How To Turn An Instant Pot Into An Air Fryer | Easy Air

You bought an Instant Pot for stews, beans, and quick weeknight dinners, then heard friends rave about crispy air fried potatoes and wings. The good news is that you do not always need a separate appliance to get that same crunch.

This guide shows you how to turn an instant pot into an air fryer, then builds on that with simple lids, oven finishes, practical safety notes, and clear limits.

Instant Pot To Air Fryer Options At A Glance

Before you dive into step by step instructions, it helps to see the main approaches side by side. Use this table as a quick reference, then read the sections that match the gear you own.

Method	What You Need	Best For
Duo Crisp Or Pro Crisp	Instant Pot model with air fry lid	One pot everyday meals
Official Air Fryer Lid	Compatible 6 quart Instant Pot and branded lid	Small batches and testing air frying
Third Party Air Fryer Lid	Universal lid for 6 or 8 quart cookers	Lower cost upgrade
Oven Broil Finish	Wire rack set over a baking sheet	Casseroles and shredded meat
Skillet Or Grill Pan	Heavy pan with a small amount of oil	Quick sear after pressure cooking
Separate Basket Air Fryer	Standalone air fryer plus Instant Pot	Regular large family batches
Countertop Convection Oven	Oven with fan or air fry setting	Sheet pan meals and frozen snacks

Why Turn An Instant Pot Into An Air Fryer

If your kitchen already feels crowded, another bulky appliance may not appeal at all. Adapting an Instant Pot you own lets you test air frying without sacrificing counter space.

You also gain more control over texture. Pressure cooking keeps meat juicy and beans tender, while dry circulating heat adds the crunch most people want on the surface. That combination works well for chicken thighs, shredded pork, stuffed peppers, or even mac and cheese.

Finally, using one pot for both cooking stages makes cleanup easier. You can pressure cook, drain or sauce the food, then crisp it with a lid or in the oven while the inner pot catches any drips.

Step-By-Step: How To Turn An Instant Pot Into An Air Fryer At Home

Many home cooks search for how to turn an instant pot into an air fryer because they want that crispy finish with tools they already own. The exact steps depend on your model and accessories, so start by confirming what type of setup you have.

Check Whether Your Instant Pot Already Air Fries

Some models, such as Duo Crisp or Pro Crisp, ship with a pressure lid and a separate crisping lid. If your control panel shows air fry, roast, bake, broil, or dehydrate programs, your appliance already handles air frying out of the box.

If you are unsure, search for your model on the official Instant Pot product manuals page and scan the manual for air fry programs. You should also confirm the inner pot type because the air fryer lid usually requires a stainless steel pot, not a ceramic coated insert.

Basic Steps With A Built In Air Fryer Function

When your Instant Pot includes air fry programs, turning it into an air fryer is as simple as swapping lids and adding the right basket. Here is a simple starting pattern you can adapt to many recipes.

1. Cook food under pressure or steam if needed, then release pressure.
2. Drain liquid and dry the surface with paper towels.
3. Set the stainless steel inner pot and raised basket in the base.
4. Lightly coat food with oil and arrange in a single layer.
5. Lock on the crisping lid and choose an air fry style program.
6. Let it heat, shaking or turning food once or twice as it cooks.
7. Check temperature where needed, then serve while hot.

Using The Official Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid

If your cooker came with only a pressure lid, the Instant Pot branded air fryer lid can transform it into a compact air fryer. The lid sits on top of a compatible stainless steel inner pot and blows hot air down through a perforated basket.

The user manual stresses simple rules: unplug the cooker base before you connect the lid, leave space around the unit, and use the stainless steel inner pot only. Blocking vents or using the wrong pot can overheat or damage the appliance.

Practical Setup With The Air Fryer Lid

Once you have the right lid and pot combination, the routine is straightforward.

1. Set the stainless steel inner pot and fryer basket in the base.
2. Plug in only the air fryer lid and place it on the cooker.
3. Pick air fry, roast, or broil and adjust time and heat.
4. Lay food in a loose single layer, then close the lid.
5. Turn food when the lid beeps or halfway through the time.
6. Open the lid away from you and lift food out with tongs.

Recipes written for the air fryer lid often start with a slightly lower temperature than a standalone air fryer, then extend the time by a few minutes. That adjustment gives the heating element time to come up to full power while the fan moves air around the basket.

