In recent years, air fryers have become the go-to kitchen appliance, touted as a healthier alternative to traditional deep-frying methods. People rave about air fryers, praising their ability to deliver crispy, delicious food with minimal oil, the convenience of bypassing the oven (especially during hot weather or for those without one), and the overall efficiency they bring to cooking.

I’m now digging in to find out if there are non-toxic air fryer options out there. When I shop for kitchen appliances, one thing I don’t overlook is the materials they’re made of. When it comes to air fryers I’m looking for options that avoid PFAs, plastics (food contact), and aluminum. I’m all about avoiding chemicals leaching into my food because I’m thinking long-term and cumulative effects here. As more and more of us prioritize our health and well-being, it’s important to consider the safety of our cookware.

In this article, we’ll dive into the chemicals you should watch out for in air fryers and explore some of the better-for-you options available. Spoiler alert: there’s no perfect pick, and many air fryers use non-stick chemicals like PFAs. But fear not, we’ve weeded through the options and found some better for you options so you can find the best fit for your kitchen. Read on to get the lowdown.

What Materials are Toxic in Air Fryers?

When it comes to materials to avoid in cookware , across the board it tends to be non-stick coatings that often contain per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), aluminum, and plastic.

Why are PFAs a Concern?

Some air fryers will be labeled as non-stick and there’s a good chance that PFAs could be what’s making it non-stick. PFAs (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) are a coating that resists water, oil, stains, and grease. They are in everyday products like clothing (Gore tex), food packaging, furniture and rugs (scotch guard), personal care products, and non-stick cookware.

PFAs have been in use since the 1940s and there are over 4,000 chemicals that classify as a PFA. They are known as “forever chemicals” because they break down very slowly and accumulate over time in the environment, animals, and humans. According to the EWG, it’s estimated that 99% of Americans have PFAS in their blood.

The more commonly used and researched PFAs have been the following:

• Teflon/PFTE
• PFOA
• GenX

PFAs are toxic for our bodies and the environment. Here is what the EPA lists as health effects of PFAs that are known so far, and research is still ongoing:

Current peer-reviewed scientific studies have shown that exposure to certain levels of PFAS may lead to:

• Reproductive effects such as decreased fertility or increased high blood pressure in pregnant women.
• Developmental effects or delays in children, including low birth weight, accelerated puberty, bone variations, or behavioral changes.
• Increased risk of some cancers, including prostate, kidney, and testicular cancers.
• Reduced ability of the body’s immune system to fight infections, including reduced vaccine response.
• Interference with the body’s natural hormones.
• Increased cholesterol levels and/or risk of obesity.

Are you still with me?? It’s a lot of information so I wanted to provide a hopefully easy to understand breakdown of the most commonly used and researched PFAs to explain how they relate and the main concerns:

• Teflon is a brand name for a synthetic chemical called polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE). 
• PFTE releases toxic chemicals into the air when heated to over 280℃ (536℉), this exposure in humans causes flu-like symptoms. Inhaling these fumes may lead to polymer fume fever, also known as the Teflon flu. These fumes are toxic to birds. The fumes are the main health concern when using PFTE cookware. The FDA states there is no harm if your pan flakes and you ingest PFTE because it passes through your digestive system.
• Teflon used to use perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) during the manufacturing process. 
• PFOAs were phased out in the United States by 2014 because of the harmful health effects like those listed above. Exposure happens with high heat, and when the pan coating degrades and gets scratched. This is a “forever chemical” that remains in the environment so it’s still found in the air, earth, and drinking water. Companies selling products in the United States and state they are PFOA free is a marketing gimmick since the chemical should no longer be in use.
• One of the replacements for PFOAs is GenX. 
• GenX is being studied by the EPA and they are reporting lab studies of animals showing harmful effects on the liver, kidney and immune system, developmental effects, and an association with cancer. So the replacement of PFOAs may prove to not be a healthier alternative to PFOAs.

In addition to health concerns, the EWG says PFAs are a national crisis and the organization has been voicing their concerns for years. Thankfully the government is taking action. In July 2021, the US House of Representatives passed the PFAs Action Act of 2021. In June 2023, 3M reached a $10.3 billion settlement where according to the NY times, they will “pay out the money over 13 years to any cities, counties and others across the country to test for and clean up perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances, known as PFAS, in public water supplies.” Apparently 3M will end all PFA production by 2025.

Based on the above research, I try to avoid PFAs wherever I can!

What about aluminum and plastic?

