10-qt air fryers are large enough to hold larger food items and are ideal for larger families or parties. However, being a large component, a 10-qt air fryer may also take up quite a lot of space in your kitchen. So, what if you have a small kitchen but a large family or frequently have parties?
Don’t worry! Today, I’m here with the solution. The Instant Vortex Plus 10-Quart 7-in-1 Multi-functional Air Fryer is the best 10-qt air fryer for a small kitchen. I’ve tested many 10-quart air fryers from different brands and categories.
Fortunately, I also found this Vortex Plus 10 Quarts air fryer from Instant. With a 10-qt capacity, it can handle enough food for growing families, and with dimensions of 13.23″ D × 13.23″ W × 14.37″ H, it can also fit on a small countertop. Let’s learn more about this 10-quart air fryer!
How big is a 10-quart air fryer?
A 10-quart air fryer is typically preferred as a large-capacity air fryer. Sometimes, it is more like a convenient oven than an air fryer. This type of air fryer is usually more versatile and offers more functionalities than small or medium-sized air fryers. So, it offers ample space and cooking opportunities for preparing larger meals.
However, the physical dimensions of a 10-quart air fryer may vary by brand and model. They typically range from around 13-16 inches in height to about 12-15 inches in width and 12-15 inches in depth. So, a 10-quart air fryer is big enough compared to the small or medium-size models.
How much can you fit in a 10-quart air fryer?
An air fryer with a 10-quart capacity can hold a significant amount of food. Some 10-qt air fryers, including the Instant Vortex Plus 7-in-1, can fit two cooking trays at once, which allows me to cook multiple meals in bulk at the same time.
Moreover, using the Vortex Plus 7-in-1 air fryer, I could fit an 8″ pizza, a 4 lb whole chicken, a small turkey, and 3 lbs of fries. I also could fit a lot of frozen food, veggies, and fish fillets, and fortunately, they all cooked evenly.
However, here are some general estimates of what I can usually fit in a 10-quart air fryer.
| Name of Item | Holding Capacity (at once) |
| Whole Chicken | 5-6 pounds |
| Chicken Wings | 3-4 pounds |
| Fish Fillets | 6-8 medium size fillets |
| Steaks | 6-8 pieces |
| Roasted Vegetables | 8-10 servings |
| French Fries | 4-5 pounds |
| Frozen Snacks | 20 egg rolls or 40 chicken nuggets |
Is a 10-quart air fryer too big?
It will depend on my needs and kitchen setup, whether a 10-quart air fryer is too big. For me, if I’m cooking for a big family or hosting guests often, the size is perfect. I can easily make more extensive meals, like a whole chicken or a big batch of french fries or wings, which saves time. It’s also great since I can cook several servings at once.
On the contrary, if I cooked for myself or another person, it would be too large. It would occupy a lot of counter space, and I’d likely use more energy than necessary for smaller portions. My kitchen size also comes into play; it could be a pain if I don’t have enough room to keep it out or store it quickly.
Overall, I’d say that a 10-quart air fryer will make sense for me if I regularly cook for a group, love versatility, or want to make big batches. If my needs are more straightforward, it may feel enormous.
Best for Chicken Wings
Till now, I’ve tried multiple recipes with my Instant Vortex Plus 10-quart air fryers, and the chicken wings recipe was the best. This is quick, easy, and quite fun to do.
Every time I try this recipe, it delivers restaurant-quality wings at home! I can make it with a few ingredients and less fat than deep-frying. Here’s how this recipe came out!
- Split and Pat Dry the Wings
First, I prepared 1 lb. of chicken wings for the recipe. Then, split the wings into dumettes and flats. After that, I pat-dried the wings with paper towels to remove excess moisture. Keep pat-drying the wings to get them as dry as possible, which usually helps increase the crispiness.
- Let’s Season the Wings
Once I finish pat drying the wings, it’s time to season the wings so they cook up tasty and flaborful. Add them in olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder, and paprika for a perfect seasoning.
