Instant Vortex Plus ClearCook Review 2026: The Ultimate Odor-Free Air Fryer?

1. Introduction: Solving the Three Big Air Fryer Pain Points

If you have owned an air fryer in the past, you are likely intimately familiar with the three universal annoyances of the appliance: having to constantly open the drawer to check if your food is burning (which lets all the heat escape), the lingering smell of fried fish or bacon that permeates your kitchen for days, and the jet-engine noise levels.

The engineers at Instant Brands (the creators of the legendary Instant Pot) clearly took these complaints to heart. Their response? The Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart with ClearCook and OdorErase. This premium model attempts to solve every major gripe the culinary community has harbored against basket-style air fryers.

But does slapping a glass window and a carbon filter onto an air fryer justify a premium price tag? Over the past several weeks, we have roasted, baked, dehydrated, and intensely fried our way through hundreds of meals to bring you this definitive Instant Vortex Plus ClearCook review.

2. Design & Build Quality: A Sleek Countertop Upgrade

Out of the box, the Instant Vortex Plus is striking. Moving away from the bulbous, egg-shaped designs of early-generation air fryers, Instant opted for a sleek, squared-off aesthetic with rounded corners. The exterior features a combination of stainless steel accents and a glossy black finish that looks phenomenally modern.

The touch interface is highly responsive. It features a prominent dial in the center that makes adjusting time and temperature significantly faster than repeatedly jabbing at plus/minus buttons. The screen stays completely dark until you plug it in, maintaining a minimalist look when not in use.

3. The ClearCook Window: Is It Actually Useful?

The headline feature of this machine is the “ClearCook” transparent window built directly into the front of the basket. Combined with a surprisingly bright internal halogen light (which you can toggle on and off), it allows you to watch your food brown in real-time.

In practice, this feature is an absolute game-changer.

Air frying requires precision. The difference between perfectly golden mozzarella sticks and exploded, oozing cheese disasters is often a matter of 60 seconds. In traditional air fryers, you have to pull the basket out to check progress. Doing so dumps all the built-up thermal energy into your kitchen. The machine then has to spend time and electricity re-heating the chamber, throwing off your cooking times.

With the ClearCook window, you simply tap the light button and peer inside. We did notice that when cooking high-moisture foods (like marinated chicken thighs), the window fogs up slightly during the first few minutes of the cook, but the high-velocity fan quickly clears the condensation as the temperature stabilizes.

4. OdorErase Technology: Does It Trap the Smell?

The second marquee feature is OdorErase. At the back of the unit, Instant has integrated a dual-filter system containing Replaceable Activated Carbon. As the incredibly hot, grease-laden air is forced out of the exhaust vent, it must pass through this carbon matrix.

If you have ever panicked and wondered why your machine smells strange during its first run, this filter system drastically mitigates the initial manufacturing burn-off. For a deeper dive into this phenomenon, read our guide on air fryer burning plastic smells vs. grease off-gassing.

Maintenance Note: The machine will digitally alert you when it is time to change the filters (roughly every 3-6 months depending on usage). The replacement filters are inexpensive and snap in easily.

5. Cooking Performance & EvenCrisp Technology

Gimmicks aside, an air fryer must fry. The Instant Vortex Plus utilizes “EvenCrisp Technology,” which is marketing speak for a highly optimized, cyclonic airflow design that drives heat downward and back up through the crisper grate.

Because you are manipulating high-velocity air, understanding air fryer temperature control and Maillard crisping science is vital. The Vortex Plus reaches a maximum temperature of 400°F (205°C). While some extreme models hit 450°F, 400°F is more than sufficient for the vast majority of tasks.

• Air Frying: French fries emerged uniformly golden. Unlike cheaper models with poor airflow, we did not find soggy fries hidden in the center of the basket. The “Turn Food” beep halfway through the cycle is a great idiot-proof reminder.
• Roasting: Brussels sprouts and broccoli roasted beautifully, achieving a charred, crispy exterior while remaining tender inside.
• Baking: We baked a small batch of chocolate chip cookies. The fan speed during the “Bake” setting seems slightly gentler, preventing the dough from blowing sideways before it set.

6. Noise Test & Acoustics: Is It Apartment Friendly?

A massive complaint regarding older Instant and Ninja models was the sheer volume of the fan. They sounded like a hair dryer on steroids.

During our Instant Vortex Plus noise test, we were pleasantly surprised. The unit measured consistently between 60 dB and 62 dB during the intense Air Fry cycle. This places it firmly in the “normal conversation” range. You will not have to shout over this appliance, making it exceptionally friendly for small apartments, open-concept kitchens, or households with sleeping children.

7. Ease of Use & Cleaning

The basket and the removable crisper tray are coated in a high-quality, PFOA-free, PTFE non-stick coating. Nothing sticks to it. A quick pass with a soapy sponge and warm water is all it takes to clean up after sticky teriyaki wings.

While Instant Brands states the basket is dishwasher safe, we strongly advise against it. The harsh detergents and brutal heat cycles of a modern dishwasher will prematurely degrade the non-stick coating and could potentially damage the ClearCook glass seal over time. Hand washing takes less than 60 seconds.

8. Instant Vortex Plus ClearCook vs. The Competition

How does this unit stack up against the other giants in the industry?

If you are torn between brands, check out our highly detailed Cosori vs Instant Vortex air fryer comparison. In short: if you want ultimate heat (450°F), go Ninja. If you want app-connectivity, look at high-end Cosoris. But if you want to see your food and eliminate smells, the Instant Vortex ClearCook stands completely alone.

9. Final Pros and Cons