I don’t know about you, but I’m pretty sure that my entire life changed with the invention of the air fryer. They are so useful, simple to use, and versatile. However, many air fryers are made with toxic chemicals, and the last thing I want to worry about when making food for my family is the chemicals I’m exposing them to. Luckily, I’ve found some great non toxic air fryer options that I trust, and I’m excited to share them with you today!
One of my favorite things to do is to scroll through Pinterest and discover new air fryer recipes. My air fryer saves me so much time, and I love that by using a non toxic air fryer, I know that I’m making safe and healthy food for my family. Air fryers are great for busy moms on the go, and you can make so many different delicious meals. Ready to jump into the world of air fryers? Keep reading to discover my favorite options on the market.
Shop the Post
MY FAVORITE NON TOXIC AIR FRYER OPTIONS
Air fryers have become the go-to kitchen item in recent years. They’re beloved by many for their versatility and ease, the perfect way to whip up a quick meal without a ton of effort at the end of a long day. People also loved the idea of having a healthier way to enjoy fried food – after all, who doesn’t want a guilt-free way to enjoy a plate of french fries?
However, as it often happens, things began to blow up on TikTok, and people were left wondering if their beloved air fryers were as safe and good for them as they had once thought. Viral TikToks began to circulate claiming that air fryers were toxic due to their non-stick coating, and that the chemicals within the coating were being released as the food slowly cooked. Soon, viewers were spiraling into a panic, wondering if they needed to get rid of their own air fryers on the spot.
Experts have been quick to pipe in, saying that air fryer users have nothing to worry about. While Teflon and similar non-stick coatings used to contain PFOAs, which were tied to kidney and liver disease, Teflon has been free from PFOAs since 2013.
Additionally, most chemicals do not break down until they reach a heat of 500 degrees Fahrenheit. Most air fryers, in fact, don’t go over 450 degrees, so they are not reaching levels of heat high enough for chemicals to break down into food to begin with.
So if you’ve found yourself feeling a bit antsy around the thought of using an air fryer, the fact is, you probably don’t have anything to worry about. Experts say that there is no reason to send your air fryer packing – you are perfectly safe to keep using it like always.
However, if you, like me, want a little extra peace of mind, there are plenty of air fryers on the market that are free from non-stick coating to begin with, so you don’t have to think twice about what you’re cooking your food in. That’s why I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite non-toxic air fryers for you today, so you can find one that will work for you and your family.
WHAT SHOULD I LOOK FOR IN AN AIR FRYER?
If you’ve never before used an air fryer, you might not know what you’re looking for when you begin shopping. What separates air fryers from other appliances? And what air fryer features are going to be the most important to you? Are certain air fryer brands better than others? And what will be the best fit for your personal needs?
Trust me, I had all of the same questions when I began shopping for my air fryer. That’s why I want to walk you through the process firsthand – so you can find the right product for you.
Essentially, an air fryer works by circulating hot air around the food to “fry” it. When you use an air fryer, you aren’t frying your food with tons of oil like you would if you were frying food over the stove. It’s in the name – the air is literally what’s frying your food for you. This is why air fried food is so much healthier than standard fried food – you aren’t ingesting the same levels of oil and grease that you usually would be.
Food fried via convection, or hot air, also often retains more of the nutrients than standard fried food, in which many of the nutrients are lost through the process of being cooked. That’s another reason why air fried food is better for you as a whole!
When you shop for your air fryer, it’s important to think through the appliances that you already own in your home. Many air fryers are built in to another type of product, but if you already own said product, it doesn’t make sense to buy a combination air fryer unless you are in the market to replace your prior appliance. It’s a smarter decision to buy an air fryer that’s combined with another appliance you don’t already own, or an air fryer that is simply on its own.
If you do not already own a toaster oven, an air fryer toaster oven is a great combination product to give you the best of both worlds – you gain so many different cooking options! I love the versatility of air fryer ovens as they provide so many possibilities for you in the kitchen. Similarly, if you don’t already own an instant pot, you can get an instant pot air fryer that will allow you to experiment with pressure cooking in addition to air frying.
One other major perk to air fryers that I forgot to mention? They cook so much more quickly than other kitchen appliances – up to 70% faster than a standard oven! This is due to the high temperatures that the air fryer has to reach in order to air fry your food. That’s why my air fryer is such a great choice for busy days when I don’t have a ton of time to make dinner. I can throw a meal together and have it ready to go in no time!
WHAT ARE SIGNS OF A NON-TOXIC AIR FRYER?
You know the red flags to look out for when you’re talking your best friend out of dating a toxic man, but what should you look for when shopping for a non-toxic air fryer? Again, are air fryers toxic? Experts say that any air fryer on the market is not likely to put you at risk of harm or disease, but there are a few things to look out for if you want to be extra careful when purchasing your air fryer.
The safest non-toxic air fryers are ones made with stainless steel. Stainless steel is a super safe material to keep around your kitchen, so you never have to worry when purchasing stainless steel kitchenware.
Another easy mark of a safe air fryer is that it features a lot of glass. Obviously, the entire air fryer can’t be made of glass, but glass products are not going to hurt you, so the more glass incorporated into the air fryer, the better.
You can also feel good about ceramic products. Ceramic materials are another safe bet for your kitchen, and many air fryers are made out of ceramic.
