The Philips 3000 Series was one of the most requested air fryer reviews on this channel, and now Philips have launched the 5000 Series. It looks almost the same, but it also features a steam function that opens up a lot of other cooking possibilities and includes a steam clean option. So did it live up to expectations?
At the time of recording this video, there are not many customer reviews available for this Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket model. The ones available on the Philips website are particularly confusing because they are a mix of gifted product reviews, which can be problematic, and also reviews of their other model, the Philips 3000 Series, all mixed together. So it is quite hard to know if this model is actually any good.
This unit was purchased independently and has been used for a couple of weeks with all functions tested extensively. In this article, you will see what was cooked, what the results were like, and how this appliance actually works.
Table of Contents
Design and Build
The Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket is a 9-litre air fryer with an asymmetrical setup. One drawer has a 3-litre capacity and the other has a 6-litre capacity.
Philips own the patent for Rapid Air Technology, which was really the beginning of air fryers. The mechanics of that mean the bottom of their air fryer drawers have a raised embossed pattern on them, which apparently helps air circulate efficiently.
Because of this pattern, you do not really have the option of cooking directly in the drawer like you might with some other brands. In the larger drawer, you have a basket, and in the smaller one there is a crisper plate.
No information could be found online about what material is used for the nonstick coating, but the drawer, crisper plate, and basket are all dishwasher safe. The basket in the large drawer looks square but it is not. It has a right way and a wrong way to go in, so you may need to rotate it.
Also worth noting, it has little feet on the bottom, and if someone heavy-handed places pressure on the basket while it is in the sink, it is possible to push those feet outwards. You then have to push them back in so it fits back in the drawer properly.
The Manual Problem
Before getting into the cooking results, it is worth talking about the manual, because Philips have really dropped the ball on this one.
If you watched the review of the 3000 Series, you may remember that Philips switched to digital manuals. This is obviously more sustainable and is probably where appliances are heading, but this model proves exactly why that option can be problematic.
In the box, when you get the 5000 Series, you receive a thin multilanguage guide with a QR code on the front to scan to access the digital manual. The QR code does not work. As a backup, there is a URL underneath that you can type into your browser instead, and that does not work either. As a last resort, there is an app you can download from the App Store, where you pick your model of air fryer and it supposedly allows you to access the digital manual. Except that does not work either.
What is so frustrating is that this model is not even brand new. It has been around for several months and Philips still have not sorted this out. If you have already been through all this frustration after buying it, just know that it is them and not you. The digital manual has now been found, hidden deep within the Philips website, and a link to it is available in the description of the original video.
The Steam Function
Although the Philips 5000 Series has the same 2750W power and the same size drawers as the 3000 Series, it does have quite a few differences. The biggest one is obviously the steam function, made possible by an 800ml water tank that sits on top of the appliance.
The steam function only works in the large drawer and can be used in three ways. You can use it as a normal steamer for cooking things like vegetables and fish that you might normally do on the hob. You can also use it on the steam air fryer combo setting for cooking things like a whole chicken or baking. Lastly, this model has a 20-minute steam clean function, of which 15 minutes is steaming and 5 minutes is drying.
It is worth managing expectations around the steam clean function. It only works in the large drawer, and while it is helpful for removing dirt, it is not quite the magic solution many air fryer owners have been waiting for. It works best when you stop it before the drying phase starts and then get in there with a cloth and clean while the inside is still damp.
Real Cooking Results
Whole Chicken
The steam air fry function was tested on several different dishes. The first was a 1.6kg chicken, cooked for 50 minutes at 180 degrees Celsius on the steam air fry setting. The flesh was incredibly moist and the steam definitely made a big difference. However, it did lack a little crispiness on the skin and some colour as well.
A second chicken was cooked on the same setting, but for the last 5 minutes the setting was switched from steam air fry to regular air fry with the temperature cranked up to the maximum of 200 degrees Celsius. Although it does not look much different in the footage, it did crisp up the skin noticeably. You could obviously extend that final step for longer if you wish.
Also Read: Philips 3000 Series Air Fryer Review
Baking: Cake and Bread
Baking was also tested using the steam air fryer setting. For the cake, the batter was divided in two, with one half cooked in a regular air fryer and the other in the Philips on steam air fry. The steamed one had a noticeably smoother top and was more moist inside, though only marginally so. Focaccia was also tried and turned out really well, but again the difference in moisture was only marginal.
Frozen Pastry
A shop-bought frozen pain au chocolat was also tested on the steam air fry setting. In other reviews, these pastries have become a useful benchmark for measuring the effectiveness of steam baking. In the Ninja Combi, they puffed up and were incredibly moist and fluffy, like something from a French boulangerie. In the Wonder Oven, they looked much the same as out of a regular oven. In the Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket, the results came out somewhere between the two, but sadly nowhere near the Ninja Combi.
