I’ve tried a handful of different air fryers by now, and while the convection heating mechanism is the same, there’s still an overwhelming variety available. When the market is saturated, brands try to entice buyers with new designs. I’ve found that’s where cooks can get lost. In my experience, simple is usually best. I’ve been using the Instant Vortex 6-quart basket model for about two years now, and it’s the one I keep coming back to.

The Instant Vortex 6-quart has a simple basket design with two parts: the basket drawer and the rest of the unit, which includes the heating element, fan, and touchscreen. What makes this air fryer special is how well it does its job while being completely basic. There’s no vertical configuration, no dual heating zones, and no rotisserie function. Just throw in the basket and get to work.

Mine is actually the older generation of the same model. The newer generation (linked above) has a sleeker look and displays both the time and temperature at the same time (this older generation flashes between the two), but the functional parts are the same and you can see the gist of the overall size and design here. The basket is wide and has plenty of depth. It functions much like a drawer that you slide in and out of the machine by grabbing the handle (which is huge and I think a bit extreme, but that’s a trend with most air fryers) and giving it a good tug. The basket snaps back into place with a satisfying click.

There is a simple wire rack that fits into the bottom. My next comment is bordering on extreme air fryer nerddom, but the wire rack is awesome. It’s largely the same as any other air fryer rack, but the main difference is the central wire pull. It’s thin, sits in a cavity, and can be flipped over so you can clean both sides. Who cares, you say? You’ll think of me when you buy an air fryer with a fixed pull. Food gets weirdly stuck in there, and oil can get stuck underneath. It’s the little things.