You’ll want to read on if your recipe calls for salmon with the skin removed. Learn how to remove salmon skin in less than one minute. All you need is a cutting board, a sharp knife and a fresh salmon fillet.
I learned how to take off fish skin when I was 17 years old. My first job in a restaurant kitchen was as a prep cook. We ate a lot of fish because the menu called for a walleye sandwich. Once I learned how to take off the skin, I did it every day. Long story short: I spent the summer skinning fish after fish after fish!.
I’m sharing this basic cooking skill of salmon skin removal as part of our In The Kitchen Series. It is a technique that can be used for any fish. However today we’ll be focusing on salmon for our step-by-step tutorial. We love salmon here at Healthy Seasonal Recipes, after all. Try our favorite recipe for crispy pan seared salmon!
Salmon is a delicious and healthy fish that’s rich in protein and omega-3 fatty acids However, many salmon fillets come with the skin still on. While crispy salmon skin can be tasty when pan-fried, removing the skin opens up more cooking options. But who wants to fuss with a sharp knife to remove that slimy skin? Thankfully, there’s an easy no-knife salmon skin removal trick using just boiling water.
In this article, we’ll explain the clever hack of using hot water to remove salmon skin. We’ll cover the benefits, provide a step-by-step tutorial, and share chef tips for preparing perfect skinless salmon fillets Read on to learn this handy kitchen trick that saves time and hassle.
Why Remove Salmon Skin?
Here are some reasons you may want to remove the skin from salmon fillets
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Aesthetics – Skinless fillets have a cleaner, more elegant presentation.
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Texture – The skin can taste rubbery or slimy to some. Skinless provides uniformly soft, tender salmon.
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Cooking options – Skin inhibits absorption of marinades and crusts. Removing it opens up more preparation methods.
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Health – Skin adds saturated fat and calories. Skinless salmon fits better into healthy, low-fat diets.
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Preference – Many simply don’t like the taste or texture of salmon skin.
This hack is great because it means you don’t have to cut off skin with a knife. Taking off the skin also gives you more options for how to cook the salmon.
How to Remove Salmon Skin with Boiling Water
This clever trick uses the power of hot water to essentially poach off the skin. Here is a step-by-step tutorial:
What You Need:
- Salmon fillet(s) with skin on
- Water kettle or pot
- Large bowl
- Colander or rack (optional)
Steps:
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Bring water to a rapid boil. You’ll need enough water to generously cover the salmon fillet(s).
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Place the fillet skin-side up in a bowl or colander. Position it over a bowl to catch the water.
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Slowly pour the boiling water over the skin, completely submerging it. Avoid pouring directly on the salmon flesh.
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Let sit for 2-3 minutes. The skin will shrivel and begin separating from the flesh.
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Grab a corner of the skin with tongs. It should easily peel off in full sheets with gentle tugging.
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Pat the skinless fillets dry. Use immediately or wrap tightly for later use.
And that’s it! The hot water essentially poaches the skin, loosening it from the flesh so it slides right off. Much easier than precariously slicing with a sharp knife.
Chef Tips for Perfect Skinless Salmon
For best results, follow these pro tips:
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Work with very fresh, raw salmon. Older fish has skin that sticks more stubbornly.
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Use rapidly boiling water straight off the heat for maximum effectiveness.
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Position the fillet strategically so the waterfall of hot water hits the skin directly.
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Give the water a few minutes to fully penetrate and loosen the skin bonds before attempting to remove it.
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Slide a spatula gently underneath as you peel back the skin to separate any remaining bits.
Now that you know this handy hack, you can skip the knife work and easily remove salmon skin with just boiling water.
Benefits of Preparing Skinless Salmon Fillets
Removing the skin from salmon fillets offers several advantages:
More Cooking Options
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Broiling – Skin inhibits smoke absorption when broiling.
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Grilling – Skinless fillets won’t stick as readily on the grill.
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Roasting – Skin forms a barrier against absorbing seasoning and oils.
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Crusting – Crusts and rubs adhere better to skinless salmon.
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Poaching – No unsightly shriveling of the skin when poaching.
