Can You Freeze Salmon After Cooking? Everything You Need To Know

Salmon is one of my favorite proteins to cook and eat It’s delicious, nutritious, and versatile – you can bake, grill, pan sear or poach salmon fillets and they always turn out delicious However, I don’t always get to eat all of the salmon I cook. Sometimes I end up with leftovers, which leads to the question – can you freeze salmon after cooking it?

I did some research on this topic to get the full picture. Here’s what I learned about freezing cooked salmon, including whether it’s safe, how to freeze it properly, and the best ways to use it after thawing. Read on for the full scoop!

Is It Safe To Freeze Cooked Salmon?

The short answer is yes it is perfectly safe to freeze cooked salmon as long as you follow proper food safety guidelines. Salmon is a low risk food for harboring harmful bacteria. According to the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service, fresh salmon can be stored in the refrigerator for 1-2 days after purchasing. After that, it needs to be frozen to prevent spoilage and bacteria growth.

Cooked salmon that you want to keep its quality and flavor should be frozen. The salmon should be safe to eat as long as it has been kept cold or frozen from the time it was caught to the time it is served.

If you’re not going to eat the salmon in a couple of days, it’s especially important to freeze it right. Putting it in the freezer stops bacteria from growing by stopping enzymes from working, which also slows down the breakdown process. Frozen salmon stored at 0°F or below is preserved safely for 2-3 months.

How To Freeze Cooked Salmon

Freezing cooked salmon is simple if you follow a few guidelines:

• Make sure the salmon is fully cooked through before freezing. Undercooked salmon won’t freeze well and could create a food safety risk.

• Let the cooked salmon cool completely before freezing. Don’t put warm or hot salmon directly into the freezer. Rapid cooling could cause ice crystals to form and damage the texture.

• Portion the salmon into a size you will use for recipes. I like cutting fillets into 4 oz portions.

• Pack portions in a single layer with pieces not touching if possible. You can line a baking sheet with parchment or wax paper.

• Once salmon pieces are frozen solid on the baking sheet, transfer them to freezer bags or airtight containers. Removing air helps prevent freezer burn.

• Label bags with the type of salmon and date frozen. Sharpie on freezer tape adheres well.

• Store salmon portions flat in one layer in the freezer. This prevents freezer burn on the edges and surfaces.

• Cooked salmon keeps well frozen for 2-3 months at 0°F. Eat within this time period for best flavor and texture.

Follow these tips and your frozen salmon should retain optimum quality and taste. Now let’s look at the best ways to use thawed frozen salmon.

How To Use Frozen Salmon

I’ve found a few different effective methods for incorporating thawed frozen salmon into recipes:

Reheat Gently

Thawed cooked salmon can be gently reheated either on the stovetop or in the oven. The key is to heat it just until warm, not overcook it further.

For the stovetop, add a portion of thawed salmon to a pan with a teaspoon of butter or oil over medium-low heat. Cover and cook for 2-3 minutes, gently flipping halfway through, just until heated through.

For the oven, bake at 300°F for about 15 minutes wrapped in foil just until warmed through. Baste with a little oil or sauce to add moisture.

Get it just hot enough to serve and enjoy the already cooked salmon. Avoid overdoing it or the texture will suffer.

Flake In Pieces

Breaking thawed cooked salmon into bite-size flaky chunks is a great way to use it in recipes like salmon cakes, salmon salad, pasta, pizza and more.

Gently break apart the thawed fillets and you have instant flaked salmon ready to incorporate. This technique prevents overcooking since you are just warming it or adding it in.

Blend or Purée

Another easy way to use thawed frozen salmon is to purée it in a blender or food processor. This smoothes out the texture beautifully.

Add seasonings and extra virgin olive oil or mayo to make a quick salmon salad dip or sandwich spread. Purée with dill and Greek yogurt for a simple salmon dip.

You can also fold puréed salmon into pasta sauces, rice dishes and salads. It blends in seamlessly adding a boost of flavor.

Make Salmon Patties or Cakes

One of my favorite ways to use up thawed frozen salmon is transforming it into crispy salmon patties or cakes. Simply flake the salmon into a bowl, add an egg, breadcrumbs, seasonings and binders like mayo or Greek yogurt.

Form into patties, coat the outside with more breadcrumbs and pan fry in olive oil for an easy salmon cake entrée. Serve on buns for salmon burgers too.

How To Know If Frozen Salmon Has Gone Bad

Frozen salmon that is properly stored in the freezer below 0°F should keep safely for 2-3 months. However, you may sometimes run into issues like freezer burn that cause flavor and texture changes.

Here are a few signs that frozen salmon has gone bad and needs to be discarded:

• Dry, grayish white areas of freezer burn
• Unpleasant “fishy” or ammonia odor when raw
• Slimy texture after thawing
• Discolored flesh, darkening or yellowing
• Mold growth anywhere on the salmon

Trust your senses – if thawed salmon smells bad, looks off or feels slimy, it has spoiled and should not be eaten. When in doubt, throw it out.

Only thaw as much salmon as you plan to eat to avoid wasting any that goes bad. Keep the unused portion frozen until ready to use.

Tips For Freezing Salmon

Based on my experience, here are some top tips for successfully freezing cooked salmon:

• Let salmon cool completely after cooking before freezing
• Portion into usable amounts about 4 oz each
• Package tightly in freezer bags or airtight containers
• Remove as much air as possible
• Label with type and date
• Freeze flat in a single layer to prevent freezer burn
• Store at 0°F or below
• Use within 2-3 months for best quality
• Thaw gently in fridge overnight when ready to use

Freezing cooked salmon is a great way to save leftovers and have salmon on hand anytime to add to recipes. Follow proper storage guidelines and frozen salmon retains its safety, nutrition, and flavor. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator before gently reheating or incorporating into seafood dishes.

With proper handling, freezing cooked salmon is perfectly safe and lets you enjoy the health benefits and delicious taste of salmon whenever the craving strikes! I recommend giving it a try. Frozen salmon works great in pastas, salads, patties, dips and more.