- Load the Air Fryer and Let’s Air Fry Them
Next, place the wings in a single layer on the air fryer trays. This time, ensure they aren’t overcrowded so the hot air can circulate evenly. While cooking, I set the air fryer at 400°F for about 10 minutes. After 10 minutes, I flipped the wings and air-fried them again at 400°F for another 12 minutes.
Once they are golden and brown, it’s time to check the internal temperature of the chicken wings. In this case, I usually use an instant-read food thermometer. Once the temperature is at least 165° F, I turn off the air fryer and let the wings out.
- Add Sauce and Enjoy the Meal
If you want saucy wings, toss them in your favourite wing sauce. But usually, I don’t prefer saucy wings, so I like to enjoy them with celery sticks and ranch or blue cheese.
However, the result was quite satisfying! It was super juicy and tender inside, with a puffed and crispy skin on the exterior. This is always a to-go recipe at home since it’s crispy, juicy, and so easy with my Instant Vortex Plus—highly recommended!
Best for French Fries
This is another favourite recipe for using my Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer to make crispy French fries. It’s so convenient to get that crispy texture without using a lot of oil through the air fryer. Here’s how I do it:
- Cut the Potatoes
Firstly, I washed the potatoes and then peeled them. Sometimes, when I wish to retain the skins for additional flavours, I simply wash them. Then, I cut the potatoes into sticks of equal size, about 1/4 inch thick.
- Prepare the Potatoes
Once I finish cutting the potatoes, I wash the cut fries with cold water for approximately 30 minutes to get those extra crispy fries. This also helps wash off excess starch. As soon as they are done soaking, I rinse them off and then dry them with paper towels.
I mix the olive oil in a large bowl and coat the dried fries with it for the dressing. After that, I add salt and any other spices that I prefer before tossing the mixture again.
- Time to Air Fry the Potatoes
Now, let’s switch on my Instant Vortex Plus and select the Air Fry function and the temperature of 400°F. It takes about 5 minutes to preheat as I prepare the fries.
After preheating, I put the fries in the fryer basket in a layer that does not overfill the basket. I set the timer for 15-20 minutes and shook the basket to the middle so they would cook evenly. They brown on one side, then I flip them over and watch them until they are crispy enough for my preference.
Thus, my Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer has changed the way that I cook my fries, and I get them perfect every time. I hope you guys enjoy making your own batch!
Easy Cleanup
One of the reasons I loved the Instant Vortex Plus Air Fryer over other 10-qt air fryers is its easy cleaning up after use. Though the non-stick tray and basket are dishwasher safe, I prefer hand washing them in the sink.
Within minutes, I can have everything washed up and ready for the next time. It makes the whole cooking process a lot more enjoyable. It’s nice because I can think about food without dealing with a huge mess afterward.
Recommendation
- Click here for instant vortex plus 10-quart air fryer on Amazon
- Click here for the Instant Read Meat Thermometer on Amazon
Why is the Instant Vortex Plus 10-quart 7-in-1 air fryer best?
There are several reasons why the Instant Vortex Plus 10-quart air fryer is one of the best options on the market. First, its 7-in-1 functionality allows us to air fry, roast, dehydrate, bake, broil, reheat, and rotisserie.
Most importantly, this appliance’s air fry function is super cool and way better than other 10-quart air fryers. It cooks food that is both healthy and tasty.
In the voice of Robert J. Wang, chief innovation officer of Instant Brands Inc. and creator of the Instant Pot multi-cooker.
“The focus of our Instant Vortex line is air frying—one of the latest trends in cooking healthy and tasty foods.”
It is also designed with EvenCrisp Technology, ensuring hot air circulates evenly around the food. While testing the fryer, I found out that the convection fan always remains on, no matter what cooking function I try. It helps circulate the hot oven air, which is great for air-frying and roasting foods.
This is also faster than the traditional ovens. So, if you need a quick meal for yourself or you are preparing a more complex meal for many people, this air fryer is the best choice for your small kitchen.