Can’t get enough? Once you master cooking sweet corn in air fryer, be sure to also try my Air Fryer Mexican Street Corn recipe.
Ingredients
Crispy, sweet, and juicy corn on the cob is the star of the show in this delicious air fryer recipe, so take advantage of your local farmers’ market to find the freshest, sweetest corn possible.
Get started by gathering your ears of sweet corn (make sure you husk them first), some vegetable oil, kosher salt, and black pepper.
Substitutions & Optional Seasonings
- Vegetable oil: I used avocado oil, but you can also use olive oil. If it is easier, you can also use cooking spray.
- Unsalted butter: If you want to be decadent, you can use 1 tsp of unsalted butter in place of the vegetable oil. The butter helps crisp the corn and adds a creamy taste to the roasted corn kernels.
- A sprinkle of parmesan cheese: If you are serving your air-fried corn as a side dish and want to elevate it to the next level, sprinkle it with grated parmesan cheese. The juicy kernels of corn mixed with crispy fried parmesan cheese bits are amazing, addicting, and a must-try.
- Seasoning ideas: For additional flavors, get creative with your favorite seasoning blends. Try smoked paprika and/or chili powder for a splash of color and a little heat. Garlic powder sprinkled on each ear is also fantastic.
- Frozen corn: If fresh corn is not in season, you can use this recipe with frozen corn. When using frozen corn, you do not need to thaw it first; it can go straight from the freezer to the air fryer; check the modification to cooking times described below.
How to Cook Corn On The Cob In Air Fryer
You can make this air fryer corn on the cob at the height of summer or in the middle of winter. Whether you use fresh or frozen corn, the only thing that will be different is how you cook them.
I am giving you both options below to ensure you experience the most incredibly flavorful, crispy air fryer sweet corn imaginable.
For both methods, preheat your air fryer to 380° F
If using fresh corn:
- Oil and season: Lightly brush each ear of corn with a thin layer of oil and sprinkle with salt and pepper (you can also add the optional seasonings at this time).
- Fill fryer basket: Once your air fryer reaches 380° F, arrange your ears of corn in a single layer. Do not overcrowd your fryer basket.
- Air fry for 12-15 minutes: Rotate each ear of corn halfway through (around 6-7 minutes) for even cooking. If you want crispier corn, you can apply a layer of melted butter to each ear before rotating.
- Add butter and serve: Carefully remove the corn from the basket and smother it with butter or take it to the next level and try topping it off with my roasted garlic herb butter or drizzling it with Buttery Garlic Sauce. That being said, butter is optional but highly recommended.
If using frozen corn:
Cooking frozen corn on the cob in an air fryer is not much different. It is only 5 minutes longer and there is no need to thaw the corn.
- Fill fryer basket: Once your fryer has reached 380° F, arrange the frozen corn on the cob (no need to thaw first) in a single layer and fry for 5 minutes.
- Brush with oil: Carefully remove the hot ears of corn and lightly brush with oil, sprinkle with salt and pepper (additional seasonings can be added now) and place corn back into the fryer basket.
- Air fry for 10-12 minutes: You will want to check on the corn after cooking for 5-6 minutes. Rotate and cook for the remaining time.
- Add butter and serve: Carefully remove the hot ears and layer on the butter. Again, the butter is optional, though it is highly suggested you give it a try.
What to Serve it With
The amazing thing about this recipe is its versatility. Air fryer roasted corn on the cob makes a perfect side dish all on its own, or you can remove those crispy kernels and add them to any recipe calling for corn.
Below are a few recipe ideas to serve it with:
- Seafood: Corn and seafood are a classic combination. Nothing screams coastal vibes more than fried corn and Grilled Shrimp Skewers, except perhaps pairing this corn with my delicious Grilled Mahi Mahi.
- Chicken: If seafood isn’t your thing, I’ve got you covered; corn on the cob makes a fantastic pairing with chicken. Give it a try with my Yogurt Marinated Chicken or alongside Mediterranean Lemon Chicken; either one makes for a delicious combo.
- Salads: While I am a big fan of eating corn on the cob, I also like to husk it and throw it into my summer salad recipes, such as my Mexican Street Corn Pasta Salad and Esquites. I find that this is especially a good use of the leftover corn.
- Dips: Use sweet corn kernels to make Elote Corn Dip for a quick and easy appetizer.
