is salmon kosher for passover

Is Salmon Kosher for Passover? A Complete Guide

As Passover approaches kosher consumers often wonder – is salmon kosher for Passover? The short answer is yes most salmon is kosher for Passover when handled properly. However, it’s important to understand the specifics when it comes to selecting salmon for your Passover meals.

People like to eat salmon all year, but especially during the Passover holiday. Salmon lives in cold water. When you go shopping for salmon to serve at your Passover seder or during the holiday week, make sure it has the right kosher certification. The Orthodox Union (OU) is the most well-known kosher organization. Their easy-to-recognize OU symbol can be found on thousands of products.

When buying fresh salmon fillets or steaks, choose those with an OU on the package or displayed near the fish case. For frozen salmon, popular options like Kirkland brand salmon fillets from Costco contain OU certification on the packaging, making them acceptable for Passover when handled properly.

OU Passover rules say that OU certified frozen raw salmon fillets don’t need any extra Passover labeling or certification. This includes Atlantic salmon raised in farms as well as sockeye and coho salmon caught in the wild. You can buy raw meat from the freezer section of your regular grocery store as long as it has the OU symbol and hasn’t been smoked or seasoned. It can then be prepared for your Passover table.

One exception is OU certified wild salmon, such as Kirkland brand wild sockeye salmon, which requires an extra step before use on Passover. While acceptable with just OU certification during the year, OU wild salmon must be rinsed under cold running water before being prepared for Passover meals. This quick extra rinse removes any traces of applied glaze or coatings, leaving the fish clean and ready for your holiday recipes.

Beyond buying salmon with reliable kosher certification, proper handling is also key in keeping kosher for Passover Be sure to store salmon sealed and separated from any chametz or other non-Passover foods When thawing, cold water or the refrigerator are best – not warmer environments which could allow absorption of outside elements into the flesh.

Salmon can be cooked with common Passover ingredients like olive oil, lemon, parsley, salt, and pepper once it is defrosted or ready to cook. Non-iodized salt is acceptable for Passover when bearing OU certification on the packaging. Avoid any bread crumbs, marinades or sauce that could contain chametz. If you follow these steps, your tasty salmon dish will be safe from the store to the seder table.

Some additional tips for incorporating salmon into your Passover menus:

• For appetizers, top slices of smoked salmon with fresh dill and lemon wedges. Smoked salmon should have special “Kosher for Passover” certification.

• Bake salmon fillets sprinkled with olive oil, salt and pepper for a simple, satisfying main course.

• For salmon salad, flake cooled grilled or baked salmon over greens with vinaigrette and top with toasted nuts.

• Salmon cakes made with mashed potatoes and matzo meal make a flavorful spin on traditional patties.

• Nova-style lox can be sliced thin and served on matzo with cream cheese for breakfast or brunch.

• For kids or salmon skeptics, try crunchy oven-baked salmon nuggets coated in matzo meal.

Frequency of Entities:
Salmon: 20
Kosher: 16
Passover: 15
OU: 7
Kirkland: 5