Philips 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer Review: The Dual-Drawer Contender for Your Countertop

The familiar 5 PM panic sets in. You need to get a healthy, satisfying meal on the table, but you’re juggling multiple components with different cooking times. The chicken needs roasting, the potatoes need crisping, and the vegetables need steaming. Your oven is already occupied, and using multiple pans on the hob feels like a recipe for chaos and a mountain of washing up. This daily culinary puzzle is a source of stress for countless households, turning what should be an enjoyable part of the day into a frantic race against the clock. We’ve all been there, trying to synchronise an entire meal, only for the side dishes to go cold while the main course finishes cooking. This inefficiency not only wastes time and energy but can also compromise the quality of the final meal, leaving you with less time to actually enjoy it with your family.

What to Consider Before Buying an Air Fryer

An air fryer is more than just an appliance; it’s a key solution for faster, healthier, and more convenient cooking. By circulating superheated air at high speeds, it achieves a crispy, fried texture with a fraction of the oil used in traditional deep frying. This technology is a game-changer for anyone looking to reduce fat intake without sacrificing flavour. Beyond just “frying,” these versatile machines can roast, grill, bake, and reheat, effectively replacing several other kitchen gadgets and saving precious counter space. The primary benefit is the significant reduction in cooking time—often cutting it in half compared to a conventional oven—which translates directly into energy savings and more time back in your day.

The ideal customer for a dual-basket model like this is a busy family, a meal-prepper, or anyone who frequently cooks multi-component meals. If you dream of cooking your main protein and a side of crispy chips simultaneously, with both finishing at the exact same moment, then a dual-zone air fryer is designed for you. However, it might not be the best fit for individuals or couples with very limited kitchen space or those who typically only cook one item at a time. For them, a smaller, single-basket model might be more practical and cost-effective. Likewise, if you need to cook very large, single items like a massive turkey, the divided drawers might be more restrictive than a large single-basket air fryer or a conventional oven.

Before investing, consider these crucial points in detail:

• Dimensions & Space: Dual-basket air fryers are inherently larger than their single-basket counterparts. Before you click “buy,” measure your countertop space meticulously. The Philips 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer measures 38.3 x 44.4 x 31.4 cm, which is a considerable footprint. Ensure you have adequate clearance above and behind the unit for proper ventilation, as this is crucial for both safety and performance.
• Capacity/Performance: Total capacity is important, but the distribution matters more. This model features an asymmetrical 6L and 3L drawer setup, a design we find incredibly practical for cooking a main dish (like a whole chicken) in the large drawer and a side dish in the smaller one. Also, consider the wattage; at 2750W, this Philips model is powerful, suggesting faster pre-heating and cooking times compared to lower-wattage competitors.
• Materials & Durability: The main housing of most air fryers is plastic, but the quality can vary. Look for a sturdy, well-constructed feel. The most critical components are the baskets themselves. A high-quality non-stick coating is essential for easy food release and cleanup, and dishwasher-safe components are a major bonus for long-term convenience.
• Ease of Use & Maintenance: A clear, responsive control panel is non-negotiable. Whether it’s a touchscreen or tactile buttons, it should be intuitive. Features like cooking presets, a sync-finish function, and app connectivity can enhance the user experience, but the core functionality should be simple. For maintenance, removable crisper plates and dishwasher-safe baskets simplify the cleaning process immensely, preventing it from becoming a dreaded chore.

Understanding these factors will ensure you choose an air fryer that not only meets your cooking needs but also fits seamlessly into your kitchen and lifestyle.

While the Philips 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer is an excellent choice, it’s always wise to see how it stacks up against the competition. For a broader look at all the top models, we highly recommend checking out our complete, in-depth guide:

First Impressions: A Sleek and Substantial Powerhouse

Unboxing the Philips 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer, the first thing we noticed was its substantial presence. This is not a small appliance; it’s a “big bit of kit,” as one user aptly put it. It feels solid and well-engineered, with a weight of 7.8kg that keeps it firmly planted on the countertop. The black and brushed silver finish gives it a premium, modern aesthetic that looks stylish in most kitchens. We particularly appreciated the elegant, curved handles, which feel robust and provide a comfortable grip.

Compared to some competitors, like the often-cited Ninja models, several users noted that the Philips boasts a higher overall build quality, a sentiment we share. The plastic housing feels dense and durable, not flimsy. The drawers slide in and out with a smooth, satisfying action. Setup is virtually non-existent: remove the packaging, wash the baskets, plug it in, and you’re ready to go. The sleek, buttonless top surface is completely black until powered on, at which point the responsive touchscreen illuminates. This minimalist design is visually appealing, though as we’ll discuss later, it has some practical drawbacks. Initial impressions are of a powerful, premium appliance ready to tackle serious family cooking.

