Instant Pod VORTEX 9QT - 9-quart Air Fryer with VersaZone Technology Manual

WHAT'S IN THE BOX

Air Fryer

Accessories

Remember to recycle

We designed this packaging with sustainability in mind. Please recycle everything that can be recycled where you live. Be sure to keep this Guide, along with the Safety and Warranty insert for reference.

USING YOUR VORTEX AIR FRYER

Control panel

We've designed the control panel to be simple to use and easy to read.

1. Left + Right Zone Status Display
   • Cooking temperature
   • Cooking time
   • Messages
   • Error codes
2. Time/Temperature
   • Cooking time
   • Cooking temperature
   • Messages
3. Smart Programs
4. Temperature Control
   • Increase or decrease cooking temperature
5. Time Control
   • Increase or decrease cooking time
6. Left (1) + Right (2) Zone Selectors
7. SyncFinish
   • Set separate programs to end at the same time
8. SyncCook
   • Match right and left zone settings
9. Cancel
10. Start

Turning the sound On/Off

You can set notification sounds to ON or OFF.

• When in Ready or cooking modes, press and hold Time and Temp for 5 seconds until the display shows Sound On or Sound Off.

Error alerts cannot be turned off.

Choosing the temperature scale

You can display cooking temperature in either Fahrenheit or Celsius.

• When in Ready or Cooking modes, press and hold Temp for 5 seconds until the display shows Temp Unit °F or Temp Unit °C.

Reset Smart Programs to original settings

Reset individual Smart Programs

• Once you've selected the Smart Program, press and hold that Smart Program button for 3 seconds.

The Smart Program's button blinks and the cooking time and temperature are restored to the factory default setting.

Reset all Smart Programs

• With the cooker in Ready mode, press and hold the Control Dial for 3 seconds until the cooker beeps.

All Smart Program cooking times and temperatures are restored to the factory default setting.

INITIAL SET UP

Unpack

1. Remove your new Vortex air fryer from the box.
2. Remove all the packaging material from in and around the air fryer.
3. Make sure to remove all the accessories from inside the air fryer.
4. Don't remove the safety warning stickers or the rating label from the air fryer.

Clean before use

1. Wipe the interior with a damp cloth. Use a clean, soft cloth to dry.
2. Wash the accessories with hot water and dish soap. Rinse with warm, clear water and use a soft cloth to dry.

Placement

1. Place your Vortex air fryer on a stable, level surface, away from combustible material and external heat sources. Do not place your Vortex air fryer on top of another appliance.
2. Make sure to leave at least 5 in / 13 cm of space above and around all sides of the appliance to allow for sufficient air flow.

Test run

Before using your new Vortex air fryer for the first time, perform a test run to ensure everything is working correctly.

To perform a test run:

1. Insert the basket and cooking tray into the air fryer, but do not add food.
2. Select the Air Fry cooking program on the Control Panel.
3. Single Zone cooking activates by default.
   To learn more about Single Zone and Dual Zone cooking, see "Introduction to Zone Cooking" below.
4. Change the cooking temperature to 400°F / 205°C.
5. Change the cooking time to 18 minutes.
6. Press Start and the air fryer starts the test run.
7. When the display shows Add Food, just wait 10 seconds for the program to resume (do not add any food).
8. When the display shows Turn Food, just wait 10 seconds for the program to resume.
9. After the cooking session is done, let the unit cool.

Now you're ready to cook a meal in your Instant Vortex air fryer!

COOKING

The Instant Vortex air fryer uses EvenCrisp^™ rapid air circulation to crisp or cook food, from the top down giving your meals all the rich, crispy flavor of deep frying, with little to no oil.

HOT SURFACES
The air fryer will be hot during and after cooking. Always exercise extreme caution when removing food or accessories, like the cooking tray and divider, from the hot cooking chamber. Touching hot surfaces may result in personal injury, and/or property damage.

MUST ALLOW AIR FLOW
To prevent personal injury, DO NOT block air intake or air vents.

What to cook in

The cooking tray is perforated to allow air to flow under and around your food, and should be used for most foods, like wings, fries and cauliflower bites.

You can place food right on the cooking tray, without using foil or other coverings.

For the Baking program only, you can use a metal or glass baking dish to hold things like batter for cakes and dough for breads. Place the baking dish directly inside the cooking zone for baking.

Introduction to Zone Cooking

The Instant Vortex Air Fryer with VersaZone^™ Technology lets you choose how you want to cook and how much, by using different cooking zones.

Single Zone: Lets you cook food in the large 9 qt zone, ideal for things like a whole chicken or a family-sized batch of fries.

The Vortex air fryer uses Single Zone cooking by default. See instructions on switching between Single Zone and Dual Zone below.

