Salmon is always a great choice at the dinner table, but preparing it can take time and effort. Of course, you can always air-fry your fish, but you could end up ruining an otherwise excellent cut of salmon if you don’t know the correct setting for it.
To air-fry salmon at 400 degrees Fahrenheit, cook it for at least 7-9 minutes. The exact time will depend on how thick your salmon is, so always check it with a fork to ensure doneness. Cook it for another minute or two if needed.
Does that sound easy to you? If so, keep reading to learn more about the ins and outs of air-fried salmon and some ideas for serving it.
How Do You Air Fry Salmon Properly?
Air-frying salmon properly doesn’t require any special gadgets or processes. All you need to do is prepare your salmon as you would if you were cooking it on the stove or in the oven.
First, make sure your salmon pieces are dry. Doing so ensures that any seasonings you apply to it will adhere properly; otherwise, the moisture will cause them to slide off the fish.
Next, sprinkle the pieces with salt, pepper, and any other dry seasonings you intend to use. Don’t be shy about using your fingers to make sure the coating is even. Add a generous amount of paprika if you want to keep a reddish crust on your cooked salmon.
If you plan to use any glaze on your salmon, apply it after coating it with the dry seasonings. Apply it directly onto the fish and coat it evenly. You don’t need to glaze the skin if you’re cooking skin-on salmon.
Once you’re done seasoning your salmon, you can either let it sit to allow the seasonings to seep through or cook it immediately. Line the air fryer basket with aluminum foil and place the salmon evenly on its surface. If it has skin, place the fish skin-side down.
To prevent overcooking your fish, use a thermometer to take a temperature reading of the salmon’s thickest part.
The FDA recommendation for salmon is 145 degrees Fahrenheit, so wait until the thermometer registers that temperature.
And if you really want to avoid dry, overcooked fish, take it out of the air fryer once it reads 135. Wrap the foil around it and let its own heat finish the cooking process.
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How Long Does Skin on Salmon Take To Cook?
Skin-on salmon takes anywhere from 6 to 10 minutes to cook, depending on the size of the fillet itself. Thinner cuts cook quicker than thick ones.
Of course, you don’t have to keep the skin when cooking your salmon. Before cooking, you can remove the skin, but you must be careful when moving the cooked fillets from the air fryer to your plate.
You could break your piece if the salmon is stuck before serving it.
To avoid breaking your salmon, spray the basket’s surface with oil before placing your fillet down. Do the same thing if you’re using aluminum foil in your air fryer.
Though the skin doesn’t necessarily prevent the salmon fillet from breaking if it sticks, it provides extra support during transfer.
It also provides insulation when cooking, ensuring a crispy surface on both sides while keeping the inner meat moist.
Can I Put Already Cooked Salmon in the Air Fryer?
If you’re planning to reheat salmon in the air fryer and unsure if you should, we have good news. You can definitely put pre-cooked salmon in the air fryer.
To do so, heat your air fryer at a lower temperature – preferably about 350 degrees Fahrenheit. You also need to preheat your air fryer to ensure even heating for your salmon; this should take about 3-5 minutes.
Once you’re done preheating, place the salmon fillet in the basket. Ensure each piece has enough room if you’re reheating more than one. Leave them in the air fryer for 3-5 minutes, depending on each fillet’s thickness.
You can always use a thermometer (if you have one) or a fork to check if the salmon is ready to serve again. If you need to put it in for longer, check every minute or two to prevent it from drying.
Can You Air-Fry Frozen Salmon?
Air-frying frozen salmon might go against standard practice, but it’s actually acceptable to do this. You just have a few extra steps to perform, but don’t worry: they’re not complicated at all.
First, make sure you preheat your air fryer before you place your frozen salmon fillets. Five minutes should be enough. After that, place your salmon fillets in the basket (skin side down if with skin) and cook for 9 minutes.
After 9 minutes, the salmon shouldn’t look frozen anymore. However, this doesn’t mean it’s cooked – it still needs to cook further. Give it a hand by spraying it with some oil, and let it air fry for another 6-7 minutes.
Once the timer is done, use a thermometer to check its temperature. If you don’t have one, use a fork to determine whether the thickest part is cooked or not.
Take a piece and make sure that a portion of the fillet comes out opaque.
Do You Need To Season Salmon Before Air Frying?
There’s no hard and fast rule when it comes to cooking salmon, and that includes seasoning. Most people prefer to add a glaze to their fillets, while others would rather stick with a combination of dry seasonings. Some people keep it simple with just salt and pepper.
However, you don’t necessarily need to season your fish if you don’t want to. Salmon will cook regardless of whether it’s seasoned or not; it depends on your preferences and dietary requirements. Even a splash of lemon juice can make a difference in flavor.
If you prefer to savor the flavor of fresh salmon without altering its taste with seasonings, then by all means, cook it unseasoned.
Keep in mind that if you’re doing this with frozen salmon, the fish’s natural flavors will be more muted than its fresh counterparts.
Is Air-Frying Salmon Better Than Pan-Frying or Baking It?
Each cooking method doesn’t affect the quality and taste much, but it does affect nutrition. If you’re just after a cooked salmon, how you cook it is based on preference. But if you’re trying to be healthy, then some methods are better than others.
Pan-fried salmon requires more oil than the other methods, which may not be suitable for those watching their cholesterol or calories. While air frying also requires some oil, it needs much less oil than if you’re pan-frying your fish.
Baking, on the other hand, has the space advantage. It’s perfect for cooking several salmon fillets at once.
There’s also no need to oil your fillets for them to cook. Simply place your fillets on a baking tray and stick them in the oven to cook.
An air fryer’s main advantage is space. It doesn’t take up much space on your countertop and produces results similar to oven-cooked salmon.
Even the oil is optional – you use it mainly to prevent the fish from cooking in “dry” heat and to encourage a crispy crust to form.
Final Thoughts
Air frying salmon is a straightforward affair, and it doesn’t need that much prep work! You can even air fry salmon from frozen, which is handy if you’ve forgotten to let it thaw and you’re pressed for time.
And the best part: everything cooks in less than 15 minutes per piece.
So the next time you get stumped on what to serve for dinner, try air-fried salmon. It’s a quick yet delicious option that pairs with almost any side dish, and you’ll wonder why you haven’t done it sooner.