Ah… the joy of convenient, crispy meals with the reassurance of chemical-free cooking with a non-toxic air-fryer. Imagine finding a mouthwatering recipe for “healthy” air-fried chicken, as you gather the finest organic ingredients, invest your time, and place them in your trusted air fryer for that irresistible crisp. Why wouldn’t you? Air fryers are renowned for their ability to slash your calorie intake by a jaw-dropping 70% to 80% compared to conventional oil frying.
But here’s the twist: have you ever paused to consider what your air fryer is truly made of? Are you aware that its seemingly harmless non-stick coating might be releasing chemicals into your food?
Believe it or not, that seemingly healthy homemade crispy chicken we mentioned earlier could become a vehicle for toxic PFAS exposure. It’s time to take control of our health and safeguard our well-being with a truly non-toxic air fryer, and remove PFAS from our daily lives.
Unfortunately, it’s not as simple as it should be, so I’ve put together this guide as a one-stop resource for discovering the best non-toxic air fryer for your kitchen. You’ll find the essential information to help you make an informed decision and avoid misleading marketing. Plus, we’ll share our handpicked selection of the most non-toxic and safest air fryers available on the market!
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Best non-toxic air fryers in 2023
- Best stainless steel air fryer:
Kalorik MAXX® Digital Air Fryer Oven, 26 Quart, 10-in-1 Countertop Toaster Oven & Air Fryer Combo - Best value:
Big Boss Oil-Less Air Fryer - Fastest cooking:
Aria Premium 30 Qt. Touchscreen Air Fryer Oven - Easiest to clean:
Ninja AF101 Ceramic Coated 4 Quart Air Fryer - Most versatile:
Emeril Lagasse Power 360 Air Fryer - Most luxury:
VAL CUCINE 26.3 QT/25 L Extra-Large Air Fryer Oven
As new products emerge, we will continue to update this post.
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Are air fryers toxic? The shady truth behind PFAs
Many air fryers contain toxic substances like PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid), PFOS (Perfluorooctanesulfonic acid), and PTFE (Polytetrafluoroethylene), which are part of the PFAS (Perfluoroalkyl) family. These substances are commonly used in non-stick coatings on cookware and can release harmful chemicals into the air and your food.
PFAS like PFOA, PFOS, and PTFE have been associated with some serious health risks, including potential links to cancer (1), fertility issues (2), thyroid complications (3), and even developmental delays in children (4). This is why it’s so important to choose non-toxic air fryers that are explicitly labeled as free from these substances.
Despite efforts to phase out PFOA and PFOS, many air fryers still use these chemicals today. Other companies in need of alternative “non-stick” options turned to other chemicals within the broader PFAS (Per- and Polyfluoroalkyl Substances) category that had slight variations. This is where PTFE comes into play.
Technically, a PTFE coating is considered safe for regular use when used within its proper temperature range (less than 500°F or 260°C) and when not scratched, damaged, or overheated. However, in the case of air fryers and most cookware, the PTFE non-stick coating is prone to nicks and scratches, which is when toxicity gets introduced into your cooking.
In summary?
Pretty much all “non-stick” PFAS-based coatings in kitchen appliances have the potential to be toxic. The biggest risk associated with PFAS chemicals lies in their tendency to accumulate in the body over time. It generally takes around 2 to 4 years for the body to eliminate half of the accumulated PFOA or PFOS. That’s why it’s so important to consider and minimize your daily exposure to PFAS chemicals and reduce the potential long-term effects.
Luckily, non-stick coatings can come in various forms, including ceramic, enamel, cast iron, or carbon steel, some of which can be found in genuinely non-toxic air fryers.
RELATED: Check out our list of non-toxic waffle makers!
Best stainless steel non-toxic air fryer:Kalorik MAXX® Digital Air Fryer Oven
Specifications
Price: $270
Materials:
External – stainless steel
Inserts – stainless steel racks/baskets + enamel-coated trays with a thin layer of anodized aluminum
Interior housing – stainless steel
Dimensions: 12.4″D x 15.55″W x 13.54″H
Capacity: 26 Quarts
Functions: Air Fry, Toast, Grill, Bake, Broil, Roast, Rotisserie, Dehydrate, and Reheat/Warm
Weight: 19 lbs
Power: 1700 Watts
Temperature range: 80-500° Fahrenheit
There’s a more compact 16 Qt option, too!