Dual Zone: Lets you cook two foods in two zones, three different ways:

1. Use both zones with different programs: Cook in both zones at the same time, using different programs and settings.
2. SyncCook: Cook in both zones at the same time, using the same program and settings for both.
3. SyncFinish: Cook in both zones at the same time, using different programs and settings for each, but finish cooking at the same time.

Switching from Single Zone to Dual Zone Cooking

You can switch between Single Zone to Dual Zone cooking depending on what you want to cook.

1. Insert the cooking tray into the basket.
2. Slide the tray divider into the cooking tray.
3. Put the basket into the air fryer.
4. Press the Control Dial two times quickly.
5. You can now cook with two zones.

To switch back to Single Zone cooking, press the Control Dial two times quickly.

Make sure you let the tray divider cool completely before removing it from the tray.

Cooking in Single Zone

These instructions explain how to cook one food in the large 9 qt zone. To cook two foods in two zones, read the instructions for "Cooking in Dual Zone".

Prep
Thaw, cut, season or batter your ingredients according to your recipe.

Preheat

1. Add the cooking tray into the air fryer basket.
2. Insert the basket into the air fryer.
   It is not recommended to use the divider for Single Zone cooking.
3. Select the Smart Program you want to use.
   The selected program will blink and the display shows the default cooking time and temperature for that program..
4. If you want to adjust the cooking time, press Time and use the Control Dial to increase or decrease the cooking time.
5. If you want to adjust the cooking temperature, press Temp and use the Control Dial to increase or decrease the cooking temperature.
6. Press Start to begin. The status bar shows Air Fry.
7. When the cooker reaches the target temperature, the display shows Add Food.
   Note: Add Food applies to Air Fry, Roast, Bake and Broil only.

Cook

1. Remove the basket and place your food into the cooking tray.
2. Insert the basket back into the air fryer.
3. Cooking begins and the cooking countdown timer starts.

Turn

4. Part way through the cooking cycle the display shows Turn Food.
   If you do not remove the basket after Turn Food displays, cooking will proceed after 10 seconds.
5. Remove the basket and carefully turn, flip, or rotate your food.
6. Insert the basket again. Cooking continues.

Finish

• When the Smart Program completes, the air fryer beeps and the display shows End.

The air fryer beeps once every minute for up to 10 minutes to remind you that cooking has completed.

Cooking in Dual Zone

These instructions explain how to cook two foods in two zones by inserting the divider to create 2 x 4.5 qt zones.

Prep
Thaw, cut, season or batter your ingredients according to your recipe(s).

Preheat

1. Insert the cooking tray into the basket.
2. Slide the tray divider into the cooking tray.
3. Put the basket into the air fryer.
4. Press the Control Dial two times quickly to activate Dual Zone cooking.
5. The display will show left and right zone selections 1 and 2.
6. Set up your first Smart Program in the left zone (select 1), including any changes to time and temperature settings if desired.
7. Press 2 to start setting up a second program in the right zone including any changes to time and temperature settings if desired.
   You can also start the first program in the right zone (select 2) and then set up the left zone (select 1).
8. If you want to select a Smart Program other than Air Fry, press the button for the program you want to use.
   The default time and temperature are displayed for that Smart Program.
9. If you want to adjust the cooking time, press Time and use the Control Dial to increase or decrease cooking time.
10. If you want to adjust the cooking temperature, press Temp and use the Control Dial to increase or decrease cooking temperature.
11. Press Start to begin. The status bar shows the selected Smart Program for each zone.
12. When the cooker reaches the target temperature, the display shows Add Food.
    Note: Add Food applies to Air Fry, Roast, Bake and Broil only.

Cook

1. Remove the basket and place your food into one or both zone(s).
2. Insert the basket into the air fryer.
3. Cooking begins and the cooking countdown timer starts.

Turn

4. Part way through the cooking cycle the display shows Turn Food.
   If you do not remove the basket after Turn Food displays, cooking will proceed after 10 seconds.
5. Remove the basket and carefully turn, flip, or rotate your food.
6. Insert the basket again. Cooking continues.

Finish

7. When the Smart Program completes, the air fryer beeps and the display shows End.
   The air fryer beeps once every minute for up to 10 minutes to remind you that cooking has completed.

How to SyncCook^™

1. Follow the instructions for Cooking and any specific instructions for the Smart Program you want to use.
2. After you've set up your first program (in either zone) but before pressing Start, press SyncCook.
   The SyncCook icon displays.
3. Then press START and continue following the instructions for Cooking.

About SyncCook

• You can change the cooking time and temperature settings for both zones (SyncCook will remain ON) by adjusting the cooking time or temperature.
• You can change the cooking time and temperature settings for either zone (SyncCook will turn OFF) by pressing 1 or 2 to select a zone to change and then adjusting the cooking time or temperature.
• If you remove the food from one zone during cooking, the other zone will keep cooking. The display will still show the SyncCook icon, but the cooking times will be different in each zone.

