Where to Get Fresh Salmon Near Me: A Guide to Finding the Freshest Fish in Your Area

Salmon is one of my favorite proteins to cook and eat. In my opinion, few things beat a beautifully grilled salmon filet with a squeeze of lemon and some fresh dill. However, salmon can go from succulent and tender to dry and flavorless pretty quickly if it’s not optimally fresh. That led me on a mission to find the best sources for fresh salmon near me.

After doing some research and placing a few orders, I’ve discovered some great options that deliver incredibly fresh salmon right to my doorstep. In this article, I’ll share what I’ve learned about finding and buying fresh, high-quality salmon so you can skip the freezer-burned fillets at the supermarket and enjoy salmon at its best

Why Freshness Matters with Salmon

Salmon is a delicately-flavored fish that really shines when it’s optimally fresh. As salmon starts to age, the flavor dulls and the texture changes from silky and moist to dry and chalky. Older salmon also has a fishier odor that you won’t find with fresh catches.

Freshness is very important for getting the best salmon, which should have a bright color, firm flesh, and a mild, sweet flavor. But finding sushi-grade fresh salmon at the average grocery store can be tough. Farmed Atlantic salmon is ubiquitous at supermarkets, but it’s often previously frozen. Most of the wild salmon at the fish counter is also frozen and then thawed before being sold.

So for salmon with the texture and flavor you would find at a high-end seafood restaurant or market, I recommend looking to specialty sellers of fresh wild-caught fish.

Where to Buy Fresh Salmon Near Me: My Top Sources

After sampling salmon from several online seafood markets and local fishmongers, these are my top picks for finding optimally fresh, wild salmon delivered right to my home.

1. Whole Foods Market

As a major national natural foods chain, Whole Foods has high standards when it comes to procuring fresh sustainable seafood. I’m fortunate to live near several Whole Foods Market locations with excellent seafood departments.

Their fishmongers are very knowledgeable and happy to answer any questions. They typically have a few wild salmon options in stock like King, Sockeye, and Coho. The fish is beautifully displayed over fresh ice instead of sloshing around in cold water like some supermarket seafood counters.

Whole Foods’ wild salmon is microbiologically tested, tracked for quality, and rated based on appearance, smell, and texture. You can trust their standards result in exceptionally fresh fish.

While Whole Foods can be pricey, they frequently run weekly specials on seafood. Signing up for their app alerts helps you take advantage of deals like $5 off per pound of wild salmon. Their healthy discounts combined with top-notch freshness makes Whole Foods my go-to for salmon when I don’t make the trek to Seattle’s famed fish markets.

2. Local Fish Markets

If you’re lucky enough to live near one, your local specialty fish market is another great place to get amazingly fresh salmon. Because we are close to Alaska’s fishing grounds, we can get some of the best seafood in the country here in the Pacific Northwest.

In Seattle, salmon lovers flock to iconic fish markets like Pike Place Fish Market and Pure Food Fish. The fish practically jump from the cold Pacific waters into the ice-filled display cases in these lively shops. Expert fishmongers pick out gorgeous whole salmon and artistically fillet them into uniform portions.

The downside of these amazing local fish markets is that their peak-fresh catches are only available to customers who can visit the shops in person. But some will ship certain selections, like Pure Food Fish’s online salmon shop. The quality comes at a premium price, but for special occasions like a dinner party or vacation meal, it’s worthwhile to order fresh wild salmon from one of these premier sellers.

3. Online Seafood Delivery Services

For easy access to quality seafood without living near a coastal hub like Seattle, online seafood delivery has been a game-changer. Companies like Sea to Table and Sitka Salmon Shares ship ultra-fresh catches from small fishermen around the U.S. right to your door.

I’ve had great experiences ordering fresh salmon fillets from Sitka Salmon Shares. They work directly with small family fishermen in Alaska to send wild salmon to customers’ doors at peak freshness. Their fish is blast-frozen immediately after being caught then shipped with cold packs to arrive still semi-frozen.

The key is that quick freezing helps lock in freshness. Because the salmon hasn’t been sitting around melting and refreezing like the typical grocery store stuff, it tastes amazingly clean, sweet and buttery after thawing. Sitka’s monthly subscriptions and a la carte ordering options make enjoying peak-fresh Alaskan salmon accessible and convenient for any home cook.

Buying Fresh Salmon: What To Look For

Now that you know where to buy optimally fresh salmon, here are some insider tips for picking the best fish:

• Check the origin. Look for wild-caught salmon like King (Chinook), Coho (Silver), Sockeye, and Pink from Alaska or the Pacific Northwest. These cold northern waters yield high-quality salmon. Farmed Atlantic salmon is much more common but doesn’t have the same flavor and texture as Pacific wild salmon.

• See the whole fish first. It’s helpful to pick salmon from a whole, dressed fish on ice rather than pre-cut fillets. Check that the eyes are clear and scales shiny. Make sure the flesh looks thick and firm with good fat marbling rather than thin and mushy.

• Smell for ocean freshness. Fresh salmon has a clean, mild scent. It should never smell fishy or ammonia-like. A bright mineral note and faint ocean smell indicates very fresh fish.

• Ask when it was caught. Seafood staff should be able to tell you when the salmon was caught and delivered. Ideally, you want to eat salmon within 2 days of being caught. Salmon that’s 7-10 days old will still be OK but the quality declines quickly after that.

• Try a taste. High-end fish markets will let you sample a tiny bite. Fresh salmon should taste balanced and mild, never overwhelmingly fishy. The texture should be smooth and velvety, not dry or mushy.

How To Store Fresh Salmon

One you get your salmon home, proper storage is key to preserving its freshness. Here are some tips:

• Keep the original wrapping or butcher paper to protect it and absorb excess moisture.

• Place the salmon in a container or on a plate and store in the coldest part of your fridge, away from strong-smelling foods.

• Use within 2 days for absolute peak quality and up to 3-4 days if kept chilled at 35°F or less.

• Freeze it if you can’t use it within 2 days. Wrap tightly in plastic wrap, then foil or freezer bags. Frozen salmon will keep for up to 3 months.

• Thaw frozen salmon gradually in the fridge overnight when ready to use. Avoid thawing at room temperature or in warm water to prevent bacteria growth.

Time To Enjoy Wild Salmon’s Sweet, Succulent Goodness!