Are there PFAS in your air fryer, and how worried should you be?

Some air fryers do contain PFAS, but that does not automatically make them unsafe to use. The concern arose after claims on Instagram that laboratory tests showed harmful PFAS particles leaking from air fryers into food.

PFAS refers to thousands of human-made chemicals used to make products resistant to water, grease and dirt. They appear in items such as pizza boxes, raincoats and the nonstick coatings of pans. Because they barely break down and can accumulate in the environment and in the bodies of people and animals, they are often called “forever chemicals.”

Some PFAS compounds can disrupt the immune system and hormones. The article links exposure to effects including lower testosterone in boys, possible effects on fetal development during pregnancy, higher cholesterol, liver damage and increased risks of kidney and testicular cancer. But PFAS compounds differ, and scientists know much less about the risks of some variants than others. Several types are already banned.

In 2025, the Dutch Consumers' Association examined five popular air-fryer models from Inventum, Ninja, Philips, Princess and Tefal. It tested the coating of each baking drawer for about 50 substances that are banned or due to be banned in the European Union. None was detected, and all five models complied with European law, including rules covering substances that will be prohibited later.

That does not prove that every air fryer is entirely PFAS-free. Philips and Tefal confirmed that their models use PTFE, a type of PFAS that remains legally permitted. The other three manufacturers said their air fryers contain no PFAS. The article's conclusion is that PFAS in an air fryer should not create a health risk when the appliance is used normally.