My air fryer has a steam function I can't do without — and it's just half price right now | Tech Radar

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My air fryer has a steam function I can't do without — and it's just half price right now

19 cooking functions for just AU$250 is too delicious to ignore

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I've been using the Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Air Fryer XXL with Steam for over a year now and it hasn't failed me once in that time. Despite its mouthful of a name, I love its versatility, and that's all thanks to its headline act of having an additional steam function.

The steam serves two purposes: cooking and cleaning. For the former, you can use a steam-only option for, say, dumplings and vegetables, or you can air fry+steam, which allows you to cook cakes and meats without drying them out too much. Honestly, I've not needed to use the latter because I'm yet to get air-fried results that were disappointing — I've successfully had fantastic crackling on pork belly and crispy chicken skin on drumsticks while the meat inside was still succulent.

Perhaps what makes this air fryer an even more scrumptious option for your kitchen is the fact that it's currently discounted to AU$250 on Amazon right now — that's 50% off and just a dollar more than its lowest-ever price!

Being able to cook with steam in an air fryer adds to the appliance's versatility, allowing you to steam fish, veggies and dumplings alongside all the other standard functions you expect from such a machine. While the steam can also help you keep it clean, there are caveats, but in my opinion, having the additional cooking option itself adds value here.

As I mentioned in my Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket XXL Air Fryer with Steam review, there aren't too many alternatives that offer the additional steam-cooking feature. That said, Philips has a successor to this model which is a single-basket (7.2L) air fryer, but I think many families will benefit from having two separate baskets for cooking a full meal in one go — cook meat in the bigger 6L basket while sides can go into the smaller 3L one.

As much as I love and recommend this dual-basket air fryer, it would be disingenuous of me to not mention certain caveats, and they're mostly to do with the steam function.

Garlic and cheese crumpets, anyone? (Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / Tech Radar)

Firstly, steaming is only available in the larger basket, so you'll need to plan your meals accordingly. For example, if you plan to cook a large roast with steamed vegetables, the meat may not fit into the smaller drawer. On the other hand, steaming fish parcels with vegetables is easier in one drawer.

Secondly, the steam can be used as part of a self-clean cycle but, again, that's restricted to the 6L drawer only and it just helps loosen grease and caked-in foods. You will still need to wash the drawer yourself — or put it into the dishwasher (yes, it's safe to do so).

Perfectly cooked haloumi, if I say so myself(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / Tech Radar)

Steaming and air-frying in one go: dumplings in one basket, prawn and chorizo skewers in another(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / Tech Radar)

Stuffed portobello mushrooms are a quick and healthy meal (or snack)(Image credit: Sharmishta Sarkar / Tech Radar)

In the larger scheme of things, my complaints are minor and I would still recommend this Philips 5000 Series dual-basket air fryer — in fact, it's one of the best air fryers in Australia. I've cooked a fair amount it in since I started using it in January 2025 — tackling cheese and garlic crumpet loaf, haloumi, stuffed mushrooms, dumplings and much more in addition to the chicken drumsticks and pork belly I mentioned earlier — and it's not disappointed. Take a look at the images on this page if you don't believe me.

If you've been keen on a new air fryer, whether it's your first or an upgrade, definitely consider the Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket XXL with Steam, especially at half price.

While she's happiest with a camera in her hand, Sharmishta's main priority is being Tech Radar's APAC Managing Editor, looking after the day-to-day functioning of the Australian, New Zealand and Singapore editions of the site, steering everything from news and reviews to ecommerce content like deals and coupon codes. While she loves reviewing cameras and lenses when she can, she's also an avid reader and has become quite the expert on ereaders and E Ink writing tablets, having appeared on Singaporean radio to talk about these underrated devices. Other than her duties at Tech Radar, she's also the Managing Editor of the Australian edition of Digital Camera World, and writes for Tom's Guide and T3.

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News, deals, reviews, guides and more on the newest computing gadgets
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Get full access to premium articles, exclusive features and a growing list of member rewards