When it comes to seafood, there are certain body parts we typically like to avoid eating. Most consumers discard shrimp tails and we always leave the shell out of lobster rolls. If you’ve eaten herring, pickerel, or pike, you may also be familiar with dealing with bones. What about salmon? Does salmon have bones? You may have eaten salmon that already had its bones taken out, but it’s not hard to debone salmon yourself.
Salmon is one of the most popular and nutritious fish available. Rich in protein, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins and minerals, salmon makes for a delicious and healthy meal. However, most salmon fillets contain small bones that need to be removed before cooking and eating. While fishmongers and some retailers sell salmon fillets with the bones already removed, it is often more affordable to purchase salmon steaks and debone them yourself.
Deboning a salmon steak is easier than you may think. With a sharp, flexible knife, a pair of tweezers or pliers, and a few simple techniques, you can learn how to easily remove all the bones from a salmon steak, leaving you with beautiful, boneless salmon fillets ready for cooking.
Why Debone Salmon Before Cooking?
There are a few reasons why you’ll want to debone salmon steaks rather than cook them as they are
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Makes it impossible to choke on small bones: Salmon bones are thin, small, and easy to miss while eating. Deboning the salmon before cooking removes this hazard.
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Better texture and look: Taking out the bones makes the salmon cook more evenly, which makes the texture and look better. The fillets will hold together better without bones as well.
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Makes portioning easier: Boneless salmon fillets are much easier to portion and serve than salmon steaks with bones.
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Makes eating more enjoyable: Nothing ruins a nice piece of salmon more than biting into a small bone and getting a surprise crunch. Deboning makes for an enjoyable hassle-free eating experience.
While salmon bones are generally soft and safe to consume, taking a little time to debone salmon steaks leads to a better end result.
What You’ll Need
Deboning salmon is simple with just a couple of basic tools:
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Sharp, flexible knife – A sharp blade makes cleaner cuts through the salmon. Flexibility allows for following bone contours.
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Tweezers or needle-nose pliers – For removing pin bones and other small bones.
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Cutting board
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Paper towels – For keeping things tidy.
That’s all you need for removing the bones from salmon steaks. Now let’s get into the techniques.
How to Debone a Salmon Steak – Step-by-Step
Follow these simple steps for how to debone salmon steaks perfectly every time:
1. Place the Salmon Steak on a Cutting Board
Lay the salmon steak flat out on a cutting board with the skin-side facing down and the ribs facing you. Having it positioned this way allows you to easily see the different sets of bones you’ll be removing.
2. Locate the Three Sets of Bones
There are three main sets of bones in a salmon steak that need removing:
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Rib bones – These thin, forked bones are located along the cavity of the steak.
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Pin bones – Small, thin, needle-like bones running horizontally down the center of the steak.
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Vertebrae – Thicker center bones that run vertically down the middle attached to the rib bones.
Running your fingers along the steak will help you locate and identify these bones.
3. Remove the Rib Bones
The rib bones are the first that should be removed from a salmon steak.
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Insert the tip of your flexible knife under one end of the rib bone.
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Cut along the salmon, following the shape of the rib bone to detach the meat from the bone.
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Repeat on the other side of the rib bone to loosen it completely.
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Use your knife or tweezers/pliers to grab and lift out the rib bone.
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Repeat the process to remove all the rib bones from the cavity.
4. Cut Out the Vertebrae
After removing the rib bones, the vertebrae will be clearly visible and ready for removal.
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Insert your knife horizontally along the top of the vertebral column.
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Cut down following the spine to detach it from the fillet.
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Make another horizontal cut along the bottom of the vertebrae.
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Lift and remove the backbone in one piece.
5. Remove the Pin Bones
Pin bones can be tricky to see, so locating them by touch is easiest.
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Run your fingers tips along the center of the filletfeeling for the small pin bones.
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Once located, use tweezers or pliers to grab the exposed end.
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In one swift motion, pull the pin bone straight out of the flesh.
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Repeat for any remaining pin bones.
