How to Cook Perfectly Crispy Teriyaki Salmon in an Air Fryer

Air fryers have become one of the most popular kitchen appliances for their ability to make deliciously crispy foods without all the added oil of traditional frying. With just a short cook time, air fryers can give salmon and other fish a crispy exterior while keeping the interior moist and tender. The addition of a sweet and salty teriyaki glaze makes air fryer salmon an easy, flavorful meal that tastes like you spent much more time in the kitchen than you actually did.

Benefits of Cooking Salmon in an Air Fryer

Air fryers circulate super hot air around food to help mimic the crispiness of deep frying, This makes them excellent at cooking fish to perfection Here are some of the benefits of using an air fryer for salmon

• Quick cooking time – Salmon fillets can cook through in just 8-12 minutes in an air fryer. This is much faster than baking which can take 18-25 minutes. The air fryer’s speed makes it easy to get salmon on the table for a quick weeknight dinner.

• Crispy skin – The high heat of the air fryer will make the salmon skin crispy and delicious while keeping the interior moist. No more soft, flabby skin!

• Versatile – Beyond basic salmon fillets, you can also cook salmon burgers, salmon cakes, and stuffed salmon in the air fryer.

• Easy cleanup – With minimal splatter and contained cooking, air fryers are much easier to clean than dealing with the splatter from pan frying.

• Healthy – Cooking salmon in the air fryer requires little to no added oil, keeping it a healthier cooking method.

How to Choose Salmon for the Air Fryer

The two most common types of salmon you’ll see at the grocery store are wild-caught and farmed Atlantic salmon. While wild-caught salmon will have a superior flavor and texture, farmed salmon tends to be a bit more budget-friendly. Both varieties will work well in the air fryer.

For even cooking, choose salmon fillets that are similar in size and thickness, ideally around 1 inch thick. Thicker cuts may need a few extra minutes while thin fillets will cook very quickly and can dry out.

Skinless fillets can be used but the skin helps protect the salmon and keeps it moist inside. Most recipes suggest cooking salmon skin-side down so the skin gets ultra crispy in the air fryer.

Teriyaki Sauce Adds Big Flavor

While plain salmon is delicious, a sweet and salty teriyaki sauce takes it to the next level. You can buy pre-made teriyaki sauce or easily whip up a homemade version in 5 minutes with just 5 ingredients:

• Soy sauce
• Brown sugar
• Garlic
• Ginger
• Rice vinegar or mirin

The sauce ingredients can be tweaked to your tastes but should result in a glossy sauce that lightly coats the fish. Drizzle some sauce over the raw salmon to marinate for 15-20 minutes before cooking. Reserve additional sauce to brush over the cooked fish.

Step-by-Step Guide for Air Fried Teriyaki Salmon

Follow these simple steps for perfect teriyaki salmon every time:

1. Cut salmon into 4 equal fillets and pat dry with paper towels. Salmon cooked best when thoroughly dried first.

2. Make the teriyaki sauce. Whisk together the sauce ingredients in a small saucepan. Heat through until sugar dissolves and sauce thickens slightly. Let cool.

3. Coat salmon with a thin layer of oil. Use oil with high smoke point like avocado, grapeseed, or olive oil. This helps promote browning.

4. Season with salt and pepper. Go light on salt since teriyaki sauce is salty.

5. Place salmon skin-side down in air fryer basket. Make sure fillets aren’t touching.

6. Brush top side of salmon with half of the teriyaki sauce. Save the rest for serving.

7. Air fry at 400F for 8-10 minutes until salmon flakes easily and reaches desired doneness.

8. Let salmon rest 5 minutes before glazing with remaining teriyaki sauce.

The fish will come out perfectly cooked with a crispy teriyaki crust. Serve with rice and roasted vegetables for a full meal.

Troubleshooting Common Air Fryer Salmon Problems

Even using an air fryer, there are few things that can go wrong with salmon. Here are some tips to troubleshoot and avoid common issues:

• Salmon is dry and overcooked – Reducing cook time, cutting thinner fillets, or moving air fryer rack up higher can help prevent overcooking. Also let salmon rest before sauce.

• Skin is soggy, not crisp – Make sure skin is thoroughly dried first and place skin-side down in the basket. Brush skin with oil too. Cook at 400F.

• Salmon sticks to basket – Lightly brush basket with oil before cooking. Don’t overload basket.

• Salmon not browned evenly – Flip fish over halfway during cooking for even browning. Use a light coat of oil.

• Thick white albumin – This protein can leech out from salmon. Avoid by not overcooking and letting rest before serving.

Air Fryer Settings for Salmon

Here are the recommended air fryer settings for perfectly cooked salmon:

• Temperature: 380-400°F
• Time: 8-12 minutes
• Flip halfway: Yes for even cooking

Adjust time slightly up or down based on thickness of fillets and your desired level of doneness.

For a large 6+ quart air fryer, you can cook up to four 5-ounce salmon fillets at once without overcrowding. For smaller air fryers, it’s best to cook salmon in batches to ensure proper air circulation.

Checking Air Fryer Salmon for Doneness

Salmon is done cooking when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F which yields tender, flaky, moist salmon. Quickly check temperature by inserting an instant read thermometer into the thickest part of the fillet.

You can also check for doneness by slicing into the center of the fish with a paring knife and looking for these signs:

• Rare – Bright translucent red center

• Medium rare – More opaque red center

• Medium – Small flake, moist pink center

• Well done – Dry, opaque center that easily flakes apart

Undercooking is better than overcooking to keep salmon juicy.

More Delicious Air Fryer Salmon Recipes to Try

The simple teriyaki salmon is just the start. Here are more flavorful air fryer salmon recipes to add to your dinner rotation:

• Lemon Garlic Salmon – Topped with lemon slices, garlic, and herbs

• Everything Bagel Salmon – Coated in an everything bagel spice blend

• Sesame Salmon – Coated with sesame oil, toasted sesame seeds, soy sauce, and ginger

• Cajun Salmon – Seasoned with Cajun spices and served with spicy mayo

• Salmon Burgers – Made with fresh or canned salmon, breadcrumbs, egg, and spices

• Salmon Cakes – Like crab cakes but made with salmon instead

• Salmon and Asparagus – Roasted lemon asparagus paired with salmon

So forget steaming or baking salmon in the oven. For fast salmon dinners with crispy, restaurant-quality results, turn to your air fryer and whip up tasty teriyaki salmon or any of these creative variations. With minimal fuss and quick cook time, air fryers are guaranteed to make this healthy fish a regular feature on your family dinner table.