Ending SyncCook

You can end SyncCook at any time to make changes to one or both cooking programs.

1. Press 1 or 2 to select the zone you'd like to make changes to.
   SyncCook stops and the icon no longer displays.
2. Adjust the cooking time or temperature settings and press the Control Dial to confirm the changes.
3. Press Start to continue cooking, with each zone cooking with its own program and settings.

How to SyncFinish

1. Follow the instructions for Cooking and any specific instructions for the Smart Program you want to use.
2. Set up your first program in either zone (select 1 or 2) including any changes to time and temperature settings if you want.
3. Press 1 or 2 to select the other zone and start setting up a Smart Program for that zone, including any changes to time and temperature settings if you want.
4. Press SyncFinish.
   The SyncFinish icon displays.
5. Press Start and continue following the instructions for Cooking.
   The air fryer will calculate the cooking times and start cooking each zone at the appropriate time so they finish together.

About SyncFinish

• If you need to remove food from one of the zones during cooking, cooking in the other zone will pause to keep the two in sync.

Ending SyncFinish

You can end SyncFinish if you need to make changes to the cooking programs by pressing Cancel. After that, reselect a program and settings for each zone.

Changing cooking time during cooking

You can change the cooking time after you've started a Smart Program.

Single Zone cooking:

1. Press Time and use the Control Dial to increase or decrease cooking temperature.
2. Then press the Control Dial to confirm the change.
3. Press Start to continue cooking.
   If you don't press Start, cooking continues using the former settings.

Dual Zone cooking:

1. Press 1 or 2 to select the zone you want to change.
2. Press Time and use the Control Dial to increase or decrease cooking time.
3. Then press the Control Dial to confirm the change.
4. Press Start to continue cooking.
   If you don't press Start, cooking continues using the former settings.

Changing cooking temperature during cooking

You can change the cooking time after you've started a Smart Program.

Single Zone cooking:

Press Temperature and use the Control Dial to increase or decrease cooking temperature.

Then press the Control Dial to confirm the change.

Press Start to continue cooking.

If you don't press Start, cooking continues using the former settings.

Dual Zone cooking:

1. Press 1 or 2 to select the zone you want to change.
2. Press Temperature and use the Control Dial to increase or decrease cooking temperature.
3. Then press the Control Dial to confirm the change.
4. Press Start to continue cooking.
   If you don't press Start, cooking continues using the former settings.

Cancel anytime

You can cancel cooking at any time after you've started a Smart Program:

Single Zone cooking:

1. Press Cancel.

Dual Zone cooking:

1. Press 1 or 2 to select the zone you want to cancel.
2. Press Cancel.
   If you press Cancel without selecting a zone, both zones will be canceled.

SMART PROGRAMS

Air Fry

You can air fry foods like fries, cauliflower bites, wings, nuggets and more.

Setting	Default	Minimum	Maximum
Temperature	385°F / 196°C	180°F / 82°C	400°F / 205°C
Cooking Time	15 minutes (00:15)	1 minute (00:01)	1 hour (01:00)

To air fry

• Follow the basic instructions for Cooking.
• Select "Air Fry" as the Smart Program.

Roast

You can roast foods like beef, lamb, pork, poultry, vegetables and scalloped potatoes, for a deliciously tender inside and browned outside.

Setting	Default	Minimum	Maximum
Temperature	400°F / 205°C	180°F / 82°C	400°F / 205°C
Cooking Time	18 minutes (00:18) 1 minute	(00:01)	1 hour (01:00)

To roast

• Follow the basic instructions for Cooking.
• Select "Roast" as the Smart Program.

Bake

You can bake foods like breads, cakes, pastries and buns, with the Vortex as your own "mini oven".

Setting	Default	Minimum	Maximum
Temperature	350°F / 176°C	180°F / 82°C	400°F / 205°C
Cooking Time	20 minutes (00:20)	1 minute (00:01)	1 hour (01:00)

To bake

• Follow the basic instructions for Cooking.
• Select "Bake" as the Smart Program.
• There is no need to turn the food partway through cooking.

Leave approximately 1 in / 2.5 cm of space around all sides of the baking dish to allow heat to circulate evenly.

Broil

Broiling cooks using direct top-down heating, perfect for melting cheese on French onion soup, and nachos.

Setting	Default	Minimum	Maximum
Temperature	400°F / 205°C	400°F / 205°C	450°F / 232°C
Cooking Time	6 minutes (00:06)	1 minute (00:01)	30 minutes (00:30)

To broil

• Follow the basic instructions for Cooking.
• Select "Broil" as the Smart Program.
• There is no need to turn the food partway through cooking.

