How to Choose a Non-Toxic Air Fryer

We recently set up a small in-law suite for visiting family and friends. This created a quandary: how to kit out a small kitchenette with non-toxic, sustainably made appliances, on a budget.

Having never considered an air fryer for our own kitchen, suddenly, this compact, do-it-all countertop appliance seemed like a good idea for guests.

The problem?

And the companies making them are woefully lacking in transparency when it comes to materials and coatings. 

Understandably, then, this piece has taken a while to put together. But after some heavy research and lots of outreach to brands, here’s our list of the best air fryers, free of PTFE (or with easily replaceable parts) and better than the rest in terms of sustainability.

Before we jump into the top choices, here’s a quick look at the trouble with air fryers and what to watch out for when making your decision.

Air fryers are energy-efficient

From a sustainability point of view, air fryers can be a great way to save energy. Compared to using a much larger electric oven, a compact air fryer can cut your energy consumption and utility bill. It can also save you time by avoiding the need to preheat a large oven cavity. 

You’ll want to look for a reliable air fryer model though, given that making one of these uses a lot of resources. Some appliances are also hard to repair and take apart for recycling. 

When we rate products at Leaf Score, we consider the following as part of our sustainability calculation:

• Durability
• Ease of repair
• End of life disposal.

This is in addition to looking at how the product is made, and where, as well as its energy use and efficient operation.

Toxic air fryers are the norm

Air fryers are massively popular, especially with folks looking for a way to reduce fat intake. Ironically, though, these appliances are far from healthy, given the presence of non-stick PTFE forever chemicals in almost every air fryer on the market.

So, what do you need to watch out for when choosing an air fryer?

In short:

PTFE and all PFAS

It’s not enough for a company to say that an air fryer is free of PFOA, PFOS, or Teflon (a brand name for PTFE). What we want to see is an official chemical disclosure statement that an air fryer is entirely free of PFAS, not just select forever chemicals or a brand name chemical.

Read more about PFAS and what all those initialisms actually mean.

BPA

You’re probably more familiar with bisphenol A (BPA) as a thing to watch for in receipts, water bottles, and so on, but it can also pop up in air fryers.

Bisphenol A (and other bisphenols) are known endocrine (hormone) disruptors and are often found in plastic parts and resins used in kitchen appliances. When these items are used at high temperatures, BPA can leach out into food. 

What we want to see is a chemical disclosure statement showing a product is entirely free of BPA and, ideally, associated bisphenols.

Phthalates

Instead of coating air fryers with PTFE, some companies have taken to using phthalates for easier clean-up. This is a huge problem, given the association of phthalates with:

• Endocrine issues
• Asthma and allergies
• Reproductive concerns
• Developmental problems in infants and children.

If you’re hoping to be healthier by using an air fryer, there’s no place for phthalates in the mix. This includes parts of the product that aren’t necessarily in contact with food, given that plastic breaks down with heat and can off-gas and leach.

Undisclosed ceramic non-stick chemicals and aluminum

As concerns about PFAS become more common, more appliance makers are ditching PFAS for ceramic non-stick. This is good news in some ways (no forever chemicals!), but it doesn’t mean these PTFE-free air fryers are totally non-toxic or sustainable.

Ceramic coatings are typically made with titanium nanoparticles or silicone dioxide. The exact composition of ceramic non-stick coatings is almost always a tightly held secret that brands won’t disclose. This means we’re left to make educated guesses about the safety of these coatings.

The other issue is the sustainability of such coatings. PTFE, for all its faults, does tend to be quite hardwearing. Ceramic non-stick coatings, however, can be easily scratched, which compromises the non-stickiness and can expose whatever is underneath the coating. In most cases, this is aluminum, which we don’t usually want in contact with food. 

This may mean replacing ceramic coated non-stick accessories more often, which obviously isn’t as sustainable as having more durable cookware. 

Does the perfect non-toxic air fryer exist?

No. 

After intense research, I’m yet to find an air fryer that is free from all of the issues I outline above. 

The closest we can get is an air fryer that is free from:

• PTFE and all PFAS
• BPA and phthalates (unless present in the electrical cord)
• Dubious ceramic coatings that may chip, scratch, or contain toxic chemicals.

The workaround is to choose an air fryer that is almost perfect and then replace any troublesome accessories. 

To the best of our knowledge, having scoured product info and reached out to brands, none of our recommendations contain PTFE or any other PFAS. We also highlight air fryers that are free of BPA and phthalates. Finally, we prioritize brands that offer air fryers without undisclosed ceramic coatings.

Our top pick

Reader note: some GE Induction ranges also come with built-in air fryers.

GE Digital Air Fry 8-in-1 Toaster Oven

Highlights: Versatile 8-in-1 air-frying toaster oven with stainless steel construction and options for mechanical or digital controls. Totally PFAS-free and BPA-free and spacious despite its small footprint.

Overall Score

Durability Score

Toxicity Score

Sustainability Score

User Experience Score

Transparency Score

View on GE Website

The GE Digital Air Fry 8-in-1 Toaster Oven is my top pick for an air fryer because this small kitchen appliance is totally free of PFAS and BPA and boasts durable, more eco-friendly, non-toxic stainless steel construction. The accessories are also PFAS-free and BPA-free and comprise stainless steel and chrome-plated steel wire. That means they’re more likely to last longer and keep performing well even if they get a few dings and scratches.

This air fryer/oven offers eight cooking modes, without too much fussiness. These include:

• Broiling
• Baking
• Toasting
• Air frying
• Convection
• Keep warm
• Proof
• Roast.

You can choose between digital controls for greater precision or mechanical controls (this option is cheaper and may make repairs easier).

Other than its more sustainable construction, this oven’s big winner is its capacity relative to its overall size. Sure, it’s not going to be easy to stash this 23-lb. air fryer away in a cupboard, but if you have a decent amount of counter space, you might be fine leaving it out permanently.

The biggest limitation, other than cost, is the lack of an interior light. This seems an odd oversight as it’s much more eco-friendly and safe to monitor food without opening the oven door.

Some folks will also baulk at the lack of a rotisserie function. Oh, and the stainless steel accessories aren’t dishwasher safe, so you’ll need to clean these by hand to keep them from getting tacky with any oil and food residues. The stainless steel interior is also a little hard to clean, but easier than with the KitchenAid model below.

The good news is that GE also offers replacement or additional stainless steel accessories. I love this, because replacing and recycling a few accessories is much more sustainable than ditching an entire appliance.

And with a 1500 W max power, this appliance should be fine for most electrical circuits, though it’s always best to check with your electrician for safety.

In conclusion

Unfortunately, many air fryer models are made with forever chemicals, but brands like GE, and some others, are doing things the right way. Now you are equipped to pick an air fryer that works for you and that puts sustainability first.