Food.
Do not add food during the initial test run.
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.
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.
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.
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.

The air fryer oven and air frying accessories will be hot during and after cooking. Do not touch hot surfaces with unprotected hands.

Control panel

1	Time/temperature display	Alternates to show the cooking time, the set temperature, reminder messages and error messages.
2	+ / − Temp	Use the + / – Temp keys if you want to adjust the cooking temperature. Touch and hold the key to scroll quickly.
3	+ / − Time	Use the + / – Time keys if you want to adjust the cooking time. Touch and hold the key to scroll quickly.
4	Smart programs	Air Fry Roast Broil Bake Reheat Dehydrate
5	Rotate	Touch Rotate during Air Fry or Roast Smart Programs to start and stop the rotisserie rotation.
6	Light	Touch Light to turn the oven light on and off. The oven light turns off automatically after 2 minutes.
7	Cancel	Touch Cancel to stop a smart program at any time.
8	Start	Touch Start to begin a selected smart program.

Find full instructions for use online at instantappliances.com/vortex10.

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

Settings

To do this	Do this!
Wake the air fryer.	Touch any key or press the dial. The display shows OFF to let you know that it's in standby mode and ready for action.
Turn sounds on and off.	In standby mode, touch and hold both – keys (beneath Time and Temp) for 5 seconds. The display shows S On when the sound is on, and SOFF when the sound is off. Error alerts cannot be silenced.
Change temperature scale (ºC / ºF).	Press and hold + above Temp until the display indicates ºC or ºF. The temperature is displayed in the unit indicated.
Save a custom cooking time.	Pre-set cooking times and temperatures can be changed to create your own custom settings. Select a smart program, then use the + / – Temp and Time keys to make adjustments as you like. Touch Start to save changes to memory.
Reset an individual smart program.	In standby mode, touch and hold the smart program key you want to reset (for example: Air Fry) for 5 seconds. The cooking time and temperature for that Smart Program is restored to the factory default settings.
Reset all smart programs.	In standby mode, touch and hold both + keys (above Temp and Time) for 3 seconds. All Smart Programs are restored to default settings.

Status messages

	The Vortex is in standby mode.
	A smart program is in the Preheat stage. Not applicable to Reheat and Dehydrate.
	This message appears to let you know that 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 Reheat and Dehydrate.
	The display alternates between showing the cooking time, the 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 is quick and easy — food goes in, crispy deliciousness comes out!

Find full instructions for use online at instantappliances.com/vortex10, and visit our recipe site at instantappliances.com/recipes for fun, easy-to-follow recipe instructions. You can also download the free Instant Pot app to search recipes, save favorites, make notes and more, at instantappliances.com/app.

Cooking accessories

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

The 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)/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.

Smart program	Default time	Time range	Default temperature	Temperature range	Notes
Air Fry	18 minutes (00:18)	1 minute to 1 hour (00:01 to 01:00)	204°C / 400°F	82 to 205°C 180 to 400°F	For all your favorite deep-fried meals, like fries, cauliflower bites, wings, nuggets and more.
Roast	40 minutes (00:40)	1 minute to 1 hour (00:01 to 01:00)	193°C / 380°F	82 to 205°C 180 to 400°F	Ideal for vegetable dishes, beef, lamb, pork, poultry and more.
Broil	8 minutes (00:08)	1 to 40 minutes (00:01 to 00:40)	205°C / 400°F	Not adjustable	Direct top-down heating, perfect for melting cheese on French onion soup, nachos and more.
Bake	30 mins (00:30)	00:01 to 01:00	185°C / 365°F	82 to 205°C 180 to 400°F	Light and fluffy cakes and pastries, scalloped potatoes and more.

Dehydrate and Reheat

Smart program	Default time	Time range	Default temperature	Temperature range	Notes
Dehydrate	7 hours (07:00)	1 to 72 hours (01:01 to 72:00)	49°C / 120°F	95 to 175°C 203 to 347°F	Perfect for homemade fruit leather, jerky, dried vegetables and more.
Reheat	10 minutes (00:10)	1 to 60 minutes (00:01 to 01:00)	138°C / 280°F	49 to 182°C 120 to 360°F	Reheat leftovers without overcooking or drying out.


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.

DO NOT spray cooking 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 for more information.

Rotisserie cooking

The Instant Vortex is equipped with Even Crisp 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.

Find the full manual and instructions for use online at instantappliances.com/vortex10.

Read the instructions below and watch the short video on our YouTube channel at https://youtu.be/VmHa7qf6Ai0 to make sure the rotisserie accessories are 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 tumble-fried all-over crisp.

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

Stage 1: Setting up the rotisserie accessories

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

Open the oven door and slide the rotisserie accessory onto the guides in the cooking chamber.
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.
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.
Release the rotisserie catch lever.
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.
Close the oven door.

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.

Removing the accessories

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

Open the oven door.
Position the hooks on the rotisserie lift beneath the left and right arms of the accessory.
Move the rotisserie catch lever to the right and hold it in position to release the accessory.
Pull the accessory towards you, then release the rotisserie catch lever.
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!

The air fryer oven and rotisserie accessories will be hot during and after cooking. Always use the rotisserie lift to remove rotisserie accessories and exercise extreme caution when removing food from the hot cooking chamber. Always use proper hand protection when handling and/or disassembling hot rotisserie accessories.

Care, cleaning and storage

Clean your Instant Vortex 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.

Part or accessory	Cleaning method and notes
Drip pan	Dishwasher safe. Remove for cleaning. To prevent smoking, make sure grease and food debris is fully removed. The drip pan has a non-stick coating. Avoid using metal utensils when cleaning.
Cooking trays	Dishwasher safe. The cooking trays have a non-stick coating. Avoid using metal utensils when cleaning.
Rotisserie basket	Dishwasher safe. For best results, use a bristled brush rather than a sponge or cloth.
Rotisserie spit, forks and screws	Dishwasher safe. Disassemble before cleaning. If machine washing, place small parts in washable mesh bag.
Rotisserie lift	Dishwasher safe. Clean as needed.
Removable door	Clean with a damp cloth and mild dish soap. Remove the door for cleaning. See Care, cleaning and storage: The oven door for details. Allow the door to air dry completely before reinstalling, otherwise the glass may experience clouding.
Cooking chamber	Clean with a damp cloth and mild dish soap. Always check the heating coil and cooking chamber walls for oil spatter and food debris, and clean as needed. Ensure the heating coil is dry before turning on the air fryer oven. To remove baked-on grease and food residue from the cooking chamber, spray with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar and wipe clean with damp cloth. For stubborn stains, allow the mixture to sit on the affected area for several minutes before scrubbing clean.
Exterior	Clean with a damp cloth and mild dish soap. After cleaning, wipe down with a dry cloth to prevent streaking.
Power cord	Clean with a damp cloth and mild dish soap. Clean as needed.

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


Do not immerse the appliance in water. Do not rinse the appliance under a tap. Do not wet the 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.