Table of Contents
As Airfiers have become indispensable in Brazilian homes due to their practicality and a more innovative way of preparing healthier and increasingly diverse foods. With the Philips Walita Essential XL, the proposal brought by the giant in the home appliance industry is further drive consumer agility, with full control via app, preheating mode and even a complete recipe app. See our review of the Philips Walita 5000 Series XL Airfryer below.
Design
With the housing made of plastic, the design of the Philips Walita Essential XL follows the same structural pattern present in the Philips Walita brand, without major innovations or differences, apart from a rounder shape.
The bar used to pull the fryer basket comes with a more adherent, making it easy to remove even when your hand is wet or partially occupied, for example. Speaking of the food tray itself, it is also mobile and removable, as is standard for both Walita as for the AIrfryers on the market, being non-stick internally – a good point for cleaning, allowing food not to stick.
Another point that became a signature of the models Philips Walita is touchscreen panel. With an electronic display in a layer below the casing, the panel has a more robust material for greater protection, so it is not as sensitive to touch.
Centered in the upper center, the number corresponding to the temperature and the timer are interspersed, with the number appearing clearly visible, but the display architecture could be improved so that the two pieces of information appear together, as a form of dynamism. seven pre-set cooking modes and the three complementary menus– on/off, preheating and sidebar – also appear as figures, with a very noticeable size and considerable distance, avoiding unintentional incorrect activations.
Capacity
A Philips Walita Essential XL Airfryer comes with a large capacity to hold food. Weighing approximately 1,2 kg, its capacity is 6.2 liters, a number above the average for conventional oil-free fryers.
For the test, I cooked four pieces of breaded chicken fillet and a whole bag of fries and onion rings. As for the fillets, the four pieces fit perfectly in the pan and had excellent cooking results, with only the need to turn the piece once to achieve the crispiness that I particularly like the most; while the French fries and onion rings, even though they were on top of the others, managed to reach the right point with few interventions.
In summary, the Philips Walita Essential XL brings a very impressive space, turning out to be more practical than I had imagined, in terms of storing more proportion and quantity of food. In addition to its hot air distribution technology, which will be mentioned below.
Modules
About power, the Philips Walita Essential XL highlights technologies that make it a faster air fryer than other fryers. According to Philips, the Essential XL has cooking up to 18% faster, being twice as quiet. This is due to the engine with RapidAir technology, which allows hot air to circulate and cook food evenly and more evenly throughout the fryer, present in other models and incorporated in this one as well. The “starfish” shape at the bottom of the basket directs the hot air more easily.
The preparation time of the air fryer is much faster, in fact, optimizing this activity even more, which, although some people like it and are skilled at it, is demanding and can be inconvenient at certain times of the day. Even more so since it is an oil-free fryer, which is already more practical and healthier in itself, the greater agility in cooking allows for the same quality of life and more rest time for you to manage.
Features
O electronic touchscreen display there buttons and features which further help save time for future buyers of the Philips Walita Essential XL. Operating independently with a touch on the screen, these same buttons can be activated by the Airfryer app – NutriU, which I will talk about below – further expanding its accessibility.
See the features below.
Food Presets
There six food preset modes"Potato-based snacks frozen” (up to 800 grams) “Fresh French Fries” (up to 800 grams), “Chicken thighs” (up to eight pieces or about 1000 grams), “Fish” (up to four pieces or about 600 grams), “Muffins/Cakes” (up to 500 grams), “Beef chops” (up to four pieces or about 600 grams), and “Vegetables” (up to 800 grams).
In all these presets, there is a time and temperature saved for cooking, which goes on automatically as soon as it is activated, either by the panel or by the application. The temperature and time relationship is as you can see below. Remember that you can change the temperature and time at will, and you can save the new configuration:
- Frozen potato-based snacks (800g): 31 minutes at 180ºC;
- Fresh French fries (800g) – 38 minutes at 180ºC;
- Chicken thighs (1000g – 8 pcs) – 28 minutes at 180ºC;
- Fish (600g – 4 pcs) – 23 minutes at 200ºC;
- Muffins/cakes (500g) – 50 minutes at 160ºC;
- Beef chops (600g – 4 pcs) – 25 minutes at 200ºC;
- Vegetables (800g) – 25 minutes at 180ºC.
