Philips Avent Premium Steriliser & Dryer vs Tommee Tippee Super-Steam

COMPARISON · FEEDING & STERILISING

If you are bottle-feeding, combination-feeding, or expressing, you already know the drill: wash, sterilise, dry, repeat. Choosing the right steriliser can save you real time every single day, and two products dominate the UK market for electric bottle sterilisers right now.

The Philips Avent Premium Steriliser & Dryer and the Tommee Tippee Super-Steam Advanced Electric Steriliser share the same core promise: chemical-free steam sterilisation that kills 99.9% of harmful bacteria in minutes. But they take very different approaches to what happens after the steam clears. The Avent wraps sterilisation and drying into a single 40-minute cycle, so bottles come out ready to fill. The Tommee Tippee races through a 5-minute steam blast, then lets you air-dry on its stackable tray.

One costs nearly twice the other. One includes a built-in dryer. One fits the widest range of bottles on the market. We dug into real parent feedback, compared the specs side by side, and tested the claims to help you decide which one earns its spot on your kitchen worktop.

Lil' Bubba's verdicts

• Best Overall: Tommee Tippee Super-Steam · 8.5/10 - fastest cycle, great value, fits most bottle brands
• Best for Convenience: Philips Avent Premium Steriliser & Dryer · 8.0/10 - sterilises and dries in one closed cycle

Feature	Philips Avent Premium	Tommee Tippee Super-Steam
Price (approx.)	£91	£50
Sterilisation time	10 min (steam only)	5 min
Total cycle	40 min (sterilise + dry)	5 min (steam only)
Built-in dryer	Yes (filtered air jet)	No (tray as drying rack)
Capacity	6 bottles + accessories	6 bottles + accessories
Sterile storage	Up to 24 hours	Up to 24 hours
Bottle compatibility	Best with Avent range	Most UK bottle brands
Rating

How we picked the 2

We focused on the two electric steam sterilisers that UK parents search for and compare most often. Both come from established feeding brands sold at every major retailer, both hold six bottles, and both use chemical-free steam. They represent two clear philosophies: premium all-in-one versus fast and affordable.

What to look for in a baby bottle steriliser

Before you commit to either model, it helps to know what actually matters in a steriliser.

Sterilisation method. Electric steam is the most popular choice for daily home use. Microwave sterilisers are more compact and cheaper, but you need a microwave big enough to fit them. UV sterilisers are gaining ground but tend to cost more. Cold-water sterilisation tablets work anywhere but take 30 minutes and need replacing regularly.

Cycle speed. How quickly can you get from washed bottles to sterile bottles? When it is 3am and you need a clean bottle now, even a five-minute difference feels significant.

Drying. Steam sterilisers leave bottles wet by default. A few models include a built-in dryer. Otherwise, you drain bottles upside down or towel-dry, both of which can reintroduce bacteria from the air or the cloth.

Bottle compatibility. Some sterilisers are designed around a specific bottle shape. If you use bottles from multiple brands, or plan to switch brands later, check the fit before you buy.

Capacity and footprint. Most electric sterilisers hold four to six bottles. Look at the footprint relative to your worktop space, especially in a smaller kitchen.

Sterile storage. Both models here keep contents sterile for 24 hours with the lid closed. That means you can sterilise a batch in the evening and grab bottles as needed overnight.

1. Philips Avent Premium Steriliser & Dryer / 10 · Best for Convenience

The Philips Avent Premium Steriliser & Dryer is the only mainstream electric steriliser in the UK that sterilises and dries in a single closed cycle. Load up to six bottles, turn the dial, and walk away. Forty minutes later, everything comes out dry and ready to fill. No towel-drying, no draining upside down, no reintroducing airborne bacteria.

It runs at 650W and uses a filtered air jet to dry bottles after the steam cycle. The three-mode dial (sterilise only, sterilise and dry, dry only) keeps operation simple, and a progress indicator light tells you when the cycle is complete. A protective drip tray shields the heating plate from milk droplets, reducing mineral buildup and the unpleasant odours that come with it.

