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Air Fryer Corn on the Cob is the ultimate way of cooking corn. With all its toasted and crispy flavors, roasting sweet corn in an air fryer is so quick and easy. Without the hassle of boiling it or turning on the grill. Enjoy seasoned, with melted butter on top!
As summer approaches, it’s time to fire up the grill and get ready for barbecue season! Nothing beats the smell of BBQ meat sizzling over hot coals. Sides like deviled egg potato salad, corn casserole, fresh salads, and corn on the cob can never miss. But what if you can now cook corn in air fryer? It’s a great option when the grill is packed with ribs or if you prefer not to fire it up.
Why you will love air fryer corn
When Summer hits, it can get pretty hot here. Scorching hot, and the last thing we want is firing up the grill. Our weekly menu consists mainly of fresh dishes like pasta salads, cold farro and yogurt bowls. But sometimes we crave something different and indulgent, yet still easy and healthy. That’s where the air fryer comes into play. Carrot fries, air fryer chickpeas, air fryer salmon bites, we seem to use it a lot. And now even more, with this easy air fried corn on the cob. Trust me, you will love this recipe. Here’s why:
- Quick and easy, in under 15 minutes – Brush corn with olive oil and season to perfection, place it in the basket of your air fryer and roast until it’s crispy.
- Roasted, crispy and oh so delicious – Air frying corn gives you all the toasted flavors and crispy textures as if it were grilled. Enjoy well seasoned with melted butter on top.
- Perfect anytime, with anything – Cook corn in air fryer and you’ll get the perfect side dish for barbecues, parties, and weekly dinners. It goes well with anything, from juicy meat to fresh vegetables.
Ingredients
- Ears of corn. The best air fryer corn is made with fresh ears of corn wrapped in bright green husks. You can also use frozen sweet corn, it works great too.
- Olive oil. Rubbing each corn with olive oil before air frying improves the flavors and ensures that it gets crispy while cooking. You can swap it out for another type of oil, but I would not brush it with butter before cooking. This will cause your air fried corn to turn excessively brown.
- Salt and pepper. After brushing with oil, season with as much salt and black pepper as it feels right to you. Include additional spices such as garlic powder, paprika or cayenne pepper, if desired
- Melted butter. For the best experience, serve air fry sweet corn with melted butter on top. Regular butter can also be replaced with nondairy alternatives such as vegan butter.
How to choose the best corn?
When picking corn, look for husks that are bright green and tightly wrapped around the ear. Check for any brown spots or holes, as these indicate that the corn is old and no more fresh. A further tip is looking at the corn silks, they should be light brown and slightly wet, not dark brown, black and dry.
You can indeed get your corn from the grocery store. But for a fresher taste and juicier texture I recommend purchasing it from local farmers’ markets or roadside stands. Besides being tastier and more natural, consuming local produces is a great way to support the local economy.
How to cook corn on the cob in air fryer?
- Prepare corn. Remove husk and silk from the corn, then trim the ends. If the corn is too big and does not fit in your air fryer basket, cut it into two halves.
- Season corn. Lightly brush each ear of corn with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper to taste. You can also experiment with extra seasonings such as paprika, chili flakes, garlic powder or dried herbs.
- Air fry corn on cob. Fit in the air fryer basket and roast corn at 370°F (155°C) for 12 to 20 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes. You know it’s ready when the kernels are golden brown and tender. Let cool for about 5 minutes, then serve with melted butter and extra seasonings on top.
Recipe variations
- Spicy chili-lime corn. Mix together melted butter, chili powder, lime juice, and a pinch of cayenne pepper. Brush onto cooked corn and sprinkle with chopped cilantro.
- Air fryer Parmesan corn on the cob. Combine grated Parmesan cheese with chopped fresh herbs like parsley, thyme, and rosemary. Once cooked, roll the corn in the mixture until fully coated.
- BBQ bacon wrapped corn. After cooking, wrap with strips of bacon and roast corn on the cob in air fryer for a couple of minutes more, until the bacon is crispy. Enjoy with BBQ sauce as a tasty side dish for barbecues.
- Air fryer corn on the cob with mayo. Spread cooked corn with mayonnaise, sprinkles of cheese, chili powder, and a squeeze of lime juice. It will feeling like eating Mexican street food, made at home.
Tips for the best air fryer corn on the cob
- Pick the best corn – Air fry ears of corn that are fresh, with a bright green husk and light brown silks. Do not purchase those with dark spots all over the husk and dry silks, it’s a sign that the food is old.
- Season to taste – When it comes to seasoning corn, you should add as much salt and pepper as you like. Adding extra spices and dried herbs is absolutely fine. But do not exaggerate with seasonings, or they will cover the taste of sweet corn.
- Fit in the air fryer – If the basket of your air fryer is too small or if it is too long and doesn’t fit, cut each corn into half. When accommodating the sweet corn in air fryer, do not overcrowd the basket to ensure even roasting.
- Adjust cooking time – Cooking corn on the cob in air fryer should require from 12 to 20 minutes, depending on the power of your machine. I used a ninja foodi and it took me about 15 minutes.
Storing leftovers
After cooking corn on the cob in the air fryer, you can serve it right away or put away for later. To store it, allow corn to cool completely first. Once cooled, place leftovers in an airtight container and refrigerate for a maximum of 4 days. To reheat, pan roast or air fry for a couple of minutes until the corn gets warm and crispy one again. For a longer storage, pack the corn cob in zipper bags and place in the freezer. Frozen, it will last for up to 3 months.
Yes, both fresh and frozen sweet corn work. To air fry frozen corn, I recommend taking it out of the freezer and allowing it to thaw completely before cooking. But if you are in a rush, you can also air fry it frozen without prior thawing. In this case, the corn may require some more cooking.
Yes, you can make air fryer corn on the cob with husk on! Simply remove the silk, brush with olive oil, season with salt and pepper, then air fry until golden brown and tender.
It depends on brands and models. Some require preheating the machine before cooking, others don’t. You can checking this out by reading through the instruction manual.
Wrapping corn in aluminum foil is a common technique to enhance and preserve the flavors. Although some people recommend it, it is not necessary. This recipe does not require it.
More air fryer recipes
- Air fryer tofu
- Healthy zucchini fries
- Air fryer salmon bites
- Air fryer tortilla chips
- Frozen broccoli in air fryer
- Air fryer chickpeas
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
Equipment
Ingredients
- 4 ears of corn
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- ½ to 1 tbsp butter, for servings
- salt and pepper, to taste
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer to 370°F (155°C), if it is necessary.
- Remove husk and silk from the corn, then trim the ends. If the corn does not fit in your air fryer basket, cut it into two halves.
- Lightly brush each ear of corn with olive oil, then season with salt and pepper to taste.
- Place in the air fryer basket and air fry at 370°F (155°C) for 12 to 16 minutes, flipping every 5 minutes. It is ready when golden brown and tender.
- Serve air fryer corn on the cob warm, with melted butter and extra seasonings on top.
This is a fantastic way to make corn on the cob! Looks colorful and I already can smell ??? is look like “elote”, mexican style, ORALE! ??
Hey dear Liza,
what a great pleasure reading your nice comment. I completely agree with all you said. Roasting corn in an air fryer is a real game changer, it makes it crispy and nicely toasted, with all the good Mexican flavors! Now that you mentioned Elote, I remembered Trader Joe’s elote seasonings and elote dip we got in Chicago!! So tasty, and perfect with this roasted corn on the cob 😉
Mexican style, like Orale ahaha.
Have a fantastic day,
Matteo