Exclusive to the app, the user you can create as many definitions as you want, saving a temperature and time in advance and naming it, which is next to the presets on the Airfryer home page. It would be quite interesting if this change appeared on the fryer's display, not limited to a single channel, but at least it is an efficient customizable way.
“Keep Warm” Mode
Present on the touchscreen panel and in the application, the “Keep Warm” is – yet another – a great preparatory resource for your recipes. Do you know that time when the fryer starts to turn on? When the motors are being turned on and until the hot air reaches the entire basket, there is a margin? It is exactly this period that the “Keep Warm" seeks optimize time.
Set to no maximum 30 minutes e minimum of five minutes, Philips Walita Essential XL Airfryer heats up normally so that the container is already properly hot to considerably reduce the final cooking time.
food preparation
With RapidAir's not-so-new technology and the complementary features available, food preparation with the Philips Walita Essential XL provides, according to the company, 23% energy savings e até 90% less fat compared to food fried in a conventional oil fryer.
From the tests I did using breaded chicken and French fries and onion rings, as well as some other everyday dishes, such as grilled zucchini, bruschetta, cheese bread and others, the cooking was very fast e did not negatively impact the quality of the food. However, as tastes are personal, it is worth paying attention to your preference and the dish you are going to cook. One thing I can guarantee: crispiness and cooking are guaranteed – and in record time.
Connectivity
Speaking of connectivity Philips Walita Essential XL Airfryer, is a point that caused me indecision, as it was a good choice, but with chances of having been much more than it came.
Fittable to Alexa, Amazon's virtual home assistant, and also having its own app, Essential XL can assimilate voice commands both via Alexa and via the app, as soon as the fryer is equipped with the home's Wi-Fi. With this power, the user can take full control of the aifryer without having to be near the appliance.
However, indoors, this powerful mode becomes a beneficial measure for only a short period – although it is still pleasant, but well momentary. Because you necessarily have to manually remove the cooked food from the airfryer basket, so it doesn't reach a wider cycle. Now, if this airfryer maintained this technology for a range outside the home, as more premium air conditioners generally have remote activation and temperature regulation, being miles away from home, the story would change and then this feature would be extremely and totally useful.
Besides, simple actions, such as turning the airfryer on and off, are not possible via cell phone. So, in short, the device feature is cool to see, but for its physical limitation based on the mandatory Wi-Fi connection between the cell phone and the appliance, the airfryer Philips Walita Essential XL does not generate comprehensive practicality in this regard. It works for those lazy moments at home or when you have a lot of tasks – and walking – around the rooms, however it does not expand beyond that.
IHome ID App
Finally, the HomeID app has made a big leap forward compared to the latest apps that are usually associated with the Philips Walita airfryer. Now, under the name HomeID for the Philips Walita Essential XL, there are more than five thousand recipes available in the app in video and text, made by the HomeID team itself and recipes made by professional chefs. The app becomes complete and a great service in addition to the joint use with your Philips Walita airfryer, generating value.
Among the articles in the app, there are savory and sweet dishes, all involving preparation for air fryer, some of them specifically aimed at Philips Walita Essential XL. Among the subdivisions are the tags “Tips and Tricks” – which in addition to recipes, details, for example, ways on how you can efficiently clean your airfryer or how to set up Alexa on your 5000 Series XL; “essentials“ – a series of video classes and descriptions that teach you how to cook from basic to advanced in various areas;get inspired” – showing creative and diverse dishes with a specific type of food or with something unusual; and the “Experts' Space” – which offers valuable tips from partner chefs.
In addition to the articles, also in the HomeID have the menu present “Recipes“, with simple step-by-step recipes for meals, such as fried noodles and steak with onions, and you can add specific tags such as “Easy” – with recipes without major gastronomic demands – and “<30 min” – with recipes that take less than half an hour to prepare; and the “Recipe Books“, with compilations of recipes through a limited selection, such as “Fresh juices to maintain hydration”, “Dessert recipes with less sugar”, “Tasty video recipes for summer”, “A taste of India”, “Most viral recipes of 2023” and much more.
