How Long to Cook Salmon in Foil in an Air Fryer for Perfectly Cooked Fish

A quick and easy way to make a healthy and tasty meal is to cook salmon in an air fryer. The salmon stays moist, tender, and full of flavor when it’s wrapped in foil and steamed in its own juices. But how long should you cook salmon in the air fryer wrapped in foil?

The cooking time can vary depending on the thickness of the fillets, as well as your preferred level of doneness. Here is a complete guide to cooking foolproof salmon in foil in your air fryer, including tips on timing so your salmon turns out perfectly cooked every time

Benefits of Cooking Salmon in Foil

Cooking salmon in foil provides a lot of benefits that can help ensure moist flavorful fish fillets

• The foil pouch steams the salmon as it cooks, keeping it tender and juicy. Without the foil, the air fryer’s circulating hot air could dry out the salmon.

• Enclosing the salmon in foil allows it to cook in its own juices and buttery oils. This infuses the salmon with more flavor.

• The foil helpscook the fish evenly. No need to flip halfway through.

• Adding aromatics like lemon, herbs and garlic to the foil packet flavors the salmon beautifully.

• Clean up is easier since any drippings are contained.

How to Prepare Salmon for Cooking in Foil

Start with fresh or thawed salmon fillets. Dry the fish with paper towels and brush a little olive oil on both sides. This helps prevent sticking to the foil.

Season the salmon fillets with salt, pepper and any other spices you desire. Salmon pairs well with garlic, lemon, dill, thyme, oregano, paprika, onion powder and more.

For extra moisture and flavor, add thin slices of lemon, lime or orange to the salmon before sealing in foil. You can also include ingredients like minced garlic, thinly sliced onions, herbs and butter.

Cut sheets of aluminum foil a few inches longer than the salmon fillets. Place each seasoned fillet in the center of its own foil sheet. Bring up the sides and seal the packets closed by crimping the foil edges together.

Make sure the foil packet is tightly sealed so steam can’t escape while cooking. But leave a little room around the fillet for air circulation.

Air Fryer Cooking Times for Salmon in Foil

Now for the important part—how long to actually cook the salmon fillets! Follow these air fryer foil salmon cooking times based on thickness:

For 1-inch thick salmon fillets:

• Cook at 400°F for 14-16 minutes

For 1 1⁄2-inch thick salmon fillets:

• Cook at 400°F for 18-20 minutes

For 2-inch thick salmon fillets:

• Cook at 400°F for 20-24 minutes

These times are for fresh salmon cooked to medium doneness. If using frozen salmon, add 2-3 extra minutes to the cooking time.

For salmon that is more well done, cook for the maximum time listed or add 2-4 extra minutes. Check for doneness and cook longer if needed.

If you prefer your salmon rare to medium-rare in the center, reduce cook times by 2-3 minutes.

Doneness Tests for Salmon

Checking your salmon’s doneness by temperature is the most accurate way to prevent over or undercooking. Use an instant-read thermometer to test the thickest part of the fillet.

• For rare salmon, cook to 110°F (44°C)
• For medium-rare salmon, cook to 120°F (49°C)
• For medium salmon, cook to 125°F (52°C)
• For well-done salmon, cook to 140°F (60°C)

If you don’t have a thermometer, you can check visual signs of doneness when the cooking time is up:

• Rare salmon will still be very translucent and cool in the center.
• Medium-rare salmon will be lightly pink throughout.
• Medium salmon will be opaque and flaky in the center with a hint of pinkness.
• Well-done salmon will be completely opaque and flake easily with a fork.

Use tongs to gently flake the thickest part of a fillet open. Look for these visual cues to determine if your salmon is cooked to your liking.

Serving Salmon Cooked in Foil

Once the salmon is cooked to your desired doneness, remove the foil packets from the air fryer basket using oven mitts or tongs. The foil will be very hot!

Let the salmon rest in the foil for 5 minutes before carefully opening the packets. This helps the fish further cook through and makes it easier to handle.

Use a thin spatula to transfer the salmon fillets to plates or a serving platter. Be sure to pour any accumulated juices from the foil over the fish. This extra sauce adds incredible flavor.

The salmon skin should peel off easily if desired. Flake with a fork and serve garnished with lemon wedges, fresh dill or parsley. Enjoy your perfectly steamed and hassle-free air fryer foil salmon!

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Salmon in Foil

• Don’t overcrowd the air fryer basket. Cook salmon fillets in a single layer, leaving space around each packet. Overcrowding leads to uneven cooking.

• Use heavy-duty aluminum foil that is less likely to tear. Make sure there are no holes in the foil before cooking.

• For food safety, cook fish to an internal temperature of at least 145°F. Check larger fillets with a thermometer.

• Add vegetables like sliced potatoes, onions, carrots and asparagus to the foil packets for easy salmon meals.

• Customize flavorings inside the foil as desired. Lemon, butter, garlic, herbs and wine or broth work great.

• Let salmon rest before serving as carryover cooking will finish it off the stove. Don’t peek too early!

• Cook salmon from frozen using the same method. Just increase cook times by 2-4 minutes for thawed out fish.

More Delicious Air Fryer Salmon Recipes

Beyond basic foil salmon, there are so many tasty ways to cook salmon in the air fryer:

• Salmon Burgers – Make patties from minced salmon, breadcrumbs, eggs and seasonings. Air fry 8-10 minutes per side.

• Lemon-Dill Salmon – Top fillets with lemon slices and dill. Air fryplain or in foil packets.

• Salmon with Asparagus – Add fresh asparagus and lemon to foil packets for easy dinner.

• Cajun Salmon – Sprinkle fillets with Cajun seasoning before cooking without foil.

• Sesame Salmon – Coat salmon with a mixture of sesame oil, soy sauce, and honey before air frying.

• Salmon Tacos – Flake cooked salmon and serve in warmed corn tortillas with all the fixings.

• Salmon Cakes – Make quick salmon cakes from leftover fillets and pan fry or air fry them.

The options for cooking moist and flavorful air fryer salmon in foil are truly endless. Let your imagination run wild with creative seasoning and vegetable pairings tucked inside those foil packets.

In just 15-25 minutes, you can enjoy restaurant-quality salmon without any of the messy cleanup. So next time you’re craving this tasty and healthy fish, look no further than your air fryer and some foil for the simplest gourmet meal ever.