How Much Does Smoked Salmon Cost? A Detailed Look at Prices

Smoked salmon is a delicious and luxurious treat that can elevate any meal or snack But with its premium status comes a higher price tag. So how much does smoked salmon cost? In this article, we’ll break down the pricing on different types of smoked salmon so you know what to expect

An Overview of Smoked Salmon Prices

Smoked salmon prices can vary quite a bit based on factors like:

• Type of salmon used: King and sockeye salmon caught in the wild tend to cost more than Atlantic salmon raised in farms.

• Method of smoking: It takes longer and more work to cold-smoke salmon, so it costs more than hot-smoked salmon.

• Cut of salmon – Fillets and thinner slices are more expensive per pound than sides of salmon

• Brand and quality – Premium smoked salmon brands charge higher prices.

• Where it’s sold – Smoked salmon from high-end specialty stores costs more than supermarket varieties.

On average, expect to pay the following per pound:

• Hot-smoked farmed salmon: $15-$30

• Cold-smoked farmed salmon: $25-$40

• Wild-caught hot-smoked salmon: $25-$45

• Wild-caught cold-smoked salmon: $30-$60+

Of course, smoked salmon prices ultimately come down to the specific product. Below we’ll break down pricing in more detail.

Hot-Smoked Salmon Prices

Hot-smoked salmon tends to cost less than cold-smoked since the hot-smoking process takes less time. Let’s look at pricing for the two main varieties – farmed Atlantic salmon and wild Pacific salmon.

Hot-Smoked Farmed Atlantic Salmon

Farmed Atlantic salmon is the most affordable type of salmon to smoke. Hot-smoked farmed salmon fillets cost:

• Supermarkets: $15-$20 per pound
• Specialty retailers: $20-$30 per pound

At the low end, you can find supermarket self-serve packages for around $8-$12 per pound. High-end smoked salmon like Acme, Ducktrap, and Russ & Daughters range from $25-$35 per pound.

Sides or whole pieces of hot-smoked farmed salmon are a more budget-friendly option at specialty shops, usually $18-$22 per pound.

Hot-Smoked Wild Salmon

Wild Pacific salmon like sockeye and king have more flavor and richness than farmed Atlantic salmon. Hot-smoked wild salmon fillets cost:

• Supermarkets: $20-$25 per pound
• Specialty retailers: $25-$40 per pound

Wild varieties like Copper River salmon can cost up to $50 per pound from high-end shops. Whole hot-smoked wild sides range from $22-$35 per pound.

Cold-Smoked Salmon Prices

Cold-smoking is more labor-intensive since the salmon smokes at a lower temperature for 12+ hours. This makes cold-smoked salmon around 1.5-2 times more expensive than hot-smoked.

Cold-Smoked Farmed Salmon

Cold-smoked farmed salmon fillets cost:

• Supermarkets: $25-$35 per pound
• Specialty retailers: $30-$45 per pound

Sides or whole pieces of cold-smoked farmed salmon range from $25-$35 per pound.

Cold-Smoked Wild Salmon

Wild cold-smoked salmon like king and sockeye are the most expensive:

• Supermarkets: $35-$45 per pound
• Specialty retailers: $40-$60+ per pound

Unique varieties like Norwegian salmon can reach $70+ per pound. Wild smoked salmon sides usually cost $30-$50 per pound.

Other Factors Affecting Smoked Salmon Prices

Beyond the type of smoked salmon, other factors like cut, brand, and source impact the price.

Cuts of Smoked Salmon

Thinner sliced fillets are most expensive by weight since less yield can be obtained from each fish.

• Sides or whole pieces: $15-$22 per pound
• Center-cut fillets: $22-$35 per pound
• Thin sliced fillets: $25-$50+ per pound

You pay a premium for ready-to-eat packs of thin smoked salmon slices. But sides and whole smoked pieces give you more salmon for your money.

Brand and Quality

Higher-end brands like Acme, Ducktrap, Russ & Daughters, and Patagonia provisions command a premium price for their smoked salmon, usually 25-50% higher than generic supermarket brands.

Quality specialty producers like Browne Trading Company and Tsar Nicoulai also cost more than typical grocery store varieties. Paying the premium for high-end smoked salmon ensures superior flavor.

Where to Buy

Smoked salmon prices are dictated by where you buy it. Here are typical costs:

• Supermarkets: $15-$35 per pound
• Big box stores: $15-$30 per pound
• Specialty retailers: $25-$60+ per pound
• Mail order: $30-$60+ per pound

For maximum quality, buy from specialty retailers or order directly from smokehouses online. Supermarkets carry more affordable smoked salmon, but the quality is not equivalent.

Can You Save Money on Smoked Salmon?

While smoked salmon is considered a luxury ingredient, there are some ways to get quality smoked salmon for less:

• Buy sides or whole hot-smoked pieces instead of sliced fillets
• Seek out supermarket sales and bulk deals
• Buy larger 1-2 pound packages instead of 4 oz. packs
• Consider smoked salmon trim or ends for a budget treat
• Look for cheaper Pacific smoked salmon versus Atlantic

Smoking your own salmon at home is also cheaper. Hot smoking salmon fillets costs about $5-$8 per pound depending on the salmon price.

Is Smoked Salmon Worth the Price?

Given smoked salmon’s high cost, is it worth buying? For smoked salmon fans, the rich flavor and silky texture make it well worth the splurge. A little bit of smoked salmon also goes a long way since it’s so flavorful.

Smoked salmon can instantly elevate dishes like bagels, toast, eggs, pasta, and salads. It makes for an elegant appetizer or protein for breakfast or brunch.

While not cheap, smoked salmon delivers bold, satisfying flavor that you can’t replicate at home without considerable effort. If you enjoy smoked salmon, it’s certainly worthy as an occasional indulgence. Trying it at least once is a must!

Frequency of Entities:
salmon: 54
smoked salmon: 35
cold-smoked salmon: 7
hot-smoked salmon: 12
farmed salmon: 6
wild salmon: 7
Atlantic salmon: 4
Pacific salmon: 2
sockeye salmon: 2
king salmon: 3
smoked farmed salmon: 2
smoked wild salmon: 2
fillets: 6
sides: 5
pieces: 3
retailers: 5
supermarkets: 4
specialty retailers: 4
per pound: 15
cost: 7
price: 6
prices: 4
pound: 10
quality: 3
buy: 3
brands: 2
smoking: 2
money: 2
flavors: 1
textures: 1
elevate: 1
dishes: 1
appetizer: 1
protein: 1
brunch: 1
cheap: 1
effort: 1
fans: 1
splurge: 1
worth: 1
worthy: 1