Why we love it
- Extremely versatile with many included accessories
- Uses PFOA/PTFE free enamel coating on its baking tray
- No non-stick materials
- Quiet operation
- Can cook more than one item at a time
- Extra large capacity
- Beautiful French door design
- Has a glass window to view food as it’s cooking
- All accessories are dishwasher safe
- Makes a good crisp and sears
- Can be used with frozen food
- Air fryer recipe book included
- Easy to clean
- Many presets are available for different types of food
What could be better
- Enamel coating can still be chipped and scratched
- Fairly heavy
- Expensive
- Shifting of food is necessary for even cooking
Best value non-toxic air fryer:Big Boss Oil-Less Air Fryer
Specifications
Price: $75
Materials:
External – Plastic
Inserts – stainless steel
Interior housing – Glass
Dimensions: 40.64 x 31.75 x 34.29 cm
Capacity: 16 Quarts
Functions: Air fry, bake, grill, broil, toast, steam, and roast
Weight: 16.55 lbs
Power: 1300 Watts
Temperature range: 149° – 482° Fahrenheit
Why we love it
- Very versatile, this not only air fries but roasts, bakes, grills, and more
- Glass bowl lets you see the progress of your food without the need to open the cooking chamber
- Super size capacity
- No non-stick materials
- Cook two different foods simultaneously with a 2 shelf insert (included)
- Added bonus of a recipe book with 50+ delicious & easy recipes
- Uses halogen, convection, and infrared heat
- Instant heat with no need to preheat
- Can use frozen food with no need to thaw beforehand
- Makes the perfect crisp
- Glass bowl and inserts are dishwasher-safe
- Durable
- Affordable
What could be better
- Noisy when in use
- Doesn’t come with a lid stand or holder, and the lid is quite hot and heavy
- Quite heavy so not easy to move in and out of cabinets
Fastest cooking non-toxic air fryer:Aria Premium 30 Qt. Touchscreen Air Fryer Oven
Specifications
Price: $200
Materials:
External – stainless steel
Inserts – ceramic coated racks and trays
Interior housing – stainless steel
Dimensions: 22.1 x 18.5 x 17.5 inches
Capacity: 30 Quarts
Functions: Roast, grill, fry, bake, reheat, dehydrate, and toast
Weight: 29 lbs
Power: 1800 Watts
Temperature range: 124-450° Fahrenheit
Why we love it
- Versatile
- Reaches 450 degrees in seconds
- Auto-shut off when the door is opened
- Offers lifetime warranty
- Ceramic coated trays
- No non-stick materials
- Quiet operation
- Can cook more than one item at a time with multiple racks
- Large capacity
- Beautiful design
- Cooks extra fast
- Has a glass window to view food as it’s cooking
- All accessories are dishwasher safe
- Creates excellent crisp
- Can be used with frozen food
- Durable
- Air fryer recipe book included
- Easy to clean
- Many available preset
What could be better
- Enamel coating can still be chipped and scratched
- Heavy
- Expensive
- The exterior gets hot during use
- Does not have a keep warm function
Easiest to clean non-toxic air fryer:Ninja AF101 Ceramic Coated 4 Quart Air Fryer
Specifications
Price: $130
Materials: Ceramic interior with plastic exterior
External – plastic
Inserts – ceramic coated
Interior housing – ceramic coated
Dimensions: 8.5″D x 12.1″W x 11″H
Capacity: 4 Quarts
Functions: Air fry, dehydrate, reheat, and roast
Weight: 10.6 lbs
Power: 1550 Watts
Temperature range: 105-400° Fahrenheit
Why we love it
- Can be used to dehydrate and roast in addition to air fry
- PFOA/PTFE-free ceramic coating
- No non-stick materials
- Light and portable
- Easy to clean since basket and crisper plate are dishwasher safe
- Includes an air fryer recipe book
- Makes a wonderful crisp
- Can be used with frozen food
- Using it with parchment paper can mean no cleanup!
- Great for small families (2-3 people)
- Durable
- Reasonably priced
What could be better
- Ceramic coating can still be chipped and scratched
- Needs preheating
- No window to view food requires you to open the chamber to see if food is ready
- Uses plastic as the exterior
Most versatile non-toxic air fryer:Emeril Lagasse Power 360 Air Fryer
Specifications
Price: $150
Materials:
External – stainless steel
Inserts – chrome plated, but the baking pan may be made of aluminum and needs to be swapped
Interior housing – anodized aluminum
Dimensions: 15″D x 20″W x 10″H
Capacity: 930 Cubic Feet
Functions: Air fry, bake, rotisserie, dehydrate, toast, warm/reheat, roast, broil, bagel, pizza, and slow cook.