Improved Nutrition
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Lower fat – Salmon skin adds about 5g of fat per serving. Skinless is healthier.
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Fewer calories – For weight loss goals, skinless saves about 50 calories per fillet.
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Reduced sodium – Skin has a higher sodium content than the flesh.
Better Texture and Appearance
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No sliminess – Removing the drippy skin eliminates an unappealing texture.
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Uniform texture – Skinless fillets have smooth, consistent tenderness throughout.
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Nice presentation – Skinless fillets simply look more elegant.
So boiling water offers a fast, easy alternative to trim salmon skin sans knife. While seared crispy skin can be delicious in the right context, skinless salmon offers versatility for multiple cooking methods and improved nutrition. Ditch the knife and try this simple hack for preparing perfect skinless salmon fillets. Your dishes will benefit from the more refined appearance, tender bite, and increased flavor absorption.
How To Skin Salmon Step-By-Step
Most of the time, your butcher or fishmonger will take the pin bones out of your salmon, but sometimes they won’t. It is important to remove them first before removing the skin and portioning the fish.
If the pin bones are still in your fish, pull them out with your pliers right now. Pull in the direction they are running or they will break.
Start with the salmon filet, skin-side-down, running crosswise on the cutting board. If you have a tailpiece (shown) you’ll want it pointing toward your non-dominant side.
Cut between the fish and the skin to “get it started. This first cut is meant to show just enough skin for you to be able to grab it with your weaker hand. For this first cut, you might have to cut through the fish’s flesh to get to the skin.
Take hold of the salmon skin with your less-used hand, preferably your left, and pull hard away from the knife. If it is too slippery, use your kitchen towel to help.
It helps if your knife is a little dull, because the blade should be at a slight angle downward. Carefully move the knife back and forth as you press down and to the right and pull the skin hard to the left. You are pulling it through your knife, not really moving it forward. That’s how I like to think of it.
Once you know how to remove the skin from salmon, you can either bake it whole like in Baked Salmon in Foil or cut it into pieces. Make sure to check out our favorite Dill Sauce For Salmon too!.
FAQs and Expert Tips
Yes, it is fine to leave the skin on salmon and you can eat salmon skin. Make sure to remove any scales if using salmon with the skin on. Salmon skin can get nice and crispy, which many find appealing. It does have a stronger more fishy flavor than the salmon meat itself.
When you remove skin on salmon, you may notice a grayish layer of flesh on the skinned side. This is normal and perfectly edible. Typically in restaurants, this side is plated face down because the other side is prettier.
We suggest taking the skin off of the salmon before cooking it, unless you want to make crispy skin salmon. However, you can wait to remove it from the salmon once it is cooked.
Removing salmon skin with your hand…no knife
FAQ
Does boiling water remove salmon skin?
How to skin salmon with your hand?
How to remove salmon skin without a knife?
TikToker, Rosie Reisman, gives us a crash course on how to remove the skin without even using a knife. All you need is a baking rack, a casserole dish, and boiling water. Once you have a rack over the casserole dish to catch the water, place the salmon (skin side up) on top of the rack. You can use a tea kettle or sauce pan to boil water.
Is fresh salmon safe to eat?
Yes, salmon is a source of omega 3, the fatty acid is responsible for acting in the prevention of cardiovascular diseases, making the heart strong and healthy. Just be careful to analyze the supplier to make sure it doesn’t have any contamination.
How do you remove salmon skin from a fillet?
You’ll need a baking rack, a baking dish and boiling water. Then, with the salmon positioned on the baking rack with the skin facing up, pour hot water gently onto the fillet. The skin will “shrivel up” and, after around a minute, can be easily pulled away. It’s a simple and effective way to remove salmon skin! TMB Studio
Should you remove salmon skin after cooking?
The question of whether to remove salmon skin is really up to you and your recipe. For steamed-type recipes like the foil packet one I mentioned, that’s totally the way to go. A soggy salmon skin is edible, but not particularly appealing. I don’t find it adds a lot to the dish, and it’s very easy to remove after the fish is cooked.