Bella 4-Quart Slim Air Fryer

When I started researching budget air fryers, I expected to compromise on safety. The conventional wisdom is that cheap appliances cut corners on materials—and in many cases, that's true. But the Bella 4Qt Slim is a rare exception: a genuinely PFAS-free air fryer that costs less than dinner for four.

After weeks of testing and research, I'm confident recommending this as our budget pick. It's not the most powerful or feature-rich model, but it delivers on the fundamentals: safe materials, even cooking, and surprising durability. Here's everything you need to know.

Let's talk about what matters most: the coating. The Bella uses EverGood Ceramic, which Sensio (the parent company) confirms is free of PTFE, PFOA, PFOS, and other PFAS compounds. I contacted the manufacturer directly and received third-party test certificates showing compliance with European standards for cookware coatings.

This matters because many "ceramic" air fryers are actually PTFE-based nonstick with a ceramic-colored finish. The Bella is the real thing: a sol-gel ceramic coating applied at high temperature. After 50+ cooking cycles, I saw no flaking, chipping, or discoloration—signs that the coating is stable and durable.

The basket and crisper tray are made from aluminum with the ceramic coating. The housing is BPA-free plastic, which some families may prefer to avoid, but the food-contact surfaces are all ceramic or stainless steel. At 400°F max temperature, there's minimal risk of plastic leaching into food.

The only safety dock: the power cord is on the shorter side (28 inches), so you'll need to place this near an outlet. And like all air fryers, the exterior gets hot during use—keep it away from little hands.

The Bella's 1300W heating element is less powerful than our top picks (which range from 1500-1700W), but it still delivers respectable results. The circular heat technology distributes hot air evenly, and I consistently got crispy fries, tender chicken thighs, and golden Brussels sprouts.

Here's what I noticed in testing:

Cook times run 10-15% longer than higher-wattage models. Frozen fries took 18 minutes at 400°F (vs. 15 minutes in the Cosori). Chicken wings needed 25 minutes (vs. 20-22 minutes elsewhere).

You'll need to shake more frequently. The 4-quart capacity is cozy, and without the extra power, food on the bottom can brown faster than food on top. I shook the basket every 5-7 minutes for best results.

Preheating is mandatory. The Bella takes 3 minutes to preheat to 400°F. Skipping this step results in uneven cooking and rubbery textures.

The 6 presets are basic but functional. Fries, chicken, fish, meat, shrimp, and bake. They're not customizable, but they work well as starting points. I still prefer setting time and temp manually for precision.

It's quieter than most air fryers. The fan noise is about 55 decibels—comparable to a normal conversation. This was a pleasant surprise.

The 4-quart basket holds:

• 1.5 pounds of fries (about 3 servings)
• 6-8 chicken wings
• 2-3 chicken breasts (if you stack carefully)
• 1 small whole chicken (up to 3.5 pounds)

For my family of three, this was ideal. We could make a full meal in one batch without overcrowding. But if you're cooking for 4+, you'll need to work in batches—and those longer cook times add up.

I've tested plenty of budget appliances that feel flimsy and disposable. The Bella surprised me. The basket handle is sturdy, the controls are responsive, and the unit feels stable on the counter (thanks to rubber feet).

The ceramic coating has held up beautifully after 50+ uses. No scratches, no discoloration, no loss of nonstick properties. I hand-wash the basket and tray (dishwasher-safe, but I prefer hand-washing for longevity), and cleanup takes about 2 minutes.

The 2-year warranty is the standout feature here. Most budget air fryers offer 1 year or less. Sensio backs this product, and replacement parts (baskets, trays) are available directly from the manufacturer.

Here's the math that makes this such a compelling pick:

• Upfront cost: $30-40 (vs. $100-150 for PFAS-free competitors)
• Energy cost: 1300W × 0.3 hours = 0.39 kWh per use = ~5 cents per meal
• Longevity: 2-year warranty, ceramic coating lasts 2-3+ years with care
• Replacement parts: Basket + tray = $18 (vs. $30+ for premium models)

Even if you replace the basket once during the warranty period, you're still spending less than half what you'd pay for a Cosori or Instant. And you're getting the same safety guarantees: no PFAS, no PTFE, no forever chemicals.

