Salmon is one of those versatile proteins that works for everything from weeknight dinners to elegant dinner parties. It’s rich, fatty flesh takes well to a variety of cooking methods and pairs nicely with flavors from lemon to smoked paprika. Many grocery stores carry fresh and frozen salmon filets, but one retailer known for its seafood selection is Trader Joe’s.
Trader Joe’s offers several types of salmon at affordable prices. But how does their salmon stack up in terms of quality and taste? I decided to find out by sampling and reviewing the various salmon products at my local Trader Joe’s. Here’s an overview of the salmon offerings I tried along with my thoughts on each one.
Fresh Salmon Filets
Trader Joe’s sells a variety of fresh, raw salmon filets that you can cook at home. I tried four options:
Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon
- Bright red color indicative of wild sockeye salmon
- Leaner texture and more fishy flavor compared to Atlantic salmon
- Holds up well when pan seared but can dry out quickly
- Good choice for salmon lovers who enjoy the distinctive taste of sockeye
Boneless, Skinless Atlantic Salmon
- Uniform pink color and buttery texture
- Milder flavor than sockeye salmon
- Skinless presentation makes it easy for quick weeknight meals
- Not the most exciting salmon but works well for everyday cooking
Bone-In Atlantic Salmon
- Thick cuts with belly fat and skin intact
- Moist, tender, and rich after cooking with crispy skin
- Best value at $7.99/lb compared to $9.99-12.99 for the other fresh filets
- My favorite fresh salmon option from Trader Joe’s!
BBQ Cut Atlantic Salmon
- Tail-on portion rather than a typical filet
- Infused with sweet and smoky BBQ flavors
- Sturdy texture holds up on the grill or barbecue
- Fun choice for summer cooking but not as versatile as plain salmon
Overall, I was pleased with the quality of the fresh salmon. The Atlantic salmon delivers on rich, buttery texture while the sockeye provides a nice change of pace. The bone-in Atlantic salmon is my top pick for its thick cut, reasonable price, and foolproof cooking.
Smoked Salmon
In addition to fresh fish, Trader Joe’s sells several kinds of ready-to-eat smoked salmon. Smoked salmon makes a quick protein for breakfast, salads, pasta, and more. Here’s how the smoked options compared:
Nova Salmon Pieces
- Classic thin slices of cold smoked salmon
- Velvety texture with subtle smoky flavor
- Versatile for sandwiches, bagels, salads, and snacks
- No frills but solid smoked salmon option
Oak Smoked Salmon Pieces
- Slightly thicker cut with more smoke flavor
- Bit drier than some other smoked salmons
- Good value at $3.99 for 3 ounces
- Decent choice but not my favorite
Pacific Supreme Smoked Salmon
- Paper-thin slices with delicate texture
- Abundant salty-smoky flavor
- Melts in your mouth
- My favorite plain smoked salmon from Trader Joe’s
Everything Bagel Seasoned Salmon
- Pacific smoked salmon coated in everything bagel spice blend
- Adds warm, savory flavor to the velvety salmon
- Excellent for bagels, sandwiches, dips, and spreads
- Unique twist on smoked salmon at just $5.99 for 8 ounces
Pastrami-Style Smoked Salmon
- Robust black pepper and coriander rub
- Heartier texture than traditional smoked salmon
- Strong flavors make it ideal for sandwiches or salads
- Not as versatile but perfect for pastrami fans
The smoked salmon options earn high marks across the board The Everything Bagel Seasoned Salmon is my personal favorite for its inventive flavor, but you can’t go wrong with any of these easy smoked salmon choices.
Hot Smoked Salmon
The hot smoked salmon varieties undergo a higher-heat smoking process that cooks the flesh and gives it a chewier, jerky-like texture. Trader Joe’s has two hot smoked varieties
Hot Smoked Wild Sockeye Salmon
- Intense smoky flavor from higher-heat preparation
- Drier, chewier texture than cold smoked salmon
- Bold taste works well chopped up in salads or sandwiches
- Interesting change of pace but not an everyday smoked salmon
Wild Smoked Sockeye Salmon
- Bright red color and dense, meaty texture
- Robust smoky taste paired with rich salmon flavor
- Holds its own when added to salads or sandwiches
- A good choice for fans of hot smoked salmon
The hot smoked salmon is definitely an acquired taste, I can appreciate the concentrated smoky flavor but find the jerky-like texture less appealing These make a nice special occasion appetizer for smoked salmon aficionados,
Frozen Salmon Fillets & Burgers
Beyond the fresh seafood case, Trader Joe’s freezer section contains a couple more salmon options:
Salmon Burgers
- Salmon mixed with breadcrumbs, onions, and spices
- Generous 8 ounce burgers
- Simply pan-fry or grill them
- Provides a salmon meal with minimal prep
Ginger Miso Glazed Salmon
- Wild-caught salmon portions with sweet ginger miso marinade
- Easy to bake directly from frozen
- Nicely caramelized and flavorful
- Not the best value at $6.99 per 4-ounce fillet
The frozen salmon products offer convenient forms of salmon you can keep on hand. While not as fresh-tasting as the seafood counter options, these frozen items can streamline weeknight dinners or provide easy protein for meal prepping.
