the outside of my philips essential air fryer gets really hot, is that normal?

Yes, that's normal. Heat from inside radiates to the outer walls during use.

Here's what you need to know:

1. All handles and knobs that need to be touched during use remain cool enough to handle.
2. The pan, basket, and interior get hot when the appliance is on to cook food properly. These parts are always too hot to touch.
3. If you leave the appliance on too long, some areas might become too hot to touch. These areas are marked with a hot surface icon on the appliance.

If you're aware of the hot areas and avoid touching them, using the appliance is completely safe. Just give it about 30 minutes to cool down before handling or cleaning.