Are Air Fryers Safe For Birds? (All You Need to Know)

If you are a pet bird owner, you would have to be wary of appliances like air fryers. This is because they contain Teflon, the infamous chemical known to harm pet birds.

We understand the benefits of having an air fryer and why you would want one too. But there is nothing more important than the safety of your pets!

Are air fryers safe for birds?

Air fryers that use Teflon or PFTE parts such as the basket or grilling pan are not safe for birds. When the heat of more than 300 degrees Celsius is used in the air fryer, the chemical bonds in Teflon break and release a chemical that is toxic to birds as they have a sensitive reparatory system.

Are air fryers bad for birds?

It is not air fryers that are bad for birds. Teflon is a synthetic polymer that causes the release of toxic gases. Since birds have weak lungs and need strong, uninterrupted reparation to fly, these gases can coat the bird’s air sac and cause more harm.

Are air fryers toxic to birds?

Since the internet is full of phrases like “air fryers are toxic to birds” and “air fryers are harmful to birds, it is best to address this issue first.

Indirectly, air fryers can be toxic to birds but only those fryers that are made of Teflon coating. It is the chemical that causes birds to have breathing issues.

If an air fryer does not have components that are coated in Teflon, your air fryer is as safe as a juicer with any birds you may have at home. In fact, any pan, grill, or kitchen utensil that is made with Teflon and is heated would be toxic to your bird.

Why are air fryers dangerous to birds?

You have already realized that certain air fryers can cause your birds to get sick or even lose life due to the toxicity of air fryers. The following are the primary reasons why air fryers are disliked and avoided by bird owners:

Teflon or PTFE coatings:

From toaster ovens, waffle makers, frying pans to rice cookers, we can hardly think of any cooking appliance that does not contain Teflon.

If it is so widely used, how is it possible for such a chemical to be toxic? Unfortunately, it is.

Teflon is a synthetic chemical that is also called polytetrafluoroethylene or PTFE. When any material is coated with Teflon, the pan or basket becomes self-lubricating and non-sticking. PTFE coated cookware is a breeze to clean or wash, and hence the popularity.

When Teflon is heated to 300 degrees Celsius, it is scientifically proven to release a chemically toxic gas. This may be harmful to humans or other pets in the long run, however, as for birds, it could be immediately fatal.

Although not all air fryers contain Teflon baskets or grills, most modern ones do. For the defense, many manufactures claim that the air fryer does not reach a temperature as high that could disintegrate the chemical bonds of Teflon to produce harmful gas.

The sensitive respiratory system of birds:

If there are humans, cats, dogs, and birds in a house who have been inhaling toxic gases from any Teflon-containing appliance, the first to get harmed would be the bird.

This is because birds have a different and more delicate respiratory system compared to humans or other pets. While humans and dogs would feel ill in the long run, the toxic gases from the air fryer would form a layer on a bird’s air sacs considerably quickly.

Once that happens, a birds’ breathing is hindered by that coating. Since birds fly, they require a lot of oxygen and a well-functioning lung to keep them breathing. If their air sacs are coated, they could be out of breath and collapse.

This is not true for passing or wild birds. The birds in your house are continuously exposed to this gas and hence put more in danger.

The high heat of the air fryer:

Air fryers use a convection mechanism where there is a blow of heat from the heating elements located at the top of the fryer. This heated air is then circulated around the food, through the basket, to cook the food.

In most air fryers, it only takes a few minutes to reach a temperature of 200 degrees Celsius. Still, for meals that require longer to cook or need more crispiness, you would have to use more heat on the settings.

After you turn on your air fryer, no matter what you are cooking, the initial blow of heat may be as high as 300 degrees Celsius. This is potentially dangerous as it can mean that the Teflon basket starts to give off the toxic gas.

What should an air fryer user do if they have birds?

An air fryer user should not use an air fryer around birds. As it can create life risk for house birds, it would be better to leave it behind and use a convection oven instead. 

