This simple guide will show you how to air fry salmon fillets quickly and easily, whether they are fresh or frozen. Because I kept things simple, these steps are a great place to begin. You can add more seasoning, marinade, or glaze if you like.
I’ve had a lot of success air-frying different kinds of fish and shellfish, but this salmon is the real winner. The beautifully plump fillets crisp up on the outside whilst the inside remains juicy and tender. I don’t think you can really go wrong with a perfectly cooked salmon fillet.
When I cook salmon in the oven, I can’t always get the outside to seal well without cooking the inside too much. So I usually pan fry at a high heat, turning the salmon so it crisps on all sides.
Unfortunately, salmon is an oily fish, and a lot of those oils come out when it’s cooked. It tends to splatter all over the stovetop, and I hate cleaning that up. So not only can I be hands off while the salmon cooks, clean up is easier too.
Salmon is super versatile. It makes the tastiest fish tacos ever when I flake it and add it to them. Don’t forget to add canned peach salsa and guacamole, too.
It tastes great with creamy pastas and risottos, or you can serve it with broccoli and new potatoes steamed in water, like in this recipe. Or switch in garlic pea puree and roasted potato cubes with rosemary.
A great deal of the time I serve salmon with rice and Asian flavours. In my sweet chili salmon recipe, you can change how long the salmon needs to be cooked. You can also make salmon maki sushi rolls with cooked salmon instead of raw salmon.
All of these meals use the salmon served hot but salmon is incredibly delicious too. This makes it a great centrepiece for picnic spreads or buffets. It’s delicious added to salads too – Classic Caesar Salad is always my favourite.
Salmon fillets are probably the most common cut of salmon in the UK. This recipe is for them. You can buy whole or half sides of salmon which is what I like to do. At that point, I can cut my own fillets from the side with the most fat, making them big and even. I usually cut them a minimum of 160g/5oz each.
Fillets are usually sold with the skin on. This will get crispy once air fried and can be eaten. Even though I don’t like fish skin, I always leave it on salmon when I cook it because it helps the fillet stay together.
There are also salmon steaks, which are made by cutting the salmon steak through the middle without cutting the two sides apart. Salmon steaks have a horseshoe shape with the skin around the side edge. You can use this recipe as a guide to air fry salmon steaks, but if they are already pretty thin, you might want to cut down on the cooking time.
I use butter on the salmon to add flavour and to help in the crisping/colouring process. It takes less time to cook with butter than with most other fats, so the skin will be more likely to get color and crisp.
Spreadable butters and margarines have a lot of water in them along with fat, which will make the crisping worse instead of better.
If you prefer to use an olive or other vegetable oil, please do. The smoking point is less important when you use a seasoning rub or sauce, which makes this even easier.
Try to match the flavour of the oil with the seasonings. For example, olive oil with lemon and rosemary or vegetable oil with a drop of sesame oil for a dish that tastes like Japan
These steps for air-frying salmon fillets with just butter and a little extra salt are very simple. You can use any other seasonings you like, but they need to have something salty in them, like soy sauce, sea salt, or something else.
Dairy-Free: To make this recipe dairy-free, just swap out the butter for a dairy-free block butter, olive oil, or vegetable oil.
This recipe might have other allergens that weren’t mentioned above, and any changes that have been suggested haven’t been tested unless it says otherwise. For more information regarding any dietary information provided on this website, please refer to my Nutritional Disclaimer.
Salmon is one of the most popular fish to cook due to its versatility, flavor and nutritional benefits. The air fryer has become an increasingly popular way to cook salmon as it produces deliciously crispy skin and tender, flaky flesh in a fraction of the time compared to traditional oven cooking.
But exactly how long should you cook salmon in the Ninja air fryer to achieve perfection? Here is a complete guide with timings for fresh and frozen salmon fillets using a Ninja air fryer in the UK.
Factors That Affect Salmon Cooking Time
There are a few key factors that will determine the air fryer cooking time for salmon
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How thick the fillets are—It will take longer to cook through the middle of thicker cuts. Average supermarket fillets are usually around 1 inch / 2. 5 cm thick, but you can buy thicker fillets that will take longer to cook.
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Size and weight of the fillets: fillets that are bigger or heavier will need a little longer, but thickness is more important.
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Fresh vs frozen – Frozen salmon fillets take a little longer to allow the very centre to thoroughly defrost usually no more than 1-2 minutes extra.
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Coatings or marinades—Adding extra things like glazes, rubs, or marinades can make the cooking time a little longer.
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Air fryer model – Larger capacity or more powerful models may cook a little faster.
