Air Fryer Salmon Recipe - Ready in 10 Minutes! (2024)

FAQs

How long should salmon be in air fryer? ›

Air fry salmon at 400 degrees F for 6 to 11 minutes.

"You don't have to flip the salmon, which you do in most other cooking techniques because it does cook so quickly." Depending on the thickness of your fillet, air fryer salmon only takes about 10 minutes to cook, landing itself a spot on the easy weeknight dinners list.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Season salmon with salt and pepper. Place salmon, skin side down, on a non-stick baking sheet or in a non-stick pan with an oven-proof handle. Bake until salmon is cooked through, about 12 to 15 minutes.

Brush with Oil

Salmon is a fatty fish (remember, those fats are good-for-you-fats!) and therefore doesn't need a lot of oil, but I do brush the salmon fillets lightly, and mostly on the skin side so that it doesn't stick to the surface of the air fryer basket.

You can totally cook frozen salmon in the air fryer if that's what you have on hand. For frozen salmon: Wrap the filets in foil and cook first at 400ºF for 7 minutes. After 7 minutes, unwrap the salmon and cook for another 6-11 minutes or until the salmon is crisped and the internal temperature is 145ºF.

Foil is safe to use in an air fryer so long as you follow three basic rules: never let foil touch the heating element; make sure the foil is weighted so it doesn't blow around the basket; and avoid contact with acidic ingredients, which can cause the foil to leach onto your food.

Brush the salmon on both sides with the oil and sprinkle with the garlic powder, onion powder, pepper and salt. Arrange the salmon, skin side up if any, in the air fryer basket. Cook until the skin is crisp and the flesh is barely opaque throughout, about 10 minutes.

Internal temperature: Use an instant-read meat thermometer; the salmon should register 145°F (63°C) at its thickest part. Flakiness: When gently pressed with a fork, the fish should easily flake apart. Avoid overcooking, as it can dry out the salmon. Cook with the skin side down for best results.

Salmon Method: Poached in Olive Oil

Heat over low heat until the oil reaches 120 degrees F, at which point you'll transfer the entire pan to a 225-degree F preheated oven for 25 minutes. Results: I will admit that this method yielded the best-tasting salmon — but what would you expect from cooking something in fat?

Is it better to bake salmon at 350 or 400? ›

What's the Best Temperature for Baking Salmon? If baking individual salmon fillet portions, a higher temperature of 400 to 425 degrees F is best.

Albumin is a liquid protein that solidifies when the fish is cooked, seeping out as the muscle fibers contract under heat, becoming thick and a bright white.

That white gunk seeping from your salmon is called albumin. It's a protein—not fat—that pushes to the surface of the fish when you heat it. "Once this protein reaches temperatures between 140 and 150 degrees, its moisture is squeezed out, and it congeals and turns white," according to America's Test Kitchen.

To clean the inside of an air fryer, start by knocking any crumbs out and wiping up any visible oil. Then, gently wipe out the interior, including the coil, using a towel and warm water. Depending on the soil level, repeat this step with warm soapy water to dissolve any cooked-on grease.

What temp and time to cook frozen salmon in the Air Fryer? For a 1-1.5” thick filet, preheat the air fryer to 400°F (204°C) for 5 minutes then drop the temp to air fry at 390°F (199°C) for 9 minutes to thaw, and after seasoning with oil and spices, air fryer at the same temp for 7-8 minutes.

Place the basket with the fish into the preheated air fryer. Set the timer for a short duration, typically around 3-5 minutes. The exact time may vary based on your air fryer's model and the thickness of the filets. The goal is to reheat the fish without overcooking it.

Cooking Skinless Salmon in a Pan

Place the salmon down onto the preheated pan and sear for 1 minute at 425°F (218°C). Then reduce the temperature to 400°F (204°C) and follow the guide for the recommended times to cook each side, based on the thickness and your desired doneness.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that salmon (and all fish) should be cooked to an internal temp of 145 degrees.