Philips HD9280/91 Air Fryer - Review

Air fryers have become increasingly popular in recent years as a healthier alternative to deep frying. The Philips HD9280/91 is one of Philips' higher end air fryer models, featuring their patented Twin TurboStar technology which circulates hot air around the food for quick and even cooking.

Philips is one of the leading brands when it comes to air fryers. They were the first company to introduce the technology back in 2010 and have continued to innovate and improve their air fryer designs over the years. Their models utilize Rapid Air technology, which enables the appliances to fry food with little to no oil, resulting in reduced fat and calories compared to deep frying.

The Philips HD9280/91 sits towards the higher end of Philips' air fryer range. It comes with a number of presets, a keep warm function, and their unique Twin TurboStar technology which is designed to maximize hot air circulation for fast and efficient cooking. This promises to deliver tasty, crispy results comparable to deep fried food but in a healthier way.

Design & Build Quality

The Philips Airfryer HD9280/91 has a sleek and modern design that will look great on any countertop. It is made of black plastic with a matte finish that resists fingerprints. The materials feel solid and durable, built to withstand daily use.

At 14.4 x 32.3 x 42.1 cm, the air fryer has a compact footprint but is tall enough to fit a whole chicken or large portions of food. It has a total weight of 7.0 kg which gives it a sturdy feel without being overly heavy. The fryer basket has a 2.2 liter capacity and features a non-stick coating for easy food release and quick cleanup.

The housing contains cool touch handgrips that let you move the air fryer safely even when in use. Overall, the quality of materials and construction feels very good for the price point.

If you're looking for an alternative air fryer with a similar high-quality build, the Tower T17076 is worth considering. This 3.2 liter air fryer also has a sleek black design and sturdy plastic construction. It measures 36 x 26 x 33 cm, so it has a taller profile but takes up less counter space.

The Tower air fryer features an adjustable thermostat up to 200°C, 60 minute timer with auto shut off, and dishwasher safe parts. The fryer basket and pan have a non-stick coating and cool touch handle. A recipe book is included to help you get started.

Reviews praise the Tower T17076 for being easy to use with great results. Many mention how quiet it is compared to other air fryers. The additional capacity is nice for cooking larger batches. While the Tower may not feel quite as premium as the Philips, it provides excellent quality and performance for the affordable price tag.

When choosing between these two models, the Philips Airfryer HD9280/91 is the better option if you want a compact footprint with high-end finishes. But the Tower T17076 is a great budget-friendly alternative with more interior room. Both air fryers are well-built and designed to deliver delicious crisp food with less oil than traditional frying.

Features & Settings

The Philips HD9280/91 Airfryer has a number of useful features and settings that allow you to prepare a variety of dishes.

Capacity

This air fryer has a generous 4.1L capacity, which Philips states is suitable for cooking up to 5 portions of fries. The basket has a 2.2lb/1kg food capacity. The large capacity makes this model a good choice for families and those who like to meal prep multiple portions.

Temperature Range

The temperature can be adjusted from 176°F to 400°F, providing a wide range of cooking options. Many air fryer recipes call for temperatures between 380-400°F, and this model can easily reach up to 400°F.

Presets

There are 7 preset smart programs: frozen fries, frozen chicken, frozen fish, steak, shrimp, baked goods and manual. This allows you to simply press a button for common dishes instead of manually adjusting the time and temperature. The presets take the guesswork out for perfectly cooked results.

Smart Features

A unique smart preset stores info about your favorite dish, including temperature, time, and your preferred level of browning. After cooking a dish once manually, the air fryer will remember these settings so you can get the same results every time by pressing one button. This makes it easy to cook customized dishes repeatedly.

The presets automatically adjust the temperature and time as needed during cooking for optimal results. The Philips app also provides access to hundreds of air fryer recipes you can send straight to the appliance.

If you're looking for an alternative air fryer option, consider the cookwise AF2-40D06. This is a budget-friendly air fryer with a 3.7 quart capacity, adjustable temperature up to 400°F, 60 minute timer, and cool touch housing. It doesn't have as many bells and whistles as the Philips, but provides solid performance at a lower price point. The Cookwise air fryer is easy to use with straightforward manual controls. It can air fry, roast, bake and reheat with little to no oil. The nonstick basket and fryer pan are dishwasher safe for easy cleanup. This air fryer would work well for individuals and smaller families looking for a basic model. Over 2,500 Amazon reviewers give the Cookwise AF2-40D06 air fryer 4.6 out of 5 stars. So if the Philips model is out of your budget, the Cookwise AF2-40D06 is a great affordable alternative to consider.

Performance & Cooking Results

The Philips Airfryer HD9280/91 delivers excellent performance and cooking results across a wide range of foods. Its rapid Air technology and starfish design provide fast, even heating for crispy frying with little to no oil.

Foods come out perfectly cooked and browned on all sides thanks to the Airfryer's unique airflow system. This allows hot air to circulate around the food for quick and even cooking. Chicken wings, fries, and nuggets all achieve a delicious, crispy outer layer while remaining juicy on the inside.

Baked goods like muffins and cake also do very well in the Airfryer. The results are light and fluffy thanks to the hot air circulation. Baking times are faster than a conventional oven. Frozen convenience foods like chicken tenders, fish sticks, and potato wedges crisp up nicely in the Airfryer. Their textures come out just like deep frying.

Meat cuts like pork chops and steak are nicely seared on the outside while staying tender and juicy inside. The Airfryer brings out delicious flavors and textures across a wide variety of foods with little to no oil needed. It delivers high performance cooking results comparable to deep frying.

