When you’re shopping for the best air fryer without teflon, you must look for one specific feature: the nonstick coating needs to be PTFE-free.
Many might think that if it’s PFOA-free that’s good enough but teflon is the trade name for polytetrafluoroethylene. Or, in short, PTFE.
PFOA is the acronym for perfluorooctanoic acid. Thus, it’s different from PTFE or teflon.
Teflon has been PFOA-free since 2013.
Usually, if a nonstick coating is made without teflon, it will be described as ensuring PFOA/PTFE-free cooking. Thus, we need to look for both acronyms.
Another acronym is PFAS. This is a group of over 4,700 industrial chemicals. Most brands won’t use the terminology PFAS-free, choosing to more frequently indicate their nonstick coating as being PFOA/PTFE-free.
Another thing we should make clear is that, nowadays, we consider that as long as temperatures don’t exceed 500 degrees F (260 degrees C), then teflon cookware or non-stick coatings are safe. You can find out more here.
Air fryers don’t exceed 450 degrees F and most only go as far as 400 degrees F. Thus, some of you might reconsider looking for the best air fryer without teflon based on this info.
Check out my article talking about what to put under an air fryer if you want to protect your countertops.
Best Air Fryer Without Teflon Reviews
Thus, we’ve established what we should be looking for when we’re looking for the best air fryers without teflon.
Another thing you should keep in mind is that ceramic air fryers, meaning air fryers that have their basket and rack ceramic-coated as their nonstick coating are also PFOA/PTFE-free.
Glass air fryers can also be considered PFOA/PTFE-free as long as you cook directly in their glass bowls. The thing is that these glass air fryers also come with cooking racks. The cooking racks might not necessarily have a teflon-free coating. Of that you must be sure.
The simplest way to find the best air fryer without teflon is to either look for air fryers with ceramic baskets and racks or to look for brands that mention that they use a PFOA/PTFE-free nonstick coating for their accessories.
I also wanted to let you know that I’m not going to review any Cuisinart air fryers, like the Cuisinart TOA-60 because I’m simply not sure if their nonstick coating is PTFE-free. It’s not mentioned anywhere with certainty so I’m going to assume that it’s not PTFE-free but there’s a chance that I might also be wrong.
1. Ninja AF101: Overall the Best Air Fryer without Teflon
Are all Ninja air fryers teflon-free or PFOA/PTFE-free?
As far as I can tell, that definitely applies to models that have the basket and the rack ceramic-coated. That’s my guide when I choose which Ninja air fryers are made without teflon.
That also includes the Ninja AF101, which is also one of my favorite air fryers at the moment. And a few others that I include in this article because, in general, Ninja makes amazingly interesting appliances.
Ninja mentions here that “The ceramic coating is PTFE-free, FDA approved and food safe.”
Thus, if you come across ceramic coatings, you can automatically assume that they’re PTFE-free.
I’m absolutely a big Ninja fan, whether we’re talking about air fryers or blenders. If you don’t like this brand at all, I hope the other picks for the best air fryers without teflon will match your needs better.
Size
The basket for the Ninja AF101 has a 4 quarts capacity. Check out my article about air fryer sizes if you aren’t sure which would be best for you or your family.
In my opinion, the 4 quart basket makes it perfect if you cook for 2-3 people.
We can cook up to 2 pounds of French fries. Well, some of you might think that it could cover 4 people but I believe that the Ninja AF101 is actually for cooking 2-3 decently-sized servings.
We also receive a cookbook with 20 recipes to get us started. Let’s see what quantities these recipes feature so that we can better determine if this Ninja 4 quart air fryer is the right one for you and your family.
This recipe book first includes instructions on each function that this machine features: air fry, roast, reheat, and dehydrate.
It’s also mentioned that we should preheat this appliance for 3 minutes if we want the best cooking and crisping results.
Next, we get air fry tips & tricks. We also get dehydrate tips & tricks because this is one of the best air fryers with dehydrator.
The air fry cooking charts that are included next are some of the best. They’re organized on: vegetables, poultry, fish & seafood, beef, pork & lamb, and frozen foods.
We also get a dehydrate chart.
In those charts we see that we can cook 1.5 pounds sweet potatoes, 8 oz mushrooms, 1 pound carrots, 6 cups kale for chips, 6 small or 4 large beets, 2 chicken breasts, 4 chicken thighs, 2 pounds chicken wings, 2 crab cakes, 2 salmon fillets, 16 large shrimp, 2 steaks, 4 boneless pork chops, etc.
Thus, some might believe that the Ninja AF101 is good enough for feeding 4 people. I would say that it’s actually best for cooking up to 3 generous servings.
If you’ll read a lot of user reviews for this model, you’ll also notice that many buyers also state that the basket is a good size for 2-3 people.