If you have your heart set on an air fryer that incorporates non stick coating, just try to make sure that it is a coating that is free of PFOAs and PFAs. Many non-stick coatings on the market now have been made safer, so read through the label and see what’s in your non stick coating. It might not be a hazard risk whatsoever.
Again, stainless steel air fryers and glass air fryers are going to be some of the safest air fryers on the market, but don’t panic. There are so many options available to you – you can totally find one that fits your family’s needs. I’ve even compiled some of my favorites for you below, so keep scrolling to learn all about them!
TOP FOODS TO MAKE IN YOUR AIR FRYER
I can’t be the only one who gets into a rut in the kitchen. Life gets busy, I get tired, and the next thing I know, I’m making the same handful of meals on repeat. We all get tired of them, but I don’t usually take the time to sit down and come up with some new recipes to add some variety to our diets.
What I love about using an air fryer, however, is that the cooking process is so incredibly easy that I have the time and space to try more new things. Air fryers also cook differently than other tools, which opens up a whole new realm of possibilities to dive into, and I don’t feel as bad about making fried food because I’m not actually frying it in oil. It makes some of my favorite guilty pleasure foods more healthy and sustainable, which is always exciting.
That being said, here are my top ten favorite foods to make in the air fryer!
FRENCH FRIES
If you ask me, french fries are one of the ultimate comfort foods. They’re warm and salty and familiar and pair well as a side with so many meals. I love that with an air fryer, I can feel so much better about making fries frequently because I know that they are so much healthier for me and my family. Plus, they still have that light, crispy feel that you can lose when you bake them in the oven!
LEFTOVERS
I know, I know, it sounds crazy, but hear me out – how many times have you found yourself staring at a pile of leftovers in your fridge with dread because you know that they just aren’t going to be as good reheated as they were the first time around? Trust me, I get it. That’s one of the reasons I love my air fryer so much – I can warm food up again and get it as crispy and fresh as it was the first time we ate it! Pizza, for example, can get kind of soft and soggy when microwaved, but when air fried, it regains its crispiness as if it just came out of the oven. It’s a total game changer.
CHICKEN STRIPS
Chicken strips are a great quick and easy dinner when you have kids – you know that they’re always going to be a crowd pleaser. My air fryer has made cooking chicken strips so much faster, and the consistency and texture is so much better than it was when I was cooking them in the oven – more like a restaurant. I serve them up with my family’s favorite sauces and everyone is happy – and I’m happy that dinner is taken care of.
HARD BOILED EGGS
Did you know that you can make hard boiled eggs in an air fryer? It’s insanely simple – just cook the eggs in your non toxic air fryer instead of over the stove – and you have the perfect hard boiled eggs with zero effort. I love that you can make a ton at once depending on your air fryer’s size and capacity, and I’ve found that hard boiled eggs made in the air fryer peel so much better than ones done over the stove – no more sitting there for ages chipping away at the shell, trying to make sure you haven’t missed a spot. Easter just got a thousand times easier!
RAVIOLI
I can’t say that I ever pictured myself cooking pasta in an air fryer, but I have been super impressed by how well air fryers are able to cook ravioli. It really comes out with a perfect texture and consistency, with the pasta just right – crispy and perfect – and the filling warm and comforting. It was an unexpected air fryer win, but one that I have to say I absolutely love!
SINGLE SERVING DESSERTS
Oftentimes I find myself craving something sweet but don’t have the time or energy to go through the process of baking something complicated. I love how easy it is to make a single serving dessert with my air fryer – and the possibilities are endless. If you want to make something a little more shareable, you can make cookies in your air fryer in less than ten minutes, but there are so many other available options as well. From mug cakes to bread puddings and beyond, the air fryer can be a major help in satisfying that sudden sweet tooth.
DEEP FRIED OREOS
I know that we just talked about desserts, but I feel like deep fried oreos deserve their own spot in the lineup. Before having an air fryer, making fried oreos was a complicated, time consuming, and messy process. Making fried oreos in the air fryer is SO much simpler, and the results are absolutely delicious. Trust me – once you realize how easy it is, it might just become dangerous very, very quickly.
BACON
There are few things better than fresh, crispy bacon. So. Darn. Good. I love that my air fryer is able to get my bacon to that perfect crispy consistency without having to cook it in tons of oil and grease. It’s made breakfasts and brunches so much easier, and I love being able to cook a bunch at once if I want to do something like prep breakfast burritos for the week. And besides, who doesn’t want to be able to whip up a batch of delicious bacon on a whim?
BURGERS
That’s right – if you don’t have time to grill, you can make your burgers in the air fryer. I like to flip mine halfway, but even that isn’t necessary – you can really just let your air fryer do its thing. I love having the ability to cook my burgers in the air fryer during the cooler months when it isn’t convenient to go outside and pull out the grill. Now I can have burgers year round without worrying about if it’s snowing – I can just pull out the air fryer!
ROASTED CHICKEN
Roasted chicken can be cooked so perfectly in an air fryer. I love that I can literally just place the whole chicken inside and let it do its thing. It’s so much easier and more of a low effort meal when cooked in the air fryer, and you know I am all about the simplicity!
LOOKING FOR A NON-TOXIC AIR FRYER? HERE ARE MY TOP PICKS:
SAVE IT ON PINTEREST:
READ MORE:
12 Fruit Infused Water Recipes
At-Home Bartending: What You Need in Your Home Bartender Kit
Toasted Apple Cider Bourbon Smash | Holiday Bourbon Cocktail