Third Party Air Fryer Lids And Accessories

Several brands sell universal air fryer lids sized for common six and eight quart pressure cookers. Always read the compatibility list for your model and check the wattage so the lid suits your outlet and circuit.

Use these lids much like the official version: set a basket on a trivet, place food in a loose layer, lock the lid, and set time and heat. Treat the setup like a small convection oven on top of the pot and expect cook times a little longer than in a deep basket style air fryer.

Using An Oven To Get Air Fryer Style Results

If you do not want another plug in lid, you can still use your Instant Pot for the moist cooking stage and your oven for the crisping stage. It is not exactly the same as a built in air fryer, yet the result comes close for most dinners.

After pressure cooking, move food to a wire rack set over a baking sheet, spray with oil, and broil on a high rack while you watch closely. The raised rack lets hot air reach all sides and works well for shredded meat, pasta bakes, stuffed vegetables, and roasted potatoes.

Turning Your Instant Pot Into An Air Fryer Safely

Whatever method you choose, safety always comes first. Converting a countertop pressure cooker into an air fryer brings extra heat, exposed heating elements, and high fan speed into the mix.

Start with the manual for your specific model and accessory. Follow the warnings about clearances, plug use, and inner pot materials. Most air fryer lids call for at least five inches of space around the appliance and a heat safe, level surface.

When you cook meat, use a thermometer instead of guessing with color alone. Food safety agencies recommend that poultry reaches a minimum internal temperature of 165°F before it leaves the heat. Resources such as the FoodSafety.gov safe minimum internal temperatures chart give clear targets for chicken, beef, pork, and seafood.

Air fryer style cooking dries out the surface of food faster than stewing or slow cooking. Pat ingredients dry, then add a thin coat of oil so seasoning sticks and browning happens evenly. Avoid deep pools of marinade in the basket because they steam instead of crisp.

Also pay attention to batch size. A crowded basket traps steam, while a single layer with space between pieces lets hot air reach the edges. Many recipes benefit from cooking in two batches instead of forcing everything in at once.

Simple Time And Temperature Starting Points

Every appliance runs a little differently, so use these numbers as starting points and adjust for your model and taste. When in doubt, set a shorter time and add more in small increments.

Food	Temperature	Time Range
Par boiled potato wedges	400°F / 200°C	12-18 minutes, shake once
Chicken thighs, bone in	380°F / 193°C	18-25 minutes, check 165°F inside
Frozen breaded fish fillets	400°F / 200°C	10-15 minutes, crisp coating
Fresh vegetables, bite sized	375°F / 190°C	8-12 minutes, toss once
Leftover pizza slices	360°F / 182°C	4-7 minutes, cheese bubbling
Chicken wings	390°F / 199°C	18-22 minutes, flip twice
Frozen fries	400°F / 200°C	12-18 minutes, shake twice

Treat these ranges as a guide instead of a promise. The more you cook with your specific Instant Pot setup, the easier it becomes to judge how many minutes you need for your favorite recipes.

Common Mistakes When Air Frying With An Instant Pot

Trying to turn an Instant Pot into a full size air fryer can tempt you to push limits. Paying attention to a few common traps helps you avoid frustration and wasted ingredients.

Packing The Basket Too Full

Air frying works when hot air can move freely around each piece of food. When you pile potatoes or wings in a deep layer, the bottom pieces steam while the top dries out.

Solve this by cooking in batches or by using racks that stack food in thin layers. If you stack racks, rotate them halfway through so everything browns evenly.

Leaving Food Too Wet

Pressure cooking leaves a lot of moisture in the pot. If you move food directly from liquid into an air fryer basket, you will fight soggy edges for most of the cook time.

Drain sauce into a separate bowl, pat the surface dry, then coat lightly with oil or a thicker glaze. You can always drizzle some of the reserved liquid over the finished dish.

Putting It All Together For Everyday Cooking

At this point you know several ways to turn an Instant Pot into an air fryer with lids, baskets, and simple oven tricks. The next step is picking recipes that match the method you enjoy using.

Start with dishes you already cook under pressure, such as pulled pork, shredded chicken, chickpeas, potatoes, or stuffed peppers. After the tender stage, move pieces to a basket or rack, add a little oil, and crisp them while you simmer or reduce sauce in the inner pot.

As you cook, jot short notes on times and temperatures that worked well. After a few dinners you will have your own chart, and your Instant Pot will pull double duty as both cooker and air fryer stand in. You can also test the method on frozen fries or nuggets on quiet weeknights before trusting it for hungry guests at home.