6. Rinse and Pat Dry
Give the salmon fillets a quick rinse under cold water to wash away any lingering bits of bone or residue.
Pat dry thoroughly with paper towels before cooking or storing.
And that’s it! You now have beautiful, boneless salmon fillets ready for your favorite recipe.
Tips for Deboning Salmon Like a Pro
Follow these tips for clean, easy, and perfect salmon fillets every time:
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Use a very sharp, thin knife for maximum control and efficiency.
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Work over a cutting board with a well to catch water and juices.
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Pull bones straight up and out, rather than twisting or turning.
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Rinse fillets after deboning to remove stray fragments.
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Go slowly and carefully around the vertebrae.
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Visually inspect fillets afterward for any remaining pin bones.
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Save salmon bones to make homemade salmon stock.
Common Questions About Deboning Salmon
Here are answers to some frequently asked questions about prepping salmon fillets:
Is it okay to cook and eat salmon bones?
Salmon bones are generally edible. However, they can pose a choking risk and affect the dining experience. For best results, it’s recommended to debone salmon before cooking.
Can I use kitchen shears instead of a knife?
You can use kitchen shears for removing salmon bones. However, a sharp, flexible knife allows for more precision and control.
Is it necessary to debone salmon fillets that don’t have skin?
Even with the skin removed, salmon fillets can still contain small bones that are best taken out before cooking and eating the fish.
What should I do with the salmon bones after removing them?
Salmon bones and carcass can be used to make a nutritious and flavorful fish stock. Store them in the freezer until ready to use.
Can I debone salmon after it’s already cooked?
It is best to debone salmon prior to cooking. Trying to remove cooked salmon bones can damage and shred the delicate cooked flesh.
Enjoy Delicious Boneless Salmon Dishes
Now that you know how to debone salmon steaks, you can enjoy preparing delicious salmon recipes like:
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Cedar Plank Salmon – Coated in a maple mustard glaze and roasted.
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Blackened Salmon – Seared with Cajun spices.
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Broiled Herb Salmon – Topped with lemon and fresh dill.
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Salmon Burgers – Combined with breadcrumbs and spices.
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Salmon Tacos – Served in warm tortillas with all the fixings.
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Salmon Salad – Flaked salmon tossed with veggies and dressing.
Deboning salmon into perfect fillets takes a little practice, but is a simple and useful technique that unlocks endless culinary potential. Armed with a sharp knife, some tweezers, and these step-by-step instructions, you’ll be able to debone salmon like a professional. Say goodbye to salmon bones, and hello to delicious, high-quality salmon meals!
But what about salmon pin bones?
Yes, there’s another type of bone to be aware of, and it’s found in most salmon filets. However, it’s actually not a bone at all!.
Pin bones refer to the needle-like pieces that run along the length of a filet of salmon. While not bones per se, they’re calcified nerve endings that feel very similar to bones. The salmon need them because it helps them sense other salmon swimming close by.
With your fingers, you might be able to feel a line of pin bones just below the filet’s surface. They’re about one or two inches long, and you should be able to feel them sticking out. Alternatively, you may notice a shallow trench where the pin bones have already been removed.
Can You Eat Salmon Pin Bones?
Now that we know salmon are fish with bones, you may be wondering if you can eat salmon bones.
Take a deep breath and calm down before you start to worry about all the salmon bones you may have eaten over the years. Only in rare cases are pin bones problematic. They’re soft, thin, and flexible, and can be relatively easily digested by your stomach acid.
Truth is, pin bones are totally edible! In fact, in many parts of the world, salmon pin bones are eaten on a routine basis. They’re known to be rich in a variety of nutrients, especially calcium and iron. In fact, for people who avoid dairy products or other calcium sources, fish bones can make an excellent substitute!
However, they do present a small risk of getting lodged in your throat. You might want to eat a piece of bread after a salmon dinner to move any pin bones that are stuck in your stomach down.
Even though serious problems are very rare, you might want to get professional help if you feel any pain or discomfort anywhere in your digestive tract. If necessary, a doctor can help to remove any ingested pin bones.