Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket with Steam NA555/09 review
Overview and design
The Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket with Steam NA555/09 combines two different countertop cooking methods in one large appliance. Its total nine-litre capacity is split into a six-litre main basket and a three-litre side basket. The larger zone can use steam as well as hot-air cooking, while the smaller zone handles conventional air-fryer duties. This allows a moist main, steamed vegetables or steam-assisted reheating to be paired with a crisp side dish. It is a more meaningful distinction than adding another preset to a standard dual basket.
The asymmetrical layout is practical for main-and-side meals, and the touchscreen coordinates the two zones. Philips lists air frying, roasting, baking, grilling and steaming functions, supported by its RapidAir Plus approach. A water system, steam channel and SteamClean programme add components that ordinary air fryers do not have. The machine is also physically substantial—independent testing describes a body around 44 centimetres deep and close to nine kilograms—so it needs a permanent, ventilated position. Steam output should not be directed immediately beneath vulnerable cupboards.
Cooking performance
Hands-on and longer-term reviews have praised the NA555 for producing crisp exteriors while retaining moisture in fish, chicken, pork and reheated food. Steam can reduce the dry texture that sometimes results when leftovers or lean proteins are exposed only to hot moving air. The ability to steam in the large basket while air frying in the smaller basket makes it possible to prepare contrasting textures at the same time. Reviewers have reported successful salmon, chicken and pork belly, suggesting that the hybrid approach is more than a novelty when used thoughtfully.
Steam does not remove the basic rules of air frying. Crisp food still needs space around it, dense ingredients need temperature checks, and the two baskets have different physical capacities. Steam is available only in the larger zone, so buyers should plan meals around that limitation. Moisture can also soften food if the wrong mode is chosen; chips and breaded items generally benefit from dry high-speed airflow, while vegetables, fish and reheated meat are more natural steam candidates. The appliance offers versatility, but users must choose the method rather than expecting one setting to improve everything.
Controls, cleaning and ownership
The touchscreen simplifies a complex feature set by allowing zones and functions to be selected separately and synchronised. There is still more to learn than on a basic air fryer: the water supply must be filled correctly, steam-capable modes need to be understood, and the owner should follow instructions for purging or maintaining the system. The larger basket handles most substantial dishes, while the smaller one suits sides and snacks. Households that rarely steam may find themselves using only the conventional half of an expensive appliance.
Philips includes SteamClean assistance and dishwasher-safe removable parts, but independent long-term testing makes clear that this is not a self-cleaning oven. Steam loosens residue; it does not eliminate manual wiping and scrubbing. The water path may require descaling depending on local hardness and frequency of use, and standing water should not be left indefinitely. The baskets themselves are large, and the complete appliance cannot be taken to the sink. Owners should budget a little more time for maintenance than with the NA352/00. In return, steam can make certain greasy or dried-on residues easier to remove.
Verdict
The NA555/09 is the specialist choice for households that will actively use steam alongside air frying. It is particularly persuasive for fish, vegetables, poultry, pork and leftovers where moisture retention matters, while the second basket can crisp a side. Current independent guides rank it among the strongest premium air fryers, but its price, size and maintenance are difficult to justify if the steam system will be ignored. Buyers wanting only two hot-air baskets can spend less and clean fewer components. For varied family cooking, however, the combination of a six-litre steam-capable zone and a three-litre crisping zone is genuinely useful.