Dehydrate

Dehydrating uses low heat over a long period of time to safely dry out food items, like dried fruit, jerky and dried veggies.

Setting	Default	Minimum	Maximum
Temperature	130°F / 54°C	95°F / 35°C	175°F / 79°C
Cooking Time	8 hours (08:00)	1 hour (01:00)	72 hours (72:00)

To dehydrate

• Follow the basic instructions for Cooking.
• Select "Dehydrate" as the Smart Program.
• There is no need to turn the food partway through cooking.

Reheat

Bring the crisp and crunch back to leftover fries or pizza, in just a few minutes.

Setting	Default	Minimum	Maximum
Temperature	280°F / 138°C	120°F / 49°C	360°F / 182°C
Cooking Time	10 minutes (00:10)	1 minute (00:01)	1 hour (01:00)

To reheat

• Follow the basic instructions for Cooking.
• Select "Reheat" as the Smart Program.

Once this Smart Cooking function starts, the display will show the target temperature and cooking time immediately, there's no preheating time.

CLEANING

Clean your Instant Vortex air fryer after each use. Always let all parts cool to room temperature before cleaning. Before use or storing, make sure all surfaces are dry.

To prevent electric shock, unplug before cleaning.
DO NOT immerse power cord, plug or the appliance in water or other liquid, which may result in electric shock.

Part	Cleaning instructions
Cooking tray and divider	Dishwasher safe.* The cooking tray and divider have a non-stick coating. Avoid using metal utensils, steel wool pads or harsh cleansers when cleaning.
Removable air fryer basket	Clean with a damp cloth and mild dish soap. Dishwasher safe.* Avoid using metal utensils, steel wool pads or harsh cleansers when cleaning.
Cooking chamber	Clean with a damp cloth and mild dish soap. Always check the heating coil and cooking chamber walls for oil spatter and food debris, and clean as needed. Ensure the heating coil is dry before turning on the air fryer. To remove baked-on grease and food residue from the cooking chamber, spray with a mixture of baking soda and vinegar and wipe clean with damp cloth. For stubborn stains, allow the mixture to sit on the affected area for several minutes before scrubbing clean.
Power cord	Clean with a soft, damp cloth or sponge. Wipe dry.

*Some discoloration may occur after machine washing, but this will not affect the cooker's safety or performance.

TROUBLESHOOTING

Problem	Cause	Solution
Air fryer will not turn on	The appliance is not properly plugged in.	Make sure the power cord is plugged into the outlet firmly.
	Outlet is not powered.	Plug another appliance into the same outlet to test the circuit.
	The basket is not fully inserted into the air fryer.	Make sure the basket is fully inserted.
Black smoke is coming from the air fryer	Using an oil with a low smoke point.	Cancel the Smart Program, unplug the cooker and allow it to cool to room temperature. Choose a neutral oil with a high smoke point, such as Canola, Avocado, Soybean, Safflower, or Rice Bran.
	Food residue on the heating coil, in the cooking chamber or on the accessories.	Cancel the Smart Program, unplug the cooker and allow it to cool to room temperature. Remove all accessories from the cooking chamber and clean the cooking chamber and all accessories thoroughly.
	Appliance malfunction.	Contact Consumer Care.
White smoke is coming from the air fryer	Cooking foods with a high fat content, such as bacon, sausage, and hamburger	Avoid air frying foods with a high fat content. Check the cooking chamber for excess oil and/or fat and carefully remove as needed before air frying.
	Water is vaporizing, producing thick steam.	Pat dry moist food ingredients before air frying. Do not add water or other liquid to the cooking chamber when air frying.
	Seasoning on food has blown into element.	Be mindful when seasoning food. Spray vegetables and meats with oil before seasoning to help the seasoning stick.

ERROR CODES

If the control panel displays an error code from this list, there is an issue with the Vortex. Here are the actions you should take to fix the problem

Problem	Cause	Solution
E1	Open circuit.	Contact Consumer Care.
E2	Temperature sensor short circuit.	Contact Consumer Care.

LEARN MORE

There's a whole world of Instant^® Vortex^™ information and help just waiting for you. Here are some of the most helpful resources.

Register your product
Instanthome.com/register

Contact Consumer Care

In the Instant Brand Connect app Instanthome.com/customer-care-center
support@instanthome.com

Product specifications

Model	Volume	Wattage	Power	Weight	Dimensions
AFB9002BK Total	9 Quart (4.5 Quart + 4.5 Quart)	1700 W	120V / 60 Hz	15.65 lbs 7.1 kgs	in: 15.9 L x 15.1 W x 12.3 H mm: 404 L x 384 W x 314 H