As someone who loves cooking salmon, I was thrilled when I got an air fryer and realized it’s the perfect way to make salmon with an incredibly crispy skin. After some experimentation, I’ve honed my technique and can now make salmon in the air fryer that rivals any high-end restaurant!
In this article I’ll share everything I’ve learned about making crispy salmon in an air fryer. Whether you’re new to air frying or a seasoned pro, these tips will help you achieve salmon with a crispy browned exterior and moist, flaky interior every time.
Why the Air Fryer Makes Crispy Salmon Easy
The air fryer is uniquely suited to producing crispy salmon skin because it cooks food using super heated air that quickly dries out the exterior of the food This rapid moisture loss from the surface of the salmon allows the skin to get ultra crispy and browned.
Additionally, the constant circulation of air in the air fryer means the heat reaches the salmon from all sides, not just the bottom like in a skillet. This allows the fish to cook evenly throughout.
Finally, air fryers require little to no oil for crisping. A light brush of oil is all you need. This means your crispy salmon won’t be greasy or oily.
Choosing the Right Salmon
The variety of salmon you select can impact the crisping. Fattier cuts of salmon with an ample layer of belly fat under the skin will crisp up better. Good choices include:
- Wild caught sockeye or coho salmon
- Farmed Atlantic salmon
- Fatter salmon fillets marketed as “belly cuts”
Thinner cuts of salmon like tails can overcook and dry out in the air fryer before the skin crisps sufficiently.
Whether using fresh or frozen salmon, be sure it’s thoroughly thawed if previously frozen. Pat it very dry before seasoning.
Seasoning is Key
Proper seasoning builds flavor and aids browning.
- Generously season the flesh side with salt and pepper. Don’t be shy.
-Brush the skin lightly with oil. Olive, avocado, grapeseed or other neutral oil works well. - Season the skin side. Cajun seasoning, lemon pepper, or garlic powder are all good options.
- Let it sit 5-10 minutes for seasoning to penetrate.
Scoring the Skin
Scoring or cutting shallow slits across the skin helps render fat and achieve extra crispy salmon skin.
- Score skin with sharp knife in criss-cross or diagonal pattern
- Take care not to cut into the flesh
Air Fryer Settings
- Preheat air fryer to 400°F
- Cook 8-12 minutes depending on thickness
- Use instant read thermometer to confirm 145°F internal temp
Adjust time down for thinner tails or up for fattier cuts.
Crisping Tips
Follow these tips for the crispiest air fryer salmon skin:
- Pat salmon very dry before seasoning
- Brush skin lightly with oil
- Don’t overcrowd the basket
- Cook at 400°F
- Let air circulation crisps the skin by not flipping
- Cook skin-side down first
Serving Suggestions
Salmon cooked in the air fryer pairs nicely with:
- Fresh green salads with vinaigrette
- Roasted or air fried veggies like broccoli, carrots or asparagus
- Grain sides like quinoa, rice, or couscous
- Mashed potatoes or creamy risotto
Finish with a squeeze of lemon, sprinkle of herbs, or drizzle of chimichurri sauce.
Storage and Reheating
Leftover salmon keeps 3-4 days refrigerated. To reheat, place in air fryer at 300°F for 2-3 minutes until warmed through. Monitor to avoid overcooking.
The air fryer does a great job of recrisping the skin and is far superior to soggy microwaved salmon.
Troubleshooting
If your salmon skin is not getting crispy enough, try these fixes:
- Increase air fryer temperature to 425°F
- Cut skin with more scores to render fat
- Dry salmon thoroughly and brush with oil
- Flip salmon halfway through cooking
- Use a fatty salmon cut like Atlantic salmon
With a few simple tricks and the right technique, you can easily make restaurant-quality crispy salmon in your air fryer any night of the week. Follow these tips for tender salmon with an incredibly crispy, crackling brown exterior. Your family will be begging for this salmon again and again!
