Is the original air fryer still one of the best? Instant 4-in-1 Air Fryer review

Instant arguably makes some of the best air fryers on the market and, with the versatile Instant 4-in-1 Air Fryer retailing for under £100, it's easy to see why. This is compact, competent, and reasonably priced. What more could you ask for?

When I started testing them, everyone told me that Instant makes the best air fryers on the market. Sure enough, over fifty air fryers later, I can see why it was taken as gospel that Instant's are the best. They're affordable, straightforward, and, most importantly, they cook food perfectly.

Two years later, I thought it was time to get a formal review up for the Instant 4-in-1 Air Fryer. I've used it lots of times, both at work and in different homes. I've put it up against the best Ninja air fryers on the market as well as other models too. Here's everything you need to know about the best affordable air fryer out there.

Specifications

Unboxing

Whilst Instant makes market-leading air fryers, their sustainable packaging policies aren't quite at the forefront of the market. The Instant 4-in-1 Air Fryer came with some polystyrene and plastics around it. Even though the cardboard box that it comes in is compact, the rest of the packaging is likely to fill up your main bin.

Once you've peeled the stickers and pulled off the polystyrene, you'll be left with a smart little air fryer. The screen on the front of the Instant will explain everything you need to know. There's a bake, roast, air fry, and reheat button, as well as controls for time and temperature. The touchscreen is tidy and sensitive, whilst the rest of the model is finished in a smart matte black finish. It's a very appealing appliance for homes that are short on space, shopping on a budget, but not willing to compromise on aesthetics.

Who would it suit?

Those first impressions very naturally lead me on to who the Instant 4-in-1 Air Fryer would suit. The sub-£100 price tag, compact design, and simple display makes this the perfect air fryer for beginners or people who are relatively simple cooks. You can load-up enough food for 2-3 people in here and have it all cooked in a reasonable amount of time. See? It's brilliant at the basics.

If you have a big, busy home with various demands, you might need to spend a little more money on a more versatile air fryer. Dual zone models can be really useful if you want to cook a full meal at once. For example, you can have fish fingers in one drawer and chips in the other. If that's not you though, and you want a compact model for your counter, this is perfect.

What is it like to use?

Rather unsurprisingly, the Instant 4-in-1 Air Fryer is really easy to use. The whole front screen lights up with self-explanatory buttons that lead you to pre-set temperatures and times for each function. You don't need any air fryer experience to get started, just make sure to give the drawer a quick rinse. If you don't the air fryer might end up smelling like burning plastic.

Test 1: chips

Chips are a classic air fryer dish, so it's important that Instant 4-in-1 Air Fryer can cook them perfectly. I put two portions of chips into the drawer, set the air fryer function running and Instant suggested cooking them at 200 degrees for twenty minutes. When it beeped half way through, I gave the chips a shake. They looked a little darker than I would have expected them to for half way through cooking, so I checked on them at fifteen minutes, and then seventeen minutes. When I opened the drawer at seventeen minutes, the chips looked good. They were on the darker side of golden brown and pretty evenly coloured.

Without further ado, I tipped them onto my plate and put them through the taste test. They were crispy on the outside and lightly fluffy on the inside, if not a little dry. I tried cooking them again for just fifteen minutes and they were much better. If you're quick to adjust to shorter cooking times, you'll love the Instant.

Test 2: fish fingers

Convenient cooking is one of the main reasons why people invest in air fryers. That means that you need to be able to get freezer food from the drawer to the table in less than twenty minutes. After the success of frozen chips (15 minutes is super speedy) I wanted to see what happened with frozen fish fingers.

I put four fish fingers in the Instant 4-in-1 Air Fryer drawer. I think you could fit six in if you were to plan your positioning carefully, but four seems like the best amount. I tried cooking them for fifteen minutes at 190 degrees. When I pulled out the drawer, my gut told me to give them another couple of minutes, so I did.

After seventeen minutes, I put the fish fingers on a plate (beside my cool chips) on a plate. The breaded outside was crispy and well cooked, whilst the inside was still moist and delicious. I can't fault how well the Instant cooked these. 