A Deep Dive into the Philips 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer’s Performance

An air fryer lives or dies by its cooking performance and everyday usability. A stylish exterior means nothing if it can’t deliver crispy fries and succulent chicken, or if it’s a nightmare to operate and clean. We put the Philips 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer through its paces over several weeks, cooking everything from simple frozen foods to full family roasts, to see if its performance matches its premium branding.

The Genius of Asymmetrical Cooking: Dual Baskets in Action

The standout feature of this appliance is undoubtedly its dual-drawer design, but with a clever twist: one large 6-litre drawer and a smaller 3-litre one. In our experience, this is far more practical than two equally-sized medium drawers. It offers true versatility. We successfully roasted a 1.5kg chicken in the 6L drawer, something many dual-basket models struggle with. While the chicken cooked, we prepared a generous portion of roast potatoes in the 3L drawer. This ability to handle a family-sized main and a substantial side dish simultaneously is a genuine game-changer for weeknight meals.

This experience is echoed by many users. One reviewer specifically mentioned they “can use it for whole chickens,” while another loved making “a chicken and roasties in the big part and have my veg in the smaller part.” The real magic, however, lies in the ‘Sync’ function. After setting the different cooking times and temperatures for each drawer—say, 35 minutes for the potatoes and 20 minutes for asparagus—the machine intelligently starts the shorter-timed item later, ensuring both drawers finish at the exact same moment. We found this feature to be flawless and incredibly satisfying, eliminating the frantic timing and guesswork of traditional cooking. The powerful performance ensures that even when both baskets are running, there’s no noticeable drop in cooking quality. It truly makes preparing a complete, hot meal effortless. To see this versatile dual-basket setup for yourself is to understand its immediate appeal for family kitchens.

Unleashing the Power: Rapid Air Technology and Cooking Results

At the heart of any Philips air fryer is its patented Rapid Air Technology, and in this 3000 Series model, it’s paired with a formidable 2750-watt motor. This combination is potent. We found the air fryer heats up almost instantly, requiring little to no preheating time, which shaves precious minutes off every cook. The results speak for themselves. Chicken came out with incredibly crispy skin while the meat remained tender and juicy—one user described it as the “most delicious air fried and steam Chicken I have ever tasted.” Frozen Kievs and fish fillets cooked from frozen were perfectly crisp and golden in under 20 minutes, far surpassing the often-soggy results from a microwave or the lengthy time required by a conventional oven.

However, the ultimate test for any air fryer is homemade chips. Here, our findings and user feedback were more mixed. We achieved excellent, crispy-on-the-outside, fluffy-on-the-inside chips, but it required some trial and error with par-boiling and shaking. Some users reported similar success, with one stating their fries were “really delicious.” Conversely, a couple of reviewers expressed disappointment, finding that chips “took ages to make and are still uncooked” or that it took “almost 30mins, the same time as my oven.” This suggests a learning curve. The key seems to be not overcrowding the basket and shaking frequently. While it may not be foolproof for chips on the first try, its performance with proteins, roasted vegetables, and baked goods is consistently outstanding and a significant step up from many other models on the market.

The User Experience: Interface, App, and Daily Usability

The Philips 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer opts for a sleek, minimalist touchscreen interface. When off, the top is a featureless black panel. When powered on, bright white LED icons and numbers appear. In our kitchen, the controls were responsive and intuitive, making it easy to select presets or manually adjust time and temperature. However, this design isn’t without its flaws. One user noted that in their sunny kitchen, they “could not see the led lights at all,” a valid concern for brightly lit environments. Another felt that simple tactile buttons would have been more effective and perhaps lowered the cost.

A more significant point of contention for new users is the complete lack of a physical instruction manual or recipe book in the box. Instead, you are directed to download the Philips HomeID app. While the app itself is comprehensive, offering the user guide, video tutorials, and hundreds of recipes tailored to the appliance, this digital-only approach won’t appeal to everyone. For those comfortable with apps, it’s a treasure trove of inspiration. For others, the inability to quickly reference a paper guide is an unnecessary frustration. On a positive note, the machine’s operation is remarkably quiet. We had to double-check it was working the first time, a stark contrast to the loud fans of some older air fryers. This quiet performance makes for a much more pleasant kitchen environment.

Built to Last and Easy to Clean

From the moment you handle the drawers, the quality of construction is evident. They feel substantial, not flimsy, and the non-stick coating is superb. Throughout our testing, nothing stuck. Even after cooking sticky, marinated chicken wings, a simple wipe with a soapy sponge was often enough. For a deeper clean, both baskets and their crisper plates are fully dishwasher safe, which is a massive win for daily maintenance. This ease of cleaning was a highlight for many users, with one simply stating, “The best air fryer, cleans very easy.”

