It’s hard to beat the convenience of air fryer frozen salmon. It’s ready in under 15 minutes and you don’t even have to defrost it first! You’re going to love this convenient technique for tender and flaky salmon fillets. Show
Looking to cook fresh salmon filets? Check out my perfect air fryer salmon recipe instead. I love to cook with fresh ingredients, but it’s always great to have some go-to pantry recipes to have for those times when you haven’t gotten to the grocery store or didn’t have time to plan your next meal ahead of time. When I’m looking for a healthy dinner that’s quick and easy to throw together, I reach for frozen salmon! The beauty of frozen salmon is that you don’t have to defrost it before you cook it in your air fryer; you can take it straight from the freezer to your plate in about 15 minutes. But don’t worry! It definitely won’t taste like it was made in a hurry. The air fryer does a great job at not only cooking the fish perfectly but also keeps it moist and delicious! This simple air fryer frozen salmon is such a versatile dish, too. You can eat it as-is with some rice or quinoa, throw it on a salad, use it in a casserole or with pasta, or make my favorite salmon patties. What you’ll love about this recipe:
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What you’ll need to cook frozen salmon filletsThere’s nothing more delicious than a fresh, flavorful piece of salmon. This recipe keeps things super simple, with just a few ingredients. All you need are:
Ingredient Substitutions and Variations
The benefits of frozen salmonYou might think of frozen fish as a bit of a downgrade from fresh-caught salmon, but there’s no reason to fear the freezer! It’s one of the best tools we have in the kitchen, and fish is just one of the many things that are made even better by freezing. You may not know this, but the “fresh” fish you buy at the supermarket has usually been previously frozen anyway, so you need to eat it pretty quickly. Buying frozen salmon is more convenient, since freezing halts bacterial growthth and helps ensure your fish doesn’t spoil quickly. You can keep salmon in your freezer for up to six months before it starts to lose its quality. It’s there and ready to cook whenever you’re ready to eat! Freezing also preserves nutrients, including protein, fat and fat-soluble vitamins like vitamins A and D. So if you’re wondering if frozen salmon is healthy, the answer is a resounding yes! It’s even considered a superfood! How to cook salmon straight from the freezer1. Before you start cooking, remove any ice or excess water from the frozen fillet. You can do this by patting it down with paper towels. This will allow the salmon to cook evenly and thoroughly and will prevent it from getting mushy. 2. Pop the frozen salmon in your air fryer for 7 minutes. This step is to defrost the fish, it won’t be fully cooked yet. 3. Brush the salmon with a little bit of olive oil and season generously with salt and pepper. Then, lay the lemon slices in a single layer over the fillets. 4. Return the salmon to the air fryer and cook for 3-7 minutes, depending on how thick your fillets are and how you like your salmon done. (The thin salmon fillets in the photos here took 3 minutes; thicker fillets will take longer.) Common questions about frozen salmon:What about the skin?The skin on salmon is totally edible (and delicious!), so you don’t have to worry about removing it if you don’t want to. Keeping the skin on the salmon as it cooks also helps insulate it, keeping it moist and holding it together. If your salmon fillets have skin, I recommend cooking them with the skin on, even if you plan to remove it before eating them. Add the salmon skin side down to your air fryer. How to know when your salmon is done?The USDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of 145ºF, and if you’re pregnant or immuno-compromised you should definitely follow that guideline. That said, at this temperature, your fish will be very well done and dry. Most chefs recommend cooking salmon to medium, with a temperature of 125-135º (remember the temperature will continue to increase even after you stop cooking). The easiest way to check for doneness is by using a meat thermometer, but you can also look at it. The salmon should be crisp and slightly browned on the edges and should fall into tender flakes when scraped gently with a fork. Does cooking salmon in the air fryer dry it out?If you choose good-quality frozen salmon filets and cook them properly, they will be very moist and juicy even without any sauce or marinade. Do I need to defrost salmon before cooking it in the air fryer?Nope! Just follow these instructions and you’ll have perfectly cooked salmon straight from the freezer. It’s so easy! More delicious salmon recipes
How to Cook Frozen Salmon in the Air FryerIf you have a craving for salmon but don't have time to thaw it out, this is the recipe for you. It will take you only minutes to cook this tender and flaky salmon. 5 from 6 votes Print Pin SaveSaved!Course: Healthy Weeknight Dinner Recipes Cuisine: American Keyword: air fryer salmon, frozen salmon fillets, frozen salmon recipe, how to cook salmon Prep Time: 5 minutes Cook Time: 15 minutes Servings: 2 servings Calories: 258kcal Author: Lauren Keating Cook ModePrevent your screen from going dark Ingredients
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