Bad, Better, Best Air Fryers

Don’t hate the messenger, but your air fryer’s cooking surface matters just as much as the food you put inside it.

Here’s how the most common air fryers rank, from the materials I try to avoid to my favorite cleaner option.

>> Click here to shop my favorite air fryers <<

BAD: PFAS-Coated Nonstick Baskets

Traditional nonstick baskets made with PTFE, a type of PFAS, are the worst option and not something I recommend.

While the safety of PTFE cookware remains controversial, there is enough data surrounding PFAS for me to avoid these coatings altogether. Some well-studied PFAS have been associated with immune, hormonal, reproductive and developmental concerns.

These coatings can also deteriorate over time, especially when overheated, scratched, chipped or cleaned with abrasive tools. At extremely high temperatures, PTFE can break down and release potentially harmful fumes.

For me, it’s a hard pass, especially when safer glass, ceramic and stainless-steel options are readily available. If your current basket is scratched, peeling or chipped, it’s time to replace it.

BETTER: Ceramic-Coated Air Fryers

A PFAS-free ceramic-coated air fryer is a better option, especially when the coating is intact and used according to the manufacturer’s temperature instructions.

Most ceramic-coated models are designed for temperatures up to around 450°F. Avoid metal utensils, abrasive scrubbers and anything else that could damage the surface.

Ceramic coatings are not all made the same. Research on certain quasi-ceramic cookware has found that titanium dioxide particles can migrate from some coatings, with scratching increasing that migration. That does not mean every ceramic air fryer contains or releases titanium dioxide, but it is another reason to treat coated surfaces carefully and replace them if they become damaged.

EVEN BETTER: Glass Air Fryers

A glass air fryer can be an even cleaner upgrade because your food cooks inside a removable glass bowl instead of a traditional coated basket.

I personally love the Ninja Crispi. Its cooking containers are made from glass and are free from PFAS and PTFE, so there is much less contact with coated materials overall.

It does include an aluminum crisper plate with a PFAS-free nano-ceramic coating. That surface isn’t perfect, especially if it becomes scratched, but I still consider it a much better option than a traditional PFAS-coated basket.

Take care of the plate by avoiding metal utensils and abrasive scrubbers, and replace it if the coating becomes damaged.

ALSO BETTER: Stainless-Steel Air Fryers

Stainless steel is one of my favorite materials for high-heat cooking because it is durable and does not rely on a nonstick coating.

Just don’t assume an air fryer is coating-free because the outside says “stainless steel.” Some stainless-steel models still include silica-coated aluminum trays or other nonstick accessories.

If that coating becomes damaged, the underlying aluminum may become exposed. Always look at the material of every surface your food will touch, including the basket, rack, baking pan and crumb tray.

BEST: The Wonder Oven

My gold-standard pick is the Our Place Wonder Oven.

It has a stainless-steel interior, a steel air-fryer basket, a steel wire rack and a stainless-steel crumb tray. Its food-contact surfaces and accessories are also made without PFAS.

One important distinction: the included bake pan is aluminum with a PFAS-free ceramic nonstick coating. If you want to minimize contact with coatings as much as possible, use the steel basket or rack for air frying and take proper care of the coated bake pan.

The Wonder Oven can air fry, bake, roast, toast, broil and reheat, so it can replace several countertop appliances without putting your food directly into a traditional PFAS-coated basket.

The Bottom Line

You don’t need to panic or throw away a perfectly intact appliance today. Simply check what your food is touching.

Look for:

• No PFAS or PTFE-based nonstick coatings
• Stainless-steel, glass or verified PFAS-free food-contact surfaces
• Baskets and trays without scratches, chips or peeling
• Clear material disclosures from the manufacturer
• Care and temperature instructions you can realistically follow

When it’s time to replace your current air fryer, choosing glass or stainless steel is one simple way to reduce unnecessary exposure and create a cleaner kitchen.

Sources: EPA information on PFAS and health, Health Canada’s cookware safety guidance, ceramic-coating migration research summary and Our Place Wonder Oven materials.