The overall unit is robust, confirming one user’s assessment that it has a “much higher overall build quality when compared to the Ninja.” However, quality control can be an issue with any appliance. We noted one review mentioning a “fan is clattering like a small helicopter” straight out of the box. While our unit was flawless and whisper-quiet, it’s a reminder to always test a new appliance immediately upon receipt. The thoughtful inclusion of a cable tidy at the back helps manage the 1-meter cord, a small but appreciated detail. The combination of durable materials and straightforward cleaning makes the Philips a joy to use and maintain long-term.

What Other Users Are Saying

Across the board, the sentiment for the Philips 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer is overwhelmingly positive, with users frequently praising its superior cooking ability and build quality. One customer, who replaced a Ninja model, stated, “This is a much higher overall build quality… and I found the cooking outcomes to be better.” Another was ecstatic about the results, saying, “I’ve never eaten such crispy kievs or fries.” The convenience of the asymmetrical dual baskets and the sync feature is another common highlight, with one person noting, “The sync function between the 2 drawers is very handy.”

However, the feedback isn’t universally perfect. The most common criticism targets the user interface. The sleek touchscreen, while stylish, drew complaints for being difficult to see in bright sunlight and for being less practical than traditional buttons. A few users also expressed disappointment with its performance on homemade chips, with one claiming they “browned the outside more than oven” and took just as long. Finally, the reliance on an app for instructions was a source of frustration for several beginners, who would have preferred a printed guide to get started. These critiques, while valid, seem to be minor usability issues rather than fundamental flaws in its excellent cooking capabilities.

How Does the Philips 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer Compare to the Alternatives?

While the Philips model is a formidable contender, the air fryer market is crowded with excellent options catering to different needs and budgets. Here’s how it stacks up against three popular alternatives.

1. Ninja CRISPi 3.8L 4-in-1 Portable Air Fryer

The Ninja CRISPi is in a different league entirely, focusing on portability and compact design. With a 3.8L capacity, it’s aimed squarely at individuals, couples, or those with minimal counter space. Its key innovation is the inclusion of removable glass containers, allowing you to cook, store, and reheat in the same dish. This is a brilliant feature for meal preppers and those who take lunches to work. However, it cannot compete with the Philips on capacity or versatility. If you’re a family or someone who wants to cook a full meal at once, the Ninja CRISPi will be far too small and limiting. It’s a fantastic, specialised gadget, but the Philips is the superior all-round kitchen workhorse.

2. Tower T17021 Family Size Air Fryer 4.3L

The Tower T17021 represents the budget-friendly, single-basket alternative. With a 4.3L capacity, it’s a good size for smaller families and is known for being a reliable, no-frills performer. It’s significantly cheaper than the Philips, making it an excellent entry point into the world of air frying. The trade-off is a lack of advanced features. You lose the dual-zone cooking, the sync-finish function, the touchscreen display, and the app connectivity. While it does its primary job well, the Philips offers a far more sophisticated and versatile cooking experience that allows you to create entire meals with ease, a feat the single-basket Tower cannot replicate.

3. Tefal Easy Fry Dual Zone Air Fryer 8.3L

The Tefal Easy Fry is the most direct competitor to the Philips. It offers a similar dual-drawer design with a slightly smaller total capacity of 8.3L, also featuring asymmetrical baskets (5.2L + 3.1L). It boasts many of the same features, including a sync mode, multiple cooking functions, and dishwasher-safe parts. Choosing between the Tefal and the Philips will likely come down to brand preference, specific promotions, and subtle design differences. The Philips has a slightly higher wattage (2750W vs. Tefal’s), which may translate to slightly faster cooking, and its build quality is frequently lauded in user feedback. Both are excellent choices for families needing dual-zone functionality.

Our Final Verdict: Is the Philips 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer Worth It?

After extensive testing and poring over real-world user feedback, our verdict is a resounding yes. The Philips 9L Dual Basket Air Fryer is a top-tier appliance that excels where it matters most: cooking performance, build quality, and genuine, family-friendly convenience. Its intelligently designed asymmetrical baskets, combined with the flawless sync-finish feature, solve the real-world problem of getting a complete, hot meal on the table at the same time. The powerful motor delivers outstandingly crispy and juicy results across a huge range of foods, from whole chickens to simple frozen snacks.

While it’s not perfect—the touchscreen can be hard to see in bright light and there’s a learning curve for perfect homemade chips—these are minor quibbles in an otherwise exceptional package. If you are a family, a couple that loves to cook, or anyone tired of juggling pots and pans for weeknight dinners, this air fryer will revolutionise your kitchen routine. It saves time, saves energy, and produces delicious, healthier food with minimal fuss. For its combination of power, intelligent design, and premium build, we believe it represents an excellent investment in your daily culinary life. If you’re ready to simplify your cooking and elevate your meals, we highly recommend you check the latest price and add this fantastic appliance to your kitchen.

Last update on 2025-10-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API