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Air fryers are becoming the must-have kitchen appliance in 2024. They're much healthier (reducing the fat content of your food by up to 80%) and also use less energy than a conventional oven.
But did you know the non-stick coatings on some traditional air fryers are potentially toxic?
Coatings made from Teflon (PTFE) and PBAS (forever chemicals) can leach into your food and have been linked to some serious health problems.
As an avid home chef, I was keen to add an air fryer to my kitchen. So my team and I set out to research and test the safest non-toxic air fryer brands on the market.
We've compiled a list of the best air fryer options that effortlessly combine efficiency, safety, and sustainability, without damaging the planet or compromising taste or convenience.
✔ Multifunctional (6-in-1)
✔ Fast Preheat
✔ Multiple Color Options
Why It's My #1 Pick: The Our Place Wonder Oven is a worthy overall winner. It's not just one of the safest air fryers on the market; it's also a super versatile appliance that bakes, steams, broils, toasts, and roasts with ease.
Personal Experience: The Wonder Oven has transformed my cooking routine. The steam infusion technology ensures that every dish is perfectly cooked, retaining moisture and flavor.
Its ability to roast a hefty 4.50 lb chicken (double the cooking capacity compared to some compact units I tested) is impressive. The inclusion of multiple accessories and the thoughtful design make this Teflon-free air fryer incredibly user-friendly and versatile.
✔ Wide Range of Presets
✔ Hex Heat Technology Guarantees Even Cooking
✔ Spacious Interior
Why It's Good for Large Families: Its PFAS-free nonstick coating and premium stainless steel construction make it feel durable. The oven's spacious and easy-to-clean interior makes it perfect for preparing large meals.
Personal Experience: Using the Green Pan Elite is a dream. Its intuitive design and consistent performance make cooking easy and enjoyable.
The PFAS-free nonstick accessories, including the baking pan and air fry basket, perform brilliantly and are simple to clean.
My favorite feature is the Duo Cook feature. It allows me to program consecutive cooking functions to save time revisiting the oven.
Why It's Our Recommended Glass Air Fryer: The transparent glass design allows for easy monitoring of your cooking and guarantees that no harmful coatings come into contact with your food.
Personal Experience: The Big Boss Air Fryer was a breeze to use. Its large capacity effortlessly accommodates meals for my family, while the dual rack setup allows for cooking multiple dishes simultaneously.
The glass bowl and accessories are easy to clean, significantly reducing post-cooking cleanup time.
✔ Vast Range of Cooking Functions
✔ Innovative Technology
✔ Useful Temperature Probe
Why It's Recommended for Versatility: Its ability to combine 14 different cooking functions into one appliance is impressive. It enabled me to easily switch between air frying, baking, broiling, roasting, and more, making it suitable for preparing various dishes.
Personal Experience: My results were perfect every time, from crispy, golden-brown vegetables to a succulently roasted rotisserie chicken.
The double-layer glass door is key to retaining heat, ensuring every dish is cooked evenly and efficiently.
This, coupled with the rapid preheat feature, significantly reduces cooking times, allowing me to serve delicious meals without the long wait.
Why It's Good for Rotisserie Chicken: The rotating rotisserie function ensures even cooking and thorough seasoning, producing restaurant-quality rotisserie chicken at home...juicy on the inside with a perfectly crispy exterior!
Personal Experience: The ease of making healthier versions of fried favorites and the convenience of its preset functions have streamlined my cooking process, giving me the confidence to try new recipes.
This air fryer's precision temperature control and heat efficiency help elevate simple ingredients into gourmet meals.
Why It's Good for Extra Wide Toasting: Its wide interior allows for the preparation of bulky meals or multiple dishes simultaneously, making it ideal for families or entertaining.
Personal Experience: From toasting bread to perfection to creating crispy, air-fried delights, the BLACK+DECKER Air Fryer Toaster Oven has never let me down.
The ease of switching between functions without sacrificing quality or taste stood out.
But what really impressed me with this toaster oven is how well it cooks my specialty margarita pizza with hand-stretched sourdough crust...BELLISSIMO! 😋
Why It's Good for Space Saving: Its compact dimensions make it an ideal choice for smaller kitchens with limited countertop space, providing the functionality of larger models without the bulk.
Personal Experience: Using the Gotham Steel Air Fryer has simplified cooking healthier versions of fried favorites in the Miller household (especially Korean fried chicken! 😋).
The fat-draining design significantly reduces oil usage, while the rapid air technology ensures even cooking and perfect crispiness.
Each air fryer was tested across multiple scenarios and different food types.
The main things I assessed include the following:
From an environmental standpoint, air fryers have a couple of notable benefits:
In addition to the general benefits mentioned above, choosing a non-toxic air fryer over a standard one means you avoid potentially toxic nonstick coatings.
