Air Fryer Corn on the Cob in Foil
Perfectly juicy, flavorful Air Fryer Corn on the Cob can be achieved in just ten minutes – with no boiling water! This easy side dish is a great choice for a quick weeknight meal!
Corn on the Cob is always a crowd-pleaser. It’s fun to eat, has an amazing buttery flavor and it goes with so many main dishes.
The only downside to Corn on the Cob is finding a pot big enough to fit it all, waiting for the water to boil, and then waiting for the boiling to finish. But not anymore!
The air fryer is a great tool for cooking flavorful corn on the cob in just a few minutes–with no threat of a steam burn.
Corn cooked in the air fryer comes out with a beautiful lightly-charred exterior with each kernel bursting with flavor and juice. Coat it in a little bit of butter and salt and it’s perfection!
It’s the perfect side dish for burgers, steaks, pork chops or Air Fryer BBQ Chicken. If you’re looking for an easy way to prepare corn on the cob to go with a quick weeknight meal, this is one you’ve got to try!
Why Make This Recipe
- Easy: No boiling water, no big pot, no long wait. Just pop the cobs in the air fryer and you’re on your way!
- Flavorful: Buttery, crispy, salty, juicy–everything you would want in your corn on the cob and maybe even a little more. The air fryer is a great tool for creating a corn masterpiece.
Ingredients for Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
- Ears of Corn: Be sure and remove the husk. It may also be a good idea to cut your cobs in half to fit into your air fryer. You can use frozen corn on the cob, but your cook time might be a little bit longer.
- Unsalted Butter
- Salt
How to Pick the Perfect Corn
There are a few things you can look for–without peeling back the husk to reveal the corn underneath.
- Silks: The hair-like strands at the top of the cob are called the silks. These should be moist and light brown. If the strands are dark brown or even black, the corn is older and probably not as good.
- Husk: Bright green, damp husks mean fresh corn. Avoid any that are turning brown or have brown spots. The husk should be clinging to the corn, not easily peeled away.
- Firmness: The final test is how firm the cob is. You want to squeeze along the cob to feel for firm, full kernels. If there are any soft spots or spots that feel like the kernels are missing, especially near the top, don’t choose that one.
Tools
- Air Fryer
- Tongs
- Aluminum Foil
How to Make This Recipe
Step One: Prep
Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (200°C) for about 3-5 minutes.
Place each ear of corn on a piece of aluminum foil large enough to wrap it completely.
Place 1 tablespoon of butter on each ear of corn.
Sprinkle each ear of corn with salt, dividing it evenly among them.
Wrap each ear of corn tightly in the aluminum foil.
Step Two: Air Fry
Place the wrapped corn in the air fryer basket, arranging them in a single layer.
Cook in the air fryer at 390°F (200°C) for 10 minutes.
Step Three: Crisp
After 10 minutes, carefully unwrap the corn and roll them in the melted butter in the aluminum foil. Then return the ears of corn to the air fryer basket.
Cook uncovered for an additional 3 minutes to allow the corn to develop a slight char and enhance the flavor.
Once cooked, remove the sweetcorn from the air fryer and serve hot.
Expert Tips
- You can use fresh or frozen corn on the cob for this recipe. If you use frozen you may want to add one minute to your cooking time.
- Allow the corn to rest for just a moment before enjoying. It comes out very hot, so this is partially to protect you. It also allows the flavor and juices to settle.
- Every air fryer is a little different so watch your cooking time carefully. You may need to stop your air fryer sooner if you think your corn is burning. The aluminum foil should help protect it.
FAQs
Yes, you can use salted butter, but adjust the added salt accordingly to avoid over-seasoning.
Absolutely! Feel free to customize the seasoning with your favorite herbs or spices like garlic powder, smoked paprika, or freshly ground black pepper. Corn has a subtle, sweet flavor that is easily overpowered by too many spices so I don’t recommend adding too many.
Depending on the size of your air fryer, you may be able to cook more ears of corn at once. Just make sure they fit comfortably in a single layer in the basket without overcrowding.
Yes, you can cook the corn directly in the air fryer basket, but using foil helps to keep the corn moist and prevents it from drying out during cooking.
You can serve this corn on the cob as a side dish with grilled meat or burgers. Serve it with some extra butter on top and salt and pepper. To really dress it up you can serve it with parmesan cheese or fresh parsley.
Did you enjoy this recipe? If so, make sure to check out these other recipes I picked out just for you:
- Air Fryer Barbecue Chicken
- Mexicali Dip
- Rotel Tacos
- Corn Fritos Dip
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
Equipment
- Air Fryer
- Tongs
- Aluminum Foil
Ingredients
- 4 ears corn, husked
- 4 tablespoons unsalted butter, divided
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
Instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 390°F (200°C) for about 3-5 minutes.
- Place each of the 4 ears of corn on a piece of aluminum foil large enough to wrap it completely.
- Place 1 tablespoon of butter on each ear of corn.
- Sprinkle each ear of corn with 1/2 tsp salt, dividing it evenly among them.
- Wrap each ear of corn tightly in the aluminum foil.
- Place the wrapped corn in the air fryer basket, arranging them in a single layer.
- Cook in the air fryer at 390°F (200°C) for 10 minutes.
- After 10 minutes, carefully unwrap the corn and roll them in the melted butter in the aluminum foil. Then return the ears of corn to the air fryer basket.
- Cook uncovered for an additional 3 minutes to allow the corn to develop a slight char and enhance the flavor.
- Once cooked, remove the sweetcorn from the air fryer and serve hot.
Notes
- Ears of Corn: Be sure and remove the husk. It may also be a good idea to cut your cobs in half to fit into your air fryer. You can use frozen corn on the cob, but your cook time might be a little bit longer.
- Unsalted Butter
- Salt
- You can use fresh or frozen corn on the cob for this recipe. If you use frozen you may want to add one minute to your cooking time.
- Allow the corn to rest for just a moment before enjoying. It comes out very hot, so this is partially to protect you. It also allows the flavor and juices to settle.
- Every air fryer is a little different so watch your cooking time carefully. You may need to stop your air fryer sooner if you think your corn is burning. The aluminum foil should help protect it.
