Philips 5000 Series Steam Dual-Basket Airfryer review

The Philips 5000 Series NA555/00 is a 9.6-quart dual-basket air fryer that adds steam to a familiar two-drawer format. Its capacity is unevenly split: Philips lists a 6.3-quart large drawer and a 3.2-quart small one. Both can air-fry, but only the large basket can steam or combine steam with air-frying.

Two drawers, but not two identical cooking chambers

The large drawer is the more flexible side. Its panel can select Airfry, Steam, or Steam & Airfry; the small drawer offers air-frying. Philips's linked NA55X manual describes separate settings for the two pans and a Time function that coordinates different functions, temperatures, and cook times so both foods can finish together. That gives this model a useful dinner plan: steam a delicate main or vegetable in the large basket while the small basket crisps a side, then sync the finish rather than waiting for the baskets one after another.

This is not a match if both drawers must steam at once. Steam is limited to the large pan, and steaming adds steps that ordinary dual-basket units avoid: fit the water tank, check its fill line, keep the vent clear, and empty the tank after the cycle. If the second drawer is usually the same size as the first, Philips's split may feel lopsided. Its total 9.6-quart figure is nominal volume, not a single 9.6-quart cooking space. Philips lists up to 39 ounces of fries in the large drawer and 11 ounces in the small one; its page also gives other illustrative food amounts. These are manufacturer capacity examples, not a guarantee for every shape or batch.

Steam brings texture choices and a care routine

The manual identifies a removable tank with an approximately 800 ml maximum fill. For steam or Steam & Airfry, it says to fill without exceeding that mark and to empty the tank after cooking. The large drawer's Steam mode fixes temperature at 100°C; in Steam & Airfry, temperature and time can be adjusted. The manual also says preheating is not required. Some foods still need shaking or turning, so the reminder is useful, but the controls do not make the cooking hands-free.

Steam cleaning is a separate maintenance feature, not an automatic dishwasher substitute. Philips's manual describes a 20-minute sequence: 15 minutes of steam to loosen grease in the large cooking chamber, followed by a five-minute drying phase. The owner still has to empty and rinse the pan and basket, wipe away residue around the heater, and empty the water tank. A descale reminder follows 10 hours of steam use; the manual gives a longer descaling routine and warns against vinegar and other acidic descaling liquids. If you do not want a water system to refill and maintain, a conventional dual-basket model will be simpler.

What the model is not

HomeID supplies recipes and step-by-step ideas, but this is not a connected fryer. Philips lists no internet connectivity or remote control for the model, and the manual says it is not intended to run from an external timer or separate remote-control system. The operator chooses settings and starts the cook at the appliance. The marketing page's broad method and preset counts do not align cleanly with the linked guide, so this review relies on the three clearly described modes rather than repeating an unverified feature count.

The exact cooking pans have a nonstick coating and the manual permits washing the pan and basket in a dishwasher after they cool. It also advises against metal utensils and abrasive cleaning. Philips does not identify the coating chemistry or the food-contact basket substrate in the sources reviewed. The outer specification lists plastic and metal as appliance materials, which does not answer what the coated cooking surfaces are made from.

Check the counter and the electrical details

Philips lists the appliance at about 13.8 inches long, 15 inches wide, 17.4 inches high, and 19.3 pounds. The manual calls for clear space around it and specifically asks owners to place it about 20 cm from a wall because steam exits at the rear. Leave the vent clear and avoid directing it toward a receptacle; a steam appliance needs more thought than an enclosed drawer fryer when choosing its spot.

There is an electrical documentation issue worth resolving before purchase. Philips's U.S. technical table lists 120 V, 50 Hz, and 2,750 W, while Philips's Poland page for the same /00 code lists 220–240 V at 2,750 W. That regional record does not establish the U.S. unit's rating. The linked ROW manual tells owners to check the appliance nameplate but does not settle this U.S. unit's supply. I have not inferred a corrected wattage or compatibility. If 120 V / 60 Hz documentation is essential, this model does not meet that requirement on the evidence available; ask Philips to confirm the exact unit label before buying or using it.

Who should compare it with something else?

Consider NA555/00 if the steam function is useful enough to justify the reservoir and upkeep, and a larger steam-capable drawer plus a smaller air-fry drawer matches your usual main-and-side portions. Compare it with the COSORI CAF-R901-AUS if two more evenly sized baskets and separate air-fry settings matter more than steam. If you prefer a single smaller drawer and a window for checking browning, the Philips 2000 Series NA220/NA221 is a very different one-basket choice. NA555/00 does not combine a windowed basket, two steam-capable drawers, and verified electrical supply; do not assume one Philips model supplies every feature of the other.

Philips's exact U.S. product page identifies NA555/00 and its two unequal baskets. The linked Philips support page lists the NA55X User Manual ROW. The U.S. electrical entry and actual unit label should be reconciled with Philips before treating the power supply as settled.