How Big is 4 Ounces of Salmon? A Helpful Portion Size Guide

Salmon is a nutritious and delicious fish that can be prepared in endless ways. However, when a recipe calls for a specific portion like 4 ounces, it can be tricky to visualize exactly how much salmon that entails Understanding standard salmon portion sizes is key for meal planning and cooking. So if you’ve ever wondered “How big is 4 ounces of salmon?” while prepping dinner, read on for a handy guide.

Why Salmon Portion Sizes Matter

Getting portion sizes right is important for several reasons when cooking salmon

• It affects cooking times based on thickness and surface area.

• It helps ensure adequate protein without overdoing calories. The USDA recommends 5-6 ounce cooked servings of lean proteins like salmon.

• Uniform sizing allows you to calculate the exact amount needed for recipes and number of servings.

So what should you envision when you see “4 ounces salmon” in a recipe? Here’s a quick visual rundown of this common portion size.

What Does 4 Ounces of Raw Salmon Look Like?

While salmon fillets come in diverse shapes, here are some common size comparisons for visualizing 4 ounces of raw salmon:

• Roughly the size of a smartphone or deck of cards

• Approximately the size of your palm

• Slightly smaller than an average chicken breast

On average, a 4-ounce raw salmon portion is:

• 4-5 inches long

• 2-3 inches wide

• 1-1.5 inches thick

Weighing vs Measuring Salmon

For the most accurate and consistent salmon portions, using a kitchen scale to weigh ounces or grams is best. But many home cooks don’t own or won’t pull out a scale on busy nights! In that case, use the visual size comparisons as your guide.

Here’s another handy trick:

• 1 pound of salmon equals approximately 4 (4-ounce) servings

If you buy a 1-pound fillet, simply divide it into four even pieces. Each will be close to the perfect 4 raw ounces.

Accounting for Cooked Salmon Shrinkage

Here’s an important tip when portioning salmon – it shrinks after cooking! A 4-ounce raw fillet reduces to around 3 ounces cooked due to moisture loss.

I recommend purchasing and prepping your salmon while raw, then planning for around 25% reduction in size after cooking. For example, if a recipe calls for 24 ounces cooked salmon total, buy 1 1/2 pounds raw to be safe.

Serving Size Suggestions for Cooked Salmon

While 4 ounces is right for raw, what does cooked salmon look like on the plate?

• A 3-ounce cooked portion is about the size of a checkbook or bar of soap.

• For a restaurant-style main course, plan on serving 6 ounces cooked salmon per diner. That’s around 8 raw ounces.

• For appetizers, allow 2-3 ounces cooked salmon per person.

• For salmon cakes or burgers, make 3-4 ounce patties with cooked salmon.

• Top main course salads with 4-6 ounces flaked salmon.

Adjust up or down based on your menu, appetite and diner protein needs. The beauty of salmon is it allows flexibility with serving sizes!

Buying Precut Salmon Portions

Many grocers like Trader Joe’s now sell pre-portioned salmon in 4 or 5-ounce individual vacuum-sealed packs. This takes the guesswork out of proper sizing.

You can also request salmon portioning at the seafood counter. Ask them to cut a 1-pound fillet into four 4-ounce portions for easy cooking and freezing.

Freezing Leftover Salmon in 4-Ounce Servings

Have extra cooked salmon? Freeze it in handy 4-ounce portions for future use.

Here’s a simple technique:

• Let cooked salmon cool completely, then divide into 4-ounce portions.

• Wrap pieces tightly in plastic wrap then seal in resealable freezer bags.

• Remove air, label and freeze up to 3 months. Defrost in fridge before using.

Freezing pre-portioned provides convenient ready-to-eat salmon for salads, tacos, pasta and more!

A 4 oz serving of salmon is approximately the size of a deck of cards.