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We compare products from their published specs and features; the verdicts below are our independent editorial opinions.
If you want a flexible, food-grade silicone tray that lifts and separates food for even airflow in a 6- or 10-quart Vortex, choose Instant Pot Accessory Official Air; if you need a stainless-steel crisper grill sized specifically for a 2-quart Vortex, choose HEISENLIN Air Fryer Grill.
• Instant Pot Accessory Official Air — biggest strength: Food-grade silicone that's heat resistant up to 500°F, dishwasher safe, and designed with prongs that lift, separate and secure food so it doesn't blow around — and it fits 6-quart and 10-quart Vortex air fryers.
• Instant Pot Accessory Official Air — biggest trade-off: It's one 9.1" x 9" x 2.04" tray in a single red silicone build, so it's a one-size fit meant for larger Vortex baskets rather than a precision drop-in for a compact 2-quart unit.
• HEISENLIN Air Fryer Grill — biggest strength: 304 stainless steel with a double-layer non-stick coating, a handle for easy lifting, a 6.88" square footprint with rubber bumpers, and extras in the box (a cleaning cloth plus four bumpers).
• HEISENLIN Air Fryer Grill — biggest trade-off: It's built for the 2-quart Vortex and similar-sized baskets, so it won't suit anyone cooking for a family in a bigger air fryer, and the coating needs gentle hand-washing care.
• Who each pick is for: Choose the Instant Pot tray if you own a 6- or 10-quart Vortex and want silicone convenience; choose the HEISENLIN grill if you own a 2-quart Vortex and want a stainless crisper plate.
This is an official Instant Pot accessory — a silicone pronged tray made by Lifetime Brands — and that origin matters if you already own a Vortex. The whole point of the design is the pronged surface. It lifts food off the base, separates pieces from each other, and holds them in place, which addresses one of the most common annoyances in air frying: lightweight items like wings or fries getting tossed around by the fan. By keeping food steady while still letting air move underneath, the tray is engineered around even cooking rather than just being a flat liner.
The material story is straightforward and reassuring. It's food-grade silicone, BPA-free per the spec sheet, heat resistant up to 500°F, and it won't warp or melt at normal air-fryer temperatures. Cleanup is the other headline: the non-stick surface releases residue easily and the tray is dishwasher safe, so you're not scrubbing a basket after every batch of chips or toast.
Who should buy it? If you own a 6-quart or 10-quart Vortex Air Fryer and you cook wings, fries, chips or toast regularly, this tray is the natural companion — it's sized for those baskets at roughly 9.1" deep by 9" wide by 2.04" tall, and it weighs just under 10 ounces, so it's light enough to lift in and out without fuss. Who should skip it? If you own a 2-quart mini Vortex, this tray is simply too large for your basket. And if you specifically want a rigid metal crisper plate with a handle rather than a flexible silicone insert, this isn't that product.
The HEISENLIN Air Fryer Grill Crisper Tray is a different philosophy entirely: rigid stainless steel instead of flexible silicone. It's made from food-grade 304 stainless steel, BPA-free, and the manufacturer states it meets FDA standards — non-toxic and tasteless, which matters when food sits directly on the surface at high heat. The double-layer coating process is designed so the non-stick layer doesn't flake off easily, and there's a built-in handle so you can lift the hot grill straight out of the basket and straight into the dishwasher.
Sizing is where this product lives or dies. It measures 6.88 inches square with the rubber bumpers fitted (the listing also notes a 6.9" x 6.9" figure, and allows 1–3mm measurement deviation). That footprint is purpose-built for the Instant Pot Vortex 4-in-1 2-quart Mini Air Fryer Oven, or any other air fryer basket that matches those dimensions. The four included rubber bumpers are there to seat the grill snugly and stop it sliding around; you also get a non-stick cleaning cloth in the box, which is a thoughtful touch given the care instructions.
Who should buy it? Owners of a 2-quart Vortex who want a metal crisper plate with a handle — especially anyone who prefers stainless steel over silicone for searing-adjacent cooking or who finds flexible trays awkward to position. Who should skip it? Anyone with a 6-quart or 10-quart air fryer, because it will be far too small. Also skip it if you'd rather not think about coating care: the brand explicitly warns against scrubbing with abrasive cloths or metal balls, and recommends hand washing, so it asks for a gentler routine than a dishwasher-only silicone tray.
• Best for large Vortex air fryers (6-quart or 10-quart) → Instant Pot Accessory Official Air. It's explicitly compatible with both sizes.
• Best for the 2-quart Vortex Mini → HEISENLIN Air Fryer Grill. Its 6.88" footprint is made for that basket.
• Best for stopping food from blowing around → Instant Pot Accessory Official Air. The pronged design lifts, separates and secures food by design.
• Best for a rigid metal crisper plate with a handle → HEISENLIN Air Fryer Grill. Stainless steel body, built-in handle, rubber bumpers included.
• Best for effortless cleanup → Instant Pot Accessory Official Air. Non-stick silicone, dishwasher safe, no special care warnings.
• Best for heat tolerance headroom → Instant Pot Accessory Official Air. Rated to 500°F without warping or melting.
• Best for a complete out-of-the-box kit → HEISENLIN Air Fryer Grill. You get the grill, a cleaning cloth and four bumpers in one package.
• Best for long-term durability against scratching → it's a trade-off. Stainless steel is tough, but HEISENLIN's coating demands gentle washing; silicone is soft but can't chip or flake.
In my opinion, the right pick comes down to one question: which Vortex do you own? If it's a 6-quart or 10-quart model, I'd buy the Instant Pot Accessory Official Air. The pronged silicone design solves a real problem — food shifting in the airflow — and the dishwasher-safe, 500°F-rated build keeps maintenance to almost nothing. If you own the 2-quart Vortex Mini, I'd buy the HEISENLIN Air Fryer Grill instead, because the Instant Pot tray won't fit your basket and this stainless plate is sized exactly for it. Buy for your basket size first; everything else is secondary.
FAQ
how to clean instant vortex air fryer
Start with the basket and any removable insert. If you're using the Instant Pot silicone tray, it's dishwasher safe and its non-stick surface rinses clean easily. For the HEISENLIN stainless grill, hand washing is recommended and you should avoid abrasive cloths or metal scouring balls so the coating isn't damaged — the included cleaning cloth is meant for exactly this.
Place your accessory in the basket first, then load food. The Instant Pot tray is designed to lift, separate and secure food so air flows underneath for even cooking, which suits wings, fries, chips and toast. The HEISENLIN grill sits on its rubber bumpers and gives you a flat crisper surface you lift out by the handle when cooking is done.
how to disassemble instant vortex air fryer
Both accessories are removable inserts, not fixed parts — lift them straight out of the basket once cooled. The HEISENLIN grill's handle makes this easier while it's still warm, and its rubber bumpers come off for separate rinsing. Always let the tray or grill cool before handling, and check your Vortex manual for how the basket itself separates from the drawer.
how to reset instant vortex air fryer
Resetting is a function of the air fryer's control panel, not the accessory, so it isn't affected by which tray or grill you use. Unplug the unit, wait briefly, then plug it back in to clear a stuck state, and consult your Vortex manual for any model-specific reset steps. Neither the Instant Pot silicone tray nor the HEISENLIN grill has any electronic components.
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See also: HEISENLIN Air Fryer Replacement vs KunoNana Air Fryer Grill, Instant Pot Duo 7-in-1 vs SIK Air Fryer Accessories, HEISENLIN Drip Pan vs QLRGNE 2QT: Instant Vortex Air Fryer