The Instant Pot Air Fryer with the Touchscreen: A Kitchen Counter Compromise
If you’re looking at this specific Instant Pot Duo Crisp model with the large touchscreen, you’re likely in a particular camp: you want the multi-function promise of an Instant Pot combined with an air fryer, but you’re also drawn to the idea of a modern, button-free interface. You’re probably upgrading from a single-function appliance or a much older multi-cooker, and you want to consolidate. The promise is clear: one device to pressure cook, slow cook, steam, and air fry. The reality of living with it, however, hinges entirely on how you feel about that central touchscreen.
The screen isn’t just an interface; it’s the entire experience. Most reviews and listings will tell you it has 13 customizable programs. What they don’t convey is the slight but constant lag. When you’re adjusting time or temperature, there’s a half-second delay between your tap and the response. It feels less like a precision instrument and more like an older tablet. In a busy kitchen with wet or greasy fingers, this becomes a genuine nuisance. You’ll find yourself tapping twice, wondering if it registered. For a pressure cooker function, where you just “set and forget,” it’s fine. For air frying, where you might want to shake a basket and quickly add a few more minutes, the friction is real.
This leads to the one thing most people get wrong about this product type: they think “multi-cooker” means “all functions are equally good.” They aren’t. This unit excels as a pressure cooker—it’s an Instant Pot, after all. It’s solid and reliable for that. As an air fryer, it’s… adequate. The heating element and fan are in the lid, which is a clever space-saving design, but it creates an uneven cooking environment compared to a dedicated, basket-style air fryer. Items on the very bottom of the included stainless steel pot (used for air frying) get less direct airflow and can be slightly less crispy. You learn to use the middle rack for best results and accept that you’ll need to shuffle things a bit more.
Two specific quirks you’d only discover through use: First, the stainless steel pot is shared between all functions. After you’ve air-fried chicken wings, that pot is hot and needs a serious clean before you can use it to, say, make yogurt. The consolidation means more immediate washing, not less. Second, the “Customizable Programs” are just saved presets. You can’t, for instance, create a sequence like “pressure cook for 10 minutes, then automatically switch to air fry for 5.” They are separate, manual steps. The transition between functions always involves removing the lid, swapping components (the air fryer lid for the pressure lid, or vice versa), and starting a new program. It’s not a seamless magic box; it’s two very good appliances bolted together with a slightly slow brain.
Who will love this? Someone with very limited counter and storage space who does a lot of weeknight pressure cooker meals (soups, pulled chicken, hard-boiled eggs) and wants a serviceable air fryer for occasional fries, roasted veggies, or reheating pizza. The all-in-one footprint is its killer feature.
What you’ll regret not knowing is the cleaning drill. That air fryer lid has a heating element and fan behind a guard. Grease and crumbs will find their way in. It’s not dishwasher safe, and cleaning it requires a careful wipe-down. If you air fry greasy foods frequently, this maintenance is non-negotiable and more involved than with a simple basket you can dunk in the sink.
In the end, this isn’t the best pressure cooker on the market (though it’s top-tier), nor is it the best air fryer. It’s the best at being both in the space of one. You buy it for the compromise, accepting the touchscreen’s lag and the shared pot’s hassle in exchange for a single appliance that clears the cabinet. For a specific, space-constrained lifestyle, that’s a worthwhile trade. For someone who air fries daily and wants peak performance, it’s a frustrating half-measure. Its value is defined entirely by which of those people you are.