How to Store Leftovers and Reheat
Whether you include your air-fried corn on the cob as a part of your weekly meal prep or have some leftovers, below are the instructions to store and reheat:
- Storage: A perfect make-ahead dish, this corn stores so well that you can keep it in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days without losing flavor.
- Reheat: To reheat the corn, pop it back into the air fryer basket and cook for 5 minutes at 320 F degrees to crisp it up.
Expert Tips
New to air frying? Here are some great tips for the best air-fried corn on the cob (even on your first try!).
- Choose corn that is equal in size: For the best results, you want to choose corn that is similar in size, as mixing thin corn cobs with thick corn cobs could cause excess browning or undercooked corn.
- Cut them in half: If you have a small fryer basket, you can cut the cobs in half for a better fit. Cutting them into smaller pieces is also great if you have a crowd of people or to make it easier for children to grab onto.
- Do not overcrowd the air fryer basket: Keep the corn in a single layer so that the hot circulating air can reach every corn kernel and ensure even cooking.
- Be sure to rotate the ears halfway through: To keep the corn from being cooked unevenly, you should turn them halfway through cooking.
- Quick cooking: Air frying corn on the cob takes a fraction of the time necessary for other methods, so while it’s a good idea to get your fryer preheated, you will want to put off cooking the corn until the last thing, when the rest of your meal is close to being ready. Cooking the corn at the end ensures your piping hot meal is ready all at once. If you misjudged the time, it’s no big deal; cover the hot corn with aluminum foil to keep the heat in.
- Cook time might slightly change based on your air fryer: Pay attention to the color and doneness while you are rotating the corn on the cob in the air fryer halfway through the cooking process. It is a known fact that there might be slight differences in cooking times with different brands of air fryers.
FAQs
Air fry corn on the cob for 12-15 minutes in an air fryer preheated to 380° F.
Cutting the ears of corn is optional. For air fryers with smaller baskets, it may be necessary to cut the corn so it will fit. Cutting the corn also makes it easier for kids to handle.
Absolutely! You can pull your frozen corn straight from the freezer and add it to your air fryer; no need to thaw it first. Cooking times and procedures may vary. See the instructions above to make perfect air fryer corn on the cob from frozen corn.
Not unless it is a cob of popcorn variety corn. There is a difference between sweet corn and popcorn. The perfect corn for this recipe is sweet corn. So, no worries about it popping in your air fryer.
You can air fry corn in its husk, but it will take a much longer time, and you will lose the crispy roasted flavor air-fried corn is famous for. For best results, I suggest husking the corn fully (don’t forget those little corn silks).
Other Easy Air Fryer Recipes You Might Also Like:
Here are a few other side dishes you can make using your air fryer:
- Green Beans in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Beets
- Air Fried Eggplant
- Breaded Green Beans in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Asparagus
- Roasted Garlic in Air Fryer
If you try this Air Fryer Corn on the Cob recipe or any other recipe on Foolproof Living, please take a minute to rate the recipe and leave a comment below. It helps others who are thinking of making the recipe. And if you took some pictures, be sure to share them on Instagram using #foolproofeats so I can share them on my stories.
Air Fryer Corn On The Cob Recipe
Ingredients
- 4 ears of corn on the cob, husks fully removed
- 1 teaspoon vegetable oil, like avocado oil
- ½ teaspoon kosher salt
- ¼ teaspoon black pepper
- 2 tablespoons unsalted butter, optional
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 380 degrees F.
- While it is heating, brush each ear of corn with vegetable oil and season with salt and pepper.
- Place in the air fryer basket in a single layer and air fry for 12-15 minutes, rotating them halfway through the air frying process.
- Remove from the air fryer and top it off with butter*, if preferred.
Notes
- Instructions for making this recipe with frozen corn: If using frozen corn, there is no need to thaw it before air frying them.
Simply place frozen corn on the cob in the air fryer basket and the air fryer for 5 minutes. Carefully remove them from the basket, lightly brush with oil and season them with salt and pepper. Air fry for another 10-12 minutes making sure to rotate halfway through the air frying process. Carefully remove them from the basket onto a plate and top it off with butter if using. - Storage: Store leftover corn in the refrigerator in an airtight container for up to 5 days.
- Reheat: Reheat the corn in the air fryer at 320 F degrees for about 5 minutes, or until crisp.
- Butter: Use our Roasted Garlic Butter or Melted Garlic Butter Sauce to drizzle them in the end.
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
