Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid vs Mealthy CrispLid

These two products are designed to enhance the lives of people who own an electric pressure cooker (like the products in the Instant Pot series).

Both the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid and the Mealthy CrispLid are built to add air fryer functionality to a regular multicooker, but each comes with special features that set them apart.

I worked with both products, which let me compare their pros and cons, and appreciate their power, especially when the space in the kitchen is limited. 

So, if you’re looking into the idea of adding air frying to your current cooking toolkit I am here to help you out. Below you can read my opinion on both models with everything that makes them great (or not) and my thoughts on who should buy each product.  

Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid Review

As the name says, the Air Fryer is a lid that goes over your regular 6 quarts Instant Pot multicooker (instead of the regular lid) and turns it into an air fryer. 

The lid is delivered with a heat-resistant pad (to place the lid while it’s hot), a multi-level frying basket, and a dehydrating and broiling tray. All the accessories are dishwasher safe and the heat-resistant pad can also be used for storage. 

Now, it’s important to mention that the lid should only be used with those Instant Pot cookers that have a stainless steel inner pot. The ones that feature a ceramic one (Smart WiFi 60, Duo Evo Plus 6, Duo Evo Plus 60, Duo SV 60 or Max 60) are not a good fit because of the high-heat developed by the lid. 

The thing I like most about the Instant Pot Air Fryer Lid is that it comes with six pre-set cooking functions. So it’s not just about frying. You can also use it for broiling, dehydrating, baking, roasting, and reheating. 

Furthermore, you can customize each pre-set program by increasing or decreasing the temperature and cooking time. This way, you can make those super-crispy fries just how you like them!

I experimented a lot with this lid and, I have to say, I am quite happy with the results. Sure, you may have to do some trial and error to learn the perfect settings for each food, but now you can cook everything in one pot!  Not to mention, the lid is designed with EvenCrisp technology that gives the crispiness and golden finish of deep-frying without the guilt of eating unhealthy.

Pros

• • Fits any 6 quarts IP with a stainless steel inner pot
  • It can be used to cook entire meals with one pot

 

• It has 6 pre-set cooking functions
• Easy to customize the settings
• Easy to handle and clean

Cons

• It is a bit heavy to lift over the pot
• The  warning sound system is a bit annoying
• The instructions are a bit lacking
• Does not fit 8-quart & 3-quart Instant Pots

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Mealthy CrispLid Review

Just like the Air Fryer Lid, the CrispLid from Mealthy goes over electric pressure cookers with a stainless steel inner pot to turn them into air fryers. But this time, the lid can be used on both 6 and 8 quart pots and doesn’t come with pre-set programs. 

Still, I love the fact that it has a heat-resistant glass area around the heating element that literally lets you see the food getting cooked (like in an oven). I have to admit; it is quite satisfying to watch the chicken or the fries turning to that lovely golden finish. Not to mention, you don’t have to lift the lid to check the food; you just look at it!

The Mealthy CrispLid also comes with a series of accessories. This time you get a frying basket, a raised trivet (to place inside the pot), stainless steel tongs, and a heat-resistant silicone mat. If you ask me, I think the accessories with this lid are cooler, but this is a matter of preference. 

I honestly love the fact that there are no pre-set programs! This gives me the freedom to play with the time and temperature settings and makes me feel like a high-end chef. However, if you’re new to the whole air frying thing, it’s easy to feel confused by all this freedom. Not to mention that the temperature goes up to 500ºF, which can burn the food in a jiffy if you don’t know what you’re doing. 

Lastly, you need to keep in mind that the space inside your multicooker is a bit tighter than it is in an air fryer. So, for the food to be properly cooked (broiled, browned, fried) you have to leave room for the air to move through. As such, you can’t cook in large batches, so the Mealthy lid is not a great option for large families. 

However, it is a great way to finish cooking a whole chicken by giving it that delicious final crisp!

Pros

• Extremely easy to use custom settings
• It fits a wide range of pressure cookers
• It lets you see the food being cooked
• It comes with integrated safety mechanisms
• It reaches high temperatures
• Cool accessories

Cons

• It is rather heavy
• It can be confusing for a beginner
• You can’t cook large batches

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Which One Should I Buy?

So, now that you know about both products, which one’s best for your kitchen? Well, I like them both as each has cool features, but it would be redundant to have two air frying lids, especially if you’re looking to save up space. 

Here are my thoughts on each of them:

Choose the AirFryer Lid If…

• You’re just starting with air frying (it has pre-set programs) 
• You already own a 6-quart Instant Pot with a stainless steel inner pot
• The dehydration function is of use to you
• You like the standard IP interface

Choose the Mealthy CrispLid If…

• You have a 8-quart Instant Pot
• You like playing with the settings to customize your cooking
• You enjoy the idea of a glass lid that lets you see inside the cooker
• You own several multicookers, different in size
• You like a simpler interface

Overall, both lids can turn your pressure cooker into an air fryer, so it’s up to you to decide which features matter the most. Still, if you don’t own a pressure cooker to go with any of these products, you should have a look at my Instant Pot DUO  Crisp review.