Features
The Ninja AF101 is not exactly the cheapest air fryer on the market. There are certainly a lot more affordable models out there.
On the other hand, if we’re looking for one of the best air fryers without teflon, our choices become a lot more limited. This AF101 can be a good choice if you have a budget around $100 and you aren’t cooking for more than 3 people.
The Ninja AF101 comes with:
- 4 quart ceramic-coated basket
- ceramic-coated crisper plate
When we dehydrate ingredients, we can lay raw food flat on the bottom of the basket and crisper plate.
To prolong the life of the ceramic non-stick coating, I recommend washing the cooking accessories by hand. Or you can layer parchment paper to make cleaning easier.
Using air fryer liners can protect the nonstick coating and save us cleaning time.
Plus, like with any nonstick coating, the ceramic nonstick coating should also be kept away from metal kitchen utensils. You can use silicone or wooden utensils.
Thus, you’ll also need wooden or silicone tipped tongs to toss the food. Shaking the basket works for ingredients like French fries but we need tongs for heavier foods.
There are 4 functions:
- air fry
- roast
- reheat
- dehydrate
There are also buttons to adjust the temp & time.
It’s a pretty versatile model that allows us to roast, bake, air fry, reheat and dehydrate. In terms of cooking functions, I’m pretty satisfied with what we get.
The temperature range is between 105 and 400 degrees F.
2. Ninja AF161 Max XL: Large Air Fryer without Teflon
The main difference between the above Ninja AF101 and this Ninja AF161 Max XL is their size.
While the AF101 has a 4 quart basket, the AF161 comes with a 5.5 quart basket. Let’s see which would be best for your household.
I should also mention that there is also a price difference between the two of about $40 so that’s another thing you must keep in mind when making your choice.
Size
The 5.5 quarts basket is perfect for feeding 4 people and even good enough for 5 people, depending on how much food you serve at a meal.
The basket can fit up to 3 pounds of French fries or chicken wings. That’s a big quantity and it can be enough for 5 people. Or it can allow you to cook 4 large servings.
In the Quick Start Guide for this Ninja Air Fryer Max XL we also get a very helpful air fry cooking chart containing columns for amount, preparation, toss in oil, temp, and cook time for a variety of ingredients: vegetables, poultry, fish & seafood, beef, pork & lamb, and frozen foods.
Features
The first thing we’re interested in is the 5.5 quarts ceramic-coated nonstick basket and crisper plate.
These components are also dishwasher safe but I recommend washing them by hand if you want to prolong the life of the ceramic nonstick coating.
Moreover, make sure to use silicone and wooden kitchen utensils. You can use liners or parchment paper for easy cleaning. Don’t use wax paper. But we can use glass dishes in an air fryer. It’s the same as to what we use in our home oven or toaster oven.
There are also additional accessories that we could buy, like a mid-level rack and broil rack. These could transform the Ninja AF161 Max XL into an air fryer with shelves, enabling us to cook two layers of food simultaneously.
However, when we cook food on two shelves at the same time, the cooking time also increases so you have to pay attention to how everything goes.
The number of cooking functions is also increased:
- max crisp – for giving frozen foods extra crispness and crunch with little to no oil
- air fry – the same but for all foods not only frozen ones
- air roast – use the unit as a roaster oven for tender meats & vegetables
- air broil – caramelize and brown food
- bake – baked treats and desserts
- reheat – revive leftovers, a microwave oven replacement
- dehydrate – dehydrate meats, fruits, and vegetables
Thus, the Ninja AF161 Max XL is also more complex in this area.
The Max Crips Technology delivers 450 degrees F of superheated air to cook foods up to 30% faster compared to Ninja AF100.
Thus, the temperature range is between 105 to 450 degrees F. It’s a nice surprise because many air fryers only go up to 400 degrees F.
We also get the same 20-recipe cookbook.
3. Ninja FD401 Foodi 12-in-1 Deluxe XL: Pressure Cooker & Air Fryer
This Foodi 12-in-1 Deluxe XL is a fascinating air fryer without teflon.
It’s such an interesting appliance but it’s also a pretty expensive model. I guess that’s what we should expect when we’re talking about a multi-cooker of large size.
If you’re on a budget, the above 2 Ninja models that I reviewed will be more suitable.
Size
Since this is also a pressure cooker and an air fryer, we actually have two different sizes to talk about.
Both the pressure cooker and the air fryer parts are quite accommodating. It’s a machine that can cook enough food for a large family.
First, we get a 5 quart basket.
It holds up to a 7 pound chicken. Or 4 pounds of French fries. Overall, it has a large capacity for large families. It can work for a family of 6.
Besides that, we also get a Deluxe reversible rack.
Thus, instead of getting a single crisper plate, we get a rack with two layers. That gives us even more space to cook more food.