Test 3: Mediterranean vegetables

 It's important that your air fryer can boast some versatility as well as speed and efficiency, so I tried roasting some vegetables in the Instant. I sliced aubergine, courgette, garlic, onion, and pepper, tossing it all in a tablespoon of oil before shaking them into the drawer. Thisis much less oil than you'd need if you were roasting the same vegetables in an oven. I tried roasting the vegetables with no oil, but the results were much crisper with a little oil drizzled over.

After twelve minutes on the roast function, my vegetables had some nice charring on the tips and they were tender and soft in the middle. I wouldn't want them to have cooked for any longer, which is surprising, since most air fryers need a little longer. When I went to tip these onto a plate, I noticed that some oil had pooled in the bottom of the air fryer drawer. For this reason, I'd recommend using a silicone spoon to scoop out the vegetables, so that you don't end up with a pool of oil on your plate.

Test 4: reheating

Reheating is never a strength of air fryers. The fast, hot air can dry out food, so I was a little hesitant about putting some slices of my favourite pizza in it. However, after splashing three slices with water and setting them in the basket, at 160 degrees, for ten minutes, my pizza slices were revived. The crusts were a little too crispy, but only marginally. Aside from that, the sauce was still moist, the cheese melted, and the pizza was delicious. I couldn't get more than three slices in the Instant 4-in-1 Air Fryer drawer, but it was so quick, it's easy to get through in batches.

Cleaning

The Instant 4-in-1 Air Fryer drawer is dishwasher safe, so you could easily bung it in and leave your kitchen appliances to do the hard work for you. However, I've found that dishwashing drawers put them through more strain than they need, especially since the coating is non-stick, so they're easy to wash in the first place. With some warm water and Ecover, I could wipe away any burns, stickiness, and oil residue left on the air fryer. 

How does it compare?

I tested Instant 4-in-1 Air Fryer right beside the Cosori Lite Air Fryer, which is half the price of the Instant. Rather surprisingly, the Cosori takes up more space on the countertop, without offering much more space in the air fryer basket. It's quicker to cook, but a little vicious and inconsistent with the results. Therefore, if you're new to these nifty appliances, the Instant is a better bet. It's a great option for small families, singles, and couples, even if it is a little more expensive. Some people prefer the breadth that the Instant offers, from baking to roasting, rather than the item-specific presets of the Cosori (it has chips, bacon, and fish pre-sets).

 In the general category of the best air fryers for beginners and small spaces, it's inevitable that I mention the Ninja MAX AF160. This is even bigger than the Instant (and £30 more expensive), but it's much more versatile. It comes with plenty more pre-sets, for dehydrating, slow cooking, broiling and more. Also, from my perspective, Ninja offers a better user experience. The pre-sets are easier to navigate and more true to their promises (on time and temperature). You can't really go wrong with either.

Should you buy it?

If you're new to air frying, the Instant 4-in-1 Air Fryer is a simple, compact, beginner-friendly option. The brand are market leaders and, just a few hours using one will show you why. Some people might find the capacity limiting or the pre-sets to be a little too simplistic, but you'll have to be a pretty adventurous cook to let that stop you from enjoying what the Instant has to offer.

How we test

As the air fryer expert at woman&hom, I handle the entire process of testing air fryers. My team and I follow a structured method for every review, allowing us to compare models across the market and help you choose the best one for your kitchen.

Before diving into the cooking, I conduct thorough research on the newest releases in the air fryer world. When I come across one that I think will meet your needs, I bring it into the woman&home test kitchen to begin testing.

I typically start by cooking chips, followed by frozen fish fingers, roasted vegetables, reheating leftovers, bacon, and, if possible, roasting a chicken. This gives me a broad sense of the air fryer's capabilities. The chips and fish fingers need to be cooked from frozen until they’re crispy and hot without drying out. Bacon should be juicy yet crispy, while the vegetables should come out charred, tender, and flavorful.

After cooking, I assess how easy the air fryer is to clean, including whether the components are dishwasher-safe. If an air fryer is difficult to clean, it’s likely to discourage regular use.

Once all the testing is done, I compare the air fryer to other models, considering its performance, value for money, and who it would best suit. I also include any other relevant details that could help you in your decision-making process. Finally, I provide my verdict on whether the air fryer is worth purchasing.