Aluminum and plastic can be found in many of the racks and baskets being used in air fryers.

Studies show aluminum can leach into our food when used for cooking, baking, and grilling especially when the food is acidic or meat. I found that scientists have been studying the health impact of aluminum exposure for years and here is a high-level overview from NCBI on where things stand:

“Elevated aluminum content has been found in the brains of persons with Alzheimer’s disease. It remains unclear whether this is a cause or an effect of the disease. There is conflicting evidence on carcinogenicity. The contention that the use of aluminum-containing antiperspirants promotes breast cancer is not supported by consistent scientific data.”NCBI

So there is no clear answer with aluminum. We are exposed to many chemicals including aluminum from other sources so if we can make choices that reduce our overall exposure to chemicals in the long-run then our health will benefit.

Heating plastic can leach unwanted chemicals like BPA in to your food which has negative health effects like being an endocrine disruptor. Even if a product is listed as BPA free, research is coming out that some of the BPA replacements are concerning as well.

Do all air fryers expose you to acrylamide?

So when researching about non-toxic air fryers you may hear the term acrylamide being called out. This was a new one for me and it’s something you may come across when learning more about baking, roasting, or frying foods. 

So what the heck is acrylamide and should I be concerned? 

I went to the FDA for some insights and according to them, “Acrylamide is a substance that forms through a natural chemical reaction between sugars and asparagine, an amino acid, in plant-based foods – including potato and cereal-grain-based foods. Acrylamide forms during high-temperature cooking, such as frying, roasting, and baking. In research studies, high levels of acrylamide caused cancer in laboratory animals, but the levels of acrylamide used in these studies were much greater than those found in human food. The FDA monitors levels of this contaminant in certain foods because of its potential to affect human health.” 

The EPA lists acrylamide as “probable human carcinogen.”

So what does this mean for air fryers? Air fryers, like other cooking methods that involve high temperatures (roasting, baking), can potentially expose you to acrylamide formation in certain foods like potatoes. While air fryers are often praised for their ability to cook with less oil, they can still contribute to acrylamide formation if used to cook starchy foods at high temperatures for extended periods. 

However, it’s worth noting that air frying generally produces lower levels of acrylamide compared to deep frying or traditional methods of cooking. This is because air fryers use circulating hot air to cook food, reducing the need for excessive oil and reducing the overall temperature compared to deep frying. This study states “air-frying reduced acrylamide content by about 90% compared with conventional deep-oil-frying.” However you will want to be mindful to not overcook the food since this study states if you overcook food then it may increase acrylamide formation. 

If you are concerned about acrylamide or want to find out more information then I recommend checking out the FDA website. Personally I’m not digging in to this too much, there are so many things we can choose to be concerned about. If one eats a well-balanced diet then you would have less exposure to the substance.

Safer Non-Toxic Air Fryer Materials 

High Quality/Food Grade Stainless Steel

When looking at the current options in the market place, the safest air fryer materials to limit exposure to PFAs are high quality/food grade stainless steel. In the marketplace, I did not find one option that only included stainless steel on the inside. Most interiors were lined with non-stick coating and the racks were aluminum. However, I did find some with stainless steel baskets and racks which are listed below. Also, some companies do provide stainless steel racks that you can purchase separately. You will see numbers associated with the stainless steel option you choose. The most common is 18/8 which is 18% chromium and 8% nickel.

What about glass materials?

When searching for air fryers you may discover some glass options. Most of these options call out “halogen bulbs” or “infrared cooking.” These are actually halogen ovens and uses infrared light to heat the air and then a fan circulates the air. The traditional air fryer is actually a different appliance with different features. You can find out more about halogen ovens vs traditional air fryers here.

I was curious about the safety of infrared cooking, and this study from NCBI states “Gary Zeman who is a certified health physicist and the spokesman for the Health Physics Society pointed out that based on a study conducted by the National Research Council, there was no link between infrared cooking and cancer in an interview with The Jamaican Gleaner in 2008. The study also indicated that infrared radiation did not have enough energy to halve or damage DNA”

For this article I’m focused on air fryers because that will give people more of the fried food crispiness, but I will include some infrared glass cooking options in case that’s what you end up wanting.

Are ceramic coated air fryers safe?

Still up for debate. Ceramic coated cookware started gaining popularity as a safer alternative to Teflon (PFTE) since it does not release the toxic chemicals at high heat which can cause polymer fume fever. 

