If you’ve ever wondered, can you cook corn on the cob in the air fryer, then you’re in luck. You can and this air fryer corn on the cob recipe will show you just how easy it is to do. In next to no time, you have a simple but incredibly delicious side with no mess and no fuss.

When corn is on sale, I tend to buy up and cook up a batch of this corn to serve Mexican street corn style alongside roast chicken or stirred through my Spanish red rice.

4 cobs of corn on a silver baking tray topped with butter and avocado.

Why you’ll love it

Air fried corn on the cob is a side dish that has it all.

  • Very affordable
  • Fast and easy
  • Incredibly delicious
  • Can be served in a variety of ways
  • Great for meal prep and even freezing

Take fresh sweet corn on the cob, remove the husks and silks, then rub over a little oil, salt and pepper. Once air fried, this corn is perfectly sweet, juicy and tender and tastes amazing.

It’s perfect served immediately just as it is on the cob, maybe with some butter. You can also cut it off the cob and mix the butter through making it easier to eat. Try serving it up with toppings or in salads too.

The flavour of fresh corn kernels, compared to, for instance, the tinned version, is so much better so it’s a great idea to make the most of fresh corn when it’s available.

A black bowl, filled with cooked corn kernels.

Should I buy an air fryer?

I’m not a lover of appliances filling up my kitchen, so I get it. If the words “do I really need another appliance?” are filling your ears – all I can say is I felt the same and now I’m a convert.

I culled my appliances long ago and haven’t looked back. Now my appliance needs are fairly basic – toaster, kettle, jaffle maker (can’t let that one go), coffee maker, rice maker, slow cooker and now, my air fryer. For a food blogger, I think that’s pretty good going.

I love my air fryer and use it 2-3 times a week. Almost anything can be cooked in it and it’s only limitation is size. For a meal for 2 it works perfectly but we can also cook a whole roast chicken, and enough chips, while it’s resting, for a family of 4 – all without heating up the whole kitchen with the oven and in just over an hour.

Do I think it’s worth it – definitely. Mine is a Philips XXL – not sure what the XXL part is about because it’s a fairly average size, and I fit 4 corn cobs in mine at a time. Or up to 8 chicken drumsticks like I did with these air fryer teriyaki chicken drumsticks.

Air fryer corn ingredients

With just 4 ingredients, this has got to be one of the simplest recipes to throw together.

Ingredients for air fryer corn on a marble benchtop.

Detailed quantities and directions in the recipe card below.

  • Corn on the cob: Of course, they’re the star of the show. 
  • Oil: I use a light flavoured extra virgin olive oil but any vegetable oil will do the job.
  • Salt and pepper: This simple seasoning is all the corn needs but you can certainly add other flavourings too.

Can I use frozen corn?

You can use frozen corn for this recipe but you’ll need to add an additional 3-4 minutes to the cooking time.

How to choose corn on the cob

For the best result, choose ears of corn that have nice green husks and feel firm and plump when you give them a gentle squeeze. Check the base of the corn to make sure the part that was attached to the stalk is still green and doesn’t look shrivelled or dried out.

The tuft of silk at the top may be brown but shouldn’t be black or mushy. A little lower down on the silks, they should still feel moist and not dried up.

Tools you’ll need

  • Air fryer: I use a Philips XXL air fryer which has a 1.4kg capacity. The basket fits 4 corn cobs side by side. This is a fairly common sized air fryer but if yours is round or smaller, you may need to do the corn in batches or cut the cobs in half.

How to cook corn on the cob in an air fryer

Using your air fryer, in just 10 minutes you can have delicious fresh corn on the cob, ready to serve.

A collage of 3 images showing how to make air fryer corn.

See the recipe card below for the full recipe details.

  1. Prepare the corn: Start by peeling away the husks and breaking off the stalk at the bottom. Now remove all the silks (photo 1).
  2. Season the corn: Place the corn in a bowl and rub all over with oil, salt and pepper (photo 2). You need very little oil when using the air fryer.
  3. Air fry the corn: Place the corn, in a single layer, into the air fryer basket and cook at 180C / 350F for 10-12 minutes (photo 3).

