Where to Get Smoked Salmon

Smoked salmon is a delicious and healthy food that is growing in popularity But where can you get high-quality smoked salmon? Here are the best places to buy smoked salmon, from grocery stores to online retailers

Grocery Stores

Many grocery stores carry smoked salmon in the packaged meat section or seafood counter Here are some of the top grocery chains for smoked salmon

• Whole Foods – Whole Foods has an extensive selection of smoked salmon, including wild-caught and organic options. They carry trusted brands like Ducktrap River and Acme Smoked Fish.

• Trader Joe’s – Trader Joe’s offers their own brand of smoked salmon called Smoked Salmon Trio. It comes in nova style, peppered, and alder wood smoked varieties.

• Kroger – Major grocery chains like Kroger Ralphs and Harris Teeter have premium smoked salmon offerings like Ducktrap River and Nova Lox.

• Wegmans – Upscale grocer Wegmans sells smoked salmon under their own Wegmans label and other brands. They have many smoked salmon preparations.

• Publix – Publix’s seafood counter has fresh and packaged smoked salmon options. Their sustainable salmon comes from Iceland and Norway.

When choosing smoked salmon from the grocery store, look for wild-caught from Alaska or the Pacific Northwest and certified sustainable sources. Also check the ingredients – quality smoked salmon contains only salmon and salt.

Fish Markets

Local fish markets and seafood stores often carry house-smoked salmon. The benefit of fish markets is you can get custom smoked salmon exactly to your preferences. Here are some top local fish markets for smoked salmon:

• Pike Place Fish Market, Seattle – This iconic fish market in Seattle’s Pike Place Market has Pacific smoked salmon available daily.

• Browne Trading Market, Portland – A Portland institution since 1991, Browne Trading smokes salmon in-house using Northwest fish.

• Samuels & Son Seafood, Philadelphia – This famous seafood company has been smoking salmon since 1895. Their nova lox is considered some of the best.

• Russ & Daughters, New York City – Specializing in smoked fish and bagels, Russ & Daughters has been a New York icon since 1914. Their salmon comes from sustainable Scottish sources.

• Olson’s Scandinavian Foods, Chicago – Olson’s smokes salmon in-house using salmon from Norway and other Northern European countries.

Visiting a local fish market allows you to get samples, smell the aromas, and experience freshly sliced smoked salmon. Quality fish markets are happy to share details on their smoking process and sources.

Online Retailers

If you don’t live near places that sell smoked salmon, online retailers provide convenient delivery right to your door. Here are some of the best online stores for smoked salmon:

• Vital Choice – Vital Choice only sells certified wild, sustainable seafood like their Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon. Their salmon is smoked over real alder wood.

• SeaBear – This Pacific Northwest company has been smoking salmon since 1957. They sell traditional hot smoked salmon and lox-style cold smoked salmon.

• Wild Planet Foods – Wild Planet’s sustainably caught smoked salmon comes from the pristine waters of Alaska. It contains no preservatives or additives.

• PureFish – PureFish smokes wild salmon from Alaska and Chile in small batches. Their salmon has a delicate smoked flavor.

• Patagonia Provisions – The outdoor gear company Patagonia launched a provisions line including a velvety Sockeye Smoked Salmon.

• Harry & David – For gourmet gift baskets, Harry & David offers smoked salmon selections like Peppered Smoked Atlantic Salmon.

Online retailers provide high-quality smoked salmon deliveries while supporting sustainable fishing. Make sure to choose overnight shipping with ice packs to keep the salmon fresh.

Smoked Salmon Tips

Once you’ve purchased your smoked salmon, here are some tips for storage and serving:

• Keep smoked salmon refrigerated and eat within 3-5 days of purchase. Frozen, it will last 2-3 months.

• Enjoy smoked salmon on bagels, cream cheese, salads or pasta. Salmon scraps make great pizza or omelette toppings.

• Saltiness varies between brands, so taste a small slice first before serving to guests.

• Slice salmon thinly across the grain of the meat. Cutting against the grain makes it silkier.

• Look for firm, glossy salmon slices with an even color and no dry flaky patches.

With its silky texture and smoky, savory flavor, smoked salmon makes an elegant addition to any meal. Use these tips to find the highest quality smoked salmon at grocery stores, fish markets or delivered right to your door. Experiment with different preparations to enjoy smoked salmon at its very best.