Is Trader Joe’s Salmon Worth Buying?
Based on tasting my way through Trader Joe’s salmon selection, I would certainly recommend their salmon as high quality and affordable. The fresh salmon provides gourmet cuts like sockeye as well as budget-friendly staples like the bone-in Atlantic fillets. And you can’t beat the convenience of the smoked salmon options, which rival premium brands at a fraction of the price. The unique seasonings and preparations also add fun variety to everyday salmon.
While frozen seafood will never quite match fresh, Trader Joe’s does a commendable job providing approachable frozen salmon products. Overall, Trader Joe’s is one of my go-to sources for salmon across the categories of fresh, smoked, and frozen. Their offerings make it easy to enjoy tasty salmon any night of the week. So next time you’re looking to cook up some salmon for dinner, don’t hesitate to get your fish fix from Trader Joe’s.
Boneless Skinless Fresh Atlantic Salmon
Up next is a fresh salmon selection that I could definitely recommend to anyone looking for boneless, skinless salmon fillets. Only small, picky nuances earned it the eight spot on my list, and those could simply be due to the particular package I picked up. On the whole, its a pretty good salmon choice that Ill pick up if I ever need to feed those who dont like salmon skin.
Alas, I love salmon skin, which prevented me from giving this item a higher spot on my list. I also found that it didnt have as much flavor as the two fresh salmon choices I ranked higher; however, that difference was subtle and only noticeable because I was scrutinizing and looking for distinctions between each. Other than that, it cooked up mild and slightly sweet and seemed slightly more delicate than the following fresh salmon selections. Were I not a super-fan of skin-on salmon fillets, I likely would have given it a higher spot; as-is (and especially considering the choices that follow), I could only grant it the eight place.
Oak Smoked Salmon Pieces
Ill give the same disclaimers to Trader Joes Oak Smoked Salmon Pieces that I gave to the previous picks — I have no doubt that this is the right choice for a certain brand of smoked salmon consumer, I just dont fall under that umbrella. However, one thing I can give this salmon is its stellar price point. This package cost me just under $4 for 3 ounces, which isnt awful in the grand scheme of things.
Though this gets the third-to-last spot on my list, I still wouldnt hesitate to grab some should I see it on offer at a gathering. The texture was tender and buttery, but being cut slightly thicker meant it still had some body to it. My biggest textural complaint was that this was a bit wetter than Im used to, and the mouthfeel wasnt the best (however, I also have textural problems with bananas and yogurt, so this could just be a me thing). It also has a milder flavor than some of the following selections, which could be good or bad, depending on what youre looking for. Dont expect it to add a ton to other dishes, but it gets the job done when eaten solo.
Trader Joe’s Salmon vs. “Sushi-Grade”: Is It Worth the Splurge?
FAQ
Is Trader Joe’s salmon sashimi grade?
Apart from packaged goods, Trader Joe’s has a wide selection of fish for the same low prices. They offer high-quality Atlantic-caught salmon for under $15 per pound. While the Atlantic-caught salmon is cheap without sacrificing quality, it’s not sushi-grade fish.
Is Trader Joe’s Wild salmon actually wild?
Indeed, our Sockeye Salmon presents this peppy hue. It’s wild-caught in the icy waters of the major Northeast Pacific fishing area located west of Canada and south of Alaska.
Is it okay to buy salmon from the grocery store?
However, a trusted fish counter at a grocery store can still be perfectly safe. For salmon, farmed salmon (rather than wild caught or freshwater) is actually safer for raw consumption, as the incidence of parasites is much lower in farmed fish due to a more controlled environment.
Where does Trader Joe’s Sockeye Salmon come from?
Wild Sockeye Salmon from icy cold Alaskan water is smoked slowly over native hardwoods and seasoned with salt. Sounds simple enough but trust us, smoked salmon of this quality, with flavor this mild and sweet, is rare indeed.