Kitchen

[Jordan2]

On a Facebook group I'm in a woman asked which do you prefer, she has a small kitchen and only has room for one of them. I was surprised the consensus leaned towards the air fryer over the Instant Pot. I don't have either one and not really sure if I need either one (it's just my mother and me). I was just wondering which one do you guys prefer (also what exactly do you do in them)?

[Daysdee]

I was tempted by the Instant Pot especially when they brought in colors.  If I did get one, I wouldn't leave it on my counter.  (no room)  I decided to pass on it.  I have an air fryer from QVC and I love it.  It does stay on my counter.  I use it so often and it does so much.  Clean up is super easy too.  I only cook for myself and I'm home most of the time so I thought I didn't need an appliance to save time.  Plus I would think there is a learning curve.  For pot roasts, I use my slow cooker.  For most things that would have gone in my range oven, go in the air fryer now.  Everything has turned out great.  I've never used one of the air fryer cookbooks.

[LilLadyNJ]

They do different things so I don't think that it's a fair comparison. I have an Instant Pot which I use as a pressure cooker. As far as a pressure cooker, I think it works well, and when compared to my stove top pressure cooker the Instant Pot has some distinct advantages. 

I don't have an Air Fryer, but from what I have read I don't see what it does that my countertop convection oven doesn't already do. 

[GAQShopr53]

With a small kitchen I would have chosen the Instant Pot because of the different cooking functions.  I have a Cook's Companion airfryer and I love it but it is huge and you can only cook certain foods in it.  Probably a younger crowd would choose the airfryer over the pressure cooker but I would not.  If I had a choice the airfryer would go first!

[KaySD]

You might want to check out Meredith Laurence's new book. It's unusual in that the recipes contain directions for cooking them by more than one method—coiled be stovetop, pressure cooker, slow cooker, air fryer, etc. a pressure cooker and air fryer are very different, but there is overlap in what they can do. It sort of ends up being abut what you like to eat !

[Cumbercookie13]

My mom has a very tiny kitchen and she has both an airfryer and an Instant Pot. She uses the airfryer more. With her multiple illnesses, it's easier to "heat and eat." 

I have the Cook's Essentials 5.3 qt airfryer and love it. I use it constantly so it stays on my island countertop. It's easy use and easy clean. I thought about getting an Instant Pot, but decided not to because I just don't have space in my apartment for it. I only have out the items I use daily, and I figure I could borrow my mom's if I wanted to. 

[wagirl]

@LilLadyNJ--totally agree with you---I have a Breville countertop convection oven that does great and an Instant Pot that I love---I HATE the shape and look of air fryers.My little oven can do alot.Haven't used my big oven in over 2 years except to store my extra baking/cooking things in it.

[Sooner]

We have had an air fryer for almost 2 years and I'll bet we haven't used it a dozen times.  Fried or pseudo-fried food isn't the kind of thing we eat.  We use the instant pot at least 3-4 times a week--mostly the 3 quart size for the 2 of us, but also the 6 qt a lot too.

We cook beans, make soup, cook chicken, boil eggs, make chili, make roasts, cook veggies, and all sorts of things. 

[RollTide2008]

I use them both equally.

[SouthernBee]

@RollTide2008: If you would be so kind to share more info about your air fryer. My situation DH ordered one before any research and it was not digital. Purchased from Q the one by Emeril (sp) - arrived with no markings for the temperatures. Thought DH returned for refund but replacement. I read the reviews and very mixed with issues of basket coating peeling. Never opened or used. Now dear friend wants one for her Christmas present she selected brand I have never heard of:Harbor3.8 QT- with mixed reviews and complaints of too small for 2 people.What are your thoughts- purchase what friend requested or get something better?. I thought she would have preferred the Instant Pot for her gift but she wants the air fryer.

Roll Tide😀. Thanks. Southern Bee