Can a Nonstick Air Fryer Basket Give You Teflon Flu? Here’s What You Need to Know

An uptick in cases of Teflon Flu — an illness caused by emissions from overheated nonstick cookware material — has given rise to concerns about air fryer safety. Air fryers typically utilize nonstick coating for cooking baskets and those baskets are often subjected to blazing hot temperatures. 

So is your air fryer at risk of releasing toxic emissions that could cause Teflon Flu?

What is Teflon Flu?

teflon pan with caution tape above it teflon pan with caution tape above it

An elevated number of Teflon Flu cases were reported in 2023, according to a recent Washington Post investigation.

CNET

Polymer fume fever, or commonly known as “Teflon Flu,” is an illness 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. 

With normal use, PTFE’s aren’t thought to cause a health risk, but when heated to 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 start within 12 hours of exposure, but can take up to 24 hours to take hold.

Nonstick cookware is made with polytetrafluoroethylene (also known as PTFE). PTFEs are known as “forever chemicals” since they take decades or sometimes even hundreds of years to break down. 

Do air fryers have Teflon coating?

hand pushing ninja air fryer button hand pushing ninja air fryer button

Most air fryers don’t go above 450 degrees. If your’s does, keep the temperature at 450 or below and you may want to consider replacing it altogether.

Ninja

Technically an air fryer basket could cause Teflon Flu if the surface was heated she’s more than 500° F for an extended period, but most air fryers don’t exceed 450°F for that very reason. Many of the air fryers we’ve tested only reach a maximum temperature of 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 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, there are air fryers with ceramic and glass bowl cooking chambers such as this one.

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