Freezing fresh salmon is a great way to preserve it for extended storage. With proper freezing methods, you can keep salmon fresh for up to 3-6 months. Here are some tips on how to freeze salmon correctly to maintain texture, flavor and nutrients.
Why Freeze Salmon?
Freezing salmon has several advantages:
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Extends shelf life – Properly frozen salmon can last 3-6 months in the freezer. This allows you to buy in bulk when prices are low.
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Retains freshness – Done right, freezing locks in flavor, texture and nutrients. Thawed salmon tastes fresh
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Allows meal prepping – Stock up and freeze portioned salmon for easy weeknight meals.
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Avoids waste – Freeze leftovers or excess purchased salmon Freezing prevents spoilage
How to Prepare Salmon for Freezing
Follow these steps for freezing salmon perfectly:
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Buy ultra-fresh salmon. Choose brightly colored, firm flesh with no discoloration or dry edges.
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Clean and pat dry Rinse salmon and pat thoroughly dry with paper towels Moisture leads to ice crystals,
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Portion salmon into meal-sized 3-5 oz portions. Cut into fillets, steaks or cubes.
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Vacuum seal or wrap tightly. Place each portion in a freezer bag, suck out air and seal. This prevents freezer burn.
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Label bags with contents and freeze date. Include any marinades or rubs used.
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Freeze immediately. Don’t allow salmon to sit and get warm. Freeze within 2 hours of preparation.
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Freeze at 0°F or below. Use a freezer thermometer to check. Colder is better for long term storage.
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Place bags flat in a single layer. This helps freeze quickly and uniformly.
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Once frozen, bags can be stacked. Leave space between stacks for air circulation.
Thawing Frozen Salmon
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Move frozen salmon to the refrigerator 1-2 days before needed. Never thaw at room temp.
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Change wrapping if any signs of freezer burn. Re-wrap in new plastic wrap or place in a tight container.
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Cook thawed salmon within 2 days. Salmon is highly perishable once thawed.
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Cook frozen salmon immediately. No need to thaw first. Just add 50% more cooking time.
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Microwave or poach frozen salmon. Gentle heat thaws and cooks evenly without overcooking edges.
Tips for Freezing Salmon
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Double wrap salmon using vacuum seal and freezer bag method.
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Freeze marinated salmon in marinade up to 2 months for added flavor.
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Glaze salmon before freezing for juicy texture. Use honey, juices or oil.
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Layer parchment between portions to minimize freezer burn if not vacuum sealing.
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Use an ice cube tray for freezing salmon scraps, bits and pieces. Pop out to use in seafood stews, chowders or salmon patties.
With proper freezing techniques, you can enjoy fresh, flavorful salmon for months after purchase. Follow these tips for storing salmon in the freezer successfully.
Labeling and Storage
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1 Put the salmon into an airtight freezer bag and label the outside. Stick the wrapped salmon or salmon portions into a big freezer bag. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag shut. Now comes a really important part—labeling the bag! Its super easy to forget what things are when theyve been in your freezer for months, so use a permanent marker to write down as much useful info as you can.[7]
- For example, write down 4 salmon steaks, 1 fillet, and the date. This lets you know at a glance whats in the bag without needing to open up and unwrap the fish.
- 2 Stick the bag of salmon in the coldest part of your freezer. Not sure what the coldest area is? Its usually farthest back against the wall where it takes longer for warm air to reach. It might not seem like a big deal, but keeping your salmon as cold as possible means you can store it for longer.[8]
- Nows a good time to check your freezer temperature. Set the freezer to 0 °F (−18 °C) for the best storage conditions.
- 3 Freeze the salmon for up to 3 months. Although you can freeze raw salmon indefinitely if your freezer is at 0 °F (−18 °C), the salmon might become soft or mushy the longer its stored. For the best texture, try to defrost and cook the salmon within 3 months of sticking it in the freezer.[9]
- If you add new packages of raw salmon to your freezer, follow the first in, first out rule and use the older salmon before defrosting the salmon you just put in.
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- 1 Defrost frozen salmon in the fridge overnight for the best texture. Theres no need to unwrap the salmon. Just transfer the frozen package of fish to your fridge and thats it![10]
- 2 Put frozen salmon in cold water if you want to defrost it in 1 hour. Sometimes, its tricky to plan your next days meal. If you decide that youd like to cook salmon for dinner, but its still frozen, theres still time! Take the bag out of the fridge and put it into a large bowl. Fill the bowl with cold water and put something heavy on the bag so the salmon is submerged. Then, check the salmon after 30 minutes to see if its thawed.[11]
- If the salmon is still solid, replace the water with cold water and check it again in 30 minutes.
- 3 Use the defrost setting to microwave the salmon if youre short on time. Forgot to take the salmon out of the freezer? Dont worry. Unwrap the salmon and put it in a microwave-safe dish. Use the defrost setting to thaw the salmon until you can bend it, but theres still ice on the fish. This should take around 5 minutes for 1 pound (450 g) of salmon. Then, take the salmon out of the microwave and cook it immediately.[12]
- The defrost setting automatically reduces the power level on your microwave so you dont have to choose a heat setting.
- 4 Cook the salmon immediately after defrosting it. While the salmon is defrosting, decide how youll cook it so you can start heating the fish as soon as its fully defrosted. It doesnt matter what cooking method you choose—roasting, grilling, searing—as long as you work quickly. You dont want harmful bacteria to grow because you accidentally left your salmon out.[13]
- The exception to this is if you defrosted your salmon overnight in the fridge. Since you didnt warm the salmon to thaw it, you can keep it in the fridge for up to 2 days before cooking it.
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Expert Q&ASearch
- Freezing salmon is a great way to take advantage of sales. Buy a few extra fillets and toss them in the freezer for later! Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
- Its totally up to you whether or not you leave the skin on the salmon. Some people find it easier to remove the skin after cooking the salmon, so the choice is yours. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
- Really short on time? No problem! You can cook frozen salmon without thawing it first. Just roast it in the oven, toss it on the grill, or sear it in a skillet. Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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How to Freeze Fresh Salmon
FAQ
FAQ
What is the best way to freeze fresh salmon?
Wet each fresh salmon portion, place in a heavy plastic self-sealing bag and seal with all air removed. You will prevent freezer burn by making sure the bag is air-tight so push or suck all the air out before sealing the bag and then place in the freezer. Vacuum-sealers are a good investment to use this method.
Can you freeze salmon in a Ziploc?
You can absolutely portion and freeze salmon in ziplock bags. I do it all the time.
Can you freeze raw salmon for later?
For optimal freshness, you can store frozen salmon in the freezer until you know you’re ready to cook it. Our recommendation is to enjoy the salmon within 3 months ideally, or up to a year. Beyond that, the quality may diminish, but it is safe to eat indefinitely.Oct 31, 2022