Philips Air Fryer Review: 2000 Series VS 3000 Series - Worth the Upgrade?

Summary

In this hands-on review, Meem compares the Philips 2000 and 3000 series air fryers to see if the new features of the 3000 model are worth the upgrade. While the 3000 offers a larger basket, extra presets, and Rapid Plus technology, it falls short in terms of cooking performance, with the 2000 series delivering better crispiness and even cooking. Despite the 3000's bulkier design and additional features, the 2000 wins for its more consistent results, making it the better choice for those seeking reliable performance and ease of use.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Philips 3000 Series air fryer offers a bigger 6.5QT capacity compared to the 4QT of the 2000 Series, but the design wastes space due to its inner basket design.
• 😀 The 3000 Series has a slightly bulkier and heavier design, taking up more counter space, with a weight increase from 5kg (2000 Series) to 7kg.
• 😀 The 3000 Series features a top-down display with 12 cooking presets, including a shake reminder, favorites button, and a dehydrate function.
• 😀 Although the 3000 Series has more space, the basket's design isn’t significantly more efficient, with only a 2-inch difference in usable capacity compared to the 2000 Series.
• 😀 The 2000 Series air fryer outperforms the 3000 in cooking tests, providing crispier, juicier, and more evenly cooked food, particularly wings and frozen items.
• 😀 The 3000 Series can be confusing with its 16-in-1 marketing, which includes manual temperature and time adjustments that expand cooking options beyond the 12 presets.
• 😀 The window of the 3000 Series air fryer is only visible from the front and can get dirty quickly, requiring regular cleaning to prevent grease buildup.
• 😀 The 3000 Series air fryer has a larger cord length (40 inches vs. 33 inches) and a cord holder, which is more practical for storage.
• 😀 The 3000 Series design includes additional pieces that might seem unnecessary, such as metal pieces and silicone tabs, which could collect grease.
• 😀 The 2000 Series is lighter, easier to handle, and provides more consistent cooking results, making it a better choice for those tight on space or wanting reliable cooking performance.

Q & A

What was the main reason for switching from the Philips 2000 to the 3000 series air fryer?

The main reason for switching was the size. The user found the 2000 series a bit tight for their needs, and hoped the 3000 series with Rapid Plus technology would work better due to its larger basket and potential cooking improvements.

What are the differences in basket design between the Philips 2000 and 3000 series air fryers?

The 3000 series has a unique inner basket design that creates wasted space, leaving about an inch on all sides. While the 3000’s outer basket is slightly larger, it is also heavier and has a star-shaped design for better air flow. The 2000 series basket is smaller but more efficient in terms of usable space.

How does the cooking capacity of the 3000 series compare to the 2000 series?

The 3000 series has a 6.5QT basket, which can hold up to 16 wings in a single layer, whereas the 2000 series has a 4QT basket that fits 12 wings. Although the 3000's basket is larger, the usable cooking space isn't drastically different.

What were the results of the wing cooking test between the 2000 and 3000 series?

The 2000 series cooked the wings better, making them more golden, crispier, and juicier compared to the 3000 series, which resulted in wings that were slightly drier and less crispy.

Did the 3000 series cook frozen food more effectively than the 2000 series?

No, the 3000 series did not perform as well. When cooking frozen fish sticks and fries, the 2000 series cooked more evenly and browned everything nicely, while the 3000 series dried out the fish and left uneven browning on the fries.

What is the main issue with the 3000 series’ basket size and design?

The main issue is the large, bulky design, which makes the 3000 series harder to shake and move around. The inner basket design also complicates cleaning, as it increases washing and drying time, especially with the double basket setup.

How does the Philips 3000 series’ cooking technology compare to the 2000 series?

While the 3000 series features Rapid Plus technology, which is marketed as an improvement, the user did not notice any significant difference in cooking speed or performance compared to the 2000 series. The 3000 series did not cook faster, despite the claim of improved airflow.

What is the capacity difference between the 2000 and 3000 series baskets?

The 3000 series basket is slightly wider (9x9 inches) compared to the 2000 series (8x8 inches), but the 3000 series basket is less deep (3.5 inches vs. 4.5 inches). This results in minimal additional usable space despite the larger outer dimensions.

Why was the favorites button on the 3000 series air fryer considered confusing?

The favorites button is tricky to set. You have to manually adjust the temperature and time settings, then press the star icon to save the setting. The process of setting and saving favorites is not straightforward and requires a few extra steps.

What are the advantages and disadvantages of the 3000 series compared to the 2000 series?

Advantages of the 3000 series include a larger basket, Rapid Plus technology, a shake reminder, a dehydrate preset, and a favorites button. However, it has disadvantages such as less even cooking, a bulkier design that’s harder to move, more difficult cleaning with the double basket setup, and no noticeable improvement in cooking speed or results compared to the 2000 series.