The LPG Crisis Has Changed How India Cooks
If you’ve been following the news lately, you already know — the LPG shortage in India has turned everyday cooking into a genuine challenge. Gas cylinder refills are delayed by weeks in many cities, prices have shot up, and families are scrambling to find cooking alternatives that actually work.
Right in the middle of this crisis, Philips launched the OneChef — a premium 33-in-1 smart cooking appliance priced at ¥19,995. Social media is buzzing, and search volumes for “Philips OneChef” have skyrocketed. It’s now available on Amazon, Flipkart, Croma, and Reliance Digital.
But here’s the real question: is it the right choice for your family, or are there smarter alternatives? Spoiler: for most Indian households focused on daily cooking, electric pressure cookers with stainless steel inner pots offer better value, healthier cooking, and proven reliability.
Still want the Philips OneChef?
Check price & availability on Amazon India
What is the Philips OneChef?
The Philips OneChef (NX5300) is a 33-in-1 smart cooking appliance built around air fryer technology with Philips’ proprietary AmbiHeat Technology. It can air fry, stir fry, steam, boil, bake, roast, and make curries — all in a single 6-litre unit powered by 2,280 watts.
It comes with a cooking pot, air frying rack, steaming basket, idli tray, and glass lid. The cooking pot uses a non-stick coating. It weighs about 6.2 kg and connects to the Philips HomeID app for guided recipes. It’s a genuinely impressive appliance — but it comes with some important trade-offs that matter for Indian kitchens.
🔗 Check Philips OneChef price on Amazon
Why Electric Pressure Cookers Are a Smarter Choice
Key Differences That Matter for Indian Cooking
- Non-stick vs Stainless Steel inner pot: The OneChef uses a non-stick coated cooking pot. Electric pressure cookers like Instant Pot and Prestige Smart Cook use food-grade SS304 stainless steel inner pots — healthier, more durable, no coating to wear off, and perfect for acidic Indian gravies like sambar and rasam.
- No pressure cooking: The OneChef is built on air fryer technology. It does NOT pressure cook. For Indian staples like dal, rajma, chole, and biryani — pressure cooking is dramatically faster and more efficient.
- Premium pricing at ₹19,995: For a family dealing with the LPG crisis and rising costs, spending nearly ₹20,000 when proven alternatives cost ₹8,400–₹14,000 needs careful thought.
- High wattage (2,280W): The OneChef draws significantly more power than most electric pressure cookers (1,000–1,300W), meaning higher electricity bills.
- Instant Pot’s global legacy: The Instant Pot has been the world’s #1 electric pressure cooker for over a decade, with 90%+ global market share, millions of tested recipes, and a massive community of Indian users. It’s a proven, battle-tested product.
💡 The Stainless Steel Advantage
SS304 stainless steel inner pots (used in Instant Pot, Prestige Smart Cook, and AGARO Imperial) are non-reactive, scratch-resistant, and last 10+ years. Non-stick coatings degrade over time, especially with daily Indian cooking that involves acidic ingredients like tomatoes, tamarind, and vinegar. If you cook daily, stainless steel is the healthier long-term choice.
Inner Pot Material
Pressure Cooking
Power Draw
Price Range
Dal/Rajma Speed
Air Frying
EPCs = Electric Pressure Cookers (Instant Pot, Prestige, AGARO) • Scores are editorial estimates based on features & user feedback
Our Top Picks — Available Right Now
Prestige Smart Cook 6L
₹8,400The Prestige Smart Cook comes with 11 pre-set Indian menus designed specifically for our cooking style — dal, rice, biryani, idli, and more. The stainless steel bowl ensures healthy, long-lasting cooking. Auto keep-warm, delay timer, and a pressure indicator for safety. The detachable lid makes cleaning a breeze.