Cooking Fresh Salmon Fillets
For fresh salmon fillets around 1 inch / 2.5cm thick, the approximate Ninja air fryer cooking times are:
- 180°C for 8-10 minutes
- 390°F for 8-10 minutes
After 8 minutes, check the thickest part of the salmon by inserting a knife. It should flake easily and appear opaque all the way through with no translucent sections when fully cooked.
If needed, cook for an extra 1-2 minutes and keep checking until the salmon reaches this point. Avoid overcooking as this will dry out the flesh.
Cook 1 Layer of Fillets
To ensure even cooking, arrange the salmon fillets in a single layer in the air fryer basket. There should be gaps between each fillet to allow hot air circulation.
Overcrowding can lead to uneven cooking so cook in batches if needed.
Add A Little Oil
Lightly brush or spray both sides of the salmon fillets with oil before air frying. This helps to promote browning and crisping of the skin. Olive, vegetable or sunflower oil all work well.
Season As Desired
Air frying draws out the natural flavor of the salmon but you can also add seasoning. Try just salt and pepper or experiment with lemon, herbs, soy, honey or spice rubs.
Applyseasoning before air frying so the flavorsare infused into the fish as it cooks.
Cooking Frozen Salmon Fillets
Cooking salmon straight from frozen in the Ninja air fryer is quick and convenient.
The approximate air fryer cooking times for 1 inch / 2.5cm frozen salmon fillets are:
- 180°C for 10-12 minutes
- 390°F for 10-12 minutes
Check halfway through and extend the cooking time by 1-2 minutes if needed until the salmon is cooked through.
Remove Any Ice Crystals
Before cooking, run the frozen fillets under cold water to wash away any ice crystals on the surface. Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels.
This helps achieve an evenly browned and crisped skin.
Add A Little More Oil
Use a little more oil than you would for fresh salmon to help promote browning from the frozen state.
Monitor Carefully
Keep a close eye on frozen salmon fillets and check them regularly as the timing is harder to judge.
The very centre takes longest to defrost and cook through.
Larger or Thicker Salmon Fillets
For salmon fillets larger than 1 inch / 2.5cm thick:
- Cook for the standard time e.g. 8-10 minutes
- Then check and cook for an extra 1-2 minutes if needed
- Repeat until cooked through
Do this in short 1-2 minute bursts to avoid overcooking the outside before the centre is ready.
For very thick fillets over 2 inches / 5cm, it may be best to partly cook through by poaching, steaming or microwaving first before finishing in the air fryer.
How to Tell When Salmon is Cooked
It can be tricky to judge perfectly cooked salmon, especially when air frying from frozen. Here are some signs to look for:
- Opague, pale pink color throughout fillet
- Flakes easily when tested with a fork
- Interior is just opaque, no translucent areas visible
Use a food thermometer and check the thickest part of the fillet reaches 145°F / 63°C for safely cooked salmon.
If any sections still look raw or translucent, pop back in the air fryer for an extra minute or two.
Serving Suggestions
- Flake onto a salad or rice bowl
- Stuff into tacos or fajitas
- Serve alongside roasted vegetables
- Top a jacket potato
- Mix into pasta or creamy risottos
- Enjoy in a sushi roll
Delicious flavors to pair salmon with include lemon, lime, honey, soy, ginger, garlic, chili, herbs like dill and parsley or spice rubs.
Air Fryer Salmon Cooking Times At a Glance
1 inch thick fresh salmon fillets
- 180°C / 390°F: 8-10 minutes
1 inch thick frozen salmon fillets
- 180°C / 390°F: 10-12 minutes
Larger or thicker fresh fillets
- Cook for standard time e.g. 8-10 minutes
- Check and cook for 1-2 extra minutes if needed
- Repeat until cooked through
Over 2 inches thick
- Part cook by steaming or microwaving first
- Finish in air fryer
So that covers everything you need to know to cook perfect crisp salmon fillets in a Ninja air fryer! Follow the timings and tips above for deliciously easy salmon meals any night of the week.
Is an air fryer always better to use than an oven?
As much as I do love air frying, the honest answer to this is no. That’s not all. It always depends on what you’re cooking, how much you’re cooking, and the type and size of air fryer you have.
There are times when it makes more sense to use an oven than a stove. If the oven is already on to cook other things, it might make more sense to add one more thing than to use a different appliance.
I don’t think either method is often necessarily better than the other. The important point to note is that there is absolutely no difference in the finished product.
What Exactly is an Air Fryer?
Very simply, an air fryer is a small convection (fan) oven. The good thing about this is that it moves the hot air around the food being cooked, which speeds up the process and makes the food cook more evenly.
Salmon in the Ninja Foodi Dual Zone Air Fryer | AF300UK
FAQ
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