Philips 3000 Series dual basket air fryer review

From sophisticated coffee makers that double up as décor pieces to standout refrigerators, appliances today are undergoing a serious glow-up. Walk into a modern kitchen now, and you’ll find sleek, metallic wonders that look like they’ve just rolled off a designer’s sketchpad. When the Philips 3000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer landed on my kitchen counter, it stood out – almost too dramatically.

Sleek, imposing, with a finish that seemed more like a prototype than a modest cooking device, it made other appliances (including its predecessor Philips Air Fryer HD9257) look like relics from a bygone era.

My skepticism came from the fact that I had to question: What if it turns into another pretty-looking appliance collecting dust at home? Read on to discover whether the Philips 3000 Series lived up to its bold design and even bolder promises.

Philips 3000 series dual basket air fryer design

What stands out about the Philips 3000 series dual basket air fryer is that it immediately feels like an upgrade. It comes with two practical pull-out drawers, three and six-litre capacity respectively, alongside a sleek, minimalistic touch panel on top. When turned off, the panel only displays the power button, giving the appliances an overall clean look.

The matte metallic finish is, thankfully, fingerprint-repellent (goodbye, constant wiping!). However, you will need to swat it every now and then, as settled dust may still be visible on the appliance. It even gets elegant, copper handles that instantly remind you of luxury accents in a studio. That said, unlike its predecessor, the new Philips air fryer lacks a display window.

Owing to its capacity, the air fryer is certainly sizeable, and it will take up quite a bit of space on your countertop. After all, the appliance is 16.5 inches wide, which is almost the size of a small OTG oven.

Philips 3000 series dual basket air fryer function and features

Working with the Philips 3000 air fryer is like having your very own sous chef in the kitchen. It comes with eight pre-set modes, meaning whether you’re craving frozen potato wedges, aiming to perfectly cook a lasagna, or simply looking to reheat last night’s leftovers, there’s a dedicated setting waiting for you.

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But what truly helps is having a time-synced drawer function, which is ideal for meal prep or busy home cooks. The smaller of the two drawers is best suited for snacks or sides, and the larger drawer is great when you want to experiment with a main course, such as chicken legs or wings.

I used the function to cook potato garlic poppers in the first (three-litre) drawer and bake a banana cake in the second (six-litre) drawer. The air fryer could easily cook 15 to 20 pieces of the poppers, as long as they weren’t overlapping each other. The cake batter, on the other hand, fit into this drawer snugly and took the appliance only 30 minutes to bake it to perfection.

While they were executed with utmost ease, it isn’t always smooth sailing, especially when the smaller drawer presents a slight spatial challenge. You may have to watch out when you’re in a hurry to avoid touching the surfaces. Having a tong handy should help, in certain cases.

Apart from this, without the display window, you’re going to be left with a bit of guesswork with your grub’s progress. This could mean having to pull out the drawer every now and then to either shuffle or give it the occasional, cursory glance.

On the plus side, all its components are dishwasher safe and can be easily popped into the appliance once you are through with your day.

Unboxed take: Who should buy the Philips 3000 Series dual basket air fryer?

The Philips 3000 Series dual basket air fryer is for those of you with a busy kitchen. Or those who deal with multitasking on a daily basis. However, if you’re someone who rarely needs to cook multiple dishes simultaneously, you might not fully utilise its dual-drawer functionality.

ALSO READ: Philips 3000-series dual basket air fryer announced with a whopping 9-litre capacity

I also found it difficult to navigate through its functions without a clear-cut manual or instructions guide for the appliance. Even with the right education, the learning curve may seem a bit steep for first-time users. While the brand nudges you towards its companion app for guidance, clearer, more visible icons on the appliance itself could have made things simpler.

For those already using an older air fryer model or the Philips Air Fryer HD9257, upgrading to the 3000 series might not feel essential, unless, of course, you’re specifically looking for added capacity and dual-drawer convenience. It is crucial to keep in mind that the capacity, too, will at some point fall short, especially when you’re catering to a larger audience.

But if you’re in the market for a robust, all-in-one appliance that saves time along with looking stunning on your kitchen countertop, the Philips 3000 series dual basket air fryer is for you. Easy to clean, low-maintenance, and undeniably stylish, it’s a kitchen gadget that’s as functional as it is eye-catching at Rs 14,500.

For these reasons, we rate the Philips 3000 Series dual basket air fryer a solid 4/5. For more such in-depth reviews, make sure you stay subscribed to Unboxed by Croma.