Salmon is one of the healthiest and most delicious fish you can eat. However, fresh salmon can be expensive and spoils quickly. There is no better way to keep fresh salmon fresh for months than to freeze it.
With the right freezing and thawing techniques, frozen salmon retains much of the same flavor, texture, and nutritional value as fresh. Read on to learn how to freeze fresh salmon properly so you can enjoy it throughout the year.
Why Freeze Fresh Salmon?
There are several advantages to freezing fresh salmon fillets or steaks
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Longer shelf life – Frozen salmon stays safe to eat for 2-6 months compared to just a few days when refrigerated. Freezing stops bacterial growth and food spoilage.
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** Budget-friendly** – Buy fresh salmon when prices are low or when catching your own. Freezing allows you to stock up so you always have salmon on hand.
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Flavors and nutrients preserved – Correct freezing preserves the healthy omega-3s, proteins vitamins and minerals in salmon.
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Texture kept: When salmon is cooked after being frozen and thawed properly, it stays moist and tender.
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Avoid waste – Freeze surplus salmon from a big catch or leftovers. Freezing prevents good food from going bad.
With a little planning, you can enjoy fresh-tasting salmon year-round at a fraction of the cost of buying it fresh weekly.
How to Prepare Salmon for Freezing
Follow these tips for prepping fresh salmon fillets or steaks to go into the freezer:
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Start with sushi-grade or very fresh raw salmon. Use within 2 days of purchasing for best results.
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Clean the fish thoroughly, remove scales, bones, and skin if desired.
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Cut into 4-6 oz portions. Single servings freeze best.
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Pat dry with paper towels to remove excess moisture from the surface.
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Arrange in a single layer with space between portions on a baking sheet. Freeze until solid, about 2 hours.
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Transfer frozen salmon pieces into freezer bags or airtight containers. Squeeze out air, label with type and date.
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Return to freezer immediately.
Freezing Methods
There are a few ways to freeze fresh salmon. Here are some common methods:
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Freezer bags – Economical and effective for short-term storage of up to 3 months. Lay flat to freeze fast.
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Vacuum sealing – Creates an airtight seal to prevent freezer burn. Allows for longer freezing.
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Glazing – Coating frozen items with ice helps prevent freezer burn. Dip in ice water after initial freeze.
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Wrapping in plastic wrap – Wrap tightly in plastic wrap and foil before freezing. Helps retain moisture.
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Waxed paper – Interleave wax paper between pieces of fish. Makes it easier to remove portions.
No matter which option you choose, exclude as much air as possible and use moisture-proof barriers like plastic wrap or aluminum foil to prevent ice crystals.
How Long Does Frozen Salmon Last?
Frozen properly at 0°F or below, salmon remains safe to eat while retaining good quality for the following timeframes:
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Raw salmon steaks or fillets – 3-6 months
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Smoked salmon – 2 months
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Precooked salmon – 1-2 months
Track how long items have been frozen. Use oldest items first and do not refreeze thawed salmon.
Signs frozen salmon is past its prime:
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Dull color and dry, flaky texture
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Unpleasant “fishy” or ammonia odor
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Excessive ice crystals or freezer burn
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Mold or dry brown spots on flesh
Thawing Frozen Salmon
Always thaw salmon in the refrigerator, cold water, or the microwave using these methods:
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Refrigerator: Thaw overnight in fridge. Place frozen fish in a bowl or on a plate to catch drips.
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Cold water: Place vacuum sealed or zipper bag-wrapped salmon in cold water. Change water every 30 mins.
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Microwave: Use the defrost setting at 30% power. Check often to prevent cooking edges.
Do not thaw salmon at room temperature or in hot water. This encourages bacterial growth. Cook raw salmon immediately after thawing.
How to Use Thawed Salmon
Thawed salmon can be used in all the same ways as fresh salmon. Some favorite recipes include:
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Baked salmon – Bake with onions, lemon, and seasonings at 400°F until flaky.
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Salmon patties – Mix with eggs, breadcrumbs, and spices and pan fry into patties.
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Grilled salmon – Brush with oil and grill 4-5 minutes per side on med-high.
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Salmon salad – Flake into chunks and mix with greens, veggies, nuts, and dressing.
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Salmon cakes – Shape thawed salmon into patties and cook as above. Top with sauce.
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Salmon pasta – Toss flakes of salmon with hot pasta, pesto, tomatoes, spinach.
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Smoked salmon – Enjoy lox on bagels, cream cheese, toast points for breakfast.
The key is not to overcook previously frozen salmon. Cook just until opaque and flakes easily with a fork.
Storing Leftover Cooked Salmon
You can safely store leftover cooked salmon in the refrigerator for 3-4 days. Freeze any longer-term leftovers for up to 2-3 months.
To freeze cooked salmon:
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Let cool completely first. Divide into meal-sized portions.
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Place in zipper bags or containers, removing as much air as possible.
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Label with contents and freeze date. Use oldest first.
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Thaw again in the refrigerator before eating.
Freezing is the best way to preserve fresh salmon while retaining its delicious flavor and health benefits. Follow these tips on preparing, freezing, thawing, and cooking salmon for enjoying it year-round without waste.
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StepsPart
- Put the salmon in a freezer bag that won’t let air in and write your name on the outside. Put the salmon or salmon pieces that have been wrapped in foil into a large freezer bag. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag shut. Writing on the bag is very important because it’s easy to forget what things are after being in the freezer for months. Use a permanent marker to write down as much useful information as you can. [7] Write down the date and things like 4 salmon steaks and 1 fillet. It’s easy to see what’s inside the bag without having to open it and take the fish out.
