Best non-toxic air fryers 2024 – our safest tested options

Lots of people are worried that air fryers are toxic after viral claims on TikTok. When I consulted experts, their responses were incredibly reassuring. Used correctly, air fryers aren’t toxic, but the experts suggested that we can take measures to mitigate some of our most immediate concerns.

Many air fryers use non-stick materials such as Teflon. It's very unlikely, but these non-stick surfaces use chemicals which can be harmful if you ingest them. The only way that this can happen is If your air fryer is chipped or damaged. If you're at all worried, however, medical experts advise that you buy air fryers that use stainless steel parts or are coated with ceramic.

Fortunately, our team of air fryer experts have tested the best air fryers on the market and found that plenty of them are non-toxic. These range from single-function and compact models to multi-functional air fryer ovens. Different models will suit different households, but they all set our minds at ease. 

Are Air Fryers Toxic?

When I covered 'are air fryers toxic?' I found that air fryers can be toxic in certain limited situations. Medical experts suggest that there are two main ways in which air fryers could be potentially harmful. The first is that we might ingest some of the non-stick coating. Nonstick air fryers that use materials like Teflon have chemicals that can be associated with health risks. However, experts say that you can only be exposed to these chemicals if your air fryer is damaged. It's best to choose an air fryer made without non-stick chemicals, such as ceramic or stainless steel.

The other risk is how hot they get. This is not exclusive to air fryers, but heating starchy foods to high temperatures can cause potentially carcinogenic chemicals to form. That's why almost all air fryers have Prop 65 warnings in California. However, this doesn't mean they're toxic. These chemicals, acrylamides, are a risk whenever you fry or toast above 338°F. That's pretty much any time you fry or toast anything. Foods at risk on the Prop 65 list include everything from potato chips to roast peanuts to coffee and even toast. While the industrial use of acrylamides has been shown to be carcinogenic, the tiny amount of naturally occurring acrylamides in air fried food has not been conclusively linked to cancer. 

In short, air fryers can be toxic in certain limited situations, but it's very rare, and only if they use certain non-stick materials.

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Best non-toxic air fryers 2024

The quick list

If you want to take a quick look at some of the best non-toxic air fryers, here are the headlines. We've got more detailed information further down the page.

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Best stainless steel non-toxic air fryer

This is our number one best Instant Pot, and its excellent air fryer mode means it’s no surprise that this is also in our roundup of best air fryers. It’s compact and versatile and helped our expert, Helen McCue, to create one of the best mac 'n' cheeses she’s ever cooked. 

The pressure cooking function automatically releases steam, making it super easy to handle. With 13 different types of cooking, from broil to bake to rehydrating, it goes far beyond just air frying. As a one-pot option, even cleaning up is easy.

We love stainless steel as a quality alternative to non-stick coatings, but it needs a little more effort than normal to clean. The best way to clean this is to leave the pot to soak and soften for a little. I also think this might be overkill for some air fryer uses. If you make a lot of curry or Chinese food the pressure cooker will be amazing. If you just want to quickly bake some tater tots for a midnight snack you probably need something less complicated, like the Ninja Max XL.

You can read more in our full review of the Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid.

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Best non-toxic air fryer countertop oven

This is the pick for one of the best toaster ovens on the market because it can perform so many different functions so well - dehydrate, proof, bagel, roast, bake, broil, warm, and, of course, air fry. 

It looks smart on the countertop, so, even though you’ll probably need to have it on show, it will look good. The air frying basket is generously sized, doesn’t require a mid-fry flip, and didn’t pool grease when we cooked turkey bacon, fries, tater tots, or fried chicken. Rather than use non-stick chemicals, the air fry basket is made from stainless steel.

This can get hot to touch quite quickly, which isn’t ideal in a kitchen. As with the Instant Pot, stainless steel isn’t the easiest to clean and can’t go in the dishwasher. As a result, you’ll need to handle the whole process carefully to avoid the oven overheating or your food overcooking and causing a mess on your stainless steel.

You can read more in our full review of the KitchenAid Countertop Oven.

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Best ceramic non-toxic air fryer

Ceramic is one of the best alternatives to non-stick chemicals, so the fact that this basket is ceramic-coated was a relief to us. We already loved this air fryer for its compact, lightweight frame which makes it easy to store. The 5.5-quart storage is the perfect size for two portions and, because it’s smaller, it’s a lot quicker at air frying foods. 

Even though this is a compact appliance, the Ninja can perform a range of tasks from air frying, to roasting, baking, reheating, and dehydrating. Our expert tester liked that it could be paused too.

This is a lightning-fast air fryer, but when we tried it on slower cooks and lower temperatures, it was less effective.

You can read more in our full review of the Ninja Max XL air fryer.

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Best non-toxic air fryer for beginners

One of the best basic appliances we tested, the Paris Rhône surprised us with how much it could do, especially for the price and size. We tested it on a range of foods and were pleased with the results. 