Thus, the application adds a great additional importance to the airfryer, completely compensating for its acquisition, proving to be extremely high-quality, educational and up-to-date content and aware of current events and cultural diversity. Taking into account recipes that are concerned with avoiding waste and even fitness foods, the recipes of Home ID app demonstrate concern for the consumer.
Finishing this à la carte service, you can favorite your recipes, create your own recipe book and make it public, there is the option to access the Philips store to buy both accessories for the airfryer and other appliances from the company, and best of all: you can publish your own recipe on the server. Do you know that family recipe? You can register it and publish it for other app users to use and add more value to the app.
Price and availability
A Philips Walita Essential XL arrives with a great promotion in its official store. Initially valued at R$930,00, you can currently purchase the new Philips Walita with a 46% discount – for the price of R $ 499,00 at sight, or in 9 interest-free installments of R$55,44.
- Yes, on Amazon, you can find the model costing R$569,00 in cash (or in 10 installments of R$59,90), with fast delivery;
- In Magazine Luiza, you can pay the amount of R$813,84 in up to 10 interest-free installments of R$81,38, or for R$699,90 via Pix;
- By Mercado Livre, instead of paying R$808,86, the consumer can pay with a 24% discount, dropping the price to R$599 in cash or 10 interest-free installments of R$59,90.
Conclusion: is the Philips Walita Essential XL good?
The most awaited time of Review Philips Walita Essential XL. The airfryer presents a considerable evolution in relation to the company's other models, with highlights for the massive HomeID app rich and complementary content, food behavior for cooking and a greater speed when preparing food.
Its connectivity via app and virtual assistants is nothing new, but for having a full price like this, being considered a premium product, almost reaching a thousand reais, the airfryer could have more advanced features, therefore investing in more practicality to work away from home, for example, increasing its impact on the market for competitors and dictating its position more characteristically to other Philips Walitas. Philips Walita Essential XL still works – and very much so – for those who want more practicality and agility when cooking, being one of the best currently – but don't take it too hard.
Its features are welcome, but they present the same settings and configurations as other Walitas, not having so many unique aspects, like an “Apple effect” of specific improvements. The touchscreen panel is actually quite easy to handle and has a great spacing and distribution on the screen. Your plastic housing is consistent, but presented some scratched with ease. Your basket is easily removable and cleanable, being one good non-stick, being able to open and close easily with just one hand.
In conclusion, the Philips Walita Essential XL is approved, with reservations: the appliance had a lot of potential for more, but it is held back by connectivity limitations, which does not detract from its very good functionality.
Technical specifications
| Model | Philips Walita Essential XL Connected Airfryer |
| Weight | 1,2 kg |
| Modules | 2000 Watts |
| Dimensions | Width: 31,6 cm Height: 30,2 cm Depth: 40,5 cm |
| Material | Plastic |
| Color | Black |
| Heating/Cooling Method | Rapid Air Technology |
| nonstick | Yes |
| Manufacturer's warranty | 24 months |
| Removable basket | Yes |
| Adjustable temperature | from 80 Cº to 200 Cº |
| Frequency | 50-60Hz |
| Capacity | Total: 6,2 L Useful: 4,6 L |
| Digital panel | Yes, touchscreen |
| Security lock | Yes |
| Auto Power Off | Yes |
| Connectivity | Wi-Fi |
| voice command | Yes, via Amazon Alexa |
| Price | BRL 499 in cash at official store. R$569,05 on Amazon. R$599 on Mercado Livre. R $ 699 at sight in Magazine Luiza. |
See also:
Text revised by Alexandre Marques in 08 / 11 / 2024.
Source: Philips Walita
Philips Walita Essential XL Airfryer
Philips Walita Essential XL Airfryer-
Design6/10 Normal
-
Capacity9/10 Amazing
-
Modules9/10 Amazing
-
Features8/10 Great
-
Food preparation10/10 Excellent
-
Connectivity8/10 Great
Discover more about Showmetech
Sign up to receive our latest news via email.
