Stainless Steel Vertical Air Fryer
Lower risk if no nonstick coating covers the cooking surfaces.
This vertical air fryer replaces nonstick coating with stainless steel surfaces, which don't require PFAS treatments. Tower makes no PFAS statement, but stainless steel itself carries lower PFAS risk.
The safe swap
Breville
Breville Mini Smart 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
Stainless steel heating chamber and basket
Brand disclosure
Brand is silent on PFAS
Lab data
No public lab test
What’s concerning
Stain-resistant finish
Stain resistance treatments commonly use PFAS chemicals.
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.
Nickel and chromium leaching from stainless steel
Stainless steel can release trace nickel and chromium under acidic conditions or if the surface is scratched or corroded. This risk is low at normal air frying temperatures (350-400°F) but increases if the unit is used above 450°F or if the basket becomes pitted. Individuals with nickel sensitivity should be aware of this potential, though amounts typically remain below dietary concern thresholds.
Heating element degradation and coating unknown
Public specifications do not confirm the composition or coating of the internal heating element in this model. If the element is coated with a nonstick or protective layer, degradation over time could release particles into the cooking chamber, though Tower provides no maintenance timeline or replacement guidance.
Thermal runaway or overheating hazard
Vertical air fryers concentrate heat in a smaller chamber, raising the risk of localized overheating if the thermostat fails or if the unit is used above recommended temperature. Tower's documentation does not specify thermal safety shut-off features; this is a design-level risk shared with many compact air fryer models.
PFAS
Tower has not disclosed whether food-contact gaskets, silicone seals, or the power cord insulation contain PFAS-based materials. Many air fryer gaskets are treated with PFAS water repellents; this is separate from cooking surface PFAS and often invisible to the user.
Source: ATSDR ↗What’s reassuring
Non-stick coating on interior surfaces (if present)
If the interior chamber or any heating element is coated with Teflon-type coating or similar nonstick, Teflon-type coating fume risk exists above 500°F. Tower's materials disclosure is insufficient to confirm or rule this out; this ambiguity is a primary reason to request product documentation before purchase.
The full breakdown
What it's made of and why it matters
Tower's vertical air fryer uses stainless steel for the heating chamber and cooking basket, which avoids the Teflon-type coating (Teflon) nonstick coating found in many air fryer models. Stainless steel itself is chemically stable under normal cooking temperatures (up to around 500°F) and does not leach metals into food at these conditions. However, stainless steel can contain trace nickel and chromium, which may migrate into acidic or salty foods if the surface is damaged or if temperatures exceed design limits. The heating element type (typically nichrome wire or similar resistive elements) is not detailed in public records for this model, so degradation or coating hazards on that component cannot be fully assessed.
The brand's record and disclosure
Tower is a UK-based small appliance brand with limited public transparency on chemical safety testing or material sourcing. No published certifications (CE, RoHS, or materials declarations) are readily available for this model. Tower has not made public statements on PFAS avoidance or testing, which is why the PFAS grade reflects poor disclosure rather than confirmed presence. The brand does not appear in major consumer safety recalls related to air fryers, though absence of reports does not confirm safety.
How it compares in its category
Most air fryers use either Teflon-type coating nonstick baskets or ceramic coatings; stainless steel construction is less common and removes the primary Teflon-type coating fume risk if the basket itself is uncoated. However, many competitors (Instant Pot, Cosori, Philips) provide explicit material disclosures and third-party testing results that Tower does not publish. The lack of transparency is the main disadvantage relative to premium brands, not the material choice itself. Price-tier competitors often offer similar stainless construction without disclosing PFAS status either, so Tower is neither ahead nor behind on this metric.
If you buy it
Do not exceed the manufacturer's maximum temperature setting, as overheating stainless steel can cause surface degradation and potential nickel migration. Clean the stainless steel basket by hand rather than in a dishwasher to avoid abrasion that may expose underlying metal. Inspect the basket monthly for pitting, discoloration, or visible damage; replace if the surface becomes rough or corroded. Allow the unit to cool fully before cleaning, and avoid prolonged contact between acidic foods (vinegar, citrus, tomato) and the basket to minimize metal leaching risk.
What we don’t know
- Basis
- Model estimate, 82% 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.