Weight: 15 lbs
Power: 1500 Watts
Temperature range: 85 – 450° Fahrenheit
Why we love it
- Very versatile, dehydrate, rotisserie, bake, toast, and more
- No non-stick materials
- LCD display with 12 presets and customizable temperature settings
- 360° all-around cooking
- Glass viewing window lets you see your food as its being cooked
- Super size capacity
- Cook different foods simultaneously with extra baskets (up to 3 at once! But bought separately)
- Added bonus of a recipe book
- Uses turbo cyclonic oven cooking
- No preheating is necessary (it does it as it starts cooking)
- Can use frozen food with no need to thaw beforehand
- Makes a great crisp
- Dishwasher safe parts
- Durable
- Reasonably priced
What could be better
- Takes longer to air fry because of its large capacity
- Need to clean interior surfaces by hand
There’s also a French-door style that’s a bit more pricey, but so beautiful!
Most luxury non-toxic air fryer:VAL CUCINE 26.3 QT/25 L Extra-Large Air Fryer Oven
Specifications
Price: $300
Materials:
External – stainless steel
Inserts – chrome-plated rack and enamel-coated trays
Interior housing – galvanized steel
Dimensions: 15.5″D x 16.5″W x 13″H
Capacity: 26.3 Quarts
Functions: Air Fry, Toast, Bake, Broil, Roast, Reheat, Warm, Slow Cook & Dehydrate
Weight: 22.7 lbs
Power: 1750 Watts
Temperature range: 85-450° Fahrenheit
There is also a beautiful cream-colored version
Why we love it
- Extremely versatile with 10 cooking functions
- Comes with 360 circulating convection for extra even cooking
- Equipped with an LCD screen and 2 turning knobs that are easy to operate
- Uses PFOA/PTFE-free enamel coating on the baking tray
- No non-stick materials
- Can use a small double broiler in this fryer or add a second wire rack to cook more than one item at a time
- Extra large capacity
- Fast cooking
- Beautiful design
- Has a glass window to view food as it’s cooking
- All accessories are dishwasher safe
- Makes a good crisp
- Can be used with frozen food
- Durable
- Air fryer recipe book included
What could be better
- Enamel coating can still be chipped and scratched
- Heavy
- Expensive
WANT MORE? Check out our list of the best non-toxic fish pans
Air fryers that didn’t make the cut
These brands were found to have contaminants like Teflon, “nonstick coating,” PTFE fluoropolymer, or plastics in the surfaces that come into contact with food.
- Beautiful 6qt Digital Air Fryer with Touch-Activated Display
- Beautiful 9qt TriZone Air Fryer
- Bella Pro 6.3 qt Air Fryer Touchscreen
- Black+Decker HF100/110 Air Fryer
- Breville BOV900BSSUSC The Smart Oven Air
- Breville The Smart Oven Air Fryer
- Breville The Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSSUSC)
- Cafe Couture Oven with Air Fryer (C9OAAAS4RW3)
- Calphalon Performance Countertop French Door Air Fryer Oven
- Cosori Smart Air Fryer Toaster Oven
- Cosori CP158-AF, CP137-AF (Pro Air Fryer)
- Cosori CP358-AF (Pro II Air Fryer)
- Cosori CS358-AF (Smart Air Fryer)
- Cuisinart TOA-60 Convection Toaster Oven Airfryer
- Cuisinart TOA-65 Air Fryer
- Cuisinart TOB-135N Air Fryer
- Dash Chef Series 23 L Air Fryer Oven
- Dash Air Crisp Pro Digital
- Dreamiracle Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo 21 Quart 7-in-1 Countertop Dehydrator
- Farberware Air Fryer Toaster Oven
- Galanz Digital Toaster Oven with TotalFry 360
- GREECHO Air Fryer Oven and Frying Pan Combo (4.8qt)
- Innsky Air Fryer 5.8QT, 1700W Stainless Steel Air Fryer Oven
- Instant Vortex Plus 10-Quart Air Fryer
- KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven With Air Fry
- Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 2-Basket Air Fryer
- NuWave Pro Plus Oven
- Panaromia Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo
- Paris Rhône 5.3 Quart Air Fryer AF014 (states basket is ceramic but unclear if tray is ceramic)
- PowerXL Air Fryer 7 QT Maxx Classic
- Rosewill RHAF-16003V3 5.8-QT XL Air Fryer
How to identify non-toxic air fryers
To ensure an air fryer is non-toxic, it must be free of harmful substances like PFAS (PTFE, PFOS, PFOA), BPA, lead, and cadmium. Instead, non-toxic air fryers use materials like ceramic, stainless steel, glass, enameled steel, and chrome-plated steel to give you a non-stick surface without relying on harmful chemicals.
