De'Longhi Delonghi Fh 1396 4l 1400w Air Fryer
Avoid until De'Longhi discloses the basket coating material.
De'Longhi hasn't publicly identified this air fryer basket's coating material or PFAS content. Most affordable air fryer non-stick coatings default to Teflon-type coating or other Teflon-family coating without third-party verification.
The safe swap
Cosori
Cosori Smart Toaster Oven
75/100 safety
Same rubric that flunked this product. The swap earned Excellent.
Still want this one anyway? Check the price on Amazon. We’d swap it.
Material
Non-stick coated cooking basket (composition unspecified)
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Non-stick, chemistry undisclosed
Advertised as non-stick but coating type is not explained.
No PFAS disclosure
The company has not publicly discussed PFAS in this product.
Category baseline
cookware is a category where PFAS exposure is more common.
Teflon-type coating non-stick coating fume risk
Coating type is unspecified. If Teflon-type coating-based, heating above 500°F releases fumes; the FH1396's operating range (up to ~400°F) is generally safe, but accidental overheating or malfunction could pose risk. Absence of material disclosure prevents definitive hazard ruling.
Non-stick coating degradation and microparticle release
User reports on this and similar De'Longhi models describe visible flaking or discoloration of the basket coating after months of use, particularly with abrasive cleaning. Ingestion of coating microparticles is not proven harmful, but degradation is a quality and safety signal.
Aluminum or steel substrate leaching (if unlined)
Basket substrate material is not specified; if aluminum is used beneath the non-stick layer and coating fails, acidic or salty foods may accelerate substrate leaching. No documented case reported for this model, but typical risk in budget air fryers with unspecified materials.
Coating loss of non-stick function without replacement pathway
De'Longhi does not widely advertise replacement basket availability for budget models like the FH1396, forcing consumers to replace entire units or discontinue use. This creates waste and incentive to use damaged baskets longer than safe.
What’s reassuring
Inadequate ventilation or VOC off-gassing from heating elements
No specific off-gassing data available for this model. Air fryers operate with enclosed heating; ventilation design prevents accumulation of low-level VOCs from resistive heating elements, but design specs are not published for the FH1396.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The FH1396 uses a non-stick coated cooking basket, but De'Longhi has not publicly disclosed whether the coating is Teflon-type coating-based (traditional Teflon), ceramic, or another polymer. The heating element reaches 1400W at temperatures typical for air frying (350-400°F / 175-200°C), which is below the fume-risk threshold for most Teflon-type coating coatings but still warrants certainty about the exact material. Without specification, you cannot verify whether the basket contains older formulations or newer alternatives.
The brand's record and disclosure
De'Longhi has not published material safety data sheets or chemical composition statements for this model's basket coating in publicly available consumer documentation. The brand maintains no publicly known PFAS-free certification or disclosure policy comparable to some competitors. No recalls or safety warnings specific to this model have been issued by regulatory agencies (FDA, CPSC), but the absence of transparency on non-stick formulation is a red flag for informed purchasing.
How it compares in its category
Most mid-range air fryers use either Teflon-type coating non-stick, ceramic, or hybrid coatings; the FH1396 sits in the budget-to-mid segment where coating transparency is inconsistent across brands. Competitors like Cosori and Ninja have begun disclosing non-stick materials or offering ceramic alternatives; De'Longhi's silence puts this unit behind in consumer transparency. Price point suggests cost-driven manufacturing, which historically correlates with less-disclosed formulations.
If you buy it
Never exceed 400°F / 204°C to minimize any fume risk from the non-stick coating; most air frying occurs well below this. Hand-wash the basket with soft cloths or sponges to avoid coating damage, which accelerates microparticle shedding and leaching. Replace the basket if visible peeling, discoloration, or flaking develops; do not continue using a compromised non-stick surface. Request coating composition from De'Longhi customer service before purchase if PFAS status is a dealbreaker for you.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 35% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Delonghi has made none
Formulations change between production runs, so check the current label. How we grade.
Safer alternatives in Air Fryers
Ninja
Crispi 4-in-1 Portable Glass Air Fryer Cooking System
Glass cooking vessel with stainless steel and plastic components
Thermal fracture or stress in glass cooking vessel
Limited concern
Formaldehyde / VOCs
Limited concern
Electrical hazard or heating element degradation
Limited concern
Glass cooking surface avoids nonstick coatings entirely.
⚠Risky category by default
Ninja
Crispi Pro 6-in-1 Glass Air Fryer
Glass cooking vessel with stainless steel components
Thermal shock / glass breakage risk
Limited concern
Glass construction means lower PFAS concern than typical nonstick air fryers.
⚠Risky category by default
Cosori
Smart Toaster Oven
stainless steel exterior, glass and metal interior
Thermal degradation of gaskets or seals
Limited concern
Grease accumulation and combustion byproducts
Limited concern
Glass door thermal stress and breakage
Limited concern
Lower PFAS concern, toaster ovens rarely use nonstick coatings, though brand makes no transparency statement.
⚠Risky category by default
More air fryers grades
How we score: every product runs through the same public 0–100 rubric based on materials, coatings, brand disclosure, lab findings, and recalls. See the full methodology → Spotted a mistake? Report an error.