They’re compact, powerful, and efficient, but are air fryers toxic, too? While we swear by air fryers for making crispy food quickly, we’re seeing thousands of people questioning if they're toxic. There's lots of misinformation about the materials that air fryers are made from and how intense, high temperatures affect your food.
We have assessed some of the best air fryers on the market and often celebrated their high temperatures, speed, and non-stick features. However, there are potential health concerns in the event that you ingest the non-stick coating.
After speaking with industry and medical experts, we concluded that there’s probably no need to throw out your air fryer. However, there are some warning signs to look out for and some essential advice to follow if you want to mitigate the risks. We've even tested the best non-toxic air fryers to find some safer alternatives.
Is the non-stick coating toxic?
The biggest concern surrounds air fryers that use non-stick materials, like Teflon, which could contain ‘forever chemicals’. In scientific terms, these are known as PFAS.
Pam Hartnett, a Nutritionist and Public Health expert explains: ‘When heated to high temperatures, these materials can release chemicals into the air and your food, especially if your air fryer is scratched or damaged.'
According to the FDA, exposure to forever chemicals has been linked to significant health issues, such as 'increased cholesterol, high blood pressure, developmental effects, reduced immune response, and increased cancer risk.'
The International Agency for Research on Cancer has classified PFOA (a common PFAS chemical) as 'carcinogenic to humans', and Pam says she has seen links to several health issues in her own practice, including reproductive and developmental issues.
Pam Hartnett MPH, RDN, owns The Vitality Dieticians. She is a Registered Dietician Nutritionist with a Masters in Public Health and a Certificate in Functional Nutrition. She has years of experience teaching nutrition, providing nutrition counseling, and implementing large-scale public health interventions to improve disease outcomes. She has contributed to US News Health Magazine, Forbes, Eating Well, and SHEFinds.
How can you reduce the non-stick risks?
The non-stick coating of the Instant Essentials, from our tests
The FDA explain that forever chemicals in non-stick are 'joined together in large molecules and are tightly bound to the cookware, so very little is capable of getting into food.' It seems that toxicity becomes an issue when the material is damaged or overheated.
Instead of panicking, Pam simply advises that we avoid using air fryers with scratched or chipped non-stick coatings that you could end up ingesting. To maintain a safe and healthy air fryer, the experts recommend avoiding the following air fryer mistakes.
- Never use abrasive wire sponges to clean the air fryer basket, since they will damage the lining.
- Avoid using metal utensils like steel tongs, knives, or metal spoons for the same reasons as above.
- Never heat the air fryer above 500°F; at this high heat, the non-stick lining could start to break down and emit toxic fumes. Most air fryers on the market only go up to 450°F for this exact reason, but it is good to know anyway.
- Never use light aerosol oil sprays in the basket. When we spoke to air fryer expert Sam Milner, she explained that these contain Lecithin which breaks down the non-stick lining over time.
If you’re really worried about the non-stick, you should choose an air fryer that is free from PFAS in the first place. Manufacturers have to label the non-stick materials, so you can see what is being used. I've tried and tested non-toxic air fryers that use ceramic and stainless steel instead, so you can cook with peace of mind. This includes the ceramic-coated Ninja Air Fryer Pro, which also happens to be our highest-rated air fryer and the best model on the market.
Easy to use, effective, and no-fuss. The Ninja Pro makes deliciously crispy and healthy air-fried food. It is a non-toxic air fryer with a ceramic-coated crisper plate. That's a huge win for health-conscious cooks like me, ensuring safer cooking and effortless cleaning.
Read more: Ninja Air Fryer Pro 4-in-1 review
Is air-fried food toxic?
The second concern is around the chemicals formed when foods are heated to high temperatures. Starchy foods may burn and form acrylamides at high heats, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer believes is 'likely to be carcinogenic to humans'.
Dr. Michelle Pearlman, a board-certified gastroenterologist, told me that air frying does pose a risk of producing these chemicals. She explained that ‘these by-products have been shown to be linked with heart disease and other chronic health conditions’.
