The Philips 5000 Series Dual-Basket Airfryer with Steam is designed for shoppers who want more than two independent air-frying zones. Its defining feature is the combination of dual-basket cooking with a dedicated steam system in the larger drawer.
The appliance pairs a 6.3-quart main drawer with a smaller 3.2-quart side drawer for about 9.5 to 9.6 quarts of total stated capacity. That unequal layout makes it especially relevant for meals where the main dish needs substantially more space than the side.
Philips 5000 Series NA551 at a Glance
| Model | Philips NA551/00 |
|---|---|
| Format | Dual-basket air fryer with steam |
| Total Capacity | Approximately 9.5–9.6 qt |
| Large Drawer | 6.3 qt |
| Small Drawer | 3.2 qt |
| Cooking Methods | 19 |
| Core Technologies | Air Steam and RapidAir Plus |
| Synchronization | Automatic synchronized finishing |
| Cleaning Feature | Automatic Steam Clean for large basket |
| Reminder | Shake Reminder |
| Dimensions | 17.5″W × 15″D × 14″H |
| Model Number | NA551/00 |
What Makes the Philips 5000 Series Different?
Two Baskets With Two Different Sizes
Unlike dual-basket air fryers that use two equal drawers, Philips gives the NA551 a larger 6.3-quart drawer for main dishes and a smaller 3.2-quart drawer for sides and snacks.
That layout is especially logical for meals where a chicken, larger protein, or bigger batch of fries needs more room than vegetables or another side dish.
How Much Food Can It Hold?
Philips provides several food examples for the combined capacity. The manufacturer states that the appliance can accommodate up to:
- 39 oz of fries
- 56 oz of vegetables
- 12 chicken drumsticks
Philips also states that the large basket can accommodate a whole chicken weighing approximately 2.6 pounds.
Air Steam Technology
Steam is the main feature separating this appliance from a conventional dual-basket air fryer.
Philips states that Air Steam technology can be used to prepare foods with steam rather than relying only on circulating dry hot air.
That can make the machine more interesting for vegetables, fish, poultry, and other foods where retaining moisture is desirable.
RapidAir Plus
Philips pairs steam with its RapidAir Plus hot-air system. The company describes the design as using a star-shaped airflow pattern to move heated air around the drawer.
The practical advantage is flexibility: the same appliance can use traditional hot-air cooking, steaming, or combinations of the two depending on the selected function.
19 Cooking Methods
Philips lists 19 cooking methods for the 5000 Series. Examples include:
- Steam
- Air Fry
- Reheat
- Bake
- Grill
- Roast
- Stir-fry
That broad function list makes the NA551 more of a multifunction cooking system than a simple two-drawer air fryer.
Can the Two Drawers Finish at the Same Time?
Yes. Philips includes automatic synchronization between the two drawers. The appliance can coordinate cooking times so foods with different durations finish together.
This is one of the most useful features on any dual-basket air fryer because it reduces the need to manually calculate when the second basket should start.
Steam Clean
Philips includes an automatic Steam Clean function for the larger basket. The manufacturer says this feature is intended to help remove fat buildup from the large basket and around the heating tube.
Philips recommends running Steam Clean for approximately 15 minutes after use for optimal results.
This does not eliminate normal cleaning, but it gives the NA551 a maintenance feature that most conventional dual-basket machines do not have.
Shake Reminder
The appliance also includes a Shake Reminder that alerts you during cooking when food may benefit from being shaken or redistributed.
That is especially relevant for fries, vegetables, nuggets, and other foods where repositioning pieces can improve exposure to circulating hot air.
Countertop Size
Philips lists the dimensions as:
- 17.5 inches wide
- 15 inches deep
- 14 inches high
The 17.5-inch width is worth measuring carefully. Like most side-by-side dual-basket machines, this model requires meaningful horizontal countertop space.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Two independently useful basket sizes
- Approximately 9.6 qt total capacity
- Dedicated steam cooking
- RapidAir Plus hot-air system
- 19 cooking methods
- Automatic synchronized finishing
- Steam Clean function
- Shake Reminder
- Large drawer can accommodate a whole chicken
- Useful main-dish-and-side layout
Cons
- Wide 17.5-inch footprint
- Baskets are unequal in size
- May be excessive for small households
- More complex than a basic single-basket air fryer
- Steam system adds another feature set to learn and maintain
- Total capacity is divided rather than continuous
Who Is the Philips 5000 Series Best For?
This model makes the most sense for households that regularly want:
- A larger main dish plus a smaller side
- Two foods cooked simultaneously
- Steam cooking as well as conventional air frying
- Synchronized finishing
- Family-size capacity
- A machine that can do more than basic air frying
Who Should Consider Something Else?
A simpler air fryer may make more sense if:
- You mainly cook one food at a time
- You want one continuous basket
- You rarely use steam cooking
- You have limited countertop width
- You normally cook for one or two people
Philips 5000 vs Cuisinart ADZ-112
The Philips and Cuisinart take different approaches to dual-basket cooking.
The Philips 5000 Series uses unequal 6.3-qt and 3.2-qt drawers and adds steam capability.
The Cuisinart ADZ-112 instead uses two equal 5.5-quart baskets for an 11-quart total capacity.
Choose Philips when steam and a larger-main/smaller-side layout appeal to you. Choose Cuisinart when two equal-size independent zones make more sense for the meals you normally prepare.
Frequently Asked Questions
How large is the Philips 5000 Series Dual-Basket Airfryer?
Philips lists the appliance at 17.5 inches wide, 15 inches deep, and 14 inches high.
How large are the two baskets?
The larger basket is 6.3 quarts and the smaller basket is 3.2 quarts, for approximately 9.5 to 9.6 quarts of combined stated capacity.
Does the Philips NA551 actually steam food?
Yes. Philips includes dedicated Air Steam technology and steam-based cooking modes in this model.
Can both baskets finish at the same time?
Yes. Philips includes automatic synchronized finishing between the drawers.
Does it have a self-cleaning feature?
It has a Steam Clean function intended to help loosen fat buildup in the large basket and around the heating area. Normal cleaning is still required.
Can the large basket hold a whole chicken?
Philips states that the larger basket can accommodate a whole chicken weighing approximately 2.6 pounds.
Our Bottom Line
The Philips 5000 Series NA551 is most compelling for shoppers who will genuinely use both dual-zone cooking and steam.
Its biggest strengths are the 6.3-quart main drawer, 3.2-quart side drawer, Air Steam technology, RapidAir Plus, synchronized finishing, broad 19-method function set, and Steam Clean feature.
Its primary trade-offs are countertop width and complexity. If all you need is a straightforward air fryer for one large batch, a single-basket model will be simpler.
But if your normal meals involve a larger main dish, a smaller side, and occasional steaming, the NA551 offers a combination of capabilities that most standard dual-basket air fryers do not.