The oil savings are real, and a few kitchen tricks help make them count.
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| Nearly 3 in 4 households in the United States contain an air fryer, according to a recent survey from the frozen foods industry’s trade group. Researchers have noticed, and lately they’ve been testing what air fryers do to your food … and to the air in your kitchen. Details below. |
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Let’s get into it,
Tim Snaith
Newsletter Editor, Healthline |
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Written by Tim Snaith
October 22, 2026 • 2 min read |
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| The case for always cleaning your air fryer |
Air fryers earn their healthy reputation by cooking with a fraction of the oil a deep fryer needs. Less oil means fewer calories and less saturated fat on the plate. Lately, researchers have investigated how these appliances affect the atmosphere in your kitchen. Their results suggest that wiping down the whole chamber between uses and opening a window when fatty foods are on the menu can help reduce your exposure to potentially harmful particles and gases.
In a study published in January, researchers air-fried 12 foods inside a sealed chamber and measured the emission of gases and tiny particles. The gases, called volatile organic compounds (VOCs), rise from heated oil and browning food. Over time, exposure to VOCs may worsen the symptoms of COPD.
Bacon and frozen onion rings were among the biggest sources of both gases and tiny particles. Though their gas levels were still far below deep frying, which releases 10 to 100 times more gases from fatty foods, the researchers report particle counts were about the same. Leaner foods like chicken, mushrooms and zucchini gave off less of both.
Cleaning matters too. After more than 70 uses, an air fryer with leftover residue in hard-to-reach spots near the fan and heating element gave off 23% more gases and more than twice as many particles. The testing covered one air fryer model in a lab chamber, with results scaled to a small kitchen, so air frying in a real kitchen may vary.
Acrylamide, a compound that forms when starchy foods brown at high heat and a probable carcinogen, shows up in air-fried food as well. In a small 2024 study, air-fried potato sticks contained slightly more than deep-fried or oven-fried ones, though the gap was small enough to be chance. Soaking the potato sticks in plain water for 10 minutes before cooking reduced acrylamide levels across all methods tested.
The nonstick baskets that hold food inside an air fryer also raise a separate question. Some use PTFE, a type of “forever chemical.” A scratched or flaking coating should be your signal to replace the basket. Glass and stainless steel baskets skip the coating altogether.
Click below to see our reviewers’ pick of the best air fryers on the market. |
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| Want to learn more about food, diets, cooking, or some other nutrition subject? Let us know at nutritionedition@healthline.com, and we’ll look into it for you! (Heads-up: We may use your response in an upcoming newsletter.) |
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| Low Carb Air Fryer Loaded Cauliflower Fries for Weight-Loss |
| They’re ready in 12 to 14 minutes, and amazing topped with bacon, tomatoes, red onion, chives, and jalapeños. Then drizzle with the Greek yogurt ranch dressing and serve immediately with the remaining dressing on the side. |
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| Until next time, |
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Take care of yourself, and we’ll see
you again soon! |
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| This edition was powered by |
| a fast-approaching weekend. |
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