Comparison Philips Avance Collection HD9650 vs Steba HF 5000 XL

The total number of cooking programs provided in the device.

The more this number — the more extensive the possibilities, the wider the choice of the user. However, note that a specific set of modes may be different, this point in each case should be clarified separately. See "Programmes" for details on specific modes.

Cooking programs provided in the device. The most common cooking programs are: fries, chips, chicken, meat, shrimps, fish, pizza, vegetables.

— Fries. The fryer offers a specialized automatic cooking program designed specifically for preparing dishes like crispy potatoes, mushrooms, or meat in batter. While these dishes can be cooked in any deep fryer, this program simplifies the process. With this program, users no longer need to manually monitor the cooking time and temperature. They simply load the ingredients, select the appropriate mode, start the cooking process, and wait for it to complete. In multi-ovens and air fryers, this type of cooking can be achieved with minimal amounts of oil or even without oil at all, providing healthier cooking options.

— Chips. The fryer offers a dedicated cooking program specifically designed for making potato chips, which are thin and crispy slices of potato. While chips can be cooked in any deep fryer, if the device does not have a built-in cooking program, users will need to manually configure the cooking parameters and closely monitor the process. Alternatively, the option to cook chips may also be available in multi-ovens and convection ovens (...see "Type"), expanding the cooking possibilities beyond traditional deep fryers.

— Chicken. A cooking program specifically designed for cooking chicken meat is commonly available in multi-ovens and air fryers. This program typically involves baking the chicken. However, deep fryers are less commonly equipped with this specific program. In deep fryers, the emphasis is usually on frying chicken with batter or without it.

— Meat. Program for cooking meat (veal, pork, etc.). It is used mainly in multi-ovens and air fryers, which means roasting meat.

— Shrimps. A cooking program specifically designed for cooking shrimps is commonly available in deep fryers, which typically allow frying shrimp in tempura batter. Air fryers and multi-ovens, on the other hand, may offer different cooking options for shrimps, such as boiling, particularly in the case of multi-ovens.

— Fish. Programme for cooking fish. In deep fryers (see "Type") fish is most often cooked in batter, in small pieces; it is possible to bake the whole fish, if the volume of the working space allows it in multi-ovens and air fryers.

— Pizza. A programme optimized for pizza making. The "Pizza" program, commonly found in multi-ovens, ensures that Italian dishes, as well as casseroles and pies, are cooked evenly on all sides. This program is designed to create a crispy crust on the top while maintaining a juicy filling inside.

— Vegetables. The "Vegetables" program, commonly available in multi-ovens, is characterized by its moderate temperature setting. It allows for slow and gentle heating of vegetables, similar to stewing. This program is ideal for preparing various vegetable-based dishes such as side dishes, stews, complex dishes and soup dressings.

— Auto-cooking. In addition to those described above, the design may also provide for other types of auto-cooking programs — for example, for mushrooms, barbecue, baking bread, etc.

The cooking temperature provided by the device. Most models are adjustable, so this item indicates the operating temperature range.

Deep frying is carried out at temperatures from 130 to 190 °С200 °С. But high operating temperatures (over 200°) are less common.

The capacity of the deep fryer basket or multi-oven bowl, or air fryer flask (see "Type") in kilograms is the maximum amount of food that can be loaded into the device at one time.

For deep fryers used in everyday life, a capacity of up to 0.6 – 0.8 kg is considered quite sufficient; it is rarely useful to fry numerous foods at a time at home. But models that can hold from a kilogram or more are designed mainly for industrial use — in cafes, canteens, etc. In turn, multi-ovens with a capacity of up to 0.8 kg can be called small, up to 1.5 kg — medium, more than 1.5 kg — large. Air fryers have approximately the same capacity.

The working volume of the bowl of the device.

This parameter is directly related to the capacity of the basket (see above) — for more products and volumes, larger ones are required. Also note that for deep fryers (see "Type"), the volume of the bowl is usually indicated not by the full volume, but by the amount of oil that is poured into the device during standard filling. Thus, this information allows you to estimate how much oil is required to use the device. In models with separate containers (see below), the volume can be specified for each compartment separately.

Models in which the capacity is divided or can be divided into several separate compartments — most often two.

The main purpose of this function is to enable the simultaneous cooking of two different types of food in the appliance without mixing them. In multi-ovens, the separation of the cooking space is typically achieved through a removable partition that can be installed or removed as needed. In deep fryers with this feature, the working capacity is initially divided into two compartments, and the device comes with two baskets. This design allows for the option of cooking with a half load by using only one compartment and one basket.

Deep fryers with a separate container are most often large in size and capacity, but this rule does not apply to multi-ovens.

The type of timer provided in the design of the device.

The timer itself is a device for controlling the cooking time: it measures a user-specified period of time and at the end of it gives a signal, and in some models it also stops heating. And the types of such devices can be as follows:

— Mechanical. A basic type of timer commonly found in appliances is a mechanical timer, often in the form of a specialized knob. To set the timer, the knob is turned to the desired time division, and it rotates in the opposite direction, counting down the time. Mechanical timers are known for their simplicity, reliability, and affordability. However, they are not highly accurate, typically allowing time to be set with a precision of one or two minutes. Over time, the knob may become loose, further reducing the accuracy of the timer setting. Nonetheless, for most purposes, this level of accuracy is sufficient.

— Electronic. An electronic timer is set using electronic circuits and is equipped with a display that shows the set time and the countdown. The key advantage of electronic timers is their high accuracy, allowing time to be selected with precision down to the second. However, electronic timers are more complex and expensive compared to mechanical timers.

The power consumed by the device during operation. Usually indicated by the maximum energy consumption, at the most intensive mode of operation.

Large capacity requires more power. However, devices with similar characteristics may differ in this parameter. It is worth noting that, other things being equal, lower power does not mean more economical energy consumption: cooking in such a device takes more time and as a result, the amount of energy spent is almost the same. At the same time, lower power means less load on the electrical grid, which can be important in houses with poor wiring.

— Control knob. Control carried out by mechanical elements directly connected to the corresponding components of the device. The traditional, most popular option provides two rotary knobs: a thermostat and an off timer with a clock mechanism (see “Functions”). The main advantages of this type of control are simplicity and low cost. At the same time, the capabilities of the “mechanics”, although modest, are quite sufficient to control all key functions. Among the obvious disadvantages compared to electronic control, it is worth noting less accuracy.

- Push-button. Push-button control is based on electronic circuits. Such systems are more accurate than mechanical ones; more capabilities and modes are provided. On the other hand, such control is more complex and more expensive than mechanical control.

- Touch. A type of electronic control with touch switches. Compared to push-button models, it provides a high level of comfort in operation, and looks more modern and aesthetically pleasing. Touch control is found mainly in top models of juicers.

— Control knob with sensor. Another type of electronic control, where the main control is a rotary switch, which is complemented by touch buttons. The switch itself simplifies the selection of modes, temperature, timer time, and the sens...ors are secondary. However, the control panel itself looks stylish and is not inferior in design to models with only touch controls.