- 2. Put the salmon bag in the freezer’s coldest spot. Not sure where the coldest spot is? It’s usually the farthest back, against the wall, where warm air takes longer to reach. You can store salmon for longer if you keep it as cold as possible. This may not seem important. [8] Nows a good time to check your freezer temperature. For the best storage, set the freezer to -18 °F (0 °C).
- {“smallUrl”:”https://www. wikihow. com/s/thumb/9/9c/Freeze-Raw-Salmon-Step-9-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Freeze-Raw-Salmon-Step-9-Version-2. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”/s/thumb/9/9c/Freeze-Raw-Salmon-Step-9-Version-2. jpg/aid12229987-v4-728px-Freeze-Raw-Salmon-Step-9-Version-2. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:259,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:410,”licensing”:”u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this under U. S. and international copyright laws. This text and some other things on the wikiHow website are licensed under the Creative Commons license, but this is not. Other groups are not allowed to use this without wikiHow, Inc.’s written permission. 3. Put the salmon in the freezer for up to three months. If your freezer is at 0 °F (-18 °C), you can freeze raw salmon forever. However, the salmon may become soft or mushy over time. The salmon will taste best if you cook it within 3 months of putting it in the freezer. Whenever you add new raw salmon to your freezer, use the older salmon before defrosting the new salmon. This is called the “first in, first out” rule.
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- 1. For the best texture, let frozen salmon thaw in the fridge overnight. Theres no need to unwrap the salmon. It’s as easy as putting the frozen fish package in the fridge [10].
- 2. If you want to defrost frozen salmon in one hour, put it in cold water. Sometimes, its tricky to plan your next days meal. You can still cook frozen salmon for dinner if you decide to. Just take the bag out of the fridge and put it in a large bowl. Put something heavy on top of the bag and fill the bowl with cold water. This will cover the salmon. After 30 minutes, check to see if the salmon has thawed. [11] If the salmon is still thick, add cold water and check on it again in 30 minutes.
- {“smallUrl”:”https://www. wikihow. com/s/thumb/d/df/Freeze-Raw-Salmon-Step-12-Version-2. jpg/v4-460px-Freeze-Raw-Salmon-Step-12-Version-2. jpg”,”bigUrl”:”/s/thumb/d/df/Freeze-Raw-Salmon-Step-12-Version-2. jpg/aid12229987-v4-728px-Freeze-Raw-Salmon-Step-12-Version-2. jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:259,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight”:410,”licensing”:”u00a9 2024 wikiHow, Inc. All rights reserved. wikiHow, Inc. is the copyright holder of this under U. S. and international copyright laws. This text and some other things on the wikiHow website are licensed under the Creative Commons license, but this is not. Other groups are not allowed to use this without wikiHow, Inc.’s written permission. 3. If you don’t have much time, use the defrost setting to heat the salmon in the microwave. Don’t worry if you forgot to take the salmon out of the freezer. Unwrap the salmon and put it in a microwave-safe dish. To thaw the salmon until you can bend it, use the defrost setting. Otherwise, the fish will still be frozen. For 450 g (1 pound) of salmon, this should take about 5 minutes. After that, take the salmon out of the microwave and cook it right away. [12] When you set your microwave to defrost, the power level drops automatically, so you don’t have to pick a heat setting.
- 4 Cook the salmon immediately after defrosting it. As the salmon thaws, plan how you’ll cook it so that you can start heating it as soon as it’s fully thawed. As long as you work quickly, it doesn’t matter what cooking method you pick—roasting, grilling, or searing. You don’t want bad bacteria to grow because you forgot to put the salmon in the fridge. One time this isn’t true is if you let your salmon thaw overnight in the fridge. The salmon can stay in the fridge for up to two days before being cooked because it wasn’t warmed up.
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How to Freeze and Thaw Salmon
FAQ
Can you freeze raw salmon?
What do you wrap salmon in to freeze it?
Can you freeze salmon in a Ziploc bag?
Should you freeze salmon in its packaging?
Can you freeze fresh salmon?
Here are some simple steps to freeze fresh salmon: Start by rinsing the salmon under cold water to remove any debris. Pat it dry with paper towels. Cut the salmon into portion sizes if it’s not already cut. Place each portion of salmon on a piece of plastic wrap. Tightly cover the salmon with the plastic wrap to prevent air from getting in.
How can I freeze fresh shallots?
The best way to freeze shallots is to dice them into small pieces. Then you can store them in a freezer safe bag, so that you can avoid freezer burn. Another important factor is to choose fresh shallots, because the fresher they are the longer they will last in the freezer. Also, make sure to label the bags, so you know what is in them and when you put them in the freezer. When you go to use them make sure they are not spoiled, by checking for mold or a smell that is not quite right. Shallots can last up to a year in the freezer, so be sure to use them before a year passes.
How do you defrost frozen salmon?
The best way to defrost frozen salmon is to place it in the refrigerator for 12-24 hours. If you need to defrost it quickly, you can place the sealed salmon in a bowl of cold water for a few hours, making sure to change the water every 30 minutes.
How do you store frozen salmon?
Put the salmon into an airtight freezer bag and label the outside. Stick the wrapped salmon or salmon portions into a big freezer bag. Squeeze out the air and seal the bag shut. Now comes a really important part—labeling the bag!