There are three chemicals associated with nonstick coating used in some air fryers that you need to try and avoid.
Teflon is a brand name for a polymer known as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE).
While PTFE is relatively inert and safe in lower temperatures, its degradation at high temperatures can release harmful fumes. These fumes have been known to cause polymer fume fever (also known as 'Teflon flu') in humans and can be fatal to birds.
Environmentally, the production and disposal of PTFE-coated products can contribute to pollution and waste.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manufactured chemicals used in various consumer products, including nonstick cookware coatings.
These chemicals have been linked to health issues, such as hormone imbalance, developmental problems, and an increased risk of some cancers. PFAS are often called 'forever chemicals' due to their persistence in the environment and the human body.
The environmental impact of PFAS is equally concerning. They can accumulate and remain in the environment for an extended period, contaminating soil, water, and air.
Major manufacturers have phased out perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), once commonly used in the manufacturing of nonstick coatings, due to health concerns. PFOA exposure has been associated with various adverse health effects, including potential risks of cancer.
From an environmental standpoint, PFOA is persistent and can lead to long-term water and soil contamination. It doesn't break down easily in the environment, leading to widespread global distribution, even in remote areas.
Ceramic coatings are primarily made from silicon dioxide (silica) derived from sand.
These coatings offer a nonstick surface without the potentially harmful chemicals found in some traditional coatings.
Another innovative option in nonstick technology is silicone-based coatings.
Silicone, a synthetic rubber made from silicon and oxygen, offers a flexible, heat-resistant, nonstick surface.
Silicone coatings are known for their durability and resistance to high temperatures. They don't degrade quickly, which means a longer lifespan and less frequent need for replacement.
This option is more relevant to pots and pans (especially woks), but I feel it's still worth covering.
For those looking for a completely natural option, seasoned cookware, like cast iron and carbon steel, offers a viable alternative. Seasoning cookware involves treating it with oil and heat, creating a natural, nonstick layer over time.
Seasoned cookware is highly durable and can last generations if properly cared for. This reduces the need for frequent replacements and aligns with sustainable living principles.
Plus, cooking with these materials can add a touch of flavor to your dishes that you can't get from synthetic coatings.
When choosing a non-toxic air fryer, consider your cooking needs, kitchen space, and household size.
Evaluate the appliance's cooking capacity to match your family's needs and footprint to ensure it fits your kitchen.
Prioritize air fryers with non-toxic coatings and look for versatile functions to maximize what you can cook in a single appliance.
Also, consider ease of cleaning and maintenance, with dishwasher-safe parts being a plus.
Finally, assess energy efficiency and user-friendly features like digital controls and preset programs to enhance your cooking experience.
It's important to approach air frying with realistic expectations.
Air fryers can produce results similar to frying with less oil, but they might not replicate the exact taste or texture of your favorite deep-fried foods.
Even the most reliable appliances reach the end of their life someday. Consider responsible disposal methods when it's time to say goodbye to your old air fryer.
Check with local recycling programs to see if they accept small appliances. Some manufacturers even offer take-back or recycling programs for their products.
We all need to do whatever we can to stop harmful materials from ending up in landfills.
Yes, air frying can produce acrylamide. While air frying typically uses less oil and can cook at slightly lower temperatures than deep frying, it's still crucial to be mindful of acrylamide formation (a probable human carcinogen).
Reducing cooking time, avoiding overly browning or burning foods, and opting for lower cooking temperatures can help minimize acrylamide formation in air-fried foods.
Yes, you can replace your oven with an air fryer. However, while they can complement or substitute certain oven tasks, they may not completely replace a conventional oven's full range of capabilities, especially for large-scale cooking.
Yes, non-toxic air fryers are excellent for cooking frozen foods efficiently.
No, air fryers cook food using rapidly circulating hot air without microwave technology or emitting harmful radiation.
Right now, I can't say for sure if Ninja air fryers are likely to release toxic chemicals. I'm waiting to hear back from Ninja about the composition of its nonstick coating and will update this article as soon as I have more information.
My experience and rigorous testing have shown that non-toxic air frying is a great way to enjoy your favorite fried foods without compromising taste, health, or environmental ethics.
The Our Place Wonder Oven is my top pick because I love the steam function and the impressive capacity of such a compact unit. It's also 100% free from harmful chemicals like PFAS, PFOA, and PTFE, which is a huge plus.
However, all the options in this article have an impressive range of features you'll love.
Happy healthy cooking!
Do you have a favorite air fryer or convection oven you love to use? Will you only ever cook without Teflon? Or are you not too concerned about the potentially toxic chemicals in some non-stick coatings?
Our core values mean we always prioritize sustainability over profit. We carefully evaluate and personally test every product to ensure they meet our high standards. All products recommended in this article were tested in accordance with our Review Methodology.
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