Air Fryer vs Instant Pot: Which is Better?

When you are trying to get your low-carb kitchen set-up, one of the biggest issues is 
deciding what appliances you need. You may want to do like most people and go with 
an option that will multi-task and provide more bang for your buck. This really doesn't 
come into play until you start to look at air fryers and Instant Pots. Which is best? Which 
will do what you need? Here are the pros and cons of each one to help you decide.

Pros of the Air Fryer

There are several pros to using the air fryer. One of the biggest benefits is the use of 
very little oil. This can take the low-carb diet to the next level and it can make it easy for 
people that need to reduce the amount of fat and carbs in their diet. You can also 
benefit from the pro of having the same crispy fried styled food that you liked on your 
other eating plans or lifestyles. The thing to keep in mind is that, if you are into fried 
foods this is the option for you. 

Cons of the Air Fryer

The air fryer is not a multi-tasker. It is a low oil frying option. You can do some limited 
roasting, but overall it is limited to the technique of frying like that of a traditional oil 
frying machine. Air fryers are also smaller. If you have a large family, this will likely not 
work well for you. You can only cook for one to three people at a time in limited 
amounts. You can buy an extra-large option, but it still may be limiting. You will still 
need other appliances to cook with as well as prep with.

Pros of the Instant Pot

An Instant Pot can do everything but fry foods. It can make rice, pasta, soups, stews, 
high pressure cooking, low pressure cooking, and can even sauté. It takes the place of 
a pressure cooker, slow cooker, rice maker, and stew pot. This makes it an excellent 
investment for a multi-tasking option. It makes food for all your meals, in larger crockpot 
sized amounts. It can also help you with meal prep for the week since most of the 
dishes are cooked quickly and in less than an hour. Clean up is easy so you can clean 
in between uses.

Cons of the Instant Pot

The Instant Pot does not make crunchy foods. You will not get the fried aspect from the 
Instant Pot. If fried foods are something you enjoy and are the way you may derail from 
your low-carb diet, then the Instant Pot may not help. You also need to play with some 
of the settings to decide what works for you and what needs to be tweaked slightly to 
accommodate. 

Though you may find yourself starting with one and moving to the other appliance, both 
have their merits for someone starting off in the low-carb lifestyle. Keep in mind, you 
can always buy one later, but the initial choice is truly going to come down to your 
current eating habits and which one helps you transition best. 
