Can a Non-Stick Air Fryer Basket Cause Teflon Flu? Here’s What You Need to Know
An increase in the number of cases of Teflon flu — a disease caused by emissions from overheated non-stick coating cookware material — has raised concerns about air fryer safety. Airfryers typically use a non-stick coating for cooking baskets and those baskets are often exposed to blazing hot temperatures.
Is there a risk that your air fryer releases toxins that can cause Teflon flu?
What is Teflon Flu?
According to a recent Washington Post investigation, an increased number of Teflon flu cases were reported in 2023.
Polymer fume feveror better known as “Teflon Flu,” is a disease that occurs when noxious fumes from a Teflon or chemically treated nonstick pan are inhaled. These fumes are emitted when nonstick pans overheat or burn.
Under normal use, PTFE is not thought to pose a health risk, but when heated above 500 degrees F, there are increased emissions and the resulting polymer fume fever. Polymer fume fever causes a range of reported symptoms, including fever, chills, muscle tension, and headache. Symptoms of Teflon flu are temporary and generally begin within 12 hours of exposure, but may take up to 24 hours to manifest.
Nonstick pans are made of polytetrafluoroethylene (also known as PTFE). PTFEs are known as “forever chemicals” because they take decades or even hundreds of years to break down.
Do air fryers have a Teflon coating?
Most air fryer baskets have a Teflon or similar non-stick coating.
Most air fryers on the market today have Teflon or non-stick cooking baskets. They function similarly to non-stick cookware in that they release food easily and can often be cleaned with just soapy, hot water. Also, like Teflon and non-stick cookware, air fryer baskets will crumble when they come into contact with hard metal cookware or wire brushes.
Can your air fryer cause Teflon flu?
Most air fryers don’t go above 450 degrees. If yours does, keep the temperature at 450 or lower and consider replacing it altogether.
Technically, an air fryer basket can cause Teflon Flu if the surface is heated above 500°F for an extended period of time, but most air fryers don’t exceed 450°F for this reason. Many of the air fryers we tested only max out at 400°F.
If your air fryer has a setting that allows it to reach temperatures above 500° F and has a nonstick basket, avoid cooking food at such a high temperature. You may want to consider replacing your air fryer with one that doesn’t, just to be safe.
If you’re still worried about Teflon Flu or other complications associated with nonstick coatings, there are air fryers with ceramic and glass cooking chambers, such as this.
This self-cleaning air fryer has a glass bowl.
For more air fryer safety tips, see our guide to use these trendy cooking appliances safely.
