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.
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ARE AIR FRYERS TOXIC?
Ninja Air Fryer on a wooden table with the drawer pulled open, full of chicken wings
(Image credit: Ninja)
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.
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.
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
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