Air fryers which are free from PFASs or forever chemicals, are becoming more popular as awareness grows about the dangers of non-stick coatings, but non-toxic air fryers are a complicated subject. In this blog post, I’ll explain the concerns, what you should be looking for when you choose an air fryer, and why, ultimately it’s very hard to live a life free from forever chemicals
First, I want to outline the chemicals that cause concern. Usually, people who want a “non-toxic” air fryer are looking for models that are free from forever chemicals. PFAS is the umbrella term for these. These man-made chemicals don’t break down in the environment or in the human body and are used in a lot of consumer and industrial products, including some non-stick coatings.
Some other terms you might have come across are the following…
- PFOA, which is a chemical that used to be used to make non-stick coatings and is now banned*
- PFOS is globally restricted or banned in non-stick coatings and has been largely phased out of manufacturing processes and
- PTFE is used now instead of PFOA, it’s still a forever chemical, but it’s considered safe when not heated above 260c
Often, you will see products marketed as PFOA-free which actually means nothing because the chemical is already banned, so no appliances are allowed to be sold that contain PFOAs. What you should look for is either PFAS or PTFE-free.
Although it is possible to buy air fryers which are PFAS-free, it is unlikely you will ever fully escape forever chemicals as they are present in our food and drink and the environment, but understandably many people don’t want to add to that!
If you are interested in buying a non-toxic air fryer, I have cooked in six of the best and made this video which explains their pros and cons and I have linked them below
Best non-toxic air fryers for 2026
Useful resources
I’d also recommend reading the following artciles which help build a fuller picture of fiorever chemicals
I have high levels of forever chemicals in my blood – what can I do?https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ce8z8pv1e0ko#:~:text=As%20for%20me%2C%20it%20is,supplements%20of%20gel%2Dforming%20fibre.
Toxic truth? The cookware craze redefining ‘ceramic’ and ‘nontoxic’
https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2025/jun/09/ceramic-nontoxic-cookware
*The chemical perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) was used in the production of some nonstick coatings but was banned by the EU in 2008, the USA in 2013, and globally under the Stockholm Convention in 2019 due to health and environmental concerns.