Ceramic coated cookware has a metal base (usually aluminum) and is coated with a ceramic layer to make them non-stick. Many coatings use a “sol-gel” method which uses a coating of silica (sand) and other inorganic chemicals. 

However studies are coming out about titanium dioxide nanoparticles being released from ceramic coated pans when at a high heat and when the surface gets scratched. This study from Scientific Reports the following concerns with that Food-grade titanium dioxide (TiO2):

“There are growing concerns that daily oral TiO2-NP intake is associated with an increased risk of chronic intestinal inflammation and carcinogenesis.”

“These data should be considered for risk assessments of the susceptibility to Th17-driven autoimmune diseases and to colorectal cancer in humans exposed to TiO2 from dietary sources.”

Scientific Reports

Here’s some additional information about ceramic coated cookware:

• Ceramic coated cookware is not as durable as Teflon (PFTE).
• If you start to see scratches then it’s time to replace. If the base is aluminum then the concern is being exposed to bismuth or lead since that can be added to aluminum.

If you want to dive deeper in to ceramic cooking I really liked this article from mamavation, and this one from the rational kitchen.  

If I were getting a ceramic coated non-stick air fryer I would ensure it does not go over 500 degrees and would replace it if chipped.

Non-Toxic Air Fryers

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It was tricky finding stainless steel air fryers, even if it stated stainless steel in the product description. When you dig deeper I found many of the stainless steel options do contain a non-stick PFA coating. To investigate I check multiple sites, search reviews and question from people where the manufacturer responds. If it’s not clear then I reach directly out to the company.

After spending hours looking up the options on the marketplace I did NOT find one option that was free from PFAs, aluminum, and plastic. So I’m giving you the better than other options which includes ceramic coated, stainless steel trays/baskets but non-stick sides (PFA), and glass halogen ovens if you’re in to that.

Yedi Evolution Ceramic Coated Air Fryer:

The Yedi Evolution Ceramic Coated Air Fryer contain many accessories that are either stainless steel, ceramic coated, and silicone.

• 360 degree stainless steel air fryer
• Ceramic coated cooking basket
• Ceramic coated cooking Basket Divider (Cook 2 meals at once!)
• Ceramic coated pizza pan
• 50 perforated parchment steaming papers (keeps food from sticking to cooking basket & makes cleaning easy)
• Multi-purpose rack with 3 stainless steel skewers
• 2 stainless steel dehydrator racks
• Silicone cupcake/egg bite pan
• Cooking mitts
• Recipe Book (with 100 recipes), Cooking Time Table & Detailed User Guide

They also call out the product as being BPA-Free, lead free & cadmium free. In addition to the materials being used I also liked that you can bake, fry, and dehydrate with it. It’s a favorite with buyers, getting 4.5 stars from thousands of reviewers. It also comes with a one year warranty. Based on my findings this is the option I would recommend.

Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven

Some air fryers like the Cuisinart TOA-065, and TOA-095 have multi-functions like being an air fryer plus toaster oven, dehydrator, food warmer, and more! The main difference between the two models is the TOA-095 has a larger capacity so you can fit more food in it, you can also slow cook with it. People seem to like both options, and give it high reviews.

These products contain stainless steel baskets and trays, however the sides are non-stick for easy cleaning. So I still consider this a better option then others because the food is in contact with stainless steel instead of PFAs.

Here are some product feature from the Amazon product page. I really like that it comes with a three year warranty.

• ENDLESS FUNCTIONS: This premium 1800 watt toaster oven and AirFryer, is equipped with premium functions including, AirFry, bake, broil, toast, bagel, pizza, roast, dehydrate, proof, low, dual cook, reheat and warm with a wide temperature range (Warm-450°F)
• CAPACITY: Large enough to airfry up to 3-pounds, toast 6 bagel halves, roast a 4-pound chicken, or bake a 12-inch pizza – .6-cubic feet interior with large viewing window and interior light
• SUPERIOR OPERATION: Equipped with a low temperature setting to slow cook, braise and more. Plus, dedicated functions for dehydrating and proofing. Fan and heater deliver high-velocity, high-heat airflow for perfectly fried results with minimal noise
• INCLUDES: An oven light, oven rack, dishwasher safe baking pan, AirFry basket and has a nonstick easy-clean interior to make cleanup simple
• LIMITED 3-YEAR WARRANTY: Refer to user manual for troubleshooting steps and questions surrounding warranty policies

Here are the product features from the Amazon product page:

