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Are you looking for the safest air fryer or air fryer ovens without PFAS coatings? Truth be told many of the highly-rated “favorite” air fryers on the market contain potentially toxic  proprietary nonstick coatings, and/or Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), commonly referred to as “forever chemicals.”  But never fret, we looked into all the most popular brands. You’ve trusted Mamavation to bring you topics like best & worst air purifiers, best & worst organic mattresses, & the best water filters, now join us as we share our findings of safest non-toxic Air Fryers and Air Fryer Ovens.

Disclosure: This post was medically reviewed by Sondra Strand, RN, BSN, PHN. This post also contains affiliate links. Please make sure to do your own research as brands and materials may change at any time without notice. California’s laws on cookware and small kitchen appliances are forcing brands to disclose toxic chemicals as of January 1st, 2023, however, not all brands are in compliance with this new law yet. As they comply, these ranks may change if they disclose something they have not disclosed before. 

Safest Air Fryers & Air Fryer Ovens Sans Toxic PFAS Coatings 2021

Pretty Much All “Non-Stick” Inside Small Kitchen Appliances are Toxic

When it comes to cookware & small kitchen appliances, and other types of appliances on your counter space, there are a plethora of options. (In fact, Mamavation’s investigation on cookware in 2021 is still one of the most popular posts on the site.)

When you hear “non-stick” it’s typically referring to food contact surfaces that have been coated with perfluorinated chemicals or PFAS. These synthetic chemicals appear to give products an edge with the promise of easy cleanup, stain and grease resistance, and a no-mess, no-fuss type of surface tray.

Sounds great until you find out how incredibly toxic to humans and the environment they also are. Some of the more problematic health impacts are below:

The danger in PFAS chemicals is an accumulation of exposures over time because it does not leave your body for quite some time. So your daily exposure to PFAS chemicals matters and should be reduced overall.

Air fryer meal, cooking green bean, pidan dishes cookery with Airfryer at home, delicious cuisine in Taiwan, Asia, Asian Taiwanese food

PFAS Chemicals Are Ubiquitous & Hard to Completely Avoid

You can find PFAS chemicals in a variety of consumer retail products, and other industries where daily exposure is unavoidable. So the purpose here is to lower your exposure, but understand you won’t be able to completely avoid all exposure. Here are some examples:

  • Textiles & Fabrics: PFAS chemicals are very commonly found in industries such as textiles & fabrics to create stain-resistance, water-resistance, or “sweat-wicking.” To help you here, Mamavation has tested athletic wear, sports bras, and period underwear. We’ve also conducted other consumer studies on bedding, children’s clothing, infant car seats, & jackets & raincoats.
  • Food Packaging: In food packaging, they are used in popcorn bags, pizza boxes, fast food wrappers & canisters, and the flat dish on the bottom of cakes at the grocery store. Mamavation has also tested different parchment paper brands for indications of PFAS.
  • Personal Care Products: Makeup has been notoriously guilty of using PFAS to create a waterproof or long-lasting effect in makeup products. So Mamavation tested the most popular green beauty makeup brands for indications of PFAS and we did the same with other categories like dental floss, toilet paper, tampons, sanitary pads & incontinence pads, etc.
  • Cookware & Bakeware: Most “non-stick” cookware & bakeware is coated with PFAS “forever chemicals,” including some stainless steel cookware, Check out Mamavation’s investigation on cookware. We also just finished cupcake & muffin pans, waffle makers,
  • Small Kitchen Appliances: The aisle of small kitchen appliances is a bit overwhelming in terms of “non-stick” and PFAS coatings on food contact surfaces or inside the interior. We’ve covered air fryers, toasters & toaster ovens, blenders, & water filters to help.
  • Carpeting & Flooring: PFAS has also been used in carpeting & flooring. Do you remember StainMaster™ carpet? That was PFAS. However, not all carpet has indications of PFAS. We recently tested one brand you can safely purchase. Mamavation also tested several bamboo flooring brands and found one brand that was free from PFAS.
  • Furniture: Watch out for “stain-resistant” treatments on furniture.
  • Fire Fighting Foam: PFAS was used in firefighting foams and they have unfortunately been used extensively around military bases and airports. If you live close to a military base or airport, check with your local water district to see if they have tested the water for PFAS.
  • Metal Plating, Semiconductors, Lubrications & Coating Additives: Lots of industrial applications of PFAS are used to keep equipment from rusting, getting overheated, or provide water-resistant, or grease-resistant qualities.
  • Drinking Water: Sadly, there are lots of places around the United States and all over the world that have drinking water contaminated with PFAS. Most of these areas are by military bases, airports, and other industrial parks that used PFAS for firefighting or other such uses. Luckily, Mamavation has done an investigation of the best water filters to remove PFAS.
  • Car Wax, Ski Wax, & Surfboard Wax: Yes, you guessed it. PFAS is used here for its grease & water-resistant qualities.
  • Some Processed Food: Mamavation has found indications of PFAS inside pasta & tomato sauces, cooking oils, and ketchup. We are presently working on other food categories right now to help.

