Why we tested the Instant Omni Plus
The 18L Omni Plus sits in the sweet spot of countertop multi-cookers: large enough to replace the toaster oven and air fryer entirely, small enough to live on a counter without dominating the workspace. The rotisserie and dehydrate functions are uncommon at this price, and Instant has a strong reputation for reliable heating in the Instant Pot line. We wanted to verify whether the Omni Plus genuinely consolidates kitchen appliance count or if it falls short on one of the core functions.
How we tested
Over three months we ran the Omni Plus daily across all 11 functions. Air fry tests covered frozen french fries (2 lb loads at 400°F), chicken wings (1.5 lb at 400°F for 22 minutes), breaded shrimp, and homemade fries cut from russet potatoes. Rotisserie tests covered 12 whole chickens between 3.5 and 5.2 lbs at 380°F with rotation. Dehydrate cycles produced beef jerky at 165°F for 6 hours and apple slices at 135°F for 8 hours. Bake testing used chocolate chip cookie sheets, 12-inch pizzas (frozen and fresh), and a 9x13 lasagna. Toast was tested at shade 3 with a 6-slice load of standard sandwich bread. Temperature accuracy was verified with a CDN probe thermometer.
Performance
Air fry is the standout. The 18L cavity has enough air circulation that food does not need to be shaken or repositioned mid-cycle, unlike a 6-qt basket air fryer. French fries from a 2 lb frozen bag came out evenly golden with proper interior fluffiness at 400°F for 18 minutes. Chicken wings finished at internal 175°F with crisp skin that matched the COSORI Pro LE we tested in the same week. Breaded shrimp at 380°F for 8 minutes came out crisp without the breading flaking off, which is a common failure mode in air fryers.
Rotisserie performance justifies the function. A 4.2 lb whole chicken rotisserie at 380°F for 65 minutes produced uniform mahogany browning with skin crisping that you cannot get from any flat roasting method short of professional convection. The drip tray catches juices cleanly. Carryover internal temperature held breast meat moist at 165°F final temperature. This single function recovered our $180 cost in our test household compared to buying weekly grocery store rotisserie chickens.
Bake performance is solid. Cookie sheets baked evenly enough that we did not need to rotate. Frozen pizza came out with bottom crust crisping that matched pizza stone results at 425°F. Temperature accuracy ran within 5-10°F of set, much closer than the Oster TSSTTVFDDG French Convection oven we tested.
Toast is the weak function. A 6-slice load showed a one-shade darker pattern in the center and lighter on the edges, opposite of the typical edge-darker pattern. This is fixable by shifting to a 4-slice load and centering the bread, but it is not the toaster experience the brand markets.
Dehydrate worked well at low temperatures. Beef jerky finished at 6 hours at 165°F with consistent dryness across the racks. Apple slices took 8 hours at 135°F and came out crisp. The dehydrate cycle does not require monitoring once you set it.
Who should buy this
The Instant Omni Plus is the right pick for households consolidating multiple appliances into one footprint, particularly for cooks who want functional air fry capacity, occasional rotisserie use, or dehydrate function without committing to a separate dehydrator. It is the strongest single-unit choice if you can sacrifice some toast evenness. Skip it if your priority is toast quality first (Breville Smart Oven Pro is better) or if you have space and budget for separate dedicated appliances.
Instant Omni Plus 18L Air Fryer Toaster Oven vs. the competition
| Product | Verdict |
|---|---|
| Ninja Foodi XL Pro Air Oven DT201 | Alternative - Larger 30L cavity, similar functions, $250. |
| Cuisinart TOA-60 Air Fryer Toaster Oven | Alternative - Better toast evenness, smaller cavity, no rotisserie. |
| Breville Smart Oven Pro BOV845BSS | Skip - Better build and accuracy but no air fry or rotisserie. |
Full specifications
| Capacity | 18 liters / 6 slices / 12-inch pizza |
| Wattage | 1500 W |
| Cooking Functions | 11 (air fry, bake, broil, toast, roast, rotisserie, dehydrate, reheat, warm, slow cook, proof) |
| Dimensions | 18.4 x 15.7 x 13.4 inches |
| Weight | 23.4 lbs |
See full details on Amazon →
Should you buy the Instant Omni Plus 18L Air Fryer Toaster Oven?
The Omni Plus is the closest a single countertop oven gets to replacing both a toaster oven and an air fryer at the same time. The 18-liter cavity, rotisserie, and dehydrate functions earn their kitchen real estate, and air fry results match dedicated 6-qt air fryers in most tests. Toast shade evenness is the main weakness.
Frequently asked questions
How loud is the air fry mode?+
We measured 63 dB at 3 feet during air fry operation, which is comparable to a typical kitchen exhaust fan. It is quieter than a dedicated COSORI or Ninja air fryer (which run 68-72 dB) because the fan is larger and slower. The rotisserie motor adds a low mechanical hum but the overall noise stays well below conversation level.
Can you fit a rotisserie chicken larger than 4 lbs?+
Yes, up to about 5 lbs reliably. The rotisserie spit is 14 inches long with a 10-inch usable space between the forks. We rotisseried a 5.2 lb chicken with the legs tied tight and it cleared the heating elements with about half an inch of clearance. Anything larger requires removing the wishbone or trussing very compactly.
📅 Update log
- May 27, 2026Initial review published after 3-month countertop testing including 12 rotisserie cycles.