Cook Time Depends On Thickness
When cooking salmon in the air fryer, the cook time will depend on the thickness of the salmon fillets. A fillet that is 1-inch thick/tall in most parts will probably be done around 7 minutes, whereas a fillet that is closer to 2 inches tall will take up to 9 minutes.
Air Fryer Salmon Recipe
Cook salmon perfectly every time with this simple air fryer cooking method. The result is salmon that is crispy at the edges and tender and flaky on the inside. A delicious main dish for pairing with a variety of sides.
- 2 salmon fillets (6- to 7- ounces each)
- Olive oil or avocado oil spray (may substitute olive oil or avocado oil)
- ½ teaspoon garlic powder
- ½ teaspoon onion powder
- ¼ teaspoon paprika
- ¼ teaspoon fine salt
- Pinch of black pepper
- Lemon wedges (optional for serving)
- Preheat the air fryer to 400°F.
- Place pieces of salmon side-by-side on a sheet of foil or parchment paper that will fit inside the air fryer basket, skin side down.
- Using a paper towel, pat the salmon dry. Spray with oil spray. Then, sprinkle with the garlic powder, onion powder, paprika, salt, and pepper.
- Place the salmon (on the foil or parchment paper) in the preheated air fryer. Air fry salmon until it is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork, 7 to 9 minutes. There’s no need to flip the salmon over. The time will depend on the thickness of salmon and the air fryer.
- Squeeze lemon juice over salmon and serve with desired side dishes.
- Store leftover salmon in an airtight container for up to 3 days.
Last Step! Please leave a review and rating letting us know how you liked this recipe! This helps our business thrive so we can continue providing free recipes and high-quality content for you.
If using parchment paper, be sure to cut it to size to fit across the bottom of the air fryer basket nicely without any risk of it touching the heating element.
- Serving Size: 6 ounces cooked salmon
- Calories: 220
- Fat: 7 g
- (Sat Fat: 2 g)
- Sodium: 397 mg
- Carbohydrate: 1 g
- (Fiber: 0 g
- Sugar: 0 g)
- Protein: 35 g
- Cholesterol: 78 mg
You can also use parchment paper instead of foil.
Salmon recipes, like this air fryer salmon, are a favorite in my household because this favorite protein pairs well with so many side dishes. I love to keep it simple by pairing it with sautéed broccolini and Instant Pot brown rice, which are both shown in the photo below, or a simple side of roasted green beans for a low-carb option.
Store leftover salmon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. Serve cold as a salad topper or filling for a sandwich or wrap. Or, use leftover salmon to make this salmon salad. To reheat salmon, place it in a skillet on the stovetop with 1 teaspoon of water; cover and heat over medium-low for 3-4 minutes.
Get Perfectly Crispy Salmon in just a few Minutes with your Air Fryer
FAQ
How do you make salmon crispy skin in the air fryer?
Rub salmon with oil, then sprinkle with salt flakes. 3. Taking care, line the air fryer basket with a silicone mat, if available. Place salmon, skin-side up, in the basket; at 200˚C/400˚F, cook for 8 minutes until skin is crisp and salmon is cooked to your liking.
How to make something crispier in air fryer?
Food needs oil to crisp in an air fryer. The best is oil in a sprayer that you can mist on. These are often available in supermarkets. You can also buy the sprayer, and then fill it with whatever oil you want. I often put my food (veggies, chicken, whatever) in a bowl and mist it with oil.
How can we make the salmon skin crispy?
Stretch the salmon skin on the prepared baking sheet so it is perfectly flat, pressing down on the edges if they have curled up. Bake the skin for 30 minutes and then check the progress. At this point, the skin should still be flabby. Continue to bake the skin, checking it every 10 minutes, until it is crisp and dry.
Why is my fish not crispy in air fryer?
If you want to get anything crispy the most important factor is moisture. Don’t salt it a couple mins before putting it in as this draws moisture to the surface. Salt the meat/fish and place on a wire rack in the fridge for an hour or two, Pat dry, brush with oil and then air fry. The dried o it surface will crisp up.