Air fryer homemade grilled potato

Teflon & The Shady Past of Cookware Set Us Up For a Shady Small Kitchen Appliance Aisle

It seems that most people are aware of the toxicity associated with Teflon. Teflon is the brand name for a chemical also known as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), which originated by using the surfactant perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA, aka “C8”).

PFOA falls into the class of chemicals known as PFAS (Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These chemicals are raising concern from not only the public but also scientists, medical researchers, and regulatory groups.

Just like with many other legacy chemicals, regrettable substitutions afloat. In terms of PFAS, long-chain PFOA and PFOS were phased out under pressure from the Environmental Protection Agency. Companies went scrambling for alternatives and found other chemicals within the same PFAS chemical category that were slightly different.  However, studies are finding these new short-chain fluorotelomers could actually be MORE problematic.

  • Short-chain chemicals build up in lab animals just as much as the long chains do
  • Lower doses stayed in the body for longer periods of time than the large doses typically used in short-term toxicity studies

Grill BBQ Chicken Legs in oven air fryer.healthy cooking without oil

Most Air Fryer Brands Evaded Transparency on Non-Stick Coatings

So where are all the safest air fryers without PFAS coatings? What we learned during this investigation is that companies who are still using nonstick coatings are not always willing to provide the exact materials used in their products, which is a concern for us.

  • Some of them did respond with a generic response that the nonstick coating used is proprietary and cannot be disclosed.
  • Others responded with a misleading reply that boasted being “PFOA-free” or even just letting us know that all of their products are FDA approved and “very safe.” This may change as the beginning of 2023 has ushed in new California laws that will force them to be clearer in their marketing around PFAS chemicals. 
  • Some brands did not use PFAS on food contact surfaces but instead used them on the side of the inside walls instead. PFAS can aerosolize and drop down on your food, so that’s also a problem. If you don’t ask them, they won’t volunteer that information.
  • We’ve also gotten conflicting accounts from these brands over the two years that we’ve been monitoring them. We are unsure if that’s because things have changed or because they didn’t give us the correct information before. Some brands have had emails & phone call contacts just to keep things straight because answers were conflicting.
  • We also found that sometimes different products in a line are made by different manufacturers and thus you can’t make too many assumptions about other products in a line. We’ve found this to be quite common with small kitchen appliances, cookware, dishes, flatware, etc. You have to ask them directly about a product to be sure about that product.
  • Products sold by a company to Europe may be different than products sold to the United States in a similar product line.
  • Bottom line: it’s very challenging for the consumer to navigate.

We want to provide you with a thorough assessment of the options out there but please know we could only do so much with the information we have been provided. Transparency is huge for Mamavation, and Air Fryers somehow bring out the least transparent of information to the table. As brands change, we update this post. 

Happy smiling beautiful Asian woman working on lalaptop computer while cooking with Air Fryers in kitchen at home

General Tips For Avoiding PFAS “Forever Chemicals” Inside Your Home

Mamavation has been keeping you in the know about PFAS continually so we can guide you to safer products. We tried our best to get the scoop from Air Fryer brands on if their products contained PFAS chemicals. It was not an easy task, and we are still waiting and wondering about many of the companies we contacted based on either a lack of response or intentional avoidance of the direct question.

