How we chose
We considered current Australian availability and pricing, CHOICE independent testing, exact-model owner evidence, cooking versatility, basket layout, usable capacity, controls, cleaning, footprint, reliability signals and value. We did not add a cheap fourth model merely to manufacture a budget award.
Worth Buying scores are research-based editorial judgements. Customer ratings shown separately come from attributable owner-review sources. We do not claim to have physically tested these three models.
Philips 5000 Series Dual Basket Airfryer with Steam NA551/00
Illustrative editorial image, not an exact product photograph.
The NA551/00 pairs a medium main basket with a smaller secondary basket, so it suits a main-and-side workflow rather than two identical loads. Steam and combined air-and-steam cooking broaden it beyond conventional dry air frying, particularly when retaining moisture matters. CHOICE gives the exact model an 81% Expert Rating.
Steam is not available equally across both zones. The machine is also wide, needs sensible vent clearance and has more components to wash than a basic single-basket fryer.
| Model | NA551/00 |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 9L claimed total; unequal dual baskets |
| Cooking | Air fry, steam and combined air/steam modes |
| Temperature | 40–200°C |
| Power | 2300W |
| Dimensions | Approximately 45 × 38 × 35cm |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Independent test | 81% CHOICE Expert Rating |
| Price | $299 promotional price at The Good Guys during research · checked 16 Sep 2026 |
What owners say
Philips Australia displayed 4.5/5 from 91 reviews and The Good Guys showed 73 reviews on the exact listing, including confirmed purchasers. Praise centres on cooking results, steam versatility, easy controls, sync cooking and steam-clean convenience. Complaints cover the footprint, extra washing, steam limitations in the smaller basket and vent clearance. Philips' pool includes disclosed promotional or product-testing submissions, so it is not presented as 91 independently verified purchases.
Pros
- Strong all-round cooking proposition
- Genuinely useful steam capability
- Flexible two-zone operation
- 81% CHOICE result
- Helpful synchronised finish and steam clean
Cons
- Large benchtop footprint
- Smaller basket has fewer steam capabilities
- More components to wash
- Needs sensible steam-vent clearance
- More complex than a basic fryer
Ninja Air Fryer Pro XL 6.2L AF181ANZ
Illustrative editorial image, not an exact product photograph.
The AF181ANZ keeps the proposition simple: a useful 6.2L basket, straightforward controls and a high 240°C ceiling for Max Crisp. CHOICE gives the exact model an 82% Expert Rating—particularly strong performance for a machine selling around the low-$200 range.
A single basket is a limitation only when you regularly need two foods at different temperatures or times. For one main load, the simpler format means less bulk, fewer parts and strong usable capacity for the money.
| Model | AF181ANZ |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 6.2L single basket |
| Cooking modes | Max Crisp, Air Fry, Roast, Bake, Reheat and Dehydrate |
| Maximum temperature | 240°C |
| Power | Approximately 2000W |
| Cleaning | Dishwasher-safe removable basket and crisper plate |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Independent test | 82% CHOICE Expert Rating |
| Price | $199–$220 through major Australian retailers · checked 16 Sep 2026 |
What owners say
Myer displayed 4.9/5 from 97 exact-model reviews, while Harvey Norman showed another 43 reviews for AF181ANZ. Owners repeatedly praise quick cooking, crisp results, simple controls, easy cleaning, useful capacity and value. Some mention noticeable fan noise. The deeper trade-off is structural: one basket cannot cook two foods independently.
Pros
- Excellent 82% CHOICE result
- Strong exact-model owner evidence
- Useful capacity for the footprint
- Simple controls and cleaning
- Excellent value around $200
Cons
- No independent second cooking zone
- Fan noise is noticeable to some owners
- Less flexible for two-part meals
- Non-stick coating needs normal care
Ninja DoubleStack XXXL 9.5L SL400ANZ
Illustrative editorial image, not an exact product photograph.
The DoubleStack puts two approximately equal 4.75L drawers vertically instead of side by side. At about 28cm wide it preserves valuable horizontal workspace, while included racks can increase cooking surface for suitable foods. CHOICE gives the exact SL400 an 80% Expert Rating.
