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

Salmon steak is a great choice for a quick, easy and healthy meal. Salmon is full of good things for you, like omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin D, and selenium. When you cook it in an air fryer, the outside gets crispy and brown, and the inside stays tender and moist.

One of the most common questions when making salmon steak in an air fryer is how long to cook it The cooking time can vary quite a bit based on the thickness of the salmon steak and the wattage/size of your particular air fryer model, This guide will walk you through exactly how long to cook salmon steaks in the air fryer to achieve perfection,

How Thick is a Salmon Steak?

• Salmon steaks are cut across the whole side of the fish in thick slices that include the bone.
• They are typically 1 to 2 inches thick.
• Salmon steaks are thicker than salmon fillets, which are thinner, boneless cuts.

The thickness of your salmon steak will impact the cooking time. Thicker steaks will need a little longer in the air fryer than thinner ones. When checking doneness, always rely on a meat thermometer for accuracy versus cooking time.

Factors That Impact Air Fryer Salmon Cooking Time

There are a few key factors that will determine how long to cook salmon steaks in the air fryer:

Thickness of the Salmon Steak

As mentioned, a 1-inch thick salmon steak will take less time compared to a 2-inch thick piece.

Weight/Size of the Steaks

Larger, heavier steaks will require more time than smaller salmon steaks. Consider the weight of your salmon steaks when determining cook time.

Wattage of the Air Fryer

Air fryers with higher wattage will cook food faster compared to lower wattage models. Check the wattage of your fryer to compare cook times accurately.

Number of Steaks

Cooking more than one salmon steak in the air fryer will increase the overall cooking time slightly.

Preheating

Preheating the air fryer before cooking will help the food cook faster than adding cold food to a cold basket.

How to Cook Salmon Steaks in the Air Fryer

Follow these simple steps for perfectly cooked salmon steak from your air fryer:

1. Pat the salmon steaks dry and season them with desired herbs and spices. Olive oil, salt, pepper, garlic powder,paprika and lemon do very well.

2. Allow the steaks to marinate for 15-30 minutes in the fridge to let the flavors seep in.

3. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F. This helps shorten the cooking time.

4. Make sure there aren’t too many salmon steaks in the air fryer basket when you put them in.

5. Air fry for 8-14 minutes at 400°F, flipping halfway through. Time will vary based on the factors above.

6. Check temperature and thickness. Salmon is safely cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 145°F. If not quite done, air fry 2-3 minutes more.

7. Let salmon rest for 2-3 minutes before serving. The temperature will rise a bit more as it rests.

And that’s it – perfectly cooked salmon steak from your air fryer!

How Long to Cook a 1-Inch Thick Salmon Steak

At 400°F, a 1-inch thick salmon steak will take about 8-10 minutes in the air fryer, depending on the size.

Be sure to flip it halfway through and verify doneness with a meat thermometer, not just cooking time.

For a 1-inch steak, you’ll want to cook until it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F-145°F. After sitting for 2-3 minutes it will coast up to 145°F for safe consumption.

How Long to Cook 1.5-Inch Thick Salmon Steaks

For a 1.5-inch thick salmon steak, cook at 400°F for approximately 10-12 minutes, flipping halfway.

Again, confirm it has reached 140°F-145°F internally before removing from the air fryer. Expect it to take close to the full 12 minutes for thicker steaks.

How Long to Cook 2-Inch Thick Salmon Steaks

Cook 2-inch thick salmon steaks at 400°F for 12-14 minutes, until the internal temperature is 140°F-145°F.

Flipping halfway through is key to ensure even cooking. Don’t rely on time alone; use a meat thermometer to determine doneness for thicker steaks.

Tips for the Best Air Fryer Salmon Steaks

• Pat salmon dry before seasoning and cooking for optimal browning.

• Brining salmon in saltwater for 15 mins boosts moisture.

• Allow steaks to marinate for 30 mins for more flavor infusion.

• Preheating air fryer helps shorten cook time significantly.

• Use light oil spray or brush with oil before air frying.

• Flip steaks halfway through cooking for even browning.

• Don’t overcrowd the basket. Cook in batches if needed.

• Always verify temperature doneness, not just time.

• Salmon continues cooking after removed from the air fryer.

• Let rest for 2-3 minutes before serving.

How to Tell When Salmon is Done in the Air Fryer

It can be tricky knowing exactly when your salmon steaks are finished cooking in the hot air fryer. Here are some ways to check for doneness:

• Use an instant-read thermometer – insert into thickest part and check for 140°F-145°F.

• Check opacity – salmon changes from translucent to opaque when cooked through.

• Flake test – use a fork to gently lift and separate meat; it should flake easily.

• Color change – cook until just barely starting to look opaque in center.

Don’t rely on cooking time alone. The thermometer don’t lie! Double check with one or both visual tests as well.

What is the Best Air Fryer Temperature for Salmon?

• 400°F is ideal – hot enough to crisp and brown the surface while gently cooking the interior.

• 375°F-425°F range works – adjust time up or down. Higher temp = faster cooking.

• Too low under 375°F will lead to greasy salmon.

• Too high over 425°F risks drying out the fish.

400°F gives you the best of both – browning on the outside, tender and moist inside.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Air frying salmon is quick and easy, but there are a few common mistakes to watch out for:

• Not patting salmon dry before seasoning/cooking

• Overcrowding the air fryer basket

• Not preheating air fryer before cooking

• Not flipping salmon halfway through

• Relying on time versus temperature to gauge doneness

• Cooking at too low of a temperature

• Forgetting to let salmon rest before serving

Avoid these mistakes for perfect air fryer salmon steak every time!

Recipe for Air Fryer Salmon Steaks

This simple recipe for air fryer salmon steaks highlights the flavor of the fish and is easy to whip up any night of the week.

Prep Time: 10 mins

Cook Time: 10 mins

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

• 2 salmon steaks, about 1 lb total
• 2 Tbsp olive oil
• 1 tsp smoked paprika
• 1 tsp garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp pepper
• Lemon wedges, for serving

Instructions:

1. Pat salmon steaks dry and brush lightly with olive oil.

2. Season with paprika, garlic powder, salt and pepper.

3. Place in air fryer basket in single layer.

4. Air fry at 400°F for 8-12 minutes based on thickness.

5. Flip salmon halfway through cooking.

6. Cook until it reaches 140°F internally.

7. Let rest 2-3 mins before serving with lemon.

Enjoy these delicious, easy salmon steaks straight from your air fryer any night of the week!

The Takeaway

Cooking salmon steak in the air fryer results in a fish that is tender and moist inside with a crisp, browned crust outside. Use an internal temperature of 140°F-145°F to gauge doneness accurately.

For 1-inch thick steaks, cook at 400°F for 8-10 minutes. 1.5-inch steaks need 10-12 minutes. And 2-inch thick salmon steaks require 12-14 minutes to reach proper doneness.

Preheating your air fry