Here are some tips for keeping PFAS out of your home:

  • Swap your Non-stick cookware to these healthier brands
  • Find better small kitchen appliances without PFAS-coated surfaces
  • Try to find alternatives to non-stick products whenever possible (especially if you have any small pets or immune-compromised family members. Birds are especially vulnerable as well).
  • Avoid processed foods with packaging. Grease-proof food packaging (pizza boxes, cake cardboard bottoms, & french fry wrappers. Click here for a list of which grocery store chains are serving PFAS-free packing)
  • Avoid fast food as much as possible. (Did you know we tested In-N-Out Burger wrappers the other day? Yikes.) 
  • Look into investing in a really good water filter that is proven by independent studies to filter different types of PFAS, especially if you live by a military base or airport. 
  • When purchasing furniture or carpet, avoid stain treatment chemicals.  (Like StainMaster)
  • Even your mattress contains PFAS chemicals but these organic mattresses do not.
  • Avoid buying clothing with labels indicating water, stain or dirt repellant. (Like Patagonia or REI jackets)
  • Avoid choosing personal care products with “fluoro” or “perfluoro” on the ingredient list. 
  • Dust more often!  PFAS “forever chemicals” chemicals stick to dust particles so the more dust you have in your home, the more likely there is PFAS in the air you breathe. Click here for our favorite air purifiers. 

closeup of a white multicooker

Mamavation’s Investigation of Safest Air Fryers without PFAS Coatings

Mamavation evaluated about 40 different air fryer products available in the United States in 2021 and then up to 80 in 2023. We started out pretty excited about a handful of models that had been previously reviewed as non-toxic, along with products that had prior claims of using only stainless steel with no coatings.

If you are looking forward to a crispy texture with chicken wings, homemade mozzarella sticks, or the taste of deep frying or fried foods without the oil? Mamavation is looking to air fryers but with the following categories:

  • Air Fryers with Air Fryer Baskets
  • Air Fryer Ovens
  • Convection Ovens with glass bowls
  • Countertop Toaster Ovens

Mamavation ran into several issues after studying reviews, contacting the companies directly, and studying their marketing online:

  • PROPRIETARY (Likely PFAS) NON-STICK COATINGS: Most brands contained coatings that were “proprietary”, which may likely mean some sort of PFAS chemical coating. While other brands responded to our inquiries immediately to tell us they used PFAS coatings. PFAS chemicals are referred to as “forever chemicals” because they are incredibly persistent in the environment.
  • CERAMIC NON-STICK COATINGS: Ceramic non-stick coatings are typically made of nanoparticles, which are common but not well studied. However, some titanium dioxide nanoparticles have been linked to precancerous gut lesions as well as immune disruption. This type of ceramic coating is very common in cookware, so we can only assume it also may be inside the air fryer if they don’t answer our inquiries.
  • ALUMINUM FOOD CONTACT SURFACES: Aluminum (especially when uncoated), has the potential to leach aluminum into your food. Aluminum is bioaccumulative and a known neurotoxin that can cause neurological disorders like dementia. Aluminum cookware is an obvious culprit, but it’s also been found present at lower levels in ceramic and stainless steel cooking products. Aluminum can also cause slow growth in children, speech problems, seizures, and eventual system toxicity that causes serious problems including anemia, nervous system trouble, and bone and brain diseases.
  • PROPRIETARY (Likely PFAS) NON-STICK ON INTERIOR OF UNIT: Many products avoid PFAS coatings on their food contact surfaces, but still included it on the interior of the unit. This is problematic because PFAS can become aerosolized and drop down on the food.
  • FUMES: Some of the Air Fryers included warnings from the manufacturers along with reviews from customers regarding an initial “smell” that is common with the first use (sometimes the first few) of the appliance. We are assuming you don’t want products that produce smells. However, sometimes these smells go away after first or second use. That is not as troubling. 
  • PACKAGING CHEMICALS: We found something that could be common in brands that did not respond to our other inquiries. At least one of the companies confirmed to use a coating on the product during shipping to protect the parts from being scratched. But they did seem to all provide this information within the manuals to let the consumer know how to handle this with the first use to either prevent the smell or to be prepared for a one-time smell after following their explicit instructions prior to using the Air Fryer.

