Buying guide for best Philips air fryers
Imagine enjoying the satisfying crunch of a plate full of french fries without worrying about excess fat. If you own an air fryer, this isn’t just a pipe dream. You can easily have your fries and eat them, too! In fact, there are countless delectable dishes beyond the standard fried potato that you can prepare in an air fryer and enjoy without the guilt that comes with the excessive oil required in a deep fryer: coconut shrimp, salmon cakes, lava cake, chicken wings, and fried chicken, to name a few.
Philips is a leader in kitchen technology, including air fryers, which only require a tablespoon of oil or less to make scrumptious “fried” foods. You might already own a Philips appliance or two: the company makes an array of fine multi-cookers, pasta makers, blenders, grills, and more. If you’re thinking of adding a Philips air fryer to your cooking arsenal, whether for health reasons or simply because you love the taste of crunchy-yet-tender air-fried food, we applaud your decision, and we’re here to help you decide which Philips air fryer is right for you. And check out our favorites when you’re ready to buy.
Key considerations when choosing a Philips air fryer
Philips air fryer terminology
Philips offers several lines of air fryers, and there are multiple models within those lines. Even if you know how many people you’re cooking for and how much you want to spend, there are some choices to make between the options.
It helps to understand the various terms Philips uses to describe its technologies. The following is a short glossary of terms you’ll see in product descriptions. As you shop for a Philips air fryer, you’ll find that various options use different combinations of these technologies.
Rapid Air technology: This term refers to the air circulation method used by all air fryers, not just those made by Philips. A radiant heating element at the top of the air fryer chamber releases heat into the chamber, and a fan blows this intense heat throughout the chamber. The strength of the heat quickly forms a light crust on food, creating a crispy crunch on the outside while preserving moisture and nutrients on the inside.
TurboStar technology: This term is exclusively used by Philips to describe the high quality of its Rapid Air technology. Air swirls inside the air fryer chamber at super-high speed in order to expose all food in the chamber to roughly the same amount of heat. As a result, food cooks evenly while maintaining a crisp exterior and soft interior.
Twin TurboStar technology: This technology is similar to TurboStar technology in that it rapidly swirls hot air throughout the chamber. However, this is a newer and more advanced technology that is purported to remove even more fat from the food you’re cooking. In fact, Philips has claimed that its Twin TurboStar technology reduces fat content by 90%.
Starfish technology: This simply refers to the starfish-like raised pattern on the bottom of a Philips air fryer. The pattern enhances airflow by allowing heat to circulate beneath the basket of food.
Multi-cooker: Some Philips air fryers are described by the company as multi-cookers, but this is not widely advertised. It indicates that a particular air fryer is even more versatile than a standard air fryer. For example, an air fryer billed by Philips as a multi-cooker might also be able to bake, roast, and grill food. In some cases, you can purchase accompanying accessories, such as a grilling pan or double-layer rack with skewers, with a Philips air fryer/multi-cooker.
QuickClean basket: Philips air fryers come with easy-clean removable parts, many of which are dishwasher-safe. If you dread cleaning up after frying – even air-frying, which understandably creates a lot less oil splatter than deep frying – look for a Philips air fryer with a QuickClean frying basket.
Although it takes less time to prepare food in an air fryer takes than it odes convection oven, it takes more time than a deep fryer. If you’ll be preparing a meal in your air fryer, plan accordingly.
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Analog vs. digital controls
A hefty number of Philips air fryers operate via analog controls that stand out for ease-of-use. This is fine for some consumers, but if you’d like to be able to program the temperature and cooking time for your recipes with a simple tap, look for an air fryer with a digital touchscreen. Most digital Philips air fryers offer a range of temperatures (often between 175°F and 400°F) and cooking times (often between 1 and 60 minutes).
Accessories
Unless you come across a special promotion, you’ll note that most Philips air fryers do not come bundled with accessories. However, you can buy them separately if you choose. For example, you might be interested in Philips’ nonstick grill pan, its double-layer rack with skewers, or its nonstick baking tray. Before you invest in any accessories for your air fryer, however. Make sure they’re compatible with your particular Philips model.
If you like cooking with a toaster oven, consider a Philips multi-cooker air fryer that offers several functions, including a bake option.