The value proposition is simple: if you're cooking for 1-3 people and prioritize clean materials over speed and capacity, this is the best deal on the market.

Over three weeks, I made:

• Frozen French fries (5 times): Crispy exterior, fluffy interior. Required shaking every 5 minutes. 18 minutes at 400°F.
• Chicken wings (3 times): Golden, crispy skin. 25 minutes at 380°F with one flip.
• Brussels sprouts (4 times): Perfectly caramelized. 15 minutes at 375°F with a shake halfway.
• Salmon fillets (2 times): Flaky, moist. 10 minutes at 380°F, no flip needed.
• Homemade falafel (2 times): Crispy outside, tender inside. 12 minutes at 375°F.
• Reheated pizza (many times): Better than the microwave. 5 minutes at 350°F.

Every dish came out well-cooked and evenly browned. The longer cook times were noticeable but not a dealbreaker. And the cleanup was consistently fast—nothing stuck to the ceramic coating.

Buy the Bella 4Qt Slim if you:

• Want a genuinely PFAS-free air fryer on a tight budget
• Cook for 1-3 people regularly
• Value safety and durability over speed and capacity
• Appreciate a 2-year warranty (rare at this price)
• Need a compact appliance (10.6 x 13.3 x 12.6 inches)

Skip it if you:

• Cook for 4+ people regularly (you'll hate working in batches)
• Want the fastest cook times (get the Cosori or Instant)
• Need advanced features like dual baskets or app control
• Prefer all-metal construction (the housing is plastic)

The Bella 4Qt Slim is proof that you don't need to spend $150 to get a safe, functional air fryer. At $30-40, this is the most affordable PFAS-free model I've found—and it's backed by a manufacturer who's transparent about materials and testing.

Yes, it's slower than premium models. Yes, the capacity is limited. But for small households on a budget, those trade-offs are absolutely worth it. You're getting clean materials, solid performance, and a 2-year warranty—all for less than the cost of a family dinner out.

I've recommended this to friends, and I'd buy it again without hesitation. If you're new to air frying or prioritizing safety over bells and whistles, the Bella 4Qt Slim is the way to go.

When I started researching budget air fryers, I expected to compromise on safety. The conventional wisdom is that cheap appliances cut corners on materials—and in many cases, that's true. But the Bella 4Qt Slim is a rare exception: a genuinely PFAS-free air fryer that costs less than dinner for four.

After weeks of testing and research, I'm confident recommending this as our budget pick. It's not the most powerful or feature-rich model, but it delivers on the fundamentals: safe materials, even cooking, and surprising durability. Here's everything you need to know.

Let's talk about what matters most: the coating. The Bella uses EverGood Ceramic, which Sensio (the parent company) confirms is free of PTFE, PFOA, PFOS, and other PFAS compounds. I contacted the manufacturer directly and received third-party test certificates showing compliance with European standards for cookware coatings.

This matters because many "ceramic" air fryers are actually PTFE-based nonstick with a ceramic-colored finish. The Bella is the real thing: a sol-gel ceramic coating applied at high temperature. After 50+ cooking cycles, I saw no flaking, chipping, or discoloration—signs that the coating is stable and durable.

The basket and crisper tray are made from aluminum with the ceramic coating. The housing is BPA-free plastic, which some families may prefer to avoid, but the food-contact surfaces are all ceramic or stainless steel. At 400°F max temperature, there's minimal risk of plastic leaching into food.

The only safety dock: the power cord is on the shorter side (28 inches), so you'll need to place this near an outlet. And like all air fryers, the exterior gets hot during use—keep it away from little hands.

The Bella's 1300W heating element is less powerful than our top picks (which range from 1500-1700W), but it still delivers respectable results. The circular heat technology distributes hot air evenly, and I consistently got crispy fries, tender chicken thighs, and golden Brussels sprouts.

Here's what I noticed in testing:

Cook times run 10-15% longer than higher-wattage models. Frozen fries took 18 minutes at 400°F (vs. 15 minutes in the Cosori). Chicken wings needed 25 minutes (vs. 20-22 minutes elsewhere).

You'll need to shake more frequently. The 4-quart capacity is cozy, and without the extra power, food on the bottom can brown faster than food on top. I shook the basket every 5-7 minutes for best results.