Instant Pot 6L (321 Essential) 9-in-1
₹13,990The Instant Pot is the world’s #1 electric pressure cooker with over a decade of proven performance and 90%+ global market share. Millions of users worldwide, thousands of tested Indian recipes online, and a massive community of food bloggers who cook dal, biryani, rajma, and more in it daily. This 9-in-1 model does pressure cooking, slow cooking, rice cooking, steaming, sautéing, yogurt making, and warming — all in one SS304 stainless steel pot.
Instant Pot 3L 7-in-1
₹11,990Same Instant Pot quality, worldwide reliability, and stainless steel inner pot in a compact 3-litre form. Perfect for limited kitchen space. Handles all essential functions — pressure cook, slow cook, rice, steam, sauté, and keep warm. The Instant Pot name carries a decade of trust and the largest recipe community in the world.
AGARO Imperial 6L Electric Pressure Cooker
₹9,999The AGARO Imperial packs 14 pre-set cooking functions into an affordable package with an SS304 stainless steel pot, backlit LCD display, adjustable pressure settings, delay timer, and a steaming basket for dual cooking. 1-year product warranty + 5-year warranty on heating plate.
Looking for the Philips OneChef specifically?
It’s available now — check current price on Amazon
Detailed Comparison Table
| Feature | Philips OneChef | Prestige Smart Cook 6L | Instant Pot 6L | AGARO Imperial 6L |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | ₹19,995 | ₹8,400 | ₹13,990 | ~₹9,999 |
| Inner Pot | Non-stick coated | SS304 Stainless Steel | SS304 Stainless Steel | SS304 Stainless Steel |
| Pressure Cooking | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Power (Watts) | 2,280W | ~1,000W | ~1,000W | ~1,300W |
| Capacity | 6L | 6L | 6L (also 3L) | 6L |
| Cooking Functions | 33 functions | 11 Indian menus | 9-in-1 / 13 programs | 14 functions |
| Air Frying | ✔ Yes | ✘ No | ✘ No | ✘ No |
| Dal/Rajma Time | 35–50 min | 15–25 min | 15–25 min | 15–25 min |
| Global Community | New (2026) | India-focused | 10+ years, millions of users | Growing |
| Yogurt/Curd Making | ✘ No | ✘ No | ✔ Yes | ✔ Yes |
| Value for Money | Premium | Excellent | Excellent | Best Value |
Real-Life Scenarios: Who Should Buy What?
Daily Cooking Without Gas
LPG delayed 2 weeks. Need dal, rice, sabzi for family of 4–5 every day.
✔ Prestige Smart Cook 6L / Instant Pot 6LWorking Professional
Leave at 9 AM, want dinner ready at 7 PM. Need delay timer & keep warm.
✔ Instant Pot 6LBachelor / PG / Hostel
Limited space, tight budget, cooking for 1–2 people.
✔ Instant Pot 3LBudget-Tight Family
Every rupee counts. Maximum features at minimum cost.
✔ AGARO Imperial 6LAir Fry + Cook Combo
Want air frying AND daily cooking? Consider an EPC + separate air fryer.
✔ EPC + Air Fryer < ₹20K totalTech Enthusiast / Foodie
Budget isn’t a concern. Want the latest gadget with app integration.
✔ Philips OneChefPrefer the Philips OneChef?
Buy it on Amazon — available now with fast delivery
Frequently Asked Questions
Final Thoughts
The Philips OneChef is an impressive new product that will appeal to tech-savvy food enthusiasts. If air frying and baking are your priorities, check it out on Amazon.
But for most Indian families dealing with the LPG crisis, the reality is simple: you need a reliable, affordable, and efficient way to cook everyday meals without gas. Electric pressure cookers deliver exactly this — with stainless steel inner pots that are healthier and more durable, pressure cooking that’s 2x faster for Indian staples, half the power consumption, and the proven global legacy of brands like Instant Pot.
Whether you pick the Prestige Smart Cook for brand trust, the Instant Pot for global-quality versatility and its unmatched community, or the AGARO Imperial for pure value — you’ll have a kitchen-ready solution today.
🔥 Shop Smart. Cook Smart. Save Money.
All products available with fast delivery from Kitchen Mart
Browse All Electric Cookers →