How to Make Salmon in the Air Fryer – Fresh & Frozen

Ivy Smith February 3, 2023 in Kitchen & Food, Air Fryer - 11 Minutes

Read Time:5 Minute, 52 Second

Do you ever find yourself in need of a nice meal that comes together quickly? Perhaps you decided at the last minute to host friends or family for dinner. Simply put some frozen salmon in the air fryer, my friend, and you’re good to go!

Fish can be quickly prepared in an air fryer to become tender and flaky. And the flavor you get when you brush each fillet with my special concoction of oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, and spices is absolutely out of this world.

Table of Contents

Here’s What I’m Going to Teach You in This Post:

How to cook the best air fryer frozen salmon fillet
How to know when salmon is done
The difference between cooking air fryer frozen salmon with skin or no skin
What to serve with salmon

Salmon is naturally low in carbohydrates and high in heart-healthy fats. Even for keto, it’s fantastic! You can prepare a delicious, healthy meal that will wow family, guests, or even yourself in just 20 minutes as long as you have a few frozen fillets in your freezer.

Also Check: 20+ Instant Pot Air Fryer Recipes 2023 – Tasty & Delicious

How to Cook Frozen Salmon in the Air Fryer

STEP ONE: Set the air fryer’s temperature to 390 degrees F.

STEP TWO: Whisk the olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and cayenne together in a small bowl. The top and bottom of each fillet should be coated with the mixture.

STEP THREE: Cook the seasoned frozen salmon there in a single layer for 12 to 18 minutes.

STEP FIVE: Serve with lemon wedges if desired.

A different option is to defrost the salmon by placing it directly in the air fryer for 6 minutes. After that, cook the salmon according to step two’s instructions for an additional 6 to 12 minutes, or until it is thoroughly cooked.

What to Serve With Air Fried Salmon

Garnish salmon with a slice of lemon wedge, and serve with your favorite seafood-friendly sides.

Coleslaw, air-fried asparagus, or a green salad are all good accompaniments. Serve salmon Caesar salad on top of a detox or Caesar salad for a tasty, filling meal.

We also love tender fillets alongside fluffy rice or cauliflower rice, quinoa salad, and lots of veggies like grilled or roasted vegetables.

Does Salmon Need to Be Thawed before Air Frying?

No, the fish can go straight from your freezer to the olive oil and seasoning mixture to the air fryer, which is the beauty of this recipe. From there, it will cook to crispy-on-the-outside, flaky-on-the-inside perfection in 20 minutes or less!

How Long to Cook Frozen Salmon in the Air Fryer

The thickness of your fillets will determine this. I’ve found that 15 minutes is the ideal duration. If the fillets are thin, however, be sure to begin monitoring your fish at the 12-minute point. The process might take up to 18 minutes if they are thick.

Can I Leave the Skin When I Cook Air Fryer Frozen Salmon?

You bet! The skin gets nice and crispy, which some people prefer to skinless salmon. And the best part is you’ll prepare it exactly the same way!

How to Know When Salmon is Done Cooking

The salmon should be cooked until it reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. I highly recommend using an instant-read thermometer for the most accurate cook time!

Without a thermometer, cook the fish until it flakes when lightly pressed with a fork. Additionally, the color must be entirely opaque pink.

Does Frozen Salmon Taste as Good as Fresh Salmon?

As is true with most foods, fresh salmon is always going to have an advantage over frozen. However, unless you were comparing the two side by side while eating the frozen salmon you prepare in the air fryer using this recipe, you probably wouldn’t notice the difference!

Benefits of Salmon

Salmon is one of my favorite varieties of fish, because it’s a good source of omega-3 fatty acids. It’s also a very forgiving fish to cook!

Here’s why you’ll love it:

Salmon contains EPA and DHA fatty acids, which may help to lower blood pressure, a risk factor for heart disease.
Other studies indicate that you can get similar benefits from eating fish or taking a fish oil supplement, and taking a fish oil supplement may help to improve arterial function.
With the help of omega-3 fatty acids and salmon, which is a fantastic source of protein, wound healing may be aided.
It contains an antioxidant called astaxanthin, which may help to lower the “bad” LDL cholesterol.
Consuming salmon may help to lower inflammation and lower risk factors for cardiovascular disease.

The fact that you can cook this fish in 10 minutes or less is also a huge benefit, if you ask me. You don’t need to wait for your big oven to heat up!

Why Cook It in An Air Fryer?

Because you don’t need to wait for your big oven to heat up, I adore cooking salmon in the air fryer. It’s an energy saver!

The salmon appears to stay more tender on the inside with this quick cooking method, just like when cooking air fryer chicken breasts. I adore that the fish cooks to perfection in my air fryer while I prepare the rest of our meal.

The air fryer automatically turns off when the cooking time is complete, so you won’t over-cook the fish if you get distracted.

Common Questions About Frozen Salmon:

How to Know When Your Salmon is Done?

If you’re pregnant or immuno-compromised, you should definitely abide by the USDA’s recommendation to cook salmon to an internal temperature of 145°F.

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).

Using a meat thermometer is the simplest way to determine when something is done, but you can also just 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.