Culinary Chef 11.6 Qt./10.4L Double Stack Digital Air Fryer
Skip until the brand explains what the coating contains.
This double-stack model uses non-stick cooking surfaces with undisclosed material composition. Air fryer baskets typically rely on Teflon-type coating or Teflon-family coating, which may contain PFAS.
The safe swap
Ninja
Ninja Crispi Pro 6-in-1 Glass Air Fryer
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 baskets/trays, material 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 fume risk (if Teflon-type coating-based coating)
If the non-stick coating is Teflon-type coating, overheating above 500F can release toxic fumes. Tower does not disclose the coating type, so you cannot rule this in or out. Standard use below manufacturer limits carries minimal risk, but accidental high-heat use poses a known hazard class.
Coating degradation and ingestion of flaked material
Non-stick coatings on budget air fryer baskets commonly flake or peel with extended use. Flaked coating fragments in food are a documented complaint in the air fryer category, though health impact is typically mild (mechanical irritation rather than toxicity).
Leaching from aluminum substrate if coating fails
If the baskets are aluminum-based (standard in this category) and the non-stick coating degrades, direct food contact with bare aluminum is possible. Aluminum leaching into acidic foods is a recognized hazard at high levels, though rare from cookware under normal use.
Lack of product-specific safety documentation
Tower's silent stance on coating composition and PFAS is a transparency failure, not a confirmed toxicological hazard. This absence prevents independent risk assessment and should factor into your confidence in the brand's safety claims.
What’s reassuring
Heavy metals
No recalls or public reports of lead or cadmium contamination specific to Tower air fryers have been established. However, the absence of third-party testing means this hazard class cannot be ruled out for this unspecified coating formulation.
Source: FDA ↗The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
The Culinary Chef air fryer uses non-stick coated baskets and trays, but Tower has not publicly specified whether this coating is Teflon-type coating (Teflon-type), ceramic, or another formulation. Non-stick coatings matter because overheating or physical damage can release fumes or create leaching pathways. Without material transparency, you cannot assess the specific thermal safety limits or degradation risk of this model.
The brand's record and disclosure
Tower does not maintain public certifications (such as GREENGUARD or third-party safety testing) or detailed material safety disclosures on their product pages. The brand has not issued clear statements about PFAS content in cookware coatings, which is standard practice among competitors aware of consumer concern. This silence is a red flag for informed purchasing but does not confirm a hazard.
How it compares in its category
Most budget and mid-range air fryer brands (including Cosori, Ninja, and Instant Pot models) similarly omit coating details. Higher-transparency brands explicitly state ceramic or Teflon-type coating-free alternatives. Tower's lack of disclosure places it in the middle of a crowded, under-regulated market where coating safety is often an afterthought. The double-stack design itself poses no unique hazard beyond standard air fryer operation.
If you buy it
Never exceed the manufacturer's recommended heat setting (typically 400-450F for most air fryers); overheating accelerates non-stick coating degradation. Inspect baskets and trays monthly for peeling, chipping, or discoloration; discard and replace if damaged. Hand-wash only; dishwasher cycles degrade coatings faster. Replace the non-stick insert every 1-2 years or sooner if visible wear appears, as you cannot repair it.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 45% confidence, not a lab result
- Lab test
- None on record for this exact product
- Brand statement
- Tower 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.