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Philips air fryer prices
Philips air fryers aren’t budget machines. When you invest in one, you’re paying for quality even if you buy one of the cheaper models. That said, if you’re serious about air frying, we think you can’t go wrong with this brand.
$90 to $150
You can find decent Philips air fryers with smaller capacities of around 1.8 pounds in this range. Many have analog controls, though a few refurbished ones might have digital interfaces. Some air fryers in this price category don’t take up excessive space on a countertop, making them ideal for small kitchens. However, if you buy in this lower price range, you could find that a few of the expected conveniences are missing. For example, a timer might only go up to 30 minutes (as opposed to 60), or the manufacturer may state that food contains 70% less fat as opposed to 75% or even 90%.
$150 to $250
You’ll enjoy a lot more choices in this range. Here, there are Philips air fryers with larger capacities (3.0 pounds is common), digital interfaces, timers that go up to 60 minutes, and the ability to cook more types of food.
$250 and up
There are a few Philips air fryers that cost more than $250. These are deluxe models with greater capacities and a long list of technologies behind them. If you’re interested in a cream-of-the-crop model, be prepared to spend around $300 on a Philips air fryer.
A note for the curious
If you want to buy an air fryer simply because you’re curious, but you think you might just use it once or twice, a Philips air fryer may not be right for you. After all, the least-expensive air fryers from Philips, as we mentioned, clock in at about $90. In our research, we found some entry-level air fryers from other brands that cost as little as $40. Granted, the quality of some of these appliances might not be the greatest, but if you’re just dabbling, it could be the way to go.
Did you know?
Many Philips air fryers have an automatic shutoff feature. The appliance will cut off power after a certain amount of time, giving you the freedom to leave the kitchen and do other things while your food cooks and preventing you from burning your dinner.
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Tips
- Try the app. The Philips air fryer app is available for download on Android and iOS devices. This visually engaging app can match your particular Philips air fryer model to a photo directory of mouth-watering air fryer recipes. You can use the app to select a recipe, create a shopping list, and follow a step-by-step guide to preparing your food. The app also provides general tips on how to get the most out of your air fryer.
- Pay attention to how full you fill the fryer basket. If you put too much food in there, it will take longer to cook. While Rapid Air technology is designed to reach all surfaces within the basket, an air fryer that’s filled to the brim might not cook as well as it should.
- Check out air fryer reviews before you buy. This will give you insight into customers’ experience with various models. Top retailers like Amazon include customer feedback on product pages.
- Preheat the air fryer. Philips advertises that its air fryers heat up extremely fast. Even so, it doesn’t hurt to allow your air fryer to preheat for a few minutes before you start cooking. Your food is more likely to cook evenly this way.
- Don’t use aerosol spray in your air fryer. The ingredients in commercial sprays have been known to cause the appliance’s nonstick coating to chip. Instead, fill a spray bottle with your favorite oil and apply a light mist.
FAQ
Q. How does an air fryer differ from a convection oven?
A. First, let’s talk about how these small kitchen appliances are the same. Both air fryers and convection ovens blow hot air to cook food. In other words, the general mechanism used to cook food is the same, and you can prepare foods in both an air fryer and a convection oven with little to no oil. But an air fryer is smaller, and the hot air inside it moves at a faster speed than that in a convection oven. As such, it takes less time to prepare food in an air fryer.
Air fryers also tend to take up less space on your counter, and because of their compact size, they’re easier to clean.
Q. Can I make bacon in my Philips air fryer?
A. Yes. Place a single layer of bacon in your air fryer, and set the temperature to 350°F. To prevent the bacon fat from smoking and burning, place a small amount of water in your air fryer as well. Cook the bacon for approximately 10 minutes.
Keep in mind that air-frying bacon won’t make it less fatty. It’s already laden with fat, so you won’t be cutting calories by cooking it in hot air. The same holds true for other fatty foods you might be tempted to cook in your air fryer, such as hamburger patties and sausage.
Q. How many portions can be prepared in my Philips air fryer?
A. That depends on the model you choose. The largest Philips air fryers can prepare up to six portions of food. If you’re preparing a meal for your family and want an air-fried dish to take center stage, consider one of Philips’ larger models. If you’re looking for an air fryer for a smaller household of one or two, or if you just want the ability to make crunchy fries and other snacks during movie night, consider one of Philips’ more compact models.