Studio shot of digital air fryer

NOT OUR FAVORITE Air Fryer & Air Fry Ovens

These brands were found to contain one of the following contaminants within the surfaces touching food: Teflon, “nonstick coating”, PTFE fluoropolymer, or plastics. This section may also comprise companies that did not return email communication and we were unsure of their materials on food contact and non-food contact surfaces. 

  • Beautiful 6qt Digital Air Fryer with Touch-Activated Display
  • Beautiful 9qt TriZone Air Fryer
  • Bella Pro 6.3 qt Air Fryer Touchscreen
  • Breville BOV900BSSUSC The Smart Oven Air
  • Breville The Smart Oven Air Fryer
  • Breville The Smart Oven Air Fryer Pro (BOV900BSSUSC)
  • Cafe Couture Oven with Air Fryer (C9OAAAS4RW3)
  • Calphalon Performance Counterop French Door Air Fryer Toaster Oven
  • Cosori Smart Air Fryer Toaster Oven
  • Cosori CP158-AF, CP137-AF (Pro Air Fryer)
  • Cosori CP358-AF (Pro II Air Fryer)
  • Cosori CS358-AF (Smart Air Fryer)
  • Cuisinart TOA-60 Convection Toaster Oven Airfryer (Refuses to comply with new CA & CO laws on chemical disclosure)
  • Cuisinart TOA-65 Air Fryer (Refuses to comply with new CA & CO laws on chemical disclosure)
  • Cuisinart TOB-135N Air Fryer (Refuses to comply with new CA & CO laws on chemical disclosure)
  • Dash Chef Series 23 L Air Fryer Oven
  • Dash Air Crisp Pro Digital
  • Dreamiracle Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo 21 Quart 7-in-1 Countertop Dehydrator
  • Emeril Everyday 8 QT Pressure Air Fryer
  • Emeril Lagasse Power AirFryer Oven 360  (chemical disclosure)
  • Farberware Air Fryer Toaster Oven
  • Galanz Digital Toaster Oven with TotalFry 360
  • Hamilton Beach 31220 Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven (Not complying with CA laws on chemical disclosures & PTFE)
  • Hamilton Beach Air Fryer 31225 Convection Countertop Toaster Oven (Not complying with CA laws on chemical disclosures & PTFE)
  • Hamilton Beach 31323 Sure-Crisp Air Fry Toaster Oven (Not complying with CA laws on chemical disclosures & PTFE.)
  • Innsky Air Fryer 5.8QT, 1700W Stainless Steel Air Fryer Oven
  • Kalorik Maxx 26qt Digital Air Fryer Oven
  • KitchenAid Digital Countertop Oven With Air Fry
  • Ninja Foodi 6-in-1 2-Basket Air Fryer (Refuses to comply with CA & CO laws on chemical disclosures, however, customer service claimed non-stick on features)
  • Ninja Air Fryer 5.5 qt (Ninja Max XL Air Fryer) (Refuses to comply with CA & CO laws on chemical disclosures, however, customer service claimed non-stick-on features.)
  • Ninja Foodi 9-in-1 6.5 Quart (Refuses to comply with CA & CO laws on chemical disclosures, however, customer service claimed non-stick on features)
  • Ninja SP101 Foodi 8-in-1 Digital Air Fry Toaster Oven (Refuses to comply with CA & CO laws on chemical disclosures, however, customer service claimed non-stick on features)
  • NuWave Pro Plus Oven
  • Panaromia Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo
  • Rosewill RHAF-16003V3 5.8-QT XL Air Fryer
  • Yedi “Tango” Air Fryer & Pressure Cooker  (Refuses to comply with CA & CO laws on chemical disclosure, so we are unsure)
  • Yedi Total Package 18-in-1 Air Fryer Rotisserie Oven (drip pan non-stick PTFE coating via customer service. Refuses to comply with CA & CO laws on chemical disclosure so we are unsure about food contact surfaces.)

