Cody Casey
Cooking frozen salmon with skin in an air fryer is a quick, easy, and healthy way to prepare a delicious meal. With minimal prep and no need to defrost, you can have tender, flaky, and flavorful salmon on the table in under 20 minutes. The key to success is placing the salmon skin-side down in the air fryer basket and cooking it at the right temperature and time depending on your desired level of doneness.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 390°F-400°F |
| Time | 12-20 minutes |
| Skin | Place skin-side down |
| Seasoning | Olive oil, lemon juice, salt, pepper, garlic powder, paprika powder, cayenne, maple syrup, lemon zest, fresh herbs, brown sugar |
| Sides | Tartar sauce, coleslaw, salad, air fryer asparagus, air fryer baby carrots, air fryer green beans, french fries, tater tots |
| Internal Temperature | 125-145°F |
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What You'll Learn
Cooking times and temperatures
When cooking frozen salmon with skin in an air fryer, the temperature and cooking time may vary depending on the thickness of the fillets and your desired level of doneness. It is important to note that the skin-side should be placed down in the air fryer to prevent overcooking, but the skin will not be crispy.
Most sources recommend preheating the air fryer to 390°F (199°C) and cooking the salmon for 7 minutes initially. Then, brush the salmon with olive oil, avocado oil, or any other high-temperature cooking oil, and season with salt and pepper. Some recipes also suggest adding lemon juice, smoked paprika, garlic powder, cayenne, or maple syrup to the seasoning. After seasoning, the salmon is cooked for another 3 to 9 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets. The total cooking time at this temperature ranges from 12 to 18 minutes.
If you prefer a higher temperature, you can set the air fryer to 400°F (204°C). At this temperature, the salmon will cook in about 12 to 14 minutes.
To check if the salmon is cooked to your desired level of doneness, use an instant-read thermometer to ensure the internal temperature reaches 135°F to 145°F. The salmon should also be slightly firm and flaky, with a fork easily flaking the meat.
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How to prepare the salmon
Preparing frozen salmon with skin in an air fryer is a quick and easy process. The first step is to preheat your air fryer to 390°F or 400°F, depending on your preference. While the air fryer is heating up, you can remove any excess ice from the salmon fillets. It is important to note that the skin will not get crispy if left to cook skin-side down, so if you prefer crispy skin, you may want to remove it before cooking.
Once the air fryer has preheated, place the frozen fillets directly into the air fryer basket, ensuring they are in a single layer and not overlapping. If your salmon has skin, place it skin-side down to prevent overcooking. The initial cook will take around 7 minutes, and the salmon will not be fully cooked at this point.
After the first 7 minutes, remove the salmon from the air fryer and brush it with olive oil, avocado oil, or another high-temperature cooking oil. You can also season the salmon generously with salt and pepper, or other seasonings of your choice, such as garlic powder, cayenne, paprika, or fresh herbs like dill, parsley, or cilantro. For a sweet touch, you can add some brown sugar to the seasoning or brush the salmon with maple syrup for a delicious glaze.
Finally, return the salmon to the air fryer and cook for an additional 3 to 9 minutes, depending on the thickness of the fillets and your desired level of doneness. The salmon is ready when it reaches an internal temperature of 135-145°F and flakes easily when scraped with a fork.
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How to cook the salmon
Cooking frozen salmon with skin in an air fryer is a quick and easy way to prepare a healthy and delicious meal. The process is straightforward and requires minimal preparation, making it perfect for busy weeknights. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to cook frozen salmon with skin in an air fryer:
Step 1: Prepare the Air Fryer and Salmon
Firstly, preheat your air fryer to 390°F (204°C). If your air fryer does not require preheating, you can skip this step. Remove any excess ice from the salmon fillets. If your salmon has skin, it is recommended to cook it skin-side down, as this helps insulate the fish, keeping it moist and holding it together. Place the frozen fillets in a single layer inside the air fryer basket, ensuring they don't overlap or touch, allowing hot air to cook the fish evenly.
