It comes with an app loaded with hundreds of recipes so you can get the most out of the appliance.
In 2010, Philips introduced the first air fryer at a consumer electronics fair in Berlin, Germany. Since then, the appliance has taken off with dozens of brands introducing different styles.
I was hesitant to try the Philips Premium Airfryer XXL for several reasons, including that it regularly costs $350 — it's one of the most expensive options that we tested for our guide to the best air fryers. After using it dozens of times and comparing it to top performers like the Instant Vortex Plus, I can say unequivocally the Philips holds up as a great air fryer.
Specs and set-up
The Premium Air Fryer XXL has an impressive temperature range of 175 to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, and you can adjust the temp in 25-degree increments using the dial on the front. The dial lets you set the timer (between 1 and 60 minutes) and choose among presets. The large, LCD screen display shows you the temp and time remaining in the cooking process.
The set-up process was effortless. After removing the packaging, I washed the basket and pan with soap and water. I then let the air fryer run for a few minutes to warm up. Within 10 minutes of opening the box, I had potstickers baking.
The air fryer comes with a beautiful recipe book complete with full-color photos. There are more than 30 recipes and you can access over 200 more by downloading the app.
Capacity and speed
The parts of the air fryer that get the dirtiest — like the basket, mesh bottom, "fat reducer" tray, and pan — are dishwasher safe.
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The stated capacity of this air fryer is 3 pounds or 4 quarts of food, and in my experience, this is conservative. I had no problem fitting three pounds of chicken breasts in the basket without crowding. The chicken breasts just needed 25 minutes, and they tasted juicy and delicious.
To test the french fry capabilities, I cut up 2 pounds of yellow potatoes, tossed them with a tablespoon of olive oil and some seasoning, and put them in the air fryer. Every 10 minutes, I'd shake the basket up and see if they were done. The fries took a little less than 30 minutes, which is impressive compared to other models I've tested.
The toast was also quite fast by air fryer standards. In less than 4 minutes, the Premium Airfryer XXL evenly toasted a giant slice of my homemade bread, which I'd made in one of the best bread machines.
Cons to consider
I did have a little issue with the Premium Airfryer XXL releasing a fair amount of smoke while cooking. This likely had to do with me going a little overboard with the amount of olive oil I used for a recipe. After thoroughly cleaning the unit and testing again, the smoke problem went away. So, the moral of the story is to go light on the oil. I recommend picking up an inexpensive oil mister.
Unlike most air fryers, the Philips air fryer doesn't come with accessories, such as a rack or skewers. The company sells these separately. I didn't miss having accessories, but if you're paying $250 for a small appliance, you'd expect it to come with plenty of extras so it seemed like an oversight here.
Should you buy the Philips air fryer?While running, the Philips air fryer stays cool to the touch everywhere except the back of the appliance, where it's hot.
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Even though it's the best I've tested, $350 (when not on sale) is a lot to spend on an air fryer. However, if you have the money and want the best, the Premium Airfryer XXL is the model to buy, especially if you want a unit that can cook larger quantities of food quickly. It may not be ideal for individuals with smaller kitchens, but it could be a good alternative if you don't have room for an oven.
You can save $100 off the price of the digital XXL by choosing the analog model. The only difference is you don't get the convenient digital interface. Instead, you set the appliance by manually adjusting the time and temperature dials. Philips makes a few other air fryer models, including its XL Collection and compact solutions, but we don't feel they provide as strong of a balance of price and cooking abilities as the XXL air fryers.
What are your alternatives?
The best air fryer we've tested is the Instant Pot Vortex. It cooked the fastest in all our tests and has a front window so you can check your food while roasting, air-frying, dehydrating and more. If you're cooking for a group, our favorite large-capacity air fryer is the Ninja Foodi DualZone XL. Instead of one large basket, the Ninja has two 5-quart baskets that can cook together or that you can program independently.
The bottom line
From being able to cook family-size meals efficiently to cleaning up easily, the Philips Premium Airfryer XXL hits all the right notes. But should you buy it? Are there more affordable and perfectly serviceable alternatives? Let's explore your options.