What parents love

• True set-and-forget. The combined sterilise-and-dry cycle means bottles are ready to use with no extra steps. One parent told us: "It is stylish and modern but also not over-complicated, perfect for busy parents."
• Simple three-mode dial. Even at 3am, you can operate it without thinking. A parent shared: "Quick, straightforward and easy to use - even the grandparents can manage it."
• Compact modular design. It holds six bottles but takes up less worktop space than you might expect.
• Filtered drying air. The air filter adds reassurance that dry bottles stay clean inside.

What to know before you buy

• Premium price tag. At around £91, it costs nearly double the Tommee Tippee. The dryer adds value, but it is a significant jump for families on a budget.
• Slower full cycle. The 40-minute sterilise-and-dry cycle is thorough, but slower than steam-only alternatives when you just need bottles sterilised fast.
• Avent bottle bias. The internal layout is optimised for Avent bottles. Wider or taller bottles from other brands may not fit comfortably.

Best for

• Parents who want truly hands-off sterilisation with built-in drying
• Night feeds where you need bottles ready without an extra drying step
• Families already using Philips Avent bottles and accessories

2. Tommee Tippee Super-Steam Advanced Electric Steriliser / 10 · Best Overall

The Tommee Tippee Super-Steam Advanced Electric Steriliser does one thing exceptionally well: it sterilises six bottles in five minutes flat. That is one of the fastest electric steriliser cycles available in the UK, and at roughly £50, it undercuts every premium rival by a wide margin.

Chemical-free steam envelops every surface, killing 99.9% of bacteria. The redesigned two-tier stackable tray accommodates bottles, teats, soothers, and breast pump parts, then doubles as a drying rack when you lift it off the base. New easy-lift handles keep your hands clear of escaping steam. The easy-clean stainless steel base plate resists staining and mineral buildup better than older plastic models.

What parents love

• Lightning-fast sterilisation. Five minutes from start to sterile. We hear repeatedly from parents that speed is the single most important feature at 3am.
• Fits most bottle brands. Unlike many rivals, it is not limited to its own bottle range. Tommee Tippee, MAM, NUK, standard Dr Brown's, and Philips Avent bottles all fit. A parent shared: "It is so easy to use and sterilises everything in minutes, a lifesaver for an overloaded new parent."
• Outstanding value. At around £50, it is hard to beat for what you get.
• Slim, lightweight design. It travels well to grandparents' houses or holiday rentals.

What to know before you buy

• No built-in dryer. Bottles come out wet. You will need to air-dry on the stackable tray or towel-dry, neither of which is ideal for keeping bottles fully sterile.
• Tall bottle limitation. Extra-tall bottles, like Dr Brown's Options+ wide-neck, may not fit with the lid closed.
• Descaling required. In hard water areas, limescale builds up on the base plate and needs regular cleaning with citric acid or white vinegar.

Best for

• Parents who want fast, reliable sterilisation at a fair price
• Mixed-brand bottle households
• Budget-conscious families or those buying a second unit for grandparents
• Anyone short on worktop space who values a compact footprint

How to choose

If the built-in dryer matters to you, the Philips Avent Premium Steriliser & Dryer is the clear choice. Being able to load bottles and walk away knowing they will come out dry and ready to fill is a genuine time-saver during night feeds and busy mornings. It is the more premium investment at around £91, but for families already using Avent bottles, the seamless fit and the one-step dry cycle make it worth the spend.

If speed, value, and bottle flexibility are your priorities, the Tommee Tippee Super-Steam wins. A five-minute cycle at roughly half the price, with compatibility across most bottle brands, makes it the better buy for most families. You will need to air-dry bottles separately, but the stackable tray handles that well enough.

Both sterilisers kill 99.9% of bacteria, both hold six bottles, and both keep contents sterile for 24 hours. You genuinely cannot go wrong with either.

Add it to your Nest

Whichever steriliser you choose, add it to your free BubsNest registry to let friends and family know what is on your wish list.