Thanks to the Deluxe reversible rack, we can cook food on two shelves, which allows us to cook up to 8 chicken breasts or salmon fillets at once.
Of course, thanks to the reversible rack we can also cook the main dish on a rack and the sides on the second.
Just pay attention to cooking times because those increase when we cook in layers.
That means that the Ninja FD401 Foodi 12-in-1 Deluxe XL is certainly good enough for a bigger family, even 5+ members.
The pressure cooker part is covered by an 8 quart cooking pot. Ninja mentions that this pot can serve 8-10.
Features
The Ninja FD401 Foodi 12-in-1 Deluxe XL is a complex appliance that works both as a pressure cooker and an air fryer.
It also looks similar to a pressure cooker with a few hidden surprises in its cooking functions and accessories.
In order to achieve the versatility, it needs a lot of accessories:
- crisping lid
- pressure lid
- deluxe reversible rack (stainless steel)
- 8 quarts cooking pot for the pressure cook function – it’s a ceramic-coated pot
- 5 quarts cook & crisp basket for the air fry function – this is a ceramic-coated, nonstick basket
- 45-recipe cookbook
I am so glad to see that all accessories are PFOA/PTFE-free, no matter which cooking mode you choose to use.
That’s one of the main reasons for loving this FD401 as one of the best air fryers without teflon.
We also get plenty of cooking functions:
- pressure
- steam
- slow cook yogurt
- sear/saute
- air crisp (the air fryer function)
- broil
- bake/roast
- dehydrate
If you wanted to make your own yogurt, now you easily can.
All in all, we can: pressure cook, air fry/air crisp, steam, slow cook, yogurt, sear/saute, bake, roast, broil, dehydrate, sous vide, and keep warm.
4. Ninja AG301 Foodi Grill: Air Fryer + Indoor Grill
If the pressure cooker + air fryer combo isn’t for you, maybe you’d be interested in an indoor gril l+ air fryer combo as the best air fryer without teflon.
It’s also an appliance that I reviewed in my article on the best indoor grill for chicken breast.
Of course, if you already have an awesome indoor grill or you just don’t use one for your meals, then the Ninja AG301 Foodi Grill is certainly not the choice for you.
The price is pretty expensive, a bit above $200. So think seriously if this is what you want before making your purchase.
Size
The Ninja AG301 Foodi Grill is a bit on the smaller side.
I’m not saying that it’s small but, given that it has a 4 quart crisper basket, I would say that it’s medium size.
Furthermore, the 10 x 10 inches griller plate, which transforms this air fryer into a nice indoor grill, is not the biggest either.
The last component is the 6 quart cooking pot, which must always be installed when we’re using this machine. We can cook directly in the pot when we’re roasting or baking.
We can cook 4 burgers, 4 steaks, 5 hot dogs, 5 ears of corn, etc. That would lead us to believe that it can feed 4 people without problems.
However, I also read user reviews from buyers who mention that it’s perfect for 2-3 people. It always depends on how much food you’re serving per person.
All in all, the Ninja AG301 can be quite acceptable for a family of 4 but it’s perfect for a family of 3 people who enjoy generous servings.
Features
It certainly looks like a very small, miniature version of some outdoor grills. I like the design.
All the cooking accessories are ceramic-coated and they are PFOA/PTFE-free.
The components for the Ninja AG301 Foodi Grill are:
- 10 x 10 grill grate
- 4 quart crisper basket
- 6 quart cooking pot
- splatter shield
- 15-recipe book and cleaning brush
On the right side we have the usual cooking functions:
- air crisp
- roast
- dehydrate
- bake
The grill control on the left side allows us to choose between low, med, high, and max grill levels.
Bacon, sausages, calzones, and foods with thicker barbecue sauces can be cooked on low.
Frozen meats and batches of marinated ingredients go on medium.
Steaks, chicken, and burgers can be cooked on high.
And the max grill level works for veggies, fruit, fresh and frozen seafood, and pizza.
That’s right, you can cook small pizzas on the grill. I love them but they can take a while until you satisfy the whole family.
Another advantage of using a multi-cooker like the Ninja AG301 is that you can air fry the sides, while the mains are getting cooked on the grill. Multitasking is always nice.
5. Instant Omni Plus: Expensive Air Fryer without Teflon
I should admit that I certainly have a weakness for air fryers that are designed like countertop ovens.
The Instant Omni Plus is an air fryer toaster oven combo. Thus, we can air fry foods but we can also do so much more since it also works as a toaster oven. It’s pretty amazing and so versatile.
However, these air fryers toaster ovens combos are a good idea only for those who don’t already own a countertop oven.
For example, if you already own a very good countertop convection oven, then I recommend using that one. You can buy some PFOA/PTFE-free bakeware and enjoy your convection oven with the fan on if you want to cook food faster.