Important Things to Know About Using Steam
If you are going to be using any of the steam options, there are a few things worth knowing.
For most cooking cycles, unless you are cooking for over an hour, you will not use all of the water that fits in the 800ml reservoir. There is a warning light and an alert that will trigger if it runs dry, but otherwise you need to get into the habit of emptying the reservoir so you are not leaving water sitting around unused and causing limescale buildup.
Philips also advise descaling after every 10 hours of use. The air fryer has an icon that will light up and tell you when you need to do that. To descale, you long press the steam clean button, which starts a 50-minute descaling cycle.
Finally, all of the steam that goes into the air fryer does have to go somewhere. Some of it goes into the food, but you will see a lot of it escaping around the edges of the large drawer when it is running. This is completely normal.
Presets and Manual Controls
The Philips 5000 Series has 11 presets, which are frozen potato snacks, steak, fresh potatoes, vegan, chicken drumstick, fish, vegetables, bread, cake, muffin, reheat, and dumplings. Philips say their presets are cooking programs that give recommendations for temperature and cooking time based on a certain amount of food.
With this air fryer, things do take slightly longer to cook in the small drawer than the large drawer, and the presets do reflect this. For example, selecting the frozen potato option on the large drawer defaults to 28 minutes at 200 degrees Celsius for 800g of fries.
Honestly, the presets are of limited use. They are a helpful starting point when you first get the machine, but they are only ever accurate if you are cooking the exact quantity they specify. It is much easier to program the air fryer manually. You do this by pressing the power button, selecting the drawer you want, choosing between the three settings of air fry, steam air fry, and steam if using the large drawer, and then setting your time and temperature before pressing start. If you make an error at any point, there is a back button.
The minimum temperature on this model is 40 degrees Celsius, accessible only through manual programming, and the maximum is 200 degrees Celsius. It was tested with pork loin and despite not going as high as some air fryer models, excellent crackling was still achieved at 200 degrees.
Dual Basket, Noise, and Energy Use
This model does have a sync finish option, so both drawers can be programmed for different times and finish together. However, it does not have an option to duplicate settings from one drawer to another, because the second drawer has different steam setting options.
On the subject of beep noise, the beeps on this air fryer are quieter than on other air fryers tested, so if noise irritates you, this model is marginally less irritating in that regard. There is also a shake reminder that can be turned on and off on both drawers depending on your preference.
The 10-minute 200-degree Celsius energy test produced nearly identical results with this model as with the 3000 Series, with a slight increase in energy use when using steam in the second drawer.
Accessories and Smart Features
The only accessory included in the box with the 5000 Series is a combined cord holder and fender, which you attach to the back of the appliance. Optional extras that can be purchased separately include a baking kit, a grill kit, a breakfast set, and a two-layer rack.
The 5000 Series is not a smart air fryer. Although there is a Philips app you can access, it is only really useful for getting recipes.
- Steam function produces noticeably moist results, especially with whole chicken.
- Steam clean function is a useful addition for easier maintenance.
- Beeps are quieter compared to other air fryer models tested.
Specification Table
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Model | Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Steam Air Fryer |
| Total Capacity | 9 Litres |
| Small Drawer Capacity | 3 Litres |
| Large Drawer Capacity | 6 Litres |
| Power | 2750W |
| Water Tank Capacity | 800ml |
| Steam Function | Yes, large drawer only |
| Steam Modes | Steam only, Steam Air Fry combo, Steam Clean |
| Steam Clean Duration | 20 minutes (15 min steam, 5 min dry) |
| Descaling Cycle | 50 minutes, recommended every 10 hours of use |
| Minimum Temperature | 40 degrees Celsius |
| Maximum Temperature | 200 degrees Celsius |
| Number of Presets | 11 |
| Sync Finish | Yes |
| Dishwasher Safe Parts | Drawer, basket, crisper plate |
| Smart App Compatible | Yes, for recipes only |
| Included Accessories | Cord holder and fender |
| Optional Accessories | Baking kit, grill kit, breakfast set, two-layer rack |
Is It Worth Upgrading from the 3000 Series?
If you are deciding between this model and the 3000 Series, the 5000 Series is 70 pounds more expensive. However, if you have the budget, it is very tempting to go for the 5000 Series because there is definitely a difference in the results, particularly when cooking something like a whole chicken. The option to steam vegetables also makes it more versatile overall.
The only minor frustration with this model is that the steam function is not available on both drawers. This means you need to do a little bit of planning and prioritizing to work out which elements of your meal are going to be cooked in which drawer.
Read More: Ninja Air Fryer MAX AF160 Review
