Compare Air Fryer
Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer scores higher on safety - here's why.
The most important dimensions, side by side.
Feature-by-feature breakdown across 2 products
Emeril Lagasse
Instant Pot
Strengths
Weaknesses
Strengths
Weaknesses
Safety Score
2.0
Safety Score
6.5
BetterWhy it matters: For air fryers, basket material is the single biggest factor in our safety scoring - it accounts for 60% of the safety pillar, which itself carries 50% of the overall V4.2 score. We evaluate whether baskets use PTFE coatings, stainless steel, borosilicate glass, or ceramic, and check for Prop 65 warnings and third-party PFAS testing. Instant Pot's undisclosed material basket scored 6.5/10 here.
Emeril Lagasse
Instant Pot
Strengths
Weaknesses
Strengths
Efficacy Score
6.5
Efficacy Score
8.0
BetterWhy it matters: We evaluate cooking evenness, temperature accuracy, preheat speed, and capacity relative to wattage. - higher watts-per-quart generally means faster, more even crisping.
Overall Score
4.5
Overall Score
7.1
BetterWhy it matters: Weighted average of all scoring dimensions.
Emeril Lagasse
Instant Pot
Strengths
Strengths
Weaknesses
Usability Score
N/A
Usability Score
6.5
BetterWhy it matters: Daily convenience matters: we score noise level, dishwasher-safe parts, control intuitiveness, and kitchen footprint.
Emeril Lagasse
Instant Pot
Strengths
Weaknesses
Strengths
Price
$169
Price
$140
BetterWhy it matters: Lower price is better when quality is comparable.
Value Score
4.0
Value Score
7.5
BetterWhy it matters: We calculate cost per R3 quality point to normalize the comparison. Emeril Lagasse: $38/point vs Instant Pot: $20/point. Lower cost-per-point means better value relative to quality.
7-day free trial · Cancel anytime
Everything you need to make the call — who each one is for, and who should skip it.
Go for it if you...
—
You want the lowest price option at $140.
Neither of these quite what you're looking for?
I've reviewed all Air Fryer options at every price pointEvery Air Fryer in our database is scored using R3's V4.2 deterministic rubric — the same inputs always produce the same score. For this comparison, we evaluated Emeril Lagasse and Instant Pot across 0 independent criteria: . No sponsored rankings. No paid placements.
Straight answers — no sponsored content, no filler.
The Emeril Lagasse Power AirFryer 360 uses a undisclosed material basket. PTFE-coated nonstick may contain trace PFAS compounds, which is reflected in its 2.0/10 safety score in our V4.2 rubric. For a PFAS-free alternative, look for models with stainless steel or borosilicate glass baskets.
Between these two, the Instant Vortex Plus 6-Quart Air Fryer (undisclosed material basket, 6.5/10 safety) uses materials I'm more comfortable with at high heat. The Emeril Lagasse Power AirFryer 360's undisclosed material basket scored 2.0/10. In our V4.2 rubric, basket material accounts for a significant portion of the safety pillar, which carries 50% of the overall score.
For families, capacity comes first: check the capacity specs for your family size. Overall, I'd lean toward Instant Pot for most families.
304 stainless steel is inherently PFAS-free and won't off-gas at any cooking temperature. Nonstick coatings (PTFE/Teflon) are stable below 400°F but can begin degrading above that threshold. In our V4.2 rubric, stainless and borosilicate glass baskets consistently score higher on the safety pillar. That said, a well-maintained nonstick basket from a reputable brand still meets safety baselines - it's a question of margin, not danger.
We use our V4.2 deterministic rubric with four weighted pillars: Safety (50%), Efficacy (20%), Usability (20%), and Value (10%). For air fryers, safety evaluates basket material composition, Prop 65 compliance, third-party certifications, and PFAS testing. Efficacy covers cooking performance, temperature accuracy, and capacity-to-wattage ratio. Usability scores noise levels, cleanup ease, and warranty terms. Every score is reproducible - the same product data produces the same score.
Not the right match? Explore these alternatives in the same category.