Ease of Use

The Philips Airfryer HD9280/91 is designed to be very easy and intuitive to use. It has a simple control panel with just a few buttons to operate the various functions. There is a digital display that clearly shows the temperature setting, time remaining, and cooking preset modes.

The control panel has a power button, temperature adjustment buttons, time adjustment buttons, and buttons to select preset cooking modes like fries, meat, fish, and chicken. Adjusting any settings is straightforward with the tactile buttons. The digital display is bright and easy to read at a glance.

It comes with a food basket, removable non-stick coated drawer, and a recipe booklet. The food basket smoothly slides in and out of the cooker for easy loading and unloading. The non-stick coating on the drawer makes it simple to clean up afterward.

Overall, the Philips Airfryer HD9280/91 has been designed for simplicity and ease-of-use. The controls and settings are intuitive and accessible. Loading and cooking food is seamless, and cleanup afterward is quick and easy. For an air fryer, it offers one of the most user-friendly experiences.

Noise Level

The Philips Airfryer HD9280/91 operates at a reasonable noise level that is unlikely to disturb most users. When the air fryer is preheating, it produces a low hum at around 65-70 decibels. This is comparable to normal conversation levels.

Once the cooking process begins, the fan kicks in which increases the noise to around 75-80 decibels. This is slightly louder than a vacuum cleaner but quieter than a blender. The noise is a constant humming/whirring sound from the internal fan circulating hot air. It is not an irritating or high-pitched noise.

The noise levels will vary slightly depending on what you are cooking and the temperature setting. However, the Philips air fryer noise remains within a moderate range during operation. It produces less noise than many other kitchen appliances like blenders, food processors or microwave ovens. The noise is unlikely to be disruptive if used in an open concept kitchen/dining area. But some users may prefer to have it running in a closed off kitchen space.

Overall, the noise generated by the Philips Airfryer HD9280/91 is not excessive. It allows you to carry on a conversation and go about your normal activities while cooking. The noise levels are reasonable for a useful kitchen appliance of this type.

Safety Features

The Philips Airfryer HD9280/91 has several important safety features to provide peace of mind when using this appliance.

One key safety mechanism is the auto shut off function. After the cooking time is complete, the air fryer will automatically turn itself off. This prevents overcooking and eliminates the fire hazard of an appliance continuing to heat when unattended.

Additionally, the Philips Airfryer maintains cool external walls while in operation. The hot air and heat is contained inside the cooking chamber, while the outside of the appliance remains cool to the touch. This protects against accidental burns and allows for safe handling even during the cooking process.

Other safety features include overheat protection to prevent overheating, and a pull-out power cord with a safety on/off switch. There is also a safety interlock system that prevents the drawer from being opened during cooking, protecting the user from hot steam.

Overall, Philips has engineered multiple safety mechanisms into the HD9280/91 Airfryer design. Between the auto shut off, cool touch walls, and other features, this appliance provides a good level of safety for peace of mind.

Capacity

The Philips Airfryer HD9280/91 has a generous 4.1 liter capacity, which Philips states is suitable for cooking up to 5 portions of food. The basket has a flat bottom design with mesh sides, measuring approximately 12 inches wide by 11 inches deep.

This provides enough room to cook around 800 grams of fries, a whole chicken, or 0.8kg of meat at one time. When cooking smaller items like fries, nuggets or shrimp, you can easily fit enough to feed a family of 4-5 people in one batch.

However, for larger items like a whole chicken or pork roast, you may need to cut them down to size to fit them in the basket. Some users note the basket could be a little deeper, but the width is sufficient for most purposes.

The included recipe book provides cooking times and instructions for popular foods like fries, chicken, steak and more, with portion guidance. So the 4.1L capacity should be suitable for most households and cooking needs.

Pros & Cons

The Philips Airfryer HD9280/91 has several notable pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Produces crispy and delicious fried food with up to 90% less fat than deep frying
• Large capacity basket fits up to 800g of food
• Digital interface is intuitive and easy to use
• Cooks food quickly and evenly with rapid air technology
• Dishwasher safe parts make cleanup easy
• Small countertop footprint doesn't take up much space

Cons

• Price is on the higher side compared to other air fryer models
• Exterior can get hot during cooking
• Basket capacity may be too small for cooking meals for more than 2-3 people
• Shape and size of basket can limit what foods will fit and cook properly
• Noisier than expected while in operation

Overall, the Philips Airfryer HD9280/91 performs very well at air frying foods with a crispy texture and delicious flavor. The digital controls and dishwasher safe parts make it convenient to use. Downsides are the premium price tag and smaller basket capacity. For most households cooking for 2-4 people, this model is a great choice for healthy air frying.

Conclusion & Recommendation

Overall, the Philips HD9280/91 Airfryer is an excellent choice for healthy oil-free cooking and frying. Its stylish design and digital interface make it easy to use, while the rapid air technology delivers fast, crispy results using little to no oil.

Compared to other models, the Philips Airfryer stands out for its versatility. The adjustable temperature (up to 200°C) and smart preset programs allow you to air fry, bake, roast, grill and even reheat a wide variety of foods. The integrated timer is handy for walking away while food cooks.

The main downsides are the smaller 2.2L capacity which can't handle large batches, and the noise level which is quite loud when running. However, the auto-off function helps prevent overcooking if you can't hear the timer.

For most households, the Philips HD9280/91 Airfryer is highly recommended for healthy everyday cooking. It delivers delicious crispy fries, chicken, fish and more using minimal oil. The stylish design and intuitive controls also make it enjoyable to use. If you don't mind the smaller capacity and noise, this Airfryer is a smart addition to any kitchen.