Best Non-Toxic Air Fryers UK (2026): Glass, Steel and PTFE-Free Picks

Our picks at a glance

Prices checked on UK brand or retailer pages in October 2026.

How we chose

We started from what actually touches your food: the basket or bowl, the crisper plate or rack, and any tray. For every model we read the UK spec sheet or listing and recorded the stated material and coating, and we downgraded any claim we could not confirm. We ignored the plastic outer housing (it does not touch food) and we did not count marketing words like "non-toxic" as evidence. None of these products has independent migration testing for its coating, so no pick scores "strong". Glass and uncoated metal score "moderate" because the material choice itself is well supported; undisclosed ceramic coatings score "limited".

What actually touches your food in an air fryer?

An air fryer is a small fan oven. The heating element and fan sit above the food, and the housing around them is usually plastic. That housing gets warm but your food does not touch it. What matters is:

• The basket, drawer or bowl. In most drawer models this is aluminium with a non-stick coating. In glass models it is borosilicate or tempered glass.
• The crisper plate or rack. Even glass air fryers usually have a metal plate in the bottom, and it is often coated.
• Trays and pans in oven-style models.

So a "glass air fryer" is not automatically coating-free. The Homes & Gardens tests found the Ninja CRISPi Pro uses aluminium crisper plates with a nano-ceramic coating, and Cuisinart's UK page states its glass model has a ceramic-coated crisper plate.

Is PTFE in air fryers actually a problem?

PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, best known as Teflon) is the classic non-stick coating. It is one member of PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances), a family of thousands of chemicals that ECHA describes as persisting in the environment longer than any other man-made substance. Here is what the evidence supports:

• Overheating is the main direct hazard. Reviews of "polymer fume fever" (a flu-like illness from breathing PTFE fumes) put the risk zone at PTFE heated above 350 to 400°C (Shusterman, 1993; Greenberg and Vearrier, 2015). Typical air fryers top out around 200 to 230°C, well below that.
• Scratched coatings shed particles. A lab study found a single crack in a PTFE pan surface could release around 9,100 particles (Luo et al., 2022). Health effects of swallowing these particles are not established.
• The wider PFAS picture. EFSA set a tolerable weekly intake of 4.4 ng/kg body weight for four PFAS that build up in the body, with the immune system as the key concern (EFSA, 2020). Diet and water are the main sources, not cookware specifically, and PTFE itself is a large polymer rather than one of those four.
• Independent testers are cautious. Australian consumer group CHOICE concludes it is unclear whether PFAS migration from non-stick cookware harms health.

In short: a PTFE air fryer used at normal temperatures is not shown to be harmful, but avoiding it is a reasonable lower-exposure choice, especially once a coating is scratched. Every food-contact material sold in the UK must also meet the general rule that it should not transfer substances into food in amounts that could endanger health (Regulation (EC) 1935/2004, retained in England via SI 2012/2619).

The best non-toxic air fryers in the UK

Ninja CRISPi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer: best overall

Food cooks in borosilicate glass containers (1.4L and 3.8L), and the heating unit lifts off so the same container goes into the fridge with a lid. Ninja states the cooking surfaces are PFAS and PTFE free. Caveat: the crisper plates are coated metal, and Ninja's UK page does not name the coating, so food resting on the plate is not touching glass.

Cuisinart ClearView Glass 3.8L Air Fryer: best value glass basket

The cheapest glass-basket model we could verify on a UK brand site, with a lid for storage. Caveat: the crisper plate is ceramic-coated, the plate's base metal and lid material are not listed, and 3.8 litres suits one or two people.

Our Place Wonder Oven: best oven-style

Our Place lists the interior and all included accessories as made without PFAS (including PTFE). The fry basket and rack are chromed steel and the crumb tray is stainless. Caveat: the bake pan is ceramic-coated aluminium, and chrome plating can wear with years of scouring.

Lakeland 5.7L Air Fryer: budget pick

Lakeland describes a PFAS-free non-stick drawer. Since PTFE is a PFAS, that excludes a PTFE coating at under £60. Caveat: the coating is not named and there is no third-party testing.

Cosori Turbo Tower Compact 8.6L: best dual drawer

Two stacked drawers with a ceramic coating Cosori describes as PFAS-free, using less worktop than side-by-side models. Caveat: "ceramic" covers many recipes and Cosori does not publish its coating chemistry or any migration test.

Philips 4000 Series Stacked Dual Basket 10L: for large households

The Amazon UK listing for model NA460/09 states a PFAS-free ceramic coating across 10 litres. Caveat: Philips' own UK page only calls it a non-stick coating, so confirm the model number before buying.

Fritaire Self-Cleaning Glass Bowl Air Fryer: glass bowl alternative

A 4.7 litre tempered glass bowl, with the brand stating it is free of Teflon, PFAS, BPA and phthalates. Caveat: Fritaire UK does not state what the tumbler, rotisserie or stand are made of, so we cannot confirm every food-contact part.

Glass vs ceramic vs stainless steel: which basket is best?

"Ceramic" non-stick is a thin silica-based layer, not solid ceramic. It is PTFE-free, but its non-stick performance fades, and brands seldom publish what else is in it. That is why we grade these "limited" rather than "moderate".

What to avoid

• "Non-toxic" with no materials list. If a listing cannot tell you what the basket and plate are made of, assume a standard coating.
• "PFOA-free" as a selling point. PFOA has been phased out of manufacturing for years; a "PFOA-free" pan can still be PTFE.
• Using a flaking drawer. Replace the basket or the appliance once the coating chips, whatever it is made of.
• Preheating empty at maximum for long periods. It adds wear and is not needed for most recipes.
• Aerosol oil sprays on coated baskets. The propellants and additives can build up and damage non-stick surfaces; use a brush or pump spray.

Bottom line

If you want the fewest coated surfaces, choose a glass model (Ninja CRISPi or Cuisinart ClearView) or the Our Place Wonder Oven with its chromed steel basket, and accept that a crisper plate or bake pan will still be coated. If you prefer a classic drawer, a ceramic-coated Cosori, Philips or Lakeland avoids PTFE but relies on undisclosed coatings. Whatever you buy, keep coatings unscratched and replace them when they flake.