Step 2: Initial Cooking
Place the air fryer basket into the air fryer and cook the frozen salmon for 7 minutes. This step is intended to defrost the fish, and it will not be fully cooked at this stage.
Step 3: Seasoning and Additional Cooking
After 7 minutes, remove the salmon from the air fryer. Brush the salmon fillets with olive oil or avocado oil and season generously with salt and pepper. You can also add other seasonings like garlic powder, cayenne, or smoked paprika for extra flavour. Lay lemon slices or drizzle lemon juice over the fillets for a citrusy twist. Return the salmon to the air fryer and cook for an additional 3 to 7 minutes, depending on the thickness of your fillets and your desired level of doneness. For thicker fillets, longer cooking times may be required.
Step 4: Final Cooking and Serving
Continue cooking the salmon until it reaches your desired level of doneness. The USDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of 145°F, especially if you are pregnant or immunocompromised. However, most chefs recommend a medium doneness with an internal temperature of 125-135°F, as the salmon will continue to cook even after being removed from the air fryer. The salmon is ready when it is slightly browned on the edges, crisp, and flakes easily when gently scraped with a fork. Serve the salmon with lemon wedges and your choice of sides, such as asparagus, baby carrots, or green beans. Enjoy your delicious and healthy meal!
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How to make a sauce to accompany the salmon
There are many sauces that can be used to accompany salmon cooked in an air fryer. Here are some ideas:
- Bacon Aioli: This sauce is a great option to pair with salmon. It is made using turkey bacon, mayonnaise, coarse sea salt, paprika powder, garlic powder, black pepper, and lemon juice.
- Maple Soy Glaze: This glaze is made with just four ingredients: pure maple syrup, sriracha, soy sauce, and garlic. Marinate the salmon in this mixture for 10-15 minutes, then cook the salmon and reduce the leftover marinade into a glaze.
- Dijon Mustard Sauce: This sauce can be made by mixing olive oil, lemon juice, Dijon mustard, salt, garlic powder, pepper, and cayenne. Brush this mixture onto the salmon before cooking.
- Honey Garlic Sauce: This sauce is made with honey, garlic powder, and kosher salt.
- Lemon Sauce: Squeeze some lemon juice over the salmon, or serve with lemon wedges.
- Teriyaki Sauce: Brush the salmon with teriyaki sauce before cooking.
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How to check if the salmon is cooked
To check if your salmon is cooked, you can use a meat thermometer to measure the internal temperature of the fish. The USDA recommends an internal temperature of 145ºF for fully cooked salmon. If you prefer your salmon medium, you can cook it to an internal temperature of 125-135ºF. If you don't have a meat thermometer, you can also check the doneness of your salmon by looking at it. The salmon should be crisp and slightly browned on the edges and should flake easily when scraped gently with a fork.
When cooking frozen salmon in an air fryer, the cooking time will depend on the thickness of the fillets and your preferred level of doneness. For thicker fillets, the cooking time can range from 12 to 18 minutes at 390°F. For thinner fillets, the cooking time can be as little as 12 minutes. It's important to note that the salmon will continue to cook even after you remove it from the air fryer, so it's best to remove it a few degrees early and let it rest.
To ensure even cooking, it's recommended to use salmon fillets of similar thickness and cook them in a single layer in the air fryer basket. If you're using skin-on salmon fillets, place them skin-side down in the air fryer to prevent overcooking. However, cooking the salmon with the skin-side down will result in softer skin, so if you prefer crispy skin, you may need to finish it off in a pan.
Additionally, it's important to pat the salmon dry before cooking to remove any excess moisture, as this can lead to soggy fish. You can also brush the salmon with olive oil or melted butter before seasoning to help the seasoning stick and keep the salmon moist.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes 12 to 18 minutes to cook frozen salmon with skin in an air fryer. The thicker the fillets, the longer the cooking time.
Set your air fryer to 390°F to 400°F.
The salmon is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 135°F to 145°F and flakes easily when scraped with a fork.