Michelle Pearlman, M.D., is the co-founder of Prime Institute. She is a board-certified gastroenterologist and obesity medicine specialist. She uses food as medicine in her approach to treating patients, so carefully scrutinises scientific articles and reviews on health trends.
Fried chicken in a black air fryer
However, Dr. Pearlman is quick to point out that this happens in a range of cooking processes: 'Acrylamides are a natural by-product of cooking and are already found in lots of the foods that we eat: chips, fries, toast, cakes, and coffee.' So, the potentially harmful chemicals caused from cooking foods at high temperatures are not unique to air fryers.
How to reduce the risk of acrymalides?
If acrylamides are a concern to you, follow guidance from the United States Department of Agriculture to ‘limit consumption to prevent its adverse effects’. They also suggest blanching, microwaving, and only frying foods until they're golden yellow.' For this reason, I recommend choosing an air fryer with a window, so you can keep an eye on your food and ensure it doesn't end up burnt to a crisp.
I also recently interviewed some expert nutritionists for their healthy air frying secrets, and they recommended using high-smoke-point oils in the air fryer, rather than low or medium smoke point oils. Certified nutritionist Dr. Peter Brukner explains, 'Oils like corn oil or soybean oil are not good for air frying because they can burn at high temperatures and create unhealthy substances.'
Avocado oil is a good alternative. 'Avocado oil has a high smoke point of about 520°F (271°C), which makes it ideal for high heat cooking,' says Tracee Yablon-Brenner, registered dietitian nutritionist and trained culinary professional.
An air fryer window and interior light make it easy to keep an eye on your food and avoid burning. The Our Place Wonder Oven also has steel racks and nonstick ceramic sheets for baking, roasting, and air frying safely.
Read more: Our Place Wonder Oven review
FAQs
Which air fryers use ‘forever chemicals’?
Many air fryers use non-stick materials, and it's hard to know exactly what chemicals are involved in them. If you want an air fryer that definitely doesn't use PFAS, have a look at our list of the best non-toxic air fryers.
How do I stop my non-stick from peeling?
Be as gentle as possible when using non-stick appliances. Use wooden or silicone utensils and steer clear of abrasive sponges. Wash them gently using warm, soapy water.
Should I be concerned about air fryer heavy metals?
I have seen a couple of scare-mongering videos on TikTok talking about air fryer heavy metals, like lead and cadmium. However, well-known and reputable brands that sell air fryers in the U.S., Canada, or EU (like Ninja, Instant Pot, Our Place, and Philips for example) are subject to strict safety regulations that limit or even ban the use of lead or cadmium.
To be safe, I recommend looking for appliances that are food-safe certified by the FDA. Some brands (like Our Place and GreenPan) specifically market themselves as 'lead and cadmium free', so if you are concerned about air fryer heavy metals, just opt for these brands instead. I can recommend the Our Place Wonder Oven, as this is the air fryer I use at home.
Finally, definitely avoid super cheap, no-name brands with unclear manufacturing origin, vague descriptions or missing material lists.
Our Verdict
When used as intended and properly maintained, I’ve been assured by medical experts, scientific papers, and air fryer companies that these appliances are considered safe and non-toxic. They’re still a much healthier alternative to deep fryers. It’s important to choose a reliable model made with safe materials and to maintain it well. If the non-stick is peeling or scratched, stop using it immediately.
You must confirm your public display name before commenting
Please logout and then login again, you will then be prompted to enter your display name.
-
eufy vs. Ring – I was sick of monthly fees for my video doorbell, so I swapped to this superior subscription-free eufy one and have zero regretsVideo security is an essential, but paying to store the footage was a nuisance
-
Linda Evangelista's former NYC penthouse just made the classic black and white palette so much cooler – it's currently on the market for $8 millionLinda Evangelista's former home in Chelsea spans 4,022 square feet, with high ceilings and modern details that epitomize luxury living
