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There are few brands that can rival Instant Pot when it comes to power and versatility, but PowerXL might be onto something. They have many fine products, but one has to wonder: is the Power XL Vortex air fryer any good? Our Power XL Vortex air fryer review will show you if this model is worth buying, or if there’s a better one out there for you just calling your name.
We’ll be looking at features, sizes, presets, temperature, build quality, and more to show you if this air fryer is actually good or not.
Power XL Vortex 2qt | Power XL Vortex 3qt | Power XL Vortex 5qt | Power XL Vortex 7qt |
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PowerXL Vortex Air Fryer at a Glance
- Six appliances (air fryer, pizza maker, dehydrator, etc)
- Up to 10 presets (Fries, Chicken, Fish, Steak, etc)
- Reaches 400 degrees in several minutes
- Dishwasher safe
Power XL Vortex Air Fryer Features
It seems like every new kitchen appliance is really half a dozen or more appliances shoved into one. The PowerXL Vortex is no exception. The Vortex air fryer of course can air fry (why else would you get it?), but it does more than that.
This 6-in-1 appliance also dehydrates, cooks pizza, bakes, roasts, and reheats. On top of the common air fryer recipes, such as chicken tenders, onion rings, and fries, you can also bake chicken, cook pizza, dehydrate fruit or meat, and even roast steak or pork.
If you’re looking for an appliance that does way more than just air fry, then the Power XL air fryer might be right for you. However, we have much more to cover, so let’s keep going.
Sizes
Are you planning on air frying for yourself? What about for one other person? Or, what about the whole family? This is an important question when buying any kitchen appliance. You have to consider the size. You definitely don’t want something too small, and you don’t want to spend the money on something too big.
Don’t worry, PowerXL Vortex comes in a variety of sizes. You can get this in the following sizes:
- Power XL Vortex Air Fryer 2qt
- Power XL Vortex Air Fryer 3qt
- Power XL Vortex Air Fryer 5qt
- Power XL Vortex Air Fryer 7qt
The 2qt model is good for one or maybe two people, but the 3qt would be much better for a couple. The 5qt size is good for smaller to medium families. The 7qt air fryer is best for larger families or those with a larger appetite.
This ensures you can easily find the right one for you. You won’t be stuck with a size that doesn’t work for you.
Presets
There are up to 10 presets for the Power XL Vortex Air Fryer. What are they and why did we say “up to” 10 presets?
The number of presets you get depends on which size you choose. As you might recall, there are several different sizes. Each one is slightly different, so let’s compare them so that you know what you’re getting.
- Power XL Vortex Air Fryer 2qt (4 Presets): Fries, Chicken, Shrimp, Bake
- Power XL Vortex Air Fryer 3qt (8 Presets): Fries, Chicken, Fish, Steak, Shrimp, Dehydrate, Bake, Reheat
- Power XL Vortex Air Fryer 5qt (10 Presets): Fries, Chicken, Fish, Steak, Shrimp, Dehydrate, Bake, Reheat, Pizza, Roast
- Power XL Vortex Air Fryer 7qt (10 Presets): Fries, Chicken, Fish, Steak, Shrimp, Dehydrate, Bake, Reheat, Pizza, Roast
What does the preset do? It sets a specific time and temperature that is ideal for the food you’re cooking. This makes it much easier to cook perfect food with your air fryer. However, this doesn’t mean that the 2qt model can’t cook steak or pizza. It just means there isn’t a preset for it.
All of the Vortex air fryers allow you to manually change the time and temp. While not as convenient, this ensures that you can cook more than just what the presets suggest. Plus, it does all the cooking with minimal oil. This saves you 70% of the calories compared to eating traditionally deep fried food. Air fryers are considered a healthier alternative to deep fryers.
If you want the most presets, then we suggest the 5qt or 7qt size, but the 3qt isn’t that far behind. While the 2qt model is good, it definitely lacks in this area and you’ll be relying much more on manual settings.
Temperature
How hot can the Power XL Vortex Air Fryer get? Pretty darn hot actually, more than enough for most air fryer chicken wings, onion rings, or fries (or most other air fryer recipes). In this section we’ll cover the minimum temperature, maximum temperature, and wattage.
The maximum temperature for all four models is 400° F. That’s ideal for any air fryer application and should work well for any recipe you have in mind. However, you don’t always need the highest temperature.
So, what is the lowest temperature? It depends on the model, but there isn’t that much variance. The 2qt Vortex has a minimum temperature of 180° F while the 3qt, 5qt, and 7qt Vortex all have a minimum temperature of 90. There might be some recipes that require lower than 180° F, but honestly the 180-400° F range of the 2qt model should be fine.
What about power? Each model has a different wattage. They are as follows:
- PowerXL Vortex 2qt: 1000W
- PowerXL Vortex 3qt: 1200W
- PowerXL Vortex 5qt: 1500W
- PowerXL Vortex 7qt: 1700W
Wattage affects several things. It affects how quickly the air fryer can come to temp along with how well it maintains that temperature. It also affects overall cooking time.
You can expect the air fryer to come to temp quickly with the 5qt and 7qt models. They would also be ideal for denser ingredients. The 3qt should be fine, but the 2qt model might require some patience on your end.
Build Quality
If you’ve purchased anything from PowerXL before, then you know what to expect here. Just like with their air fryer oven (which we featured in our Best Air Fryer Oven article), the Vortex air fryer is made to last. While the body is plastic, you’ll be surprised by how durable this model is.
There is an easy-grip handle at the front that allows you to easily remove and insert the frying basket. You’ll have no problem maneuvering the basket, whether you’re placing in frozen food or removing a hot meal. Plus, the basket is dishwasher-safe for easy cleaning up.
The LCD control panel is standard on all four sizes and is simple to use. Just push your preferred perset, or change the time and temp by using the arrow buttons on the sides. It responds with your touch and lights up a pleasing blue color.
You might be wondering why this is called the “Vortex.” That’s because it swirls hot air (like a vortex) that envelopes your food and ensures it’s hot and crispy without the need of excessive oil. This turbo-charged hot air will give you deep fryer-like food at a fraction of the calorie cost.
Overall we would say that the build quality is good and this should be an air fryer you can trust with all your cooking needs.
Power XL Vortex 2qt | Power XL Vortex 3qt | Power XL Vortex 5qt | Power XL Vortex 7qt |
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Final Thoughts
So, is the Power XL Vortex Air Fryer any good? We think so! With it’s high temperatures, great presets and power (especially with the larger sizes), assortment of sizes, and good build quality, the PowerXL Vortex Air Fryer deserves a space in your kitchen. Get it today and see how many recipes you can cook with it.