Air fryer homemade crispy fish cake roll

BETTER Air Fryer and Air Fryer Ovens

These brands were better than the last category, but there were still things we didn’t find optimal. Some of the coatings in the “better” list of Air Fryers have opted to use ceramic coatings in lieu of Teflon. And much like the ceramic cookware investigation, we still had a challenging time confirming the specific materials used in the various air fryers as well.  Because most ceramic cookware brands use nanotechnology to coat the surfaces, we could only assume this was happening here too. There are also brands in here that avoid PFAS coatings on food contact surfaces but still left “non-stick coatings” in other areas that may still impact the food inside. We also put products here that had Prop. 65 warnings that we couldn’t identify, products with aluminum as food contact surfaces that wasn’t easy to solve, and zinc-coated interiors.

Roasted sweet potato cooked by airfryer at home. Healthy food for diet eating

BEST & Safest Air Fryers & Air Fry Ovens 

These are the safest air fryers without PFAS coatings. As of the time we did this investigation, these were the best brands we could find that were available for purchase in the United States. Again, these brands did not seem to contain any PFAS coatings on food contact surfaces or inside the machine at all. We have linked up chemical disclosures if they were offered by brand in compliance with AB 1200, California’s newest law mandating disclosure for small kitchen appliances.

Air Fryers without Issues:

Air Fryers with Some Issues You Can Solve:

Children's best probiotics with no PFAS "forever chemicals"

Consumer PFAS Studies Mamavation Has Released

Mamavation has been commissioning studies looking for PFAS “forever chemicals” inside everyday products you use. We are continuing to test and run studies and if you would like to tax-deductible donation, simply go to Environmental Health News and donate on behalf of Mamavation. Environmental Health News has partnered with us on most of our PFAS studies and provides support & more scientific scrutiny.

Here are the PFAS consumer investigations we have finished:

We also have other investigations you may like.

Recent Product Investigations

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Mike

    Would lining the air fryer with aluminum foil instead of putting the food on what otherwise would be a toxic air fryer make it safer?

    Reply

  3. Hollie

    I was prepared to buy the Oster compact countertop toaster oven with air fryer stainless steel and read that it has a non-stick interior and an aluminum pan?! Why is it in the best category? It honestly looks as those no options are truly safe and actually work.

    Reply

    • Deepa

      I too did not see favorable consumer reviews for Oster. I wish they would list why Ninja is moderately reviewed and maybe contact the manufacturer for any unanswered questions about the product.

      Reply

  4. Nadia Kriston

    Mamavation, thank you so much for all the work you do to help us make healthy choices for our families.

    I also am curious about this model, which you didn’t mention: VAL CUCINE 26.3 QT/25 L Extra-Large Smart Air Fryer Toaster Oven, 10-in-1 Convection Countertop Oven Combination，Brushed Stainless Steel Finish https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097B8MD73/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_H0XE7GRPF8MNX92QYRKN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

    Seems to not have a non stick coating, and be safe. Am I missing something?

    Reply

  6. Chris

    What’s somewhat confusing is, many of the “safe” air fryers in the list are not actually air fryers at all. They are Halogen ovens (the ones with the glass bowls). Halogen technology cooks food with a light that goes on and off over a Pyrex container. They do not use circulating air like air fryers. Halogen ovens are not air fryers.

    Reply

  7. Kim

    I have two parrots in my house and Teflon heated to certain temperatures can actually kill them. I spoke to Cuisinart today and they stated all of their air fryers are PTFE and PFOA free. Is that in agreement with what you have found? The model I just purchased is CTOA-130PC2. I didn’t even think about the possibility of Teflon being used in it.

    Reply

  8. Ellen Sackett

    Thank you, Leah. This is by far the most comprehensive article ai have found on the subject and has confirmed my own frustrations in trying to get to the bottom of what these air fryers are made of. Is there any chance you are planning on updating this for 2022, as there are so many newer products on the market now. Thank you! Best, Ellen

    Reply

  9. Miss A

    I was very interested in the Big Boss until I learned Halogen radiation which emit Electro Magnetic Frequencies were the source of heating used. Ugh…

    That’s also when I learned the glass cooktop on my stove used halogen creating EMF’s… so did my baseboard heating and heated blanket.