While some manufacturers highlight the absence of one or two of these toxic substances and claim they are a non-toxic option, they may still contain some other “forever chemicals.” This can be confusing or downright misleading. To find a genuinely non-toxic air fryer, you would want to find one that explicitly claims to be free from all of these toxic chemicals. Unfortunately, it’s very challenging to find air fryers that make such claims, so finding one that highlights the absence of as many as possible is the best approach to prioritize a non-toxic cooking experience.
A ranked list of least toxic to most toxic materials used in air fryers:
- Glass: Non-reactive and non-toxic, and does not release any chemicals into the food.
- Stainless Steel: It does not react with food, is durable, and does not release harmful chemicals.
- Ceramic: Provides a non-stick surface without the use of toxic PFAS like PFOA or PTFE. Look for lead and cadmium-free for a safe option.
- Enamel: When free from lead and cadmium, it can be a safe option.
- BPA-free Plastics: While BPA-free plastics are designed to be free from the harmful chemical BPA, there can still be concerns about the potential leaching of other chemicals over time.
- Anodized Aluminum: Anodized aluminum is treated with a protective zinc oxide layer, which makes it non-reactive and safe for cooking. However, there have been some concerns about the potential release of aluminum into food when scratched or damaged.
- Chrome-plated Steel: Chrome-plated steel can provide a non-stick surface, but it may not be as durable or long-lasting as other options. There can be concerns about the safety of the underlying steel if the chrome coating is scratched or damaged.
- Non-Stick Coatings (PFOA, PTFE): Non-stick coatings like PFOA and PTFE (Teflon) have potential health risks. They can release harmful chemicals when overheated or damaged, and their long-term safety is still a subject of debate.
ALSO SEE: Cast iron vs stainless steel: which one’s the best non-toxic cookware?
Frequently asked questions (FAQs)
Do air fryers produce acrylamide?
Just like other high-heat cooking methods, air frying can lead to the formation of a chemical called acrylamide (a concerning chemical compound deemed a “probable carcinogen”). It’s a sneaky little compound that occurs naturally when certain starchy foods, like potatoes and grains, get heated to a crisp.
Luckily, air fryers do a good job of reducing acrylamide in French fries and potato chips by a staggering 90% compared to traditional deep frying.
Can I stop my air fryer from being toxic?
While you can’t magically transform its materials, there are steps you can take to help reduce toxicity. Give it some TLC by regularly cleaning and maintaining it. Swap out toxic materials with non-toxic cookware like stainless steel or ceramic (you can often buy better trays and racks on Amazon). Avoid overheating and ensure good kitchen ventilation. Opt for fresh, whole foods and moderate your air frying habits.
What does a Proposition 65 warning on an air fryer mean and should I be concerned?
If you come across a Proposition 65 (Prop 65) warning label on your supposedly non-toxic air fryer, it’s natural to feel concerned. Proposition 65, also known as the Safe Drinking Water and Toxic Enforcement Act, is a California law that throws a spotlight on chemicals that could cause cancer, birth defects, or other reproductive harm.
Just because that warning label is there doesn’t automatically mean your air fryer is poisoning you. It’s more of a heads-up that the product contains trace amounts of a chemical on the Proposition 65 list, even if it’s in trace amounts or below the safety thresholds.
In most cases, they’re related to plastic parts or other materials used in the construction. In my opinion, there is no need to worry about it when you are not directly exposed to the harmful chemical. For example, the chemical may be inside the electrical cord or the heating element of the product with no direct contact or exposure to the food or the user. When in direct contact is when you should be concerned.
If you’re curious about the specific reason for the warning label reach out to the manufacturer. They should be able to identify which component or material triggered the label.