When it comes to deep-fried foods like french fries, onion rings, chicken, and mozzarella sticks, it’s safe to say that many of us would love to eat these foods on a regular basis if they were a touch bit healthier. Cue the air fryer, a kitchen appliance that has kicked off in popularity since it’s introduction back in 2010 by Philips, a Dutch multinational conglomerate corporation.
Its premise is that it makes foods that use oil, healthier to eat because it requires much less oil to cook the food than your standard fried food. Unfortunately, like all technologies, there are some problems, like the fry baskets peeling their non-stick coatings, and when this type of thing happens, it makes you second guess about investing in an air fryer in the first place.
If you have already made the purchase, you are probably wondering:
Why is my air fryer basket peeling? For some consumers, this happens after a few uses while for others, it happens after a couple of months (even years in some cases). The main answer to this problem is that it has to do with the manufacturer’s choice of material, how frequently you use your air fryer, how frequently you clean your air fryer, and how carefully you handle your air fryer.
Let’s explore these reasons further and how you can lessen the possibility of this problem with future air fryers.
What Causes Air Fryer Baskets to Peel?
Any type of scratch on the air fryer basket, overheating from cooking at the wrong temperatures, or incorrectly placing your basket into the air fryer, can cause it to peel. In addition to peeling, any of these reasons can also cause it to bubble as air can get trapped underneath the coating. If this happens, your air fryer basket will eventually peel.
But first and foremost; treat your air fryer gently to keep it from peeling for as long as possible. Certain things will wear the basket down faster than others. You should avoid the following:
- Rough sponges & brushes: Scrubbing your air fryer basket with rough materials will cause the coating to peel easily. You may think that burnt-on grease requires a firm scrub to let go of the basket but in reality, you’re scratching the coating off. To remove dirt from an air fryer basket, let it soak in water and soap for 10 minutes then use a soft sponge and remove as much as possible.
- Metal tools: It’s quite common to receive a toolkit with your air fryer purchase. These tools are suitable for the air fryer but should still be handled carefully. If they are made of metal, avoid scratching them against the basket’s surface as it may cause them to peel. Knives, forks, and other sharp tools should not be used in the basket – instead, use plastic.
It is highly recommended that you go with a non-generic brand of air fryer, as these are known to use higher-quality materials. As of right now, the brands that have the most complaints about peeling are Dash, GoWise USA, Omorc, Power Air Fryer (big offender), and NuWave.
My all-time favorite is the Cosori air fryer. Not because it’s the most expensive and luxurious air fryer on the market, but because it delivers such a high-quality power package for a very affordable price. I’ve written a review where I outline the things I love about the Cosori.
You can also visit Amazon to read more about the Cosori.
My Air Fryer Basket Is Peeling, Should I Be Concerned?
The number one concern that pops up first is whether you should be worried about your health after discovering that your air fryer basket has been peeling. Some individuals worry that the flakes can be poisonous to the body, while others worry about whether they have chemicals in them that can leach into one’s food.
Generally speaking, no one wants to have black peeling flakes in their food, as this is quite unappetizing. Is there a reason to worry though? The answer is no.
The majority of kitchen appliances and cookware that have non-stick coatings will eventually peel and flake. However, in so long as these flakes are not overheated, you are completely safe.
Here is how this works. With Teflon (the non-stick coating), you need temperatures above 500 degrees Fahrenheit for there to be a breakdown of the compounds in the material. If you cook your food at this temperature, you are going to release a whole set of compounds within the Teflon that are generally toxic, and a few are carcinogenic.
However, it is unlikely that you will cook your food at this high of a temperature, so you are safe.
How High is Too High in Temperature?
If you are planning on cooking at temperatures between 500 degrees and 680 degrees Fahrenheit, you are running the risk of subjecting yourself to perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) which is a chemical used in manufacturing the fluoropolymers that make up the non-stick coating.
At 650 degrees Fahrenheit, the fumes emitted from the non-stick coating will cause polymer-fume fever, which has chills, headaches, and fevers as its symptoms. At 680 degrees Fahrenheit, the Teflon releases six toxic gases, two of which are carcinogenic.
But Do I Have to Be Worried About Toxins?
No! The highest temperature that an air fryer is going to reach in Fahrenheit is about 400 degrees or around 200 degrees Celsius. This is nowhere near close to what you would need for any of the Teflon flakes to become toxic to you. In most cases, if you accidentally consume a flake or two, it will just pass through your body without being absorbed.
Do All Air Fryer Baskets Peel?
While it is hard to definitely say, “yes” without an extensive and exhaustive search into all air fryer brands on the market, it is safe to say that any air fryer basket that has non-stick coating has a good chance of peeling.
For some brands on the market, consumers have found that the peeling starts only a couple months in, while other brands, don’t start peeling for a couple of years.
I’ve written an article on stainless steel baskets where I outline the benefits of using stronger material. You can read more here.
Do I Have To Clean My Air Fryer Basket After Every Use?
While it may be tempting to not wash your air fryer basket out after each use, it is highly recommended that you do. Leaving excess crumbs, no matter how small, and grease from the little oil that you do use can cause some serious issues.
- Lingering Food Smell: the best way to eliminate pungent smells is to clean out your basket after you are done cooking with it. If washing it with soapy water doesn’t do the trick, try putting the basket in the dishwasher or neutralize the odor by rubbing a lemon across the basket and pan.
- White Smoke: if you notice white smoke coming out of your cooking pan, it is because too much grease has collected at the bottom of the drip pan. The grease will then break down during the cooking process and cause smoke. While this won’t cause any damage to your air fryer, it is a direct result of not cleaning out your air fryer.
Besides, there’s really no reason to not clean out your air fryer after use as it’s incredibly easy to do so. Just simply unplug it from the wall socket and let it cool down before taking a damp cloth to it. You can wash the tray, the basket, and the pan with hot water and gentle dish soap.
If you find that food has become stuck to the heating element, simply take a brush and remove it. Only place the tray, basket, and pan back into the air fryer once they are completely dry.
If you’re ready to walk the extra mile to make sure your air fryer is kept in the best possible condition for years to come, I recommend checking out my simplified guide on keeping every part of an air fryer clean. You can read the article here.
How Do I Stop My Air Fryer Basket From Sticking?
While the non-stick coating in your air fryer is supposed to do its job, that’s not always the case. If you find that your food is sticking to the air fryer basket, there are a few different methods you can use to get it to stop.
- Coconut Oil: place your dry air fryer basket into your air fryer and heat it for five minutes at 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Once heated, let it sit for about three minutes before you pull it out. Once you are able to safely remove the air fryer basket, take a small spoonful of coconut oil and spread it lightly over the air fryer basket. You only need a thin layer!
- Shake the Basket: consider shaking the basket halfway through the cooking process on smaller food items like chicken wings and french fries. This will help keep them from sticking to the bottom of the air fryer basket.
Never use a non-stick cooking spray like Pam or any non-stick aerosol can spray. Not only are these low quality but they have additives like propellants that will damage your non-stick coating, causing your air fryer basket to peel prematurely.
Other cooking sprays that are not premium grade and can cause grease build-up and chipping include soy, corn, and canola oils.
Why? A lot of these are genetically modified and have chemicals in them that can harm the integrity of your air fryer basket’s non-stick coating.
Lastly, I also recommend using suitable accessories for your air fryer, I’ve found them to be quite helpful. Check out which ones I’m using here – they’re my favorites.