You haven’t lived until you’ve tried a salmon fillet with a crispy skin! But don’t let the scales get stuck in your teeth—learn how to descale salmon fillets without any special tools in just a few minutes!
Salmon is one of my favorite foods in the whole world. I like it just about any way it’s prepared — blackened, poached, baked, smoked, grilled, or raw. So we eat it probably once or twice a week and never get tired of it.
This foil packet salmon with soy and lemon has been my go-to way to make it for years, even though it’s always delicious. After it’s done baking, you just peel off the skin and enjoy. Easy peasy.
However, I recently made pan-seared blackened salmon — with the skin on. And holy moly, did it change my life! Not only did it taste great, but the skin got so incredibly crispy that it was like a cross between salmon, a potato chip, and bacon.
So today I’m going to show you how to descale salmon fillets! Salmon skin tastes so much better without all the scales stuck in your teeth!
As a salmon lover, I’ve cooked my fair share of fillets over the years. While prepping the fish, those thin, pearl-like scales catching the light often grabbed my attention. Scales come to mind when thinking of fish, yet I realized I don’t know much about salmon scales specifically – why do salmon have scales and what purpose do they serve? This sent me down an investigative rabbit hole to uncover the secrets of salmon scales.
Why Do Salmon Have Scales?
Scales provide protection for fish in their watery environment. Made up of the same collagen-based proteins as skin and hair, scales cover and shield the fish’s body from parasites, abrasions, and injuries. They also assist with locomotion.
Salmon develop scales early in development while still in their egg sac stage. The scales originate from the mesoderm layer between the dermis and epidermis Special skin cells called osteoblasts produce the bony material that makes up scales Initially soft, the scales harden as juvenile salmon transition from freshwater to saltwater.
Besides defense scales streamline the fish for movement. Their overlapping pattern allows water to easily flow over the surface reducing drag. This hydrodynamic design helps salmon power through ocean currents during their migration.
The Unique Properties of Salmon Scales
While all fish have scales, salmon scales have distinct characteristics. Their round, disk-like shape classifies them as cycloid scales. As the fish ages, these scales grow in concentric rings, making markings that are unique, like a tree’s rings. Scientists can estimate a salmon’s age by counting these rings.
Salmon scales are also incredibly tiny – it takes 1000 scales to weigh 1 gram! But don’t let the size fool you. Scales are complex structures composed of many layers. The outermost lamina is made of protective keratin while the inner lamellae contain bone and blood vessels. The layered construction makes scales flexible yet tough.
What’s more remarkable is that scales grow with the fish. To keep up with their rapid growth, juvenile salmon’s scales get bigger during their first year. This keeps salmon covered in their protective mineral armor.
Do You Have to Remove Salmon Scales Before Cooking?
This is a judgment call depending on your recipe. If you’re going to pan-sear or broil the salmon, the scales should be taken off so that you don’t get a mouthful of hard bits. It only takes minutes to remove scales with a spoon or butter knife. Just scrape against the scales’ direction, and they come off easily.
However, for poached or steamed salmon, scales typically fall off with the skin when peeled away after cooking. So descaling may not be necessary if you don’t plan to eat the skin. Still, some cooks descale regardless since the scales can carries dirt or bacteria.
Ultimately, descaling leads to the best texture and experience when eating salmon skin. The fish cooks up smooth as can be without pesky scales getting stuck in your teeth.
Can You Eat Salmon Scales?
While not the most pleasant or common practice, salmon scales are technically edible. Since they are composed of proteins and minerals, scales provide nutrition like the rest of the fish. However, their hardness makes for an unenjoyable chewy, crunchy mouthfeel many find unappetizing.
In some Asian cultures, consuming fish scales is believed to have health benefits. Boiled salmon scales contain collagen, calcium, and other compounds that may support skin, nail, bone, and joint health. That said, research on potential health effects is lacking.
Chefs have found clever uses for salmon scales beyond eating them directly. Powdered salmon scales can add crunch and nutty flavor when used as a coating or baking ingredient. The shiny scales also make a dramatic garnish for sushi and other dishes.
Threats Facing Salmon Due to Their Scales
While vital for salmon survival, the iridescent scales that define this fish have contributed to their endangered status. Historically, salmon scales were used to make shimmery pearlescent buttons, jewelry, cosmetics, and decorative dishes.
Though scale harvesting for commercial use has been banned, illegal fishing operations continue to remove scales by the thousands of pounds. Salmon are also under threat from pollution accumulating in their scales, especially near industrial and agricultural areas. The toxins then transfer up the food chain as predators consume salmon.
Habitat loss from dams, climate change, overfishing and parasites like sea lice have further diminished wild salmon populations. Many conservation efforts are underway to restore salmon ecosystems and protect these treasured fish.
The Takeaway on Salmon Scales
In examining salmon scales closely, I gained appreciation for this marvel of natural engineering. Scales enable salmon to undertake their heroic migrations across thousands of miles, while also leaving clues about their life history. Hopefully by better understanding salmon scales, we can also better understand how to conserve these iconic fish for generations to come.
So next time you cook up a salmon fillet, take a moment to admire those diminutive disks glistening on the skin. Each scale is a tiny emblem representing the fish’s long journey and connection to its environment. Salmon scales provide so much more than just decorative flair.
Do you have to remove the skin from salmon?
The question of whether to remove salmon skin is really up to you and your recipe.
For steamed-type recipes like the foil packet one I mentioned, that’s totally the way to go. A soggy salmon skin is edible, but not particularly appealing. It doesn’t add much to the dish, and it’s easy to take off when the fish is done. Just peel it off!.
But if the skin is going to be directly exposed to heat and get crispy, you should leave it on. It’s the best part!
Do I have to remove the scales from salmon before eating it?
You could technically eat them, but they’ll get stuck in your teeth, and I bet it’s not nearly as tasty as a nice, crispy salmon skin without any scales.
Plus, descaling a salmon fillet only takes a few minutes without any special equipment (although if you’re removing scales from fish frequently, you can get a dedicated fish scaler). (affiliate link)
HOW TO SCALE A WHOLE SALMON | CLEAN AND SCALE FISH | SALMON
FAQ
Do I need to remove scales from salmon?
What fish do not have scales?
Does pink salmon have scales?
Can you eat salmon skin without scales?
Does salmon skin have scales?
Salmon skin does not always have the scales, but more often than not, it will still be scaly when you buy it. Generally, if you buy your salmon in a supermarket, it will probably have been descaled already – especially if you’re buying salmon fillets, rather than the whole fish. A wholesaler or fishmonger will probably leave the scales on.
Does salmon contain calcium?
Salmon is rich in essential minerals such as iron, calcium, phosphorus, and selenium, and vitamins. However, on the list, sardines are a fish with large amounts of calcium.
Should you scale salmon?
To sum it up, it is not appealing at all to scale salmon, but it’s an essential step to ensure a safe and enjoyable dining experience. Remember that salmon scales are not edible, and trying to cook or consume them can lead to unpleasant consequences.
Where are the scales on a salmon fillet?
Usually I’ll find a couple loose scales on top of the fleshy side of the salmon but the others are pretty well-attached. Here you can see the difference between a salmon fillet with the scales removed (left) and a salmon fillet with the scales still on (right).