Do Air fryers cause cancer?
Besides the number of health benefits of kitchen appliances, there are downsides to these appliances. Air fryers are advanced appliances used for cooking food with very little oil. But, like other appliances, air fryers also have some disadvantages.
Air Fryers can cause cancer if misused. It greatly depends upon the cooking methods. The high cooking temperature of the air fryer results in the production of acrylamides and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in processed food, causing an increased risk of cancer.
Air fryers are the most convenient appliances saving you from obesity and fulfilling your cravings. But have you ever thought, do these air fryers have some limitations, or can they cause cancer?
We are here to discuss air fryers and their cancer risk, cooking method, working, and air fryer cancer warnings. Let’s start.
Are Air fryers safe for health?
Air fryers are safe for health as they use less oil while cooking, which helps to reduce fat and saves you from many diseases. These are healthier alternatives to those deep fryers and conventional ovens.
The air fryer works on the Hot Air convection Technology. The primary function of the air fryer is to give you crispy food cooked from the hot air and a little oil spray. Air fryer gives you fresh food with the same texture you gain from deep-fried foods.
A fan is mounted on the lid of the air fryer, which draws fresh air from outside and heats it at a very high temperature, i.e., 230 degrees. The food is cooked inside the food basket by hot air hovering swiftly over the food.
How do Air fryers cause cancer?
Air Fryers cause cancer risk factors by producing various toxic chemical compounds discussed below:
- Production of Acrylamides
When starchy foods like potatoes are cooked for french fries at high temperatures, they produce acrylamides which are highly cancer-causing agents.
The Hong Kong research team has proved that traces of acrylamide are found in the french fries cooked in the air fryer.
- Formation of Heterocyclic amines
When you cook meat at high temperatures, it causes the formation of carcinogenic heterocyclic amines.
Fried foods or processed meat intake can cause a high risk of cancer.
- Polycyclic Aromatic hydrocarbons
PAHs can cause cancer when the food is cooked at extremely high heat. These hydrocarbons get into the food when it is contaminated, and processed foods like meat are more prone to be affected by them, resulting in cancer.
- Use of reheated oils
Another reason for cancer is the used oil heated repeatedly for further cooking and heating sessions. The reused oil contains many harmful compounds that are dangerous to health.
The reheating of pizza in air fryer can cause damage to your health.
Other Health Hazards due to the air fryers
Besides the cancer risk, Air fryers can also cause other health problems discussed below:
- Food Poisoning commonly occurs when the food is not cooked or fried entirely in an air fryer. The bacteria in half-cooked food like fish, chicken, and frozen breaded chicken strips can produce stomach aches and food poisoning.
- Coronary and liver diseases can be caused by the Cholesterol oxidation products produced by air-fried food at high cooking temperatures.
Why are Air fryers bad for you?
Air fryers are bad because they produce harmful chemical components and various dangerous diseases. But if you use your air fryer according to the manufacturer’s instructions, they are good and have many benefits.
Does Ninja Air fryer cause cancer?
No, the Ninja air fryer is not carcinogenic. The ninja air fryer is on the list of prop 65, which means it can be carcinogenic if the temperature gets exceeded.
Air Fryer Cancer Warning
Air fryers with cancer warnings are those labeled as prop 65. Proposition 65 is like a warning that your air fryer can be carcinogenic and can cause other chronic diseases. This warning applies when you cook your food at a high temperature of more than 338 degrees, which is hazardous to health.
How to reduce cancer risk in Airfryer?
You can reduce cancer risk in an air fryer by following the given tips:
- First, you should learn how to use air fryer.
- Always clean your Air fryer before and after usage to prevent cancer.
- Do not cook the food unevenly.
- Try to cook food by dividing the temperature at a low degree instead of high heat cooking.
- If you use an air fryer pressure cooker combo, handle it carefully and read the manual before using it.
- Do not overcook the food in an air fryer.
- Eat less processed foods and maintain a healthy diet.
Do Air fryers cause cancer FAQs.
Is an Air fryer harmful to health?
No, an Air fryer is not harmful to health. If you use your air fryer with care and according to the given manual, it will never cause any harm to you.
Is the Air fryer cancerous?
Yes, the Air fryer is cancerous. Use the air fryer for cooking food at high heat. It will produce toxic chemicals, i.e., Polycyclic hydrocarbons, heterocyclic amines, and acrylamides, that are highly carcinogenic and results in breast cancer, lung cancer, and coronary diseases.
Does air frying potatoes produce acrylamide?
Yes, sliced potatoes in an air fryer cause acrylamide. When you cook french fries at a high heat leads to acrylamide formation because of their starchy nature, which can lead to cancer and other chronic diseases.
To avoid this, you can also pretreat the fries with citric acid and some drops of oil.
Can you put aluminium foil in an air fryer?
Yes, you can use aluminium foil in an air fryer as it will protect your food from burning and the harmful polycyclic hydrocarbons that cause cancerous agents.
How do I prevent acrylamide in my air fryer?
You can prevent acrylamide by cooking the food at lower temperatures. However, the food needs to be cooked at a high temperature. For this purpose, you can divide the cooking time into 2-3 sessions.
Final Thoughts
Air fryers are cancerous if the food is cooked at extremely high cooking temperatures, and potentially harmful chemicals form. Moreover, if you cook food evenly at low temperatures and clean your air fryer regularly. You can eliminate the risk of cancer.
We hope you have an idea about the air fry’s working and the hazardous aspects. If you handle your air fryer carefully, you can enjoy oil-free healthy foods instead of those deep fry items.