A convection oven and an air fryer are pretty much the same thing in many ways. Both appliances use heating elements and a fan to circulate hot air around the food.
If you don’t already own a very nice convection oven and you are looking for the best air fryer without teflon that looks pretty similar to a countertop oven, then the Instant Omni Plus can be a pretty amazing choice.
However, I should mention that this is also the most expensive recommendation in this article. If you’re looking for much cheaper picks, I recommend the Ninja AF101 or the Ninja AF161 Max XL. Or even the Elite Gourmet EAF1121 1.1 QT Air Fryer for a model that costs less than $50.
Size
Since the Instant Omni Plus is designed like a toaster oven, it will be interesting to see just how much food we can cook in it at one time.
It fits a 12 inch pizza or 6 slices of bread.
Since it also works as a rotisserie oven, it obviously has enough space to accommodate a whole chicken.
In the user manual we also get a table with recommended cooking times for a variety of popular food options: fries, chicken wings, whole chicken up to 4 pounds, shrimp, fish sticks, asparagus, cauliflower, cake.
Features
The dimensions for this toaster oven air fryer combo are: 15.75 L x 16.54 W x 13.9 H. It has a 19-quart (18 liters) capacity.
The Instant Omni Plus comes with the following accessories:
- enamel baking tray
- stainless steel oven rack
- air fry basket
- BBQ-style rotisserie spit and forks and lift tool
It doesn’t mention what kind of nonstick coating is used for the air fry basket.
The manufacturer only states PFOA/PTFE-free cooking among product details.
There are 10 functions:
- air fry
- broil
- bake
- roast
- dehydrate
- reheat
- rotisserie
- toast
- warm
- convection
It’s a 10-in-1 toaster oven that can do a lot of awesome things, including rotisserie chicken. I’m sure there are some people that will be totally interested in this particular function.
We also get 5 customizable toasting levels for perfect bread and bagels. It’s a great toaster, besides being a great air fryer and rotisserie oven.
The temperature ranges from 170 to 450 degrees F.
Even the air fry function goes up to 450 degrees F, while most air fryers only go up to 400 degrees F. The default temperature is 400 degrees F but you can set it up higher if you want.
Bake, roast and broil are the other functions where we can set up the temperature as high as 450 degrees F.
The time range for the air fry function is 5-45 minutes. Info like this is included in the user manual. It explains everything you need to know.
6. Elite Gourmet EAF1121 1.1 QT Air Fryer: Cheapest Air Fryer without Teflon
When I reviewed the best air fryers under $50, I recommended the Elite Gourmet 1.1 QT Air Fryer as one of the cheapest air fryers on the market. It will also be the cheapest model without a teflon coating.
Size
Besides being the cheapest, costing around $40 or so, this is also the smallest air fryer we could buy.
If you want to see exactly how small it is, check out this video.
This Elite Gourmet 1.1 QT Air Fryer can cook up to 0.75 pounds of food.
It’s really great if you’re cooking just for one. However, it doesn’t cook enough food for 2. When it comes to different air fryer sizes, not even the 2 quart models are capable of cooking enough food for very large portions for 2 people.
If you are on a low budget, you want to cook just not very large portions for one person, and you also want a PFOA/PTFE-free air fryer, then this Elite Gourmet 1.1 QT Air Fryer can be exactly what you’re looking for.
If you really like Elite Gourmet, in the same series they have a bunch of different sizes: 1.1, 2.1, 4, 5.3, and 6.5 quarts. All these sizes are made with PFOA/PTFE-free on-stick baskets.
Features
It’s a very basic model. The design is simple and it won’t take up too much space on the countertop at all.
We get two dials: one for setting up the temperature and the other for setting up the time.
Thanks to these two dials we can cook whatever food we want. We really don’t need a bunch of functions and touchscreen buttons if we want to keep things straightforward.
The temperature can be set between 176 to 395 degrees F.
We also get a 30-minute timer. If your food requires more than 30 minutes, you’ll have to set up the timer again when it runs out of those initial 30 minutes.
There’s also a cool touch handle.
Another good news is that we get a booklet with 26 delicious and healthy recipes. These recipes will confer a clear idea about how to use this Elite Gourmet 1.1 QT Air Fryer.
The instruction manual is comprehensive and you should definitely read it thoroughly at least once.
It also includes a small table with cooking time charts for a bunch of ingredients: potatoes, meat, snacks, and baking.
For each ingredient we get the amount we can cook, time, temp and whether to stir or add oil. It’s exactly what beginners will benefit from so I’m glad to see it included in the user manual.
Overall, I’m totally satisfied with including the Elite Gourmet 1.1 QT Air Fryer as the best air fryer without teflon for people who cook for one or for people on a budget.
