We don’t like wasting food. As food lovers and food bloggers, it’s pretty much tantamount to a crime.
Sarah and I once had friends over for dinner, and we juiced half a lemon. After the party, one of those friends picked up the lonely second lemon half and asked him straight out if he should throw it away. Needless to say, looks were exchanged between me and Sarah and some friendly yet impassioned mom-like berating ensued.
This is a “worst-case scenario” story, but you may have noticed that we’re all about keeping ingredients fresh and using them to their fullest. We always use chicken carcasses to make stock, and we’ve been known to use discarded pork fat to make some pretty great lard for Chinese pastry recipes. We also always save ingredients that we don’t use for another purpose.
The half lemon I talked about earlier would likely be squeezed out for one thing and juiced for another. The lemon shell would then be added to a glass of water to add extra vitamin C. That’s just how we do it.
Salmon is a delicious and healthy fish that makes a wonderful meal However, when cooking salmon at home, you may be left wondering what to do with the skin leftovers. While some people discard salmon skin, it can actually be used in many tasty and nutritious ways!
Salmon skin contains heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids and is a good source of protein. When prepared properly it develops a crispy, savory texture that adds flavor and crunch to various dishes. So next time you cook salmon fillets hold onto the skin. With a little creativity, you can transform it into appetizers, main courses, snacks and more.
This article will show you 12 tasty ways to use up extra salmon skin so it doesn’t go to waste. Learn how to fry, bake, broil or smoke the skin for maximum flavor. Let’s dive in!.
1. Make Crispy Salmon Skin Chips
For many people, making crispy salmon skin chips is the best way to use it. Salt and pepper the skin, then bake it at 400°F until it’s golden and crispy. These salmon chips are a healthy snack or a nice way to dress up salads and grain bowls. Add lemon, Old Bay or Cajun seasoning for extra flavor.
2. Fry Up Salmon Bacon
Did you know salmon skin fries up just like bacon? Cut the skin into strips, fry until crispy, and enjoy this seafood “bacon” on its own or in sandwiches and breakfast tacos. The crispy texture and smoky salmon flavor is amazing.
3. Use It to Make Broth
Salmon skin can be used to make a mineral-rich broth perfect for seafood soups and chowders. Simmer the skins in water with vegetables like onions, carrots and celery. Strain out the solids and use the broth to make a creamy salmon bisque.
4. Top Salads and Bowls
Crumbled or chopped salmon skin makes a protein-packed topping for leafy green salads, grain bowls, poke bowls and more. Sprinkle crispy fried or baked skin bits over your dish for added crunch.
5. Make Salmon Skin Rolls
In Japanese cuisine, crispy fried salmon skin is used to make unique inside-out sushi rolls. Roll up sushi rice and fillings in a sheet of fried skin rather than nori. The result is an indulgent, crunchy twist on classic sushi.
6. Use as a Taco Shell
Fried or baked salmon skin can stand in for taco shells or tortillas in a unique seafood tacos recipe. Simply load up the crispy skin with diced salmon spicy mayo cabbage, avocado and other taco fillings.
7. Create Salmon Rinds
Think of crispy salmon skin as the fish version of pork rinds. Season and fry up salmon skin into chip-like “rinds” for a high-protein, low-carb snack option. Serve with guacamole or Greek yogurt dip.
8. Make Crackers for Appetizers
If you thinly slice and bake salmon skin, it makes delicate crackers perfect for spreading smoked salmon mousse and other creamy appetizers.
9. Infuse Oil or Butter
Add leftover salmon skins to olive oil or butter and allow to infuse for a few days. Then strain out the skins and use the oil or butter to add salmon essence to sauces, roasted veggies and more.
10. Smoke and Dry for Snacks
You can smoke leftover salmon skin and then dehydrate it into shelf-stable, crispy treats for your dog (or yourself!). Store in an airtight container for up to a month.
11. Make a Salmon Skin Dog Treat Recipe
Your pup will go wild for these crunchy goodies! Brush salmon skin pieces with olive oil, season, and bake until crispy. Cut into bite-sized bits for training treats or snacks.
12. Use as a Pizza Topping
Give your next homemade pizza extra flavor and crunch by topping it with crispy salmon skin pieces before baking. They’ll get even crisper and more irresistible in the oven.
So as you can see, there are endless possibilities for what to do with leftover salmon skin! With a little prep, you can transform this often discarded part of the fish into incredibly tasty dishes.
Frying, baking, broiling, smoking and dehydrating are all great cooking methods to make the skin crispy. Then season or utilize it in recipes both savory and sweet.
Next time you cook up a salmon fillet dinner, save that skin and get creative. Your cooking will become more sustainable, waste-free and delicious.
Tips for Preparing Salmon Skin
When preparing salmon skin for cooking, keep these tips in mind:
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Rinse and pat the skin dry thoroughly to prevent splattering during frying.
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Use a sharp knife to scrape off any remaining scales.
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Cut away any excess fat or gray membrane.
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Slice into uniform strips or pieces to cook evenly.