The air fryer is pre-programmed with powerful settings, but you can manually override them and check on your food using the useful viewing window and interior light. It’s low-maintenance and the basket is ceramic coated, avoiding any non-stick concerns.

Although the presets are very hands-off, they consistently overcooked food. As with the Ninja, this is one to be cautious about, because it’s one of the key concerns for air fryers’ toxicity. Make sure to check on your food a few minutes before the suggested time. The 5.3 quart. capacity might also limit your cooking if you are a big household.

You can read more in our full review of the Paris Rhône air fryer.

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Most versatile non-toxic air fryer

Instant is a familiar name both to air fryers and non-toxic appliances, so it's no surprise that their Omni Plus is another safe option for cautious cooks. It's not just the non-stick credentials that earned this a place here though, because the Instant is a seriously good value investment.

A $300 price tag is toppy for an air fryer, even though this is really good. However, if you would make use of all 14 functions (spanning from roasting and broiling to baking and, of course, air frying), you'll wonder what you ever did without one of these. 

The Instant that I tested boasts an impressive 19-quart capacity, which is great if you've got a lot of mouths to feed and not much time to spend slaving over the cooker. You can choose models as small as 6 quarts if you're short on space (and if you simply don't need the capacity).

It's becoming increasingly standard, but the viewing window integrated into the Instant was a big help on our tests. I could see when my bacon was sizzling, watch my fries go golden brown, and admire my Mediterranean vegetables. Even better, the fan is really quiet and the odor filter is pretty effective.

My only criticism is that this is slower than, say the Ninja Max XL when it's heating up and, of course, if you don't need all of the functions, this is overkill.

I am currently writing the review for this. These are my initial thoughts.

Best looking non-toxic air fryer

If the options above look a little utilitarian and boring, you may prefer Our Place's Wonder Oven. Best known for their iconic Always Pan, Our Place have been making forays into a wider range of cookware and appliances in recent years. The Wonder Oven is a great example of the brand's ethos – a slick, on-trend appliance that you'd actually want to have on your countertop, rather than the same old gray and black appliances. 

More importantly, this combination air fryer and toaster oven is non-stick, with a ceramic coating free of forever chemicals. When it came to the taste test, this wasn't the best we've ever tried, but did a great job on tater tots and reheating stuffed peppers. It has a pretty unique feature for baking, too. You can add a capful of water in the top of the machine that keeps baked goods light and fluffy, so our tester found that this made delicious donut holes, too. There are better options out there, but you won't be disappointed with its performance.

The big issue with this air fryer is that it uses an old-school analog timer. That means it's pretty hard to set with any great precision. It's hard to tell if you've set a dish to cook for 8 minutes or 12 minutes. That's fine if you're just blasting some tater tots, but could pose an issue when cooking more delicate meals like fish. That analog timer also means there's no presets, so you have to rely on your own cooking skill. Finally, the racks don't support themselves when you pull them out of the oven, so it's easy to spill.

You can read more in our full review of the Our Place Wonder Oven.

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How we test

There’s more detail on how we test air fryers on our dedicated page. However, generally, we assess each appliance on key factors. We think about how noisy they are, how quick they are, how obtrusive they are on the countertop, and how easy they are to clean. If an air fryer can nail these basics, it’s a winner for us. 

We make sure to test each appliance ourselves so that we are attuned to the day-to-day features and issues that you might face in your own kitchen. Our experts have tested all of the market-leading appliances, so are well-placed to compare and contrast them.

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FAQs

How do I stop my air fryer from being toxic?

Based on medical advice, try not to overcook or overheat starchy foods. They shouldn’t go above a golden yellow. If your non-stick is damaged, stop using the appliance. Even better, use an air fryer which doesn’t use non-stick chemicals at all. 

If your air fryer is damaged or broken in any way, you should stop using it. If you are concerned about the non-stick chemicals in your air fryer, maintain them as well as possible to avoid the chemicals getting into your food. The best way to stop your air fryer from being toxic is to buy a ceramic or metal-based air fryer.

How much should my air fryer cost?

This depends on what you are looking for. On average, air fryers will cost between $80 and $200. If you’re paying more money, you should expect smarter features and a better capacity. We like large-capacity baskets that are easy to use. 

Would a deep fryer be less toxic?

We have compared the deep fryer against an air fryer in our tests. Whilst deep fryers don’t use the non-stick, which is one of the main concerns facing air fryers, they do engage with the other concern for overcooking food. They also require more oil to cook your foods too.  

Why is ceramic good for air fryers?

Ceramic-based air fryers are good because ceramic doesn't have the 'forever chemicals' associated with non-stick air fryers. Ceramic is also much harder to scratch or damage than non-stick materials like Teflon, so it's easier to maintain and will probably last longer. 

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Final Thoughts

In spite of medical reassurance, I’m a cautious person. If there’s a chance that I could be ingesting non-stick, I would rather not risk it. That’s why I was so pleased with the range of air fryers that use ceramic or stainless steel in place of ‘forever chemicals’ and plastics. If in doubt, ceramic and stainless steel are the way to go.

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