There are bird friendly air fryers that can be used around with making sure that you keep it out of reach of the birds. Still it is preferred not to use one around. Instead you can use it outside, so that it doesn’t harm your bird. 

What air fryers are safe for birds?

Air fryers are not an enemy of your bird. It is rather the PFTE or Teflon coating that you may find in an air fryer, grilling pan, or any kitchen cookware to name it.

Luckily, bird owners, who still wish to take the benefits of air fryers, do not have to give up on the appliance after all.

This is because all you have to do is avoid using Teflon-based cooking appliances when you have birds, or even other pets in the house. Air fryers that have stainless steel or ceramic baskets for the cooking base are safe for birds.

If you are still looking for nonstick options, ceramic may be the closest choice you would want to make. However, we cannot guarantee it would last as long as your Teflon ware. But, safety first!

If you are okay with a little more effort on cleaning the basket but want a safe and durable option, you may opt for stainless steel.

Stainless steel or ceramic components inside your air fryer completely eliminates the risk of toxic gas release, which is healthier for your bird’s respiratory system. We guarantee you there won’t be any change in the taste of your food.

Are air fryers bad for pets?

To put it straight, air fryers are not harmful to pets, be it birds, cats, or dogs. It is the Teflon coating non stick property of an air fryer that may become detrimental to pets with a sensitive or weak respiratory system.

All pets have a strong lung and breathing ability. Usually, smaller pets like birds are more prone to getting affected by the toxic gas released by Teflon-coated air fryers. However, if you have a pet like a dog that is old, weak, or carries a history of diseases, they may also become sick upon inhaling the toxic release.

For pets, other than birds, the effect air fryers can have would only show up after months or years of use. The lung capacity of other pets is much stronger as well.

For safety, all pet owners need to be more aware of PFTA or PFA coating cooking utensils at home since what is harmful to one pet, can also be harmful to another.

How fast does Teflon harm birds?

There is no evidence or scientific proof to know how long it takes for the toxic gasses from Teflon-coated baskets to harm birds. Even if they are detrimental, how long or fast before you can notice any health changes in your birds at all.

Forums and social media posts are flooded with such experiences. Few of them claimed, exclusively, that the day they used their air fryer with their birds around the corner, they sadly had to face the demise of their pet birds the next day.

Another pet bird owner claimed that her birds got ill within a week and lost life within 7 days of using her air fryer. The same person also said that her dog’s health declined fast as well. Although her dog is recovering from the toxicity.

A week, month, or day, how fast Teflon would affect your bird would depend on a number of factors.

It would depend on how long and how much you use that cookware. It would also depend on the heat you use and what kind or how much Teflon is composed in your cookware or appliance. 

Is the air fryer made with Teflon?

Not all air fryers are made of Teflon. Modern ones are mostly manufactured and designed with components that contain Teflon.

The basket inside the air fryer, for example, is made with a Teflon coating. Hence, we say repeatedly that it is not the air fryer that causes the harm, it is the Teflon.

Grilling pans are also made with Teflon coating, for the same reasons that they do not stick the food on and are so easy to clean. You would be delighted to know that many air fryers are also made with ceramic or stainless-steel baskets.

While ceramic is easy to clean, it does not offer the same longevity. With stainless steel, there is always a chance that your food will stick but both options are safer than Teflon.

Final Thoughts:

Hence, it can be concluded that air flyers are not safe if you have pet birds in your house. However, not all air fryers release the same toxic gasses that can harm your bird. You may want to stay away from ones that use Teflon baskets and switch to alternatives that use ceramic or stainless steel.

Frequently Asked Questions:

Does an Air Fryer Add Calories?

Can Air Fryer Replace Toaster Oven?

How Full Can You Fill an Air Fryer Basket?

Do Air Fryers Smoke?

Can Air Fryers Catch Fire?

Why Won’t My Air Fryer Turn On?