Philips Avent
3-in-1 Electric Steam Steriliser
8.1/10 overallAbout £50
An electric steam steriliser sized around the Avent bottle range, also usable as a microwave steriliser.
The verdict
The Philips Avent 3-in-1, around £50, is an electric steam steriliser shaped around Avent's own wide-neck bottles that can also be used without its base as a microwave steriliser when travelling. It's the more versatile choice for Avent-committed households, especially ones who travel, though non-Avent bottles may not sit as neatly in its rack.
Philips Avent's 3-in-1 gives you the option of plugging it in as a standalone electric steriliser or, when travelling, using the same unit without its base in a microwave — genuinely useful flexibility that most competitors don't offer in one product. It's shaped specifically around Avent's own wide-neck bottle range, which slot in without needing to be angled or rearranged.
Against the Tommee Tippee Steri-Express, the trade-off runs the other way: the Avent is the better fit if you're using Avent bottles specifically, and the microwave option adds real travel flexibility the Tommee Tippee lacks. If your bottles are a different brand or an odd shape, they may not sit as neatly in the Avent's rack, and the Tommee Tippee's more general-purpose design would fit them better.
For Avent-committed households, particularly ones who travel with a bottle-fed baby, the added microwave mode makes this the more versatile of the two.
Is the 3-in-1 Electric Steam Steriliser worth it?
- Doubles as a microwave steriliser for travel
- Fits Avent bottles precisely
- Holds slightly more than most rivals (6 bottles)
What are the downsides of the 3-in-1 Electric Steam Steriliser?
- Non-Avent bottles may not sit as neatly in the rack
- Pricier than single-mode electric sterilisers
- Still needs mains power or a microwave, no fully cordless option
Specs
- Type
- Electric steam, also microwave-compatible
- Best fit
- Philips Avent bottle range
- Capacity
- Up to 6 bottles
- Cycle time
- Approx. 6 minutes (electric)
- Stays sterile
- 24 hours with lid closed
How we scored it
Sterilising Effectiveness
Cycle time and reliability of killing bacteria across a full load.
Reliable steam sterilising in both electric and microwave modes.
Capacity
Number of bottles and accessories it fits in one cycle.
Fits up to 6 bottles, slightly more than most electric rivals.
Ease of Cleaning
How easy the steriliser itself is to descale and keep clean.
Similar descaling needs to other steam sterilisers.
Weighted by importance for this category — see our editorial policy for how we test.
How this review was done
We haven't used the 3-in-1 Electric Steam Steriliser ourselves yet. This review is built from Philips Avent's published specifications and product information, and scored the same way as everything else on the site. We'll update it, and the badge above, once we've tested it hands-on.
How it compares
|  |  |  | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price | About £50 | About £117 | About £22 | About £15 |
| Overall score | 8.1/10 | 6.4/10 | 7.4/10 | 7/10 |
| Type | Electric steam, also microwave-compatible | UV-LED, no water or chemicals | Cold water chemical (tablets or fluid) | Microwave steam |
| Capacity | Up to 6 bottles | Claimed up to 6 bottles; 3-4 comfortable in practice | Up to 6 standard bottles, 5L water | Up to 3 bottles |
| Cycle time | Approx. 6 minutes (electric) | Approx. 5-7 minutes sterilise, +15-20 min to dry | 15 minutes to sterilise | Approx. 3 minutes (microwave-dependent) |
Frequently asked questions
Can the Philips Avent 3-in-1 be used without electricity?+
Yes — when travelling, you can use the same unit without its base in a microwave, genuinely useful flexibility that most competitors in this category don't offer in one product, alongside its standard electric steam mode.
Does the Philips Avent steriliser work with non-Avent bottles?+
It's shaped specifically around Avent's own wide-neck bottle range, which slot in without needing to be angled or rearranged, but non-Avent bottles or an odd shape may not sit as neatly in the rack — the Tommee Tippee Steri-Express's more general-purpose design would fit them better.
How many bottles does the Philips Avent 3-in-1 hold?+
It scores 8/10 for capacity, holding slightly more than most electric rivals at up to 6 bottles, in around 6 minutes for the electric cycle.
Is the Philips Avent 3-in-1 more expensive than other electric sterilisers?+
Yes — it's pricier than single-mode electric sterilisers like the Tommee Tippee Steri-Express, reflecting the added microwave-compatible mode, and it still needs mains power or a microwave, with no fully cordless option.
Guides that mention this
Best Baby Bottle Sterilisers Compared
The NHS says sterilise feeding equipment until your baby turns one, but it doesn't tell you which steriliser to buy. Here's how six real options — electric steam, cold water, microwave tub, UV and travel bags — actually compare on speed, capacity and cost.
Sterilising Baby Equipment: Which Method, and For How Long
Four sterilising methods, one NHS timeline: until your baby turns one. Here's what genuinely differs between them, beyond price.
Reviewed by
Sepehr
Software engineer, soon-to-be dad, uncle to four — the tech-obsessed half of the two of us testing this stuff. Currently building this site with my wife, ahead of our own baby arriving.