How Long to Air Fry Thawed Salmon for Perfectly Cooked Fish Every Time

Cooking salmon in the air fryer is a quick and easy way to make a delicious, healthy meal any night of the week. With an air fryer, you don’t have to worry about heating up the oven or dirtying multiple pans. You simply throw the salmon in the basket and let the air fryer work its magic!

But when cooking salmon in the air fryer, it’s important to get the cook time just right. Undercook it, and you’ll end up with raw fish. Cook it too long, and you’ll unfortunately dry it out.

So how long should you air fry thawed salmon to achieve tender flaky moist salmon fillets? Keep reading to find out!

How Long to Cook Thawed Salmon in the Air Fryer

When cooking thawed salmon in the air fryer, the cook time can vary slightly depending on a few factors:

• Thickness of the fillets
• Desired doneness
• Size/power of your air fryer

In general, though, thawed salmon fillets should be done in 6 to 8 minutes, giving them about 1 to 5 inches thick.

For specifics here are air fryer cook times based on salmon thickness

• 1 inch thick fillets: 6 minutes
• 1.5 inch thick fillets: 8 minutes
• 2 inches thick fillets: 10 minutes

These times will cook the salmon to medium doneness with a nice flaky texture on the inside and a touch of crispness on the outside.

You can air fry the salmon for two to three minutes longer if you like it more done. But I don’t think you should cook it for more than 12 minutes because the fish will get dry.

Also, take the salmon out of the oven one minute early if you like the middle to be less done.

Tips for Air Frying Thawed Salmon Perfectly

Follow these simple tips for delicious air fried salmon every time:

• Always thaw frozen salmon fillets first. Air frying straight from frozen doesn’t allow the inside to cook through properly. Thaw in the refrigerator overnight or use the defrost setting on your microwave.

• Pat the fillets dry before air frying. Excess moisture on the surface can cause steaming instead of frying.

• Brush lightly with oil. This helps the fillets get nicely browned and crispy. Olive, avocado, grapeseed, or other heat-stable oil works great.

• Season simply. Salmon has a delicious flavor on its own, so you don’t need much. Salt, pepper, lemon, and dill or other herbs are perfect.

• Use a meat thermometer to check for doneness, especially for thicker fillets. Pull when the thickest part of the salmon reaches 135°F for medium rare.

• Let rest 5 minutes before serving. This allows the fish to finish cooking and the juices to redistribute for moist, tender salmon.

• Flip halfway through. If air frying skin-on fillets, flip them halfway to crisp up the skin on both sides.

• Spray the basket. Lightly coat with oil spray so the fish doesn’t stick.

• Cook at 400°F. This higher heat helps the exterior get nice and crispy.

Step-by-Step Instructions

Follow these simple steps for perfectly air fried salmon:

1. Thaw frozen salmon fillets completely if using frozen. Pat dry.

2. Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Lightly brush fillets with oil on both sides and season.

3. Spray air fryer basket with oil spray. Place fillets skin-side down if skin-on.

4. Air fry 6-8 minutes based on thickness, flipping halfway if doing skin-on fillets.

5. Check temperature using a meat thermometer to ensure it’s done. Cook 1-2 minutes more if needed.

6. Remove fillets from air fryer and let rest 5 minutes before serving.

And that’s it! With these simple instructions, you’ll have delicious, flaky air fried salmon ready in under 10 minutes any night of the week.

![Salmon cooking times chart for air fryer][]

Salmon cooking times based on thickness of fillets

Air Fryer Salmon Recipe

To get you started, here is a simple, delicious air fryer salmon recipe to try:

Ingredients:

• 2 salmon fillets, skin-on, about 1-1.5 inches thick
• 1 tbsp olive oil
• 1⁄2 tsp salt
• 1⁄4 tsp pepper
• Lemon wedges for serving

Instructions:

1. Pat salmon dry and brush both sides with olive oil. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Preheat air fryer to 400°F. Spray basket with oil spray.

3. Place fillets skin-side down in air fryer basket. Air fry 6 minutes.

4. Carefully flip fillets. Air fry 2-4 minutes more until salmon flakes easily and reaches 135°F.

5. Let rest 5 minutes then serve with lemon wedges.

This simple recipe results in tender, flaky salmon with a hint of crispness every time. Adjust cook times as needed for thicker or thinner fillets.

More Delicious Ways to Air Fry Salmon

Once you’ve mastered the basic air fried salmon recipe, try out these fun flavor variations:

• Lemon-Herb: Top fillets with minced garlic, lemon zest, parsley, dill, and olive oil.
• Teriyaki: Brush with teriyaki sauce and sesame seeds before air frying.
• Cajun: Season with Cajun spices like paprika, onion, thyme, cayenne and garlic.
• Maple-Dijon: Whisk together maple syrup, Dijon mustard, and soy sauce for a sweet glaze.
• Mediterranean: Stuff fillets with sliced sun-dried tomatoes, olives, basil, and feta before air frying.

The options are endless when it comes to seasoning and flavoring your air fried salmon!

Frequently Asked Questions

• Should salmon be completely thawed before air frying? Yes, always completely thaw salmon before air frying. The cold center of frozen salmon won’t cook properly.
• Is it better to cook salmon skin-side up or down? For crispy skin, start skin-side down. Then flip halfway through to cook the other side. Either method works though.
• Can you overcook salmon in an air fryer? Yes, it’s easy to overdry salmon with air frying if cooked too long. Stick to the recommended cook times and use a meat thermometer.
• Do you have to flip salmon in the air fryer? Flipping halfway through is optional. Salmon will cook fine skin-side down the whole time. But flipping gives you crispier skin.
• What temperature should I cook salmon at? 400°F is ideal. The higher heat helps the exterior get crispy. Lower temps will result in a less browned exterior.

The Takeaway

Cooking thawed salmon in the air fryer is a fast, healthy, and easy dinner option the whole family will love. For 1-1.5 inch fillets, aim for 6-8 minutes at 400°F for tender, flaky, medium salmon. Use a thermometer to check doneness and adjust cook time as needed. With the right timing, your air fried salmon will turn out perfectly moist and delicious every single time.