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Avoid adding salt or sauce to raw skin, as it will draw out moisture and make it soggy. Instead, season after cooking.
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Fry over medium-low heat until super crispy, 10-15 minutes.
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Bake at 400°F on a parchment-lined pan for about 20 minutes, until golden brown.
Delicious Seasonings for Salmon Skin
The simplest way to season crispy salmon skin is with just salt and pepper. But you can also jazz it up with any of these flavor ideas:
- Lemon pepper
- Old Bay Seasoning
- Mexican chili powder
- Cajun seasoning
- Japanese togarashi spice
- Furikake
- Sesame oil
- Soy sauce
- Maple syrup
- Rosemary
- Garlic powder
- Smoked paprika
- Citrus zest
Health Benefits of Eating Salmon Skin
While calorie-dense, salmon skin delivers some excellent nutritional perks. Here’s what you’ll gain:
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Omega-3 fatty acids – Salmon skin contains anti-inflammatory EPA and DHA.
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Protein – Salmon skin packs over 25g of protein per 100g serving.
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Vitamin D – Essential for bone health.
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Potassium – Needed for heart function and muscle control.
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Selenium – An important antioxidant mineral.
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Vitamin B12 – Required for red blood cell formation.
So don’t throw it out – salmon skin offers a concentrated source of nutrients from this super-healthy fish.
Storage and Handling Safety Tips
To safely save salmon skin for later use:
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Refrigerate raw salmon skin for 2-3 days maximum.
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Cooked salmon skin keeps in the fridge for 3-4 days in an airtight container.
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Freeze raw or cooked skin for 2-3 months.
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When thawing, place in the refrigerator overnight rather than at room temperature.
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Discard any salmon skin that smells unpleasant or feels especially slimy.
Proper storage keeps salmon skin fresh and safe to use in all kinds of tantalizing dishes.
Ideal Fish for Salmon Skin Uses
While the skin from fatty salmon like King and Sockeye works best, you can save and reuse skin from any salmon variety including:
- Atlantic
- Chinook
- Coho
- Pink
- Chum
- Steelhead Trout
Both wild-caught and sustainably farmed salmon skin can be utilized. Scale, trim and clean the skin before use.
Don’t Throw Away Salmon Skin!
We just recently shared a salmon recipe, and while we were cooking, we found a golden crispy piece of salmon skin that was perfectly crisp but not needed at all. For anyone who doesn’t know it, crispy salmon skin is DELICIOUS.
It takes a lot of oil, high heat, and self-control to make sure you don’t move the salmon around too much while Searing.
It tastes great with rice, avocado, and a drizzle of soy sauce. The salmon is crispy and tasty. All were things that we had on hand, and they made for a pretty fantastic chef’s snack. So we decided to photograph it, and voila! New recipe!.
It would be even better with roasted nori sheets and wasabi paste, but we didn’t have any of those things on hand. Poor man’s sushi roll, anyone?).
Finally, today’s lesson is to get the most out of your ingredients. You probably paid a lot of money for that salmon, so you should savor every bite.
Salmon Skin Rice Bowls: Recipe Instructions
Prepare your salmon skin. You can sear a piece of salmon with the skin-on, saving the salmon filet for other pursuits. Just add 2 tablespoons of oil to a pan and sear the salmon on each side over medium-high heat until it’s almost done.
Or you can pre-trim a piece of salmon to remove the skin, and fry that. For the second method, heat 2 tablespoons of oil in a pan or cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Fry the salmon skin until it’s golden and crispy.
Once the salmon skin is cooked, set it aside to cool slightly. Slice the salmon skin into thin strips.
Put cooked white rice into bowls, and then add sliced avocado and a handful of crispy salmon skin to each one. Drizzle with soy sauce to taste.
If you have roasted nori sheets on hand, serve your Crispy Salmon Skin Rice Bowls with them. This is a simple, yet incredibly tasty meal.
Add those roasted nori sheets and a dab of wasabi to get a deconstructed crispy salmon skin roll!
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How to Turn Salmon Skin into Crisps/Chips
How do you eat salmon skin?
The salmon skin will crisp up as it cools. Honestly, I usually eat the salmon skin with my hands right off the paper towel as a snack. It does not make it out of the kitchen. Salmon skin also makes an AMAZING addition to a sandwich (try a tomato mayo sandwich + salmon bacon sandwich, or a pescatarian take on BLT).
What are the benefits of smoked salmon over raw salmon?
It actually has the same characteristics as raw salmon, being relatively low in calories, it is an excellent source of protein, good fat and several vitamins and minerals. The smoking process just adds an aroma.
Should you cook salmon fillets with the skin on?
Cooking fillets with the skin on can also keep nutrients and oils inside the salmon itself that might otherwise be lost in the preparation process. Salmon is one of the fish that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recommends eating two to three times per week for health benefits.
How do you cook salmon skin side down?
Skin side down: Place salmon in the skillet skin side down, then immediately turn the head down to medium. Press down: Using a spatula or something similar, press down on each salmon for 10 seconds so the skin is pushed flat against the skillet and “sets” its form. If you can do at least two at a time that is ideal.