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

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 that 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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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 of these.

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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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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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 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.

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 that 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 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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