We Tested The New Philips 5000 Series SteamFryer To See If It Could Really “Cook Almost Anything”

As much as I love to eat, levelling up my skills in the kitchen has always seemed a time-intensive affair that I’m too tired to attempt after my 9-to-6. Getting an air fryer when the appliance first became a hit was a principal cheat code, but fast forward a decade, and there are only so many times I can pat myself on the back for air-fried salmon and broccoli. With my air fryer on its last legs, I’d been on the hunt for something newer and better.

So when Philips —the inventor of air fryers—reached out offering their brand-new first-of-its-kind 5000 Series SteamFryer ($389) for review, I leapt at the chance. What are the functions of the Philips 5000 Series SteamFryer? On paper, the Philips 5000 Series SteamFryer reads like a revolution, blowing your average air fryer out of the water.

Essentially, a SteamFryer is an air fryer that also incorporates steam cookery, but what sets the Philips 5000 Series apart is that it’s truly first of its kind. Unlike other air fryers with steam functions that simply mist the surface of your food, this one actively integrates steam into the cookery process, going beyond a superficial add-on to deliver more even, consistent results throughout. Combines the best of air frying and steaming at the same time At the heart of it is a game-changing SteamFry innovation, which has not been seen on the market before.

Cooks far more than you’d expect from an air fryer Here’s the biggest selling point of the 5000 Series SteamFryer: it can supposedly cook dishes you’d never imagine coming out of an air fryer, and cook them well. The idea of having one device that can easily unlock a world of good food is exactly the kind of promise that gets me ready to swipe my credit card, but first, I wanted to see if the claim actually held up.

No more burnt and dried out bits Because the steam creates a consistently moist cookery environment, you can say goodbye to those dark, dried-out burn spots that are almost inevitable with your aged air fryer—mine is guilty as charged. The 5000 Series SteamFryer bids adieu to the fuss with a built-in SteamClean mode that uses steam to loosen fat and oil residue from the basket and heating tube, to make cleaning a breeze.

Is the Philips 5000 Series SteamFryer worth it? On the SteamFryer, you can easily choose between three main cookery styles with just one touch: Steam, Fry, and SteamFry.

It’s the kind of result that’s usually reserved for cuts with skin or a good sear in a pan, and the fact that the SteamFryer pulled it off without either was a quiet but convincing first win. After an 18-minute wait, I pulled out the basket to reveal a well-cooked fish with lightly crisped skin and moist flesh.

For a function not specifically designed for baking, the fact that it turned out a well-executed chocolate cake was genuinely impressive. Not something you’d expect any typical air fryer to be able to pull off. A rep from Philips mentioned that fluffy milk buns and even sourdough loaves are possible with the 5000 Series SteamFryer, and I’m keen to see how far I can take it with more ambitious bakes next. So, the verdict: the Philips 5000 Series SteamFryer is the real deal.

Get your hands on the Philips 5000 Series SteamFryer on ShopeeMall , and enjoy a free baking pan and silicone muffin cups.