• ENDLESS FUNCTIONS: This premium 1800 watt toaster oven and AirFryer, is equipped with premium functions including, AirFry, bake, broil, toast, bagel, pizza, roast, dehydrate, proof, low, slow cook, dual cook, reheat and warm with a wide temperature range (80°F to 450°F)
• EXTRA-LARGE CAPACITY: Large enough to airfry up to 4-pounds, toast 9 bagel halves, roast an extra-large chicken, bake a 13-inch pizza and fits a 9”x13” pan – 0.95-cubic feet interior with an extra-large viewing window with integrated cooking guide and interior light
• SUPERIOR OPERATION: Equipped with a low temperature setting for braising and more. Plus, dedicated functions for dehydrating, slow cooking and proofing. Fan and heater deliver high-velocity, high-heat airflow for perfectly fried results with minimal noise
• INCLUDES: This unit comes with the essentials – an oven light, oven rack, dishwasher safe baking pan, AirFry basket and has a nonstick easy-clean interior to make cleanup simple
• LIMITED 3-YEAR WARRANTY: Refer to user manual for troubleshooting steps and questions surrounding warranty policies

Ninja Max XL Ceramic Coated Air Fryer

The Ninja Max XL Air Fryer uses a ceramic coating on the inside. It’s also another option for a multi-function appliance, “Includes 7 versatile cooking programs: Max Crisp, Air Fry, Air Roast, Air Broil, Bake, Reheat & Dehydrate.” Product pages states it holds 3 pounds of french fries or chicken wings. Reading reviews, one thing people complain about it the size for cooking. Doesn’t seem big enough for some and they have to make multiple batches. However, this product gets very high reviews on Amazon – over 17,000 with a 4.5 average ranking.

PARIS RHÔNE Ceramic Coated Air Fryer 5.3 QT

Another ceramic coated option that includes the following product features on the Amazon product page:

• 🍖[VIEWING WINDOW DESIGN]: No more drawing out the basket to see if your meal is done, a glass viewing window and a built-in interior light make it easy to monitor the cooking progress in real-time.
• ✔️[CERAMIC COATED NONSTICK BASKET]: Unlike 95% of the products, our fryer basket uses a ceramic coating instead of Teflon, which is healthier for both humans and pets. The frying basket and detachable frying tray can be quickly and conveniently washed down or put into a dishwasher, saving time & labor for every chef.
• 🥪[NO PRE-HEATING & OILLESS]: Built-in advanced light wave tube instead of ordinary stainless steel electric heating tube, fast heating while reducing power to 1200W, saving 25% of electricity than other airfryers. 360° hot air circulation, airfryer makes food crispy and juicy, reducing oil by 85%.
• 🍔[8 EASY FUNCTIONS]: With 8 cooking presets, you can easily make delicious meals including French fries, drumsticks, steak, chicken wings, fish, shrimp, egg tarts, and hot dogs with just a single button press. At the same time, you can always adjust the temperature and timer.
• 🔰[SAFETY PROTECTION]: If you forget to season your food, simply take out the frying basket, and the air fryer will automatically shut down operations to keep you safe. Once you’ve returned the basket, the fryer will resume with the previously selected settings; ETL, FCC, CE certified.

Halogen Air Fryers

While searching for non-toxic air fryers you’ll see many people recommend ones that use halogen bulbs that release infrared waves. These options use a glass chamber so you avoid PFAs, plastic, and aluminum. If you want to learn more about the difference, check out this article to see if it’s right for you. Besides how the food is being cooked, one main difference is the Halogen air fryers tend to have a waaaay bigger capacity. So if you feed a crowd often, this may be a good choice.

When I started digging in to things more I am not finding ones with stainless steel racks. Even some of the top recommended products by non-toxic bloggers highlight halogen options but they have non-stick racks that may have PFAs. I need to dig in to this more before I recommend anything. I think people were so focused on having a glass option but didn’t look in to what the food was being cooked on?!

Final Thoughts

In the world of kitchen gadgets, we’ve journeyed from the sizzle of deep fryers to the sizzle of air fryers, seeking a healthier way to indulge our taste buds. Along the way, we’ve realized that perfection is a rare bird in this realm, and our quest for the ideal, non-toxic air fryer remains a work in progress. As we wrap up our exploration, remember that while no air fryer is without flaws, there are certainly better-for-you choices out there. It’s all about making informed decisions, considering your health and culinary preferences, and savoring the crispy, guilt-free delights these machines can produce. Cheers!