The best nontoxic air fryers
Sharing a roundup of the best nontoxic air fryers.
Hi friends! Happy Monday and happy St. Patrick’s Day! What do you have going on? P has spring break, the girls have their usual activities, and we’re headed to San Diego later this week. I.can’t.wait.
For today’s post, I wanted to chat a bit about nontoxic air fryers and share the one I’ve been using and loving for the past few months. Before I share some options, I wanted to tell you about our original air fryer that I got a few years ago.
When I first got an air fryer, I was PUMPED. I knew it would be like the Instant Pot; something that intimidated me, but that I’d end up using every day.
Before using it for the first time, I read online that it was important to wash it with soap and water and let it run for a few hours to get rid of the chemical smell. That should have been a red flag, but I did it. I washed it well, and let it run for a few hours while we were home. Our house was immediately infused with a plastic smell, and I had to open the back door to air out our house. After a few hours, I made a sausage, potato, bell pepper, and onion situation. Everything cooked beautifully — it was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside.
We ate most of our meals, called it a night… and the girls and I were violently ill all night. I haven’t been that sick since I was a kid… it was BAD. We thought it was the food, but looking back, it was definitely the air fryer.
Since we thought it was just a bad night of food, I used it again a few weeks later, and everything was fine. I probably used it hundreds of times after that.
(Rest in power)
Every time I took it out, it crossed my mind that the nonstick coating probably wasn’t the healthiest, but as someone who has to get food on the table quickly (like all moms), I was just like whatever. When I went through my big health journey, I made more changes around the house, and getting a new air fryer was one of the last things on the list.
The best nontoxic air fryers
I looked at options online, and here are some of the best ones I found:
Emeril Lagasse Extra Large French Door Air Fryer Toaster Oven Combo
This one is huge, has a stainless steel finish, and excellent reviews.
This glass air fryer
This one is also on the smaller size, but has good reviews and more of the classic “air fryer” design with a large single handle.
Our Place Wonder Oven
This one is the prettiest and has decent reviews. I’ve heard that people have had difficulties with turning it off and adjusting the temperature. It’s also a little bit on the smaller side.
Gourmia XL Digital Air Fryer Toaster Oven with Single-Pull French Doors
Here’s what we ended up using, because the Pilot won it at the fighter group Christmas party. (PS the prizes at these things are ridiculous: Traeger grills, playstation, kindle, ipads, bluetooth speakers, tons of good stuff.)
The verdict: I am obsessed with this thing. It’s so much bigger than our old air fryer, cooked everything perfectly – salmon, chicken, potatoes, roasted veggies, etc – and NO plastic, no chemical coatings.
Why you should avoid traditional nonstick coating?
Nonstick cookware, often coated with chemicals like perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), can pose significant health risks, particularly for hormone balance. These “forever chemicals” can leach into food, especially when the cookware is scratched or exposed to high heat.
Research links PFAS exposure to endocrine disruption, meaning they interfere with hormone regulation, potentially affecting thyroid function, metabolism, reproductive health, and even increasing the risk of certain cancers. These chemicals also accumulate in the body over time, making it crucial to opt for safer alternatives like stainless steel, cast iron, or ceramic-coated cookware to protect your health and hormone balance.
So, tell me, friends: do you use an air fryer? What’s your most-loved kitchen appliance?
If you’re looking for cookware, I love Our Place and Caraway.
xo
Gina
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