Viral claims on TikTok have people concerned that air fryers are toxic. When I consulted experts, their responses were incredibly reassuring. Pam Hartnett, Public Health Expert, says 'air fryers that are used correctly, won't be toxic, but you can take some measures that will mitigate most of your concerns.'
Many of the best air fryers use non-stick materials such as Teflon. You'll often see these labeled PTFE, PFOA, PFOS, and BPA. These are generally safe and actually really convenient for cleaning, but if you aren't using your air fryer properly, the non-stick coating can become scratched and damaged. If this happens, there's a chance that you'll ingest the non-stick coating, which can be damaging to your health. To eliminate any causes for concern, medical experts advise that you buy air fryers that use stainless steel parts or are coated with ceramic instead of non-sticks.
Luckily, lots of our favorite models from Ninja, Instant, and KitchenAid are already non-toxic. Out of over fifty different tests, the Instant Pot Duo Crisp with Ultimate Lid took the top spot. It makes the best fries comes with a range of functions, and it's as easy to clean as other non-stick models. That's not your only option though. There's plenty more on offer, ranging 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.
If you want to snag a saving on a non-toxic air fryer, you can also take a look at our air fryer deals page. There are still some last minute Amazon Prime deals live, which I've listed below. All of those have been tested and approved by the experts.
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.
Best non-toxic air fryers 2024
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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.
Best stainless steel
The Instant Pot combines air frying with pressure cooking and much more. The versatile multicooker is great for foodies, but overkill if you won't use all the functions.
Most versatile
This non-toxic air fryer will as good as replace your oven. The ceramic-coated basket can crisp up food as well as baking, roasting, steaming, and more.
Best ceramic
The ceramic coating of the Max XL means that it sits firmly in the non-toxic camp. It's super speedy and compact too: a real favorite amongst our experts.
Best for beginners
The presets on the Paris Rhône take all the guesswork out of air frying. Our experts loved the viewing window (and ceramic coating, of course).
Best countertop oven
If you want a non-toxic air fryer that can do it all, this is the one for you. The stainless steel basket is brilliant as an air fryer. It's just more bulky than other options.
Best looking
Our Place's Wonder Oven is compact, cute, and brilliant for bakers and air fryers alike. It comes in a range of colors, so you can style it in any kitchen.
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 broiling to baking 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 users. 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.
Most versatile non-toxic air fryer
Ninja's reputation precedes them in almost every sector for kitchen appliances, in particular air fryers. I could have filled the buying guide with their models, but the Combi is especially deserving of a spot as one of the best non-toxic air fryers for two reasons. The first is that the baskets are coated in ceramic, a safe option for cautious cooks. It's not just the non-stick credentials that earned this a place here though, because the Ninja is incredibly versatile and a seriously good value investment.
A $179 price tag is reasonable for an air fryer with a large capacity. When you include all twelve functions (spanning from roasting and broiling to baking and, of course, air frying), it's close to unbelievable in terms of value. I used mine on the countertop for weeks and was very reluctant when I had to take it off. If you invest in one of these, you'll wonder what you ever did without one.
The Ninja was quick to warm up and even quicker to produce perfectly crisped fries and fish sticks. I could admire my Mediterranean vegetables when they were cooking and watch bacon sizzling too.
It's useful to have Ninja's presets and auto shut-off, but they overcooked my food a little. You can adjust these easily, but it's worth noting. The only reason you might not want the Combi is if you don't need all the functions: it'll be big and overkill.
You can read more in our full review of the Ninja Combi Multicooker
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.
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.