Are air fryers safe? What the cancer claim gets wrong

Do air fryers cause cancer?

Poison Control says air-frying equipment is “not known to cause cancer.” Source 1

What the cooking can do is form acrylamide in foods like potatoes and bread. That isn’t unique to air fryers: Poison Control lists baking, air frying and toasting, and the FDA names frying, roasting and baking. Source 1 Source 3

Where did the air fryer cancer claim come from?

From a TikTok video uploaded in January 2023, which Poison Control says gained more than 5 million views. A shopper decided not to buy an air fryer after seeing a California Proposition 65 label on the box. Source 1

Poison Control points out that there was no warning on the box saying the air fryer itself could cause cancer. Source 1

What is acrylamide, and is it a cancer risk?

It’s a chemical that forms from sugars and an amino acid during some kinds of high-heat cooking, mainly in plant foods such as potato products, grain products and coffee. Boiling and steaming don’t typically form it. Source 3

Acrylamide caused cancer in animals exposed to very high doses. Source 3 In people, the National Cancer Institute says a large number of studies have found “no consistent evidence” that acrylamide in food is linked to any type of cancer. Source 2

Do air fryers make more acrylamide than deep frying?

Studies disagree on whether air fryers make more acrylamide than deep frying. A 2015 lab study found about 90% less in air-fried potatoes; Source 5 a 2024 study found more on average, though the difference between cooking methods wasn’t statistically significant. Source 6

The FDA says acrylamide generally builds up more when food is cooked for longer or at higher temperatures. Source 3

How can you make less acrylamide when you air-fry?

The FDA suggests cooking fries and other cut potatoes to golden yellow rather than brown, and toasting bread light brown rather than dark brown. Soaking raw potato slices in water for 15–30 minutes before frying or roasting also helps; drain and dry them first. Source 4

It also says storing potatoes in the fridge can increase acrylamide during cooking, so keep them in a dark, cool place instead. Source 4 The FDA doesn’t tell people to stop eating fried, roasted or baked foods. Source 3

Does the non-stick basket matter?

It’s not what the viral video was about, but it’s the part we’d change. Some air fryer baskets are non-stick, like the one on the Chefman model we checked. Source 9 Non-stick cookware coating is one of the FDA’s authorized uses of PFAS, and the FDA says studies show negligible amounts of PFAS in this coating can migrate to food. Source 7

Poison Control says Teflon coating starts to break down above about 500°F, and scratches can release fumes too. In general, it says, non-stick cookware is safe with basic precautions, such as replacing chipped or scratched pieces and keeping the kitchen well ventilated. It also advises keeping birds out of the kitchen, because birds are extremely sensitive to the fumes. Source 8 The Chefman air fryer we checked lists 450°F as its highest setting, using its Hi-Fry function. Source 9

If you’d rather skip the non-stick basket, a glass-bowl air fryer cooks in a glass bowl, though the crisper plate inside still has a ceramic non-stick coating. A bare stainless steel basket lets you air-fry in your oven with no coating at all.

Keeping your air fryer? Don’t preheat it empty, skip metal tools and scouring, and replace the basket once the coating scratches or flakes.