Narrow does not mean universally compact. It is roughly 49cm deep and 38cm high, so buyers must check the bench, overhead cabinetry and access to both drawers. The fixed zones also cannot become one uninterrupted 9.5L cavity.
| Model | SL400ANZ |
|---|---|
| Capacity | 9.5L claimed total; 2 × approximately 4.75L |
| Layout | Two vertically stacked fixed drawers |
| Temperature | 60–240°C |
| Power | 2270W |
| Dimensions | Approximately 28 W × 49 D × 38 H cm |
| Warranty | 2 years |
| Independent test | 80% CHOICE Expert Rating |
| Price | $423 reference price at Appliances Online; Myer displayed $479.99 · checked 16 Sep 2026 |
What owners say
Kitchen Warehouse displayed 4.9/5 from 63 reviews and Myer showed 4.7/5 from 55. The Good Guys also had substantial confirmed-purchase feedback. Praise covers saved bench width, combined capacity, independent cooking, speed and everyday ease. Negatives include the deep and tall body, drawers feeling smaller than marketing imagery suggests, stacked access and uneven results when multiple levels are heavily loaded. ProductReview's 3.0/5 comes from only two exact-model reviews—useful negative context, but too small to override deeper retailer evidence.
Pros
- Two meaningful independent zones
- Saves horizontal bench width
- Strong retailer owner evidence
- Useful capacity for family meals
- Good 80% CHOICE result
Cons
- Deep and relatively tall
- Multi-level loads may cook unevenly
- Cannot form one large cavity
- Stacked access will not suit everyone
- Individual drawers can feel smaller than expected
Single basket or dual basket?
Single basket
The AF181ANZ is simpler, usually smaller and lighter, straightforward to clean and gives one food access to the full basket area at a lower price.
Trade-off: it cannot independently cook two foods at different temperatures or for different times.
Dual basket
The Philips NA551/00 and Ninja SL400ANZ can run different settings and synchronise two foods to finish together, which is useful for family mains and sides. If two zones are your priority, see our focused Best Dual-Basket Air Fryers Australia comparison.
Trade-offs: more appliance volume, more parts to wash, and each individual zone may be smaller than a similarly rated single basket.
Why litre capacity can mislead
Advertised litres do not tell you how much food can cook well. Basket floor area, drawer shape and the ability to spread food in a single layer often matter more. A 9.5L dual-basket model does not necessarily hold the same food as a 9.5L single cavity because its volume is split between fixed zones.
Consider the foods you normally cook, whether racks are required, and whether one large basket or two smaller zones better fits your household. Crowding or heavily loading multiple rack levels can reduce browning and evenness.
Check the whole bench space
Side-by-side dual fryers consume more width. The DoubleStack saves width but adds depth and height, while overhead cabinetry can make its upper drawer or venting awkward. Steam models also need appropriate clearance for vapour. Measure width, depth and height—including room to open drawers and vent safely—before buying.
Which one should you buy?
Choose the Philips NA551/00 for the strongest all-round combination of dual-zone cooking, independent test performance and extra steam versatility.
Choose the Ninja AF181ANZ if you want a straightforward, high-performing air fryer for around $200 and do not need two independent baskets.
Choose the Ninja SL400ANZ if you regularly cook larger or two-part meals and need two substantial zones without consuming as much horizontal bench width.
Useful FAQs
Is a dual-basket air fryer worth it?
Yes if you often cook a main and side with different temperatures or timings. A good single basket is usually cheaper, simpler and easier to clean when you normally cook one load.
What air-fryer size do I need?
A 5–6L single basket often suits one or two people and many small households. Larger families may benefit from two substantial zones, but basket floor area and food shape matter more than the headline litre figure.
Does a larger litre capacity always mean more usable cooking space?
No. Shape, floor area, racks and whether capacity is split between fixed drawers determine how much food can cook in a single layer. Compare basket configuration, not just litres.
Is steam useful in an air fryer?
It can be. Steam helps retain moisture in suitable foods, while combined steam and air cooking can balance moisture with browning. It adds components, cleaning and clearance requirements.