Salmon is one of the most popular and healthy fish choices. It’s packed with omega-3 fatty acids, protein, B vitamins, potassium, selenium and other nutrients. However, dealing with salmon skin can be a hassle. Many find the taste and texture of salmon skin unappealing. Luckily, there’s an incredibly easy hack to remove salmon skin using just boiling water. No messy knife work required!
In this article I’ll explain step-by-step how to remove salmon skin cleanly and quickly using hot water. I discovered this clever trick while researching easy cooking hacks and I had to share it.
Why Removing Salmon Skin is a Pain
Trying to cut salmon skin off with a knife takes time and rarely gives perfect results. Even experienced cooks end up wasting precious bites of fish as chunks of salmon meat stick to the skin.
Sawing away unevenly with a knife also ruins the presentation. Leftover bits of skin make your beautifully cooked fillet look sloppy.
While crispy salmon skin can be delicious dealing with the raw slimy skin is something most home cooks dread.
Fortunately, a viral salmon skin removal hack has been making the rounds online to solve this pesky issue. Keep reading to learn how it works!
The Hot Water Method for Removing Salmon Skin
This clever salmon prep trick uses a simple kitchen tool – boiling hot water
The science behind it is that the heat from the water cooks the skin slightly. This shrinks and tightens it, loosening it from the raw salmon flesh.
Here’s a quick rundown of how to remove salmon skin with hot water:
- Place raw salmon fillet skin-side up on a wire rack over a baking sheet
- Pour boiling water over the skin for just a few seconds
- Let it sit briefly
- The skin then lifts off easily!
The hot water causes the skin to shrivel and release from the salmon meat with zero effort. It takes just minutes to peel off perfectly.
Step-by-Step Guide to Removing Salmon Skin with Hot Water
Ready to give this handy salmon skinning hack a try? Follow these simple steps:
What You Need:
- Salmon fillet(s) with skin on
- Wire cooling rack
- Rimmed baking sheet
- Kettle or pot to boil water
Instructions:
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Place the wire rack on top of the rimmed baking sheet.
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Lay the salmon fillet(s) skin-side up on the rack.
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Bring water to a boil in a kettle or pot.
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Once boiling, slowly pour a steady stream of hot water over the salmon skin for just 2-3 seconds.
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Let the salmon sit for about 30 seconds so the skin can shrink.
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Gently grasp a corner of the skin with your fingers and peel it off in one piece. It should come off easily if the water was hot enough.
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Rinse the salmon under cool water and pat dry. It’s ready for cooking without the skin!
And that’s seriously all there is to this handy hack. The skin releases from the salmon flesh with zero effort. Way easier than using a knife!
Tips for Salmon Skin Removal Success
Here are some tips to get the best results using this boiling water trick:
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Use water that’s rapidly boiling for best results.
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Don’t pour too much water. A few seconds is sufficient.
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Let the skin sit for at least 20-30 seconds before peeling.
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Start peeling slowly from the edges. If it sticks, apply more hot water.
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Try thicker salmon fillets, as the water may overcook thin pieces.
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Peel gently and go back over stubborn spots with more hot water.
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This works for trout, snapper, and other fish skins too!
What to Do With Removed Salmon Skin
Once you remove the salmon skin, there are a few tasty things you can do with it:
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Make crispy salmon skin chips – Simply bake the skins at 400°F until super crunchy.
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Use it to fortify fish stock for extra flavor.
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Add some kick by seasoning the skins and turning them into crackers.
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Use as a garnish for salmon dishes to add texture.
So your salmon skin doesn’t have to go to waste with this method either. Get creative with the uses for these crispy skins.
Removing salmon skin is a total cinch with this easy boiling water trick. No special tools or knife skills required! For clean, skinless salmon fillets with zero hassle, this hack is absolutely brilliant. Give it a try the next time you cook up this nutritious and delicious fish.
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My Favorite Salmon Recipes
For more recipes, check out my air fryer salmon eCookbook here.
- Be cautious when pouring boiling water and handling a hot pan to avoid burns. Pour it slowly and evenly.
- Depending on the thickness and freshness of the salmon, you may need to pour the boiling water a couple of times to fully loosen the skin.
