I have a question about an Air Fryer.

J Town Girl · ‎06-13-2011

I know that I am late to the party but in 2020 I purchased an Air Fryer. Since we have a bird I will not use it in the house. We used it once for a cook-out in our yard. I wasn't crazy about it because it had a very strong odor and I thought the onion rings I made in it tasted a little funny.

This thing sat in my cupboard for 5 years without being used. Last night I decided to pull it out of storage and try it again during a cook-out in the yard. Once again the odor was very strong. A somewhat chemical or plastic odor. It was for just me and my husband but even he commented that it was unpleasant.

I looked on-line and many complained about that exact type of odor when they used their air fryers. Some people said the odor went away after they used it a few times but others said the odor remained for many many uses and then they just got rid of the machine.

My husband is all for just getting rid of it but I'm willing to give it another shot if all it takes is a couple more uses and then the food will taste better.

As I already said this will never be used in the house because of our beloved bird. I already have a counter-top oven that is a convection oven and safe for birdy. The air fryer was an impulse buy and one that I regret.

For those who have an air fryer does the odor eventually dissipate? Right now it's buried back in my cupboard awaiting another shot.

loriqvc · ‎11-06-2011

@J Town Girl - Could you share what type of air fryer you have? That might help in assessing your situation. And what were you cooking?

FWIW, I've never experienced any chemical odors from my air fryer, not even when using it for the very first time. I am extremely sensitive to scents/smells, which is actually one of the main reasons I purchased an air fryer; it helps to cut down on smoke and odors when cooking.

Carmie · ‎10-25-2010

I have had three different air fryers and not one of them produced an odor of any kind.

One stopped working and I still use two of them with no issues.

Maybe there is something wrong with your air fryer.

Perhaps you have a loose plastic coated wire or something. I would be careful using it. It could catch fire. There should be no plastic smell.

coffee drinker · ‎03-21-2010

@J Town Girl I bought a Cooks Essential AF a few years ago. When it was new and even now that it's a few years old there were no strong odors.

ValuSkr · ‎03-15-2014

I'm curious: why is an air fryer incompatible with your pet bird?

cindyNC · ‎08-01-2019

What brand do you have? Also, did you remove all the packing materials from it?

We have one that I rarely use also........for a different reason......it's too large to fit in my dishwasher so I always handwash the main compartment and sometimes the rack that sits in the main compartment (that piece does fit in the dishwasher).

Tinkrbl44 · ‎08-23-2010

I know that I am late to the party but in 2020 I purchased an Air Fryer.

@J Town Girl

You're not late to the party. I've never tasted anything cooked in an air fryer, so how would I know if it is even worth considering?

I have a microwave, a toaster oven and a regular oven and get along just fine. I had a crock pot for many years but putting something in it at the beginning of the day and cooking slowly was just torture for the dog. She was smelling it all day and would be NUTS by the time I got home.

qbetzforreal · ‎08-28-2010

@ValuSkr wrote:
I'm curious: why is an air fryer incompatible with your pet bird?

If other brands like the one the OP has omits odors. it may bother bird

J Town Girl · ‎06-13-2011

@ValuSkr wrote:
I'm curious: why is an air fryer incompatible with your pet bird?

The baskets are coated with a non-stick product that contains PTFE & PFOA. Both of these give off fumes that are toxic to birds when they reach a certain temperature. The problem is you do not know at what temperature they start to break down and release the toxic fumes.

Anyone who has a bird is advised to never use any products with PTFE or PFOA.