TikTok Myth of the Week: You Need a 'Non-Toxic' Air Fryer

According to legions of TikTokers, I should throw away my air fryer, and you should too. It’s supposedly filling your body with “forever chemicals” and probably giving you cancer. These aren’t realistic fears, though. Let’s break down the truth, and then look at where this TikTok trend is coming from, anyway.

Why TikTok says your air fryer is dangerous

There are actually a few different narratives on the clock app about why air fryers are supposedly bad for you, but we’ll get to that in a minute. The main claim I’m seeing relates to PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” in the nonstick coating in the air fryer basket. Let’s break this down real quick: 

• True: Many air fryers contain PTFE-based nonstick coatings (“Teflon” is one brand name).

• True: PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene) is a member of the chemical family known as PFAS (polyfluoroalkyl substances).

• True: PFAS have been linked to cancer.

• True: PFAS are called “forever chemicals.”

• True: Some air fryers have a label saying they are PFOA-free (PFOA is one type of PFAS).

…but…

• Nonstick coatings on cookware have not been linked to cancer or other health problems.

• “Forever chemical” doesn’t mean it gives you health problems forever (yes, people are claiming this).

• PFOA has not been part of nonstick coatings since 2013, so you don’t need to look for a “PFOA-free” label to find PFOA-free cookware.

• The molecules in PTFE coatings are bound to each other and to the pan; with normal use they are not considered to be a meaningful source of PFAS. 

The FDA considers the amount of PFAS that can migrate from a nonstick coatings to food “negligible.” The main sources of exposure to PFAS, according to the EPA, include workplace exposures (for people who work with PFAS-based chemicals), water contamination, dust and dirt contamination, and wild fish and game from contaminated areas. Food can contain PFAS if it is grown or raised in contaminated areas, or packaged in PFAS-coated materials. Although there's some good news about that last one: PFAS have recently been eliminated from food packaging—see this announcement from February 2024.

What if I’m concerned about PFAS anyway? 

I have an explainer here about PFAS and how to avoid them, if you're concerned. If your local water is contaminated, you may want to get a filter that can remove PFAS. Honestly, if you have a goal of “reducing my exposure to PFAS” and start with the most logical actions, you’ll go down a looooong list before you get anywhere near worrying about your nonstick cookware. 

And to be clear—air fryers are not the only kitchen items with a nonstick coating. All kinds of pans and skillets are sold with PTFE-based nonstick coatings. These are still not likely to be any kind of threat to your health, but you might start to wonder why the TikTokers are all warning you about air fryers and not its far more common cousin, the humble kitchen skillet. 

By the way, if you want to decrease even the chance of exposure to PFAS from your nonstick cookware, just make sure not to scratch it with metal utensils, and not to use it at temperatures above 500 degrees. Following the instructions that came with your air fryer (or skillet) will keep you well within these guidelines. For example, use silicone-tipped tongs to get your crispy goodies out of the air fryer.

What is up with TikTok and air fryers, anyway? 

When trying to nail down why this myth is so popular, I found myself asking some odd questions. Why air fryers and not pans? Why is the problem sometimes the PFAS and sometimes another factor, like acrylamide or (in one particularly unhinged case) a metal used in electrical cords? (Air fryers are electric, you see). How are TikTokers benefiting from an air fryer scare?

So I did what I always do, and started clicking on TikTokers’ bio links to see what they were selling. Often it was a range of products, of which “non-toxic air fryers” were one category. This is a popular way to make money on social media: sending clicks to stores, and getting a kickback if people buy something with your link. 

Another influencer with a non-toxic air fryer video had a slightly different tactic, requiring you to enter your email address to view a guide to the best and worst air fryers. This guy also sold business advice, with bio links advertising ways to “gain 1,000 new followers in 30 days,” and to build your “sales funnel.” I wonder how many of those tips involve scaring people about a product category and then convincing them to give your email to find out which products in the category are safe.

Yet another TikToker plugged her “community,” in a video otherwise pretty much content-free. She passionately exhorted us to do our own research, and referred vaguely to getting “flak” for a previous video warning people away from air fryers. The community will explain it all, of course. That community? It costs $3/month to join at the lowest tier, going all the way up to a $10,000/month tier (not a typo, I promise). 

So, why air fryers? Because they’re trendy enough that there’s still some buzz about them, entrenched enough in the nation’s kitchens that people will be shocked to hear that there’s something wrong with them—and, ultimately, everybody loves a good backlash story. Get enough people watching, and you'll find something you can monetize.

Help, I’m worried about acrylamide now

Some of the TikToks will tell you not to worry about PFAS, but instead that the real problem with air fryers is that foods cooked in them can end up containing acrylamide.

Acrylamide is a natural chemical that is formed when plant-based foods are baked, roasted, or fried. The FDA does not recommend avoiding these foods for health reasons (at least not due to acrylamide; whether they fit your macros is another story). Air-fried and regular-fried foods can both contain it, especially if they are overcooked. So there’s nothing special about air fryers when it comes to acrylamide. (You can read more about my take on acrylamide here.)

So I don’t need to go out and buy a new air fryer? 

You don’t. That said, some of the TikTokers are recommending that you get a toaster-oven-style air fryer, and I agree with them on this matter! Not because there’s anything wrong with the coatings in the basket-style air fryers, but because a good toaster oven is a delight and a joy to own. 

I've never owned an object that was labeled an air fryer, because years ago my husband convinced me that we needed a good toaster oven. My reaction was: we are going to spend how much counter space just so you can bake without turning on the oven in the summer?? But he was right, and now I use the toaster oven more than the real oven, year-round. It toasts. It bakes. It convection-bakes. It is the best way of reheating leftover pizza that I have ever found (yes, better than a skillet.) And it has a button that is labeled something like “speed convection” that does exactly the same thing an air fryer does. (It’s similar to this model.) It fits way more fried goodies than your typical basket-style air fryer. It's worth every square inch of counter space.

If you are in the market for a new air fryer, we have a buying guide here. Consider your cooking habits and counter space, but do not worry about certain models being more “toxic” than others.