Air-Fryer Corn Dogs: Quick, Easy, And Delicious

Corn dogs are a popular snack, especially during the summer months. While they can be cooked in an oven or microwave, using an air fryer is a game-changer. Not only does it eliminate the need to turn on your oven when it's hot, but it also ensures your corn dogs are crispy and golden brown, not soggy. Air-fried corn dogs have a crunchy exterior and a juicy interior, and they're ready in just a few minutes. So, if you're looking for a quick, delicious, and easy snack, here's how to cook corn dogs in an air fryer.

How to Cook Corn Dogs in an Air Fryer

Preheat the air fryer

Preheating your air fryer is an important step in the cooking process. It ensures that your corn dogs will cook evenly, giving them that desirable crispy exterior and fluffy, juicy interior. The ideal temperature to preheat your air fryer to is between 350°F and 360°F.

The preheating temperature can vary slightly depending on your air fryer brand and the desired level of crispiness. Some recipes suggest heating to 370°F or even 375°F for a darker, crunchier finish. If you prefer your corn dogs with a lighter golden colour, preheat your air fryer to 350°F.

The preheating time will depend on your air fryer model, but it usually takes around 5 minutes to reach the desired temperature. While your air fryer is preheating, you can prepare your corn dogs. Take them out of the freezer and arrange them in a single layer on a greased tray or directly in the air fryer basket, ensuring they do not touch.

Once your air fryer has preheated to the desired temperature, you can place the corn dogs inside and set the timer. The cooking time will vary depending on the size of your corn dogs and your preferred level of doneness, but it typically ranges from 8 to 16 minutes. For mini corn dogs, reduce the cooking time to about 10-12 minutes.

Arrange corn dogs in a single layer

When preparing corn dogs in an air fryer, it is important to arrange them in a single layer. This ensures even cooking and allows hot air to circulate properly, giving the corn dogs that nice crunchy texture. Depending on the size of your air fryer basket, you can cook anywhere from 1 to 5 or 6 corn dogs at a time. Make sure to leave space between the corn dogs so they do not touch each other. This will help to prevent overcrowding and ensure that the air circulates effectively.

When arranging the corn dogs in a single layer, you can place them directly on the air fryer basket or on a wire rack for oven-style air fryers. If you are using a basket-style air fryer, you may want to spray the basket or tray with cooking spray first to prevent sticking. You can also spritz the corn dogs themselves with oil to promote even crispiness.

It is important to note that you should not overcrowd the air fryer basket when cooking corn dogs. Leaving space between the corn dogs will ensure that they cook evenly and achieve the desired crispiness. If you are cooking a large batch of corn dogs, you may need to work in batches to ensure that there is enough space for proper air circulation.

By arranging the corn dogs in a single layer and allowing for proper air circulation, you can achieve the best results and ensure that your corn dogs turn out crispy and golden brown on the outside, with a juicy and tender hot dog inside.

Cook for 10-16 minutes

Cooking corn dogs in an air fryer is a quick and easy process. Depending on the brand of your air fryer and the size of the corn dogs, the cooking time may vary. For regular-sized corn dogs, the cooking time is usually between 10 and 16 minutes. For mini corn dogs, the cooking time is typically reduced to 8-10 minutes.

To achieve the perfect corn dog, it is important to ensure even cooking by arranging the corn dogs in a single layer, leaving space between them so they do not touch. This allows the hot air to circulate properly, giving the corn dogs that desirable crunchy texture.

During the cooking process, it is recommended to flip the corn dogs halfway through to ensure even cooking and browning on all sides. This is especially important if you are cooking a larger batch of corn dogs, as it helps to prevent overcrowding in the air fryer basket.

While the exact cooking time may vary, the goal is to cook the corn dogs until they are golden brown and crispy on the outside, with a fluffy or juicy interior. The cooking time will also depend on the desired level of crispness. For an even crispier breading, you can spray the corn dogs with cooking spray or brush them lightly with oil before placing them in the air fryer.

Once the corn dogs are cooked to your desired level of doneness, remove them from the air fryer and let them cool for a few minutes before serving. Corn dogs are often served with an assortment of dipping sauces, ranging from classic ketchup or mustard to more creative options like honey mustard, ranch, or even copycat Chick-fil-A sauce.

With their crispy exterior and juicy interior, air-fried corn dogs are a convenient and delicious treat that can be enjoyed by both adults and children.

Flip halfway through

Flipping your corn dogs halfway through the cooking process is an important step in ensuring they cook evenly and get that desirable crispy texture all over. Depending on your air fryer brand, the temperature you are cooking at, and the number of corn dogs you are cooking, you should flip your corn dogs after 5 to 8 minutes.

Flipping your corn dogs halfway through will ensure that they are evenly crispy and not just on the bottom. This is because air fryers work by moving hot air around the food, and by flipping your corn dogs, you are allowing the hot air to reach all sides of the food. This will give you that perfect crispy texture and golden colour all over.

It is also important to leave space between your corn dogs when placing them in the air fryer basket. This is so that the air can circulate properly and cook all sides of the corn dogs evenly. You should also preheat your air fryer before adding the corn dogs, as this will help them to cook evenly.

When flipping your corn dogs, you may also want to give the air fryer basket a shake to ensure any grease is distributed evenly and to avoid the corn dogs from sticking.

Finally, don't forget that you can cook your corn dogs directly from frozen, so there is no need to thaw them first. Simply place them in the air fryer straight from the freezer and flip halfway through for the perfect crispy corn dog!

Serve with sauces

Corn dogs cooked in an air fryer are a great snack and a fun throwback to childhood memories of summer treats, state fair indulgences, and family fun. They are also a great meal option as they are quick and easy to cook. You can serve them with a variety of sauces, including:

• Ketchup or mustard
• Honey mustard
• Ranch dressing
• Thousand Island dressing
• Sweet and sour sauce
• Barbecue sauce
• Your favourite dipping sauce

You can also experiment with different sauces to find your perfect combination. For example, if you are feeling adventurous, you could try a copycat Chick-fil-A sauce or a McDonald's sweet and sour sauce.

The options are endless, so get creative and find the sauces that best complement your corn dogs. You can also serve them with a variety of sides, such as malt vinegar french fries and lemonade shake-up, to make it a complete meal.

Frequently asked questions