Preheating is mandatory. The Bella takes 3 minutes to preheat to 400°F. Skipping this step results in uneven cooking and rubbery textures.

The 6 presets are basic but functional. Fries, chicken, fish, meat, shrimp, and bake. They're not customizable, but they work well as starting points. I still prefer setting time and temp manually for precision.

It's quieter than most air fryers. The fan noise is about 55 decibels—comparable to a normal conversation. This was a pleasant surprise.

The 4-quart basket holds:

• 1.5 pounds of fries (about 3 servings)
• 6-8 chicken wings
• 2-3 chicken breasts (if you stack carefully)
• 1 small whole chicken (up to 3.5 pounds)

For my family of three, this was ideal. We could make a full meal in one batch without overcrowding. But if you're cooking for 4+, you'll need to work in batches—and those longer cook times add up.

I've tested plenty of budget appliances that feel flimsy and disposable. The Bella surprised me. The basket handle is sturdy, the controls are responsive, and the unit feels stable on the counter (thanks to rubber feet).

The ceramic coating has held up beautifully after 50+ uses. No scratches, no discoloration, no loss of nonstick properties. I hand-wash the basket and tray (dishwasher-safe, but I prefer hand-washing for longevity), and cleanup takes about 2 minutes.

The 2-year warranty is the standout feature here. Most budget air fryers offer 1 year or less. Sensio backs this product, and replacement parts (baskets, trays) are available directly from the manufacturer.

Here's the math that makes this such a compelling pick:

• Upfront cost: $30-40 (vs. $100-150 for PFAS-free competitors)
• Energy cost: 1300W × 0.3 hours = 0.39 kWh per use = ~5 cents per meal
• Longevity: 2-year warranty, ceramic coating lasts 2-3+ years with care
• Replacement parts: Basket + tray = $18 (vs. $30+ for premium models)

Even if you replace the basket once during the warranty period, you're still spending less than half what you'd pay for a Cosori or Instant. And you're getting the same safety guarantees: no PFAS, no PTFE, no forever chemicals.

The value proposition is simple: if you're cooking for 1-3 people and prioritize clean materials over speed and capacity, this is the best deal on the market.

Over three weeks, I made:

• Frozen French fries (5 times): Crispy exterior, fluffy interior. Required shaking every 5 minutes. 18 minutes at 400°F.
• Chicken wings (3 times): Golden, crispy skin. 25 minutes at 380°F with one flip.
• Brussels sprouts (4 times): Perfectly caramelized. 15 minutes at 375°F with a shake halfway.
• Salmon fillets (2 times): Flaky, moist. 10 minutes at 380°F, no flip needed.
• Homemade falafel (2 times): Crispy outside, tender inside. 12 minutes at 375°F.
• Reheated pizza (many times): Better than the microwave. 5 minutes at 350°F.

Every dish came out well-cooked and evenly browned. The longer cook times were noticeable but not a dealbreaker. And the cleanup was consistently fast—nothing stuck to the ceramic coating.

Buy the Bella 4Qt Slim if you:

• Want a genuinely PFAS-free air fryer on a tight budget
• Cook for 1-3 people regularly
• Value safety and durability over speed and capacity
• Appreciate a 2-year warranty (rare at this price)
• Need a compact appliance (10.6 x 13.3 x 12.6 inches)

Skip it if you:

• Cook for 4+ people regularly (you'll hate working in batches)
• Want the fastest cook times (get the Cosori or Instant)
• Need advanced features like dual baskets or app control
• Prefer all-metal construction (the housing is plastic)

The Bella 4Qt Slim is proof that you don't need to spend $150 to get a safe, functional air fryer. At $30-40, this is the most affordable PFAS-free model I've found—and it's backed by a manufacturer who's transparent about materials and testing.

Yes, it's slower than premium models. Yes, the capacity is limited. But for small households on a budget, those trade-offs are absolutely worth it. You're getting clean materials, solid performance, and a 2-year warranty—all for less than the cost of a family dinner out.

I've recommended this to friends, and I'd buy it again without hesitation. If you're new to air frying or prioritizing safety over bells and whistles, the Bella 4Qt Slim is the way to go.