Air fryer corn on the cob without husks cooks perfectly in your Ninja Foodi or other brand in just minutes! Tender kernels with just a bit of crispy on the edges, it is a healthy side dish we make with fresh or frozen cobs.
Jump To
- Ninja Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
- How to Cook Air Fryer Corn on the Cob without Husk
- How long to Cook Corn on the Cob in Air Fryer
- How Long to Cook Air Fryer Corn on the Cob Halves
- How Long to Cook Air Fryer Corn on the Cob Frozen
- Can you add potatoes?
- Mexican Street Corn Seasonings
- Air Fryer Corn on the Cob Recipe
- FAQ
- What can I do with corn husks?
Now that I’ve made easy air fryer corn on the cob I don’t think I will ever boil water to make it again!! If you too want to skip that step and go straight to enjoying tender kernels we have some directions for you. A favorite air fryer recipe.
I kid you not, this is a real game changer. It’s so easy we make it this way at least once a week for dinner. Fresh or frozen works too, depending on what you have on hand. Of course fresh is best. 😉
Ninja Air Fryer Corn on the Cob
You can make this as an easy Ninja Foodi recipe as you see here or use any other brand of pot you might have. They all work basically the same, except that with this one you have to use the air crisp lid which is attached.
Tips: My Favorite models are the Cosori or making Ninja Foodi recipes with the lid that is attached.
It is best practice to put food into a hot basket. This is how to preheat air fryer first before adding your food so it becomes as crispy as possible. For best results, here’s a printable free air fryer cooking time chart here for your fridge.
When choosing your pieces at the store or farmers market you want large kernels that are juicy looking and not shriveled or dried up at all. If it is starting to get dry looking it is no good and you shouldn’t buy it, just wait until it’s more in season. I think it is faster and the texture is better with the husk removed for this method and our Instant Pot corn on the cob too.
Summertime is the best because vegetables are so fresh and cheap. I feel like corn is one of those veggies though that you can find year round. Buying them with the husk still on will keep it fresher a bit longer I feel. I would definitely pull the top down though right there in the store. I have had many times where it looked fine but when I was ready to cook it and peeled the husks down I was really disappointed.
How to Cook Air Fryer Corn on the Cob without Husk
Once you’re ready to cook these it is best to remove the husks so the heat can circulate all the way around each cob. The best way to do this is cut the ends off and the husks and hairs will slide right off.
How long to Cook Corn on the Cob in Air Fryer
Timing and temp doesn’t change with the type or brand of machine you have, it’s still about 8 minutes without the husks. The same goes for all of them, biggest tip to get them done in this time is to not overlap them as they need area for the hot arir to rotate around the whole cob, or make our corn ribs recipe.
Can you air fry corn on the cob in husks?
Yes you could but it will take 20-24 minutes. I suggest that you soak them in a bowl of cool water first. Lift out and allow the excess moisture to drip off before adding into your preheated machine so they can steam to tender inside.
How Long to Cook Air Fryer Corn on the Cob Halves
Whether you add whole or halved cobs the cook time won’t matter. Obviously if they are cut in half the husks would be removed so the cook time is still 8 minutes, the same as if they were left whole.
How Long to Cook Air Fryer Corn on the Cob Frozen
Cook time is only a difference of a minute or two, that is it. A great option during the wintertime when you may not find fresh in season. Usually these are sold in half cobs. It will thaw in about a minute so timing shouldn’t really change. I go over all the ways of how to cook frozen corn on the cob here so you can compare and see which is best for your family.
Can you add potatoes?
If you want to make this into more of a complete meal, follow our air fryer shrimp boil recipe. That uses corn as you see here broken into halves so they fit better, seafood and potatoes all cooked together! It is a great option to make a one pot meal with meat and veggies cooked together perfectly.
Mexican Street Corn Seasonings
Want to add a lot of flavor to this dish, I mean yeah let’s give it a whirl right? What is Mexican street corn made of?
- 1/4 c. mayonnaise & sour cream
- 1/2 tsp chili powder
- 1 tbsp. lime juice
- 1/2 c. cotija cheese
When done mix the following 5 ingredients together and brush it on each one. Some like it thick and others just like a smear with a little sprinkle of coating for flavor.
Air Fryer Corn on the Cob Recipe
Equipment
- 1 air fryer
Ingredients
- 2 ears corn on the cob, or more but 2 full size fit at a time, without husks
- 2 tbsp butter, melted
- 1 pinch salt, to taste
Instructions
- Cut 1.5" off of tip of each ear of corn. Remove husks and silks from ears of corn.
- Generously rub olive oil all over 2 ears of corn and put inside air fryer basket. (optional, can omit if you prefer but it will keep kernels moist)
- Close air fryer lid and set to 390 degrees for 8 minutes total.
- Flip ears of corn half way through cooking process.
- At end of time if you want kernels a bit softer just add 2 more minutes or so. Add another 2 ears in if you have additional batches.
- Melt butter and pour over ears of corn when they're all done. Season with salt, pepper and paprika. Some grated parmesan is good too.
Video
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
FAQ
You could but it will dry out a bit and get a bit crispy on the outside. For a fast quick idea you can though. I’d set to 390 for 3 minutes.
The nice thing about this is you can choose to either pressure cook it, or air fry it. Both ways are delicious and WAY easier than the “old fashioned” method you saw growing up.
Yes! I mean it makes sense that it would submerged in water. Corn is a good source of Vitamin B6, Iron, Magnesium and Calcium. High temperatures and longer cook times degrade vitamins that are sensitive to heat. If you had two side by side, once boiled and one air fried you’d notice the difference.
Of course any fresh fruit or vegetable has nutrients, this one is higher in carbs than others but still good for you. Sweet corn is also packed with fiber which is great if you have high cholesterol. It’s also low in fat and provides about 17% of Vitamin C for the day. Lower in protein it still is a healthy side dish I would say if you’re coming up with a summer menu.
Using your air fryer, Crockpot corn on the cob or pressure cooker will keep those vitamins in tact and takes a fraction of the time too! You figure it takes a good 15 minutes for a large pot of water to start to boil, then at least 15 minutes to soften the kernels.
Using either method here you’ll have perfect corn on the cob in about 10 minutes flat. Much faster than corn in the oven for sure and a crispier outside.! This is how to cook fresh corn 4 other ways too. Roasted corn on the smoker is fun too with melted butter and salt on the top. Try them all y’all! 😉
After this, give our air fryer eggplant a whirl and let us know which one you like best! Cooking corn has never been easier than this!! You will likely never make it another way again. It’s quick and easy + the texture is perfect. You no longer have to heat up the house on hot summer nights.
What can I do with corn husks?
We throw ours in our compost bin!! They’re great for decomposition and creating nutrient rich soil to use in our vegetable garden. You can also use dried corn husks to make tamales! They’re great to make corn husk angels twisted and turned with twine held together for the holidays.
Use them to wrap food for grilling or steaming. Similar concept as using banana leaves for cooking. We keep them on when making smoked corn on the cob Allow them to dry out and use corn on the cob as fire starters!
You’re missing the boat taking the corn out of the husk. Soak in water for an hour and air fry 4 minutes per side. The silk sugars break down and flavor the corn so well it needs no seasoning. I promise it will be the best corn you ever ate