Corn ribs are the viral side that curls up as it cooks — sweetcorn cut into quarters lengthways, charred and seasoned. The air fryer does them in 12 minutes. Here's how, and how to cut them safely.
Key takeaways
Q: How do you make corn ribs in an air fryer?
A: Quarter corn cobs lengthways, toss with oil and spice, and air fry at 200°C (400°F) for 10–12 minutes — they curl as they cook.
Q: How do you cut corn into ribs?
A: Carefully — microwave the cob 2 minutes to soften it first, then cut lengthways into quarters.
How to cut them
Raw corn cobs are hard to cut safely, so microwave each cob for about 2 minutes to soften it. Stand it up, slice down through the middle, then quarter each half lengthways. The strips curl into "ribs" as they cook in the air fryer.
The recipe
Air Fryer Corn Ribs
Ingredients
- 2 corn cobs, quartered lengthways
- 1 tbsp oil
- 1 tsp paprika, garlic, chilli
- Lime, coriander to finish
Method
- Soften cobs in the microwave 2 min; quarter.
- Toss with oil and spice.
- Air fry at 200°C for 10–12 minutes.
- Finish with lime and coriander.
Tips
- Soften the cob first so it's safe to cut.
- Spice it up — paprika, chilli and lime are classic.
- They curl as they cook — that's the fun.
Frequently asked questions
How do you make corn ribs in an air fryer?
Quarter softened corn cobs lengthways, toss with oil and spice, and air fry at 200°C for 10–12 minutes. They curl into 'ribs' as they cook.
How do you cut corn into ribs safely?
Microwave each cob for about 2 minutes to soften it first, then stand it up and cut down into quarters lengthways — much safer than cutting raw.
Why do corn ribs curl?
As the kernels cook and dry on the outside, the strip bends, curling the rib — which is part of their appeal.