    Reply

  10. Christie

    I emailed the company about the Emeril Lagasse oven. Does this reply seem like it is good enough to purchase? I’ve been researching for so long and felt this one should be ok, but a little confused by their response. Thank you!!!

    “The Inside is galvanized steel, outside is stainless steel. There is No non-stick coating on the interior. The 360 accessories are combinations of chrome-plated steel, chrome-plated iron, aluminized steel, and galvanized steel.

    This product is safe to use as instructed. This product meets federal and state laws (including California’s) for safety. A Proposition 65 warning is a notification that a product may include a substance on California’s Proposition 65 list. The list is broad, subject to change, and contains substances that are found in products, sold and purchased in California, that are used or consumed in everyday living. For example, warnings have been required for coffee, vinegar, and fish, in addition to many other commonly used products. For more information, visit the website of the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at http://www.fda.gov.“

    Reply

  11. Karen Atkinson

    We bought an Oster French door Air Fry Countertop Oven. There were no peculiar smells but I am concerned about how hot the appliance gets when cooking in it, especially after the Best Buy recall of Insignia Air Fryers which catch fire and even melt!

    Reply

  12. Azure Shumway

    hi im single i have a dash currentlly love it but hate the chemicals… can you please recomend an air fryer that isnt a toater over but shaped more like my dash? i found a couple of stainless steel basket ones but all where unavailable for putchase anywhere and the big glass ones are to much for me and my space… also on a fixed income so price is a bit of a factor as well…

    Reply

  13. Lianne Mueller

    I am interested in the homelabs air fryer. Do you know if it is safe and does it smell? Also what should I replace the drip pan with as it is teflon.

    I am also curious about this question “one says clean the interior gently which might mean it does? If food doesn’t come in contact with the nonstick then can it be toxic?”

    Thank you for all you amazing research I look forward to hearing back.

    Lianne Mueller

    [email protected]

    Reply

    • jaquelyn

      I was interested in the homelabs air fryer as well and reached out to ask about materials used. This is their response:

      “I am more than happy to answer your question.
      The warning sign, according to our product engineers, is for California Proposition 65, which requires lead to be stated even if the lead content is very little.
      The internal cavity is made of Zinc plated steel. The fetch tool & fruit dehydrate tray are chrome-plated steel.
      Stainless steel (SUS430/304) is used for the rest of the accessories. These components are free of BPA.
      Teflon is used to coat the drip tray (PTFE). The coating is free of PFOA, PFOS, and BPA.”

      Hope that helps!

      Reply

  14. Grace

    I think i found a good one but I’m really unsure about the bake pan. It says made of 304 stainless steel and this was the manufacturer’s response regarding materials of the accessories. I think the bake pan is questionable but I am unsure from my research. I am also OKAY if I don’t use the bake pan. Would you mind checking this one?

    “The material of the wire rack is carbon structural steel wire.
    The material of the baking/drip pan is a hot-dip aluminum coated steel plate.
    The material of the Air Fryer basket is carbon structural steel wire.”

    VAL CUCINE 26.3 QT/25 L Extra-Large Smart Air Fryer Toaster Oven, 10-in-1 Convection Countertop Oven Combination，Brushed Stainless Steel Finish https://www.amazon.com/dp/B097B8MD73/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_glt_i_H0XE7GRPF8MNX92QYRKN?_encoding=UTF8&psc=1

    Reply

  15. Bonnie

    Thanks for all your great research. I received the Cuisinart TOA-26 for Christmas. It’s an air fryer toaster oven combo. It smelled terrible the first time I turned it on, so I started researching. This model is supposedly brand new. I contacted Cuisinart to find out what the inside is coated with, and they responded with this: “Thank you for your inquiry. The Cuisinart AirFryers has a coated steel interior.

    There is no Teflon or non-stick coating in any of these units.”

    So my question now is what is a steel coated interior? Is that inherently unsafe even if it is not a non-stick coating? I can’t seem to get a straight answer from them on what is in the material that coats the steel.

    It’s so hard and frustrating to try and find out what is safe. I would so appreciate any feedback you have. Thanks so much!

    Reply

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