- Dont throw away the skin! You can crisp it up in the oven or on the stovetop for a tasty crispy skin snack.
What you will need:
- Fresh salmon fillets, skin on: Make sure to get the freshest fillets you can find at your local grocery stores.
- A wire rack tray: This will allow the boiling water to flow over the skin and drain away easily, giving you a clean removal.
- A pot of boiling water: Youll need this to pour over the salmon skin.
- A pair of tongs: For handling the salmon safely during the skin removal process.
- Prepare the Salmon: Start by laying your fresh salmon fillets salmon skin side up on a wire rack tray. This setup allows the boiling water to flow over the skin and drain away easily.
- Boil the Water: While your salmon is set up on the wire rack tray, bring a pot of water to a rolling boil (high heat) on the stove.
- Pour the Boiling Water: Carefully pour the boiling water evenly over the skin of the salmon. Ensure that every part of the skin is exposed to the heat.
- Let It Sit: Allow the salmon to sit for a few minutes. This will help soften the skin and loosen it from the flesh, making it much easier to peel off.
- Remove the Skin: Once the skin has softened, use a pair of tongs or your fingers to gently peel the skin away from the salmon. Youll find that it comes off quite easily, especially if you start from one corner and work your way across the fillet.
- Cook as Desired: With the skin removed, you can now cook your salmon using your favorite method.
Easily Remove Salmon Skin | How to Remove Salmon Fish Skin| Fish Skin Removal | Mouli’s Food Lab
FAQ
What is the easiest way to remove the skin from salmon?
Carefully position your knife with the blade parallel to the board with just a slight downward angle so the blade is resting on the exposed skin. Once your knife is in place, strongly tug on the skin with your other hand while slowly moving the blade of the knife away from you with the same slight downward angle.
Does pouring hot water on salmon remove skin?
What is the easiest way to descale salmon?
To easily remove scales from salmon, use the back of a knife, a fish scaler, or even a spoon, scraping from the tail to the head.
Do you take the skin off salmon before pan frying?
By cooking salmon with the skin on, you can all but alleviate any sort of overcooking problems on the outer layers of flesh. The insulative subcutaneous fat acts as a heat barrier, transmitting heat to the interior flesh very, very slowly.
How to remove salmon skin?
Here are some tips to ensure this salmon skin removal hack works perfectly every time: Make sure your water is at a rapid boil before pouring. The hotter, the better. Don’t pour too much water. Just a light stream for a few seconds is enough. Let the skin sit for 20-30 seconds before attempting to remove it.
How do you clean a Deskin salmon?
Peel off the skin: Once the salmon is cool enough to handle, start at one end to slowly peel the skin away. If it’s stuck in some areas, you can use a knife to help loosen it. Pat it down: Once the skin is off, dab it with some paper towel to help remove any excess water. #3. Deskin salmon after cooking
Should you remove the skin when frying salmon fillets?
When frying salmon fillets, a lot of people remove the skin as it will crispy up and try to make the whole fillet a bit more stuff. The crispy skin is delicious and can be eaten, but if you were wanting to mix up your fried salmon fillet and toss it with some salad, the skin would prevent it from breaking apart properly.
How do you peel salmon skin?
Use This Hack to Easily Peel Salmon Skin! You can use a tea kettle or sauce pan to boil water. Once the water is boiling, gently pour a little water over the salmon skin. As you pour you can see the skin start to shrivel from the heat of the water. Let it sit for a minute and gently pull the skin off the salmon.
Does boiling water remove salmon skin?
So while the skin can be crispy and delicious when cooked, removing it raw is often a chore most home cooks want to avoid. Using a simple kettle or pot of boiling water makes removing salmon skin a total breeze. The science behind it is that hot water slightly cooks and shrinks the skin, loosening it from the raw flesh.
How do you clean salmon skin after cooking?
Use a kettle to carefully pour boiling water over the salmon skin. Pour slowly to avoid any splashing and be sure the entire surface of the skin is touched by the hot water. Let the salmon sit for 30 seconds to 1 minute. Use a paper towel to gently separate the skin from the salmon meat. Voila! You’ll be able to wipe the skin right off.