Do I need to preheat my air fryer?

While some believe, just like you preheat an oven, you preheat the air fryer, I have a different view.

An air fryer gets to it’s set temperature extremely quickly, so the question of preheating your air fryer before cooking will depend on your particular model. I never bother to preheat mine. Your air fryers booklet should tell you whether to preheat or not.

Can I cook corn on the cob in the oven?

Don’t have an air fryer? No worries, because this delicious corn on the cob recipe is also easy to cook in the oven. Season the cobs as directed, then wrap them in foil (they can all be in one package). Place on a baking tray and bake at 200C / 395F / 180C fan forced for 40 minutes.

4 cobs of corn on a silver baking tray topped with butter and avocado.

How to serve it

There are so many ways to serve your air fryer corn.

  • On the cob: Spread over a dab of butter and serve it immediately on the cob.
  • Cut off the cob: Stand the cob on it’s flat end on a chopping board, then carefully cut down behind the kernels, from about half way down the cob. Chop the pointy top off then stand it on that end and repeat. Add to a bowl with a little butter and give it a mix to combine. This way is much easier to eat.
  • With toppings: Adding toppings like smashed avocado, crumbled feta and chilli flakes is lovely.
  • Mexican street corn style: Combine ⅓ cup sour cream, ⅓ cup mayonnaise, 1 clove of minced garlic, the zest of one lime, ½ teaspoon chili powder, ½ teaspoon paprika and 2 tablespoons of chopped coriander (cilantro). Brush this mixture over the cooked corn, then scatter over crumbled cotija or feta cheese, a little more coriander and a little paprika. 
  • Cheesy: Spread over a little butter, then sprinkle with a bit of finely shredded parmesan cheese.

Storage

This corn can be stored in the fridge, in an airtight container for 3-4 days – on or off the cob. You can also freeze the corn. Cut it off the cob to save on room and place it in an airtight ziplock bag and store in the freezer for up to 3 months.

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4 cobs of corn on a silver baking tray topped with butter.

If you try this air fryer corn on the cob recipe, please take a moment to leave a rating and comment below. I love hearing from you and it helps other readers too! You can also take a photo and tag @sugarsaltmagic on Instagram.

More side dish recipes you’ll love

4 cobs of corn on a silver baking tray topped with butter and avocado.
5 from 3 ratings
Air fryer corn on the cob is a quick and easy side dish or snack. This fuss-free recipe results in perfectly tender, sweet and juicy corn on the cob, ready to serve in just 12 minutes.

Ingredients

  • 4 fresh sweet corn cobs
  • 2 teaspoons oil
  • ¼ teaspoon salt
  • ¼ teaspoon pepper
  • Butter to serve

For best results, always weigh ingredients where a weight is provided

Instructions
 

  • Remove the corn husks, stem and silks and discard.
  • Place the corn cobs in a bowl and and rub with the oil, salt and pepper.
  • Place them in a single layer in your air fryer basket. Air fry at 180C / 375F, 10-12 minutes – there’s no need to turn them.
  • Serve immediately, whole with some butter or carefully cut the kernels away from the cobs, then mix some butter through.

Notes

  1. Frozen corn: If using frozen corn cobs, air fry for an additional 3-4 minutes.
  2. Oven: Can also be baked in the oven – wrap in foil and bake at 200C / 395F / 180C fan forced for 40 minutes.
  3. Air fryer size: If your air fryer can’t fit 4 full cobs, try cutting them in half first or cook them in batches.
  4. Topping ideas: butter, sour cream or Mexican elote style (see post for more info).
MORE SIDE DISHES!
Have you tried this recipe?Don’t forget to leave a rating and comment below and let me know how it was! I love hearing from you. Nutrition information is approximate and derived from an online calculator. The brands you use may cause variations.