In North America, specially in the United states, salmon is consistently 1 of the nearly popular fish to grace dinner plates. For a proficient reason, this delicious fish is one of the healthier and more readily available poly peptide options for many people. If you discover y'all accept too much salmon, especially if the local markets are having a auction, you may find you are inundated with more fish than yous can eat. Afterward mealtimes, many people wonder if they can freeze already cooked salmon.

Can you freeze cooked salmon?
Cooked salmon with lemon parsley and pepper corns on a black surface

Can You Freeze Cooked Salmon?

The answer, fortunately, is yes, y'all can admittedly freeze cooked salmon. However, the texture and flavor of the fish will suffer from its time in the freezer.

Cooked salmon volition terminal approximately four to vi months in the freezer equally long as you seal information technology tightly in freezer-condom numberless or airtight plastic containers. Ensure you remove as much air every bit possible to give the best results.

In that location are of import considerations to be aware of when freezing cooked salmon.

Keep reading to learn more almost this splendid fish and the best ways to preserve information technology in your freezer after cooking.

Best Means to Freeze Cooked Salmon

Cooked salmon on a black tray
With no added extras

Ane of the starting time steps to finer freezing cooked salmon is to try non to add together any boosted ingredients. Many sauces contain ingredients like milk, oils, tomatoes, and onions. These ingredients accept enzymes and acids that tin can influence your salmon's natural season.

Additionally, you should ensure that your salmon has cooled completely before freezing. If in that location is whatsoever estrus remaining, information technology tin form moisture which will foster the growth of bacteria.

How to Freeze Cooked Salmon (Tutorial)

With those considerations in mind, follow these steps to ensure excellent results from your frozen cooked salmon!

Step 1

A pair of hands cutting a large piece of salmon
Cut the salmon

Start by cutting the pieces of salmon you take into serving sizes. Use a precipitous knife to keep your salmon from crumbling into pieces as you cut it. Information technology will ideally maintain an excellent, cohesive shape for serving subsequently on.

Step two

Two individual pieces of salmon on top of parchment paper
Wrap each individual piece

Wrap each piece of salmon individually in food-grade parchment paper that will not absorb any of the fish'due south natural liquids. Using parchment paper in this way should prevent the fish from sticking to the bag while frozen.

Step 3

A piece of salmon being placed inside a freezer bag
Place the wrapped salmon in a freezer handbag or container

Place your wrapped pieces of salmon into freezer numberless that you have labeled and dated correctly. Then either squeeze the bag or use a straw to get out as much air as possible.

Step 4

Salmon fillets being placed in the freezer
Place your salmon in the freezer

Identify your frozen cooked salmon in the freezer on top of other things to prevent it from being squashed.

Your cooked salmon should terminal in the freezer for upward to six months without it losing quality. Bear in mind that the freezer volition impact your fish'southward texture when it is thawed, so recipes less reliant on the fish beingness solo on the plate will benefit yous. Additionally, do not attempt to re-freeze your thawed cooked fish. Bringing information technology down to room temperature then freezing again runs the hazard of bacterial growth and should be avoided at all costs.

Benefits and Varieties of Salmon

A piece of salmon filet on a bed of herbs and peppercorn
Achieve in poly peptide and omega-3 fat acids, essential in preventing many heart atmospheric condition

At that place are many different kinds of salmon around the world. In most cases, they can be divided into two categories: wild and farmed. In that location are many upstanding and environmental considerations betwixt these two categories. Nevertheless, ultimately, there are non enough fish in the sea to satisfy people'southward needs worldwide. Well-nigh 2-thirds of the USA'south salmon consumption comes from aquaculture farms.

  • Wild Salmon

two fillets of wild salmon on a white surface
five dissimilar types

There are five chief types of wild salmon that tin can be found in about American markets. They are as follows:

  • Chinook or King Salmon

These are the largest Pacific salmon. While they are considered one of the tastiest salmon varieties, they are unfortunately significantly overfished and therefore more expensive than other kinds.

  • Sockeye or Red Salmon

This multifariousness of salmon has less natural fats than king salmon. Their firm texture and robust flavour brand them a favorite of many restaurants and other eateries.

  • Coho or Silver Salmon

This type of salmon falls into a center range in terms of fat content. They have a pleasant but mild flavour.

  • Keta Salmon

This variety has many other names, including chum, silverbrite, or domestic dog salmon. As the names suggest, information technology has a somewhat poor reputation. Nevertheless, information technology has an splendid balmy flavor and low oil and fat content. It tin command a lower price thanks to that somewhat undeserved reputation.

  • Pink Salmon

This type of salmon is considered the "everyman form" of the fish, which is why information technology ends up existence relegated to canneries most of the fourth dimension. Yet, this fish's delicate flavor, alongside its tender texture, makes it the perfect choice for salads and other common cold meals.

  • Farmed Salmon

two farmed salmon fillets
Has more than meat to it!

Farmed salmon is non always inherently worse than its wild cousin. Nevertheless, there is some degree of variety fifty-fifty inside the farmed fish category. The main difference comes down to whether or non the farmer raises their fish ethically with diverse nutrient blends and with strict limits on the amount of fish they hold onto at once.

However, by and large speaking, considering wild salmon migrate across thousands of miles in their lifetime, they are more than likely to be leaner than farm-raised fish. Additionally, even when taking ethical farmers into consideration, wild salmon accept a massively varied diet and carry more diet in nigh cases.

Regardless of which kind of salmon y'all accept, this fish is a rich source of protein and omega-iii fatty acids , essential in preventing many centre conditions. They are too reasonably low in calories, which tin can exist ideal for people looking to lose weight. They also have cypher carbohydrates which are essential for those following a keto diet.

Different Salmon Cuts

Different salmon cuts on a white surface surrounded by a knife, plates, onions and thyme
Three dissimilar salmon cuts

 As salmon in the wild can grow to be vast, several different cuts are available. These different cuts fall into the following three types:

  • Salmon Fillets

four salmon fillets
The nearly popular cut and excellent for cooking in many different styles and ways

If yous purchase your salmon from a supermarket, this volition most likely be the nigh familiar type of salmon cut to you. Fillets are excellent for cooking in many different styles and ways, and they commonly come with the pare intact. The skin is as well one of the most beneficial aspects of this detail cut considering it helps keep the flesh together in one piece. Information technology is a significant source of those omega-3 fatty acids mentioned earlier.

Additionally, the skin from a expert salmon fillet is delicious when crisped. When shopping for salmon fillets, try to find the ones referred to as center-cutting as they accept a uniform thickness all the way through and are the most straightforward kind to cook.

  • Salmon Steaks

A salmon steak on a ceramic plate with coriander by its side
these cuts are less prone to drying out than fillets

You can identify salmon steaks by the bone running through the center of the cut and the pare surrounding the flesh. The combination of the os and the skin wrapping actually help keep the salmon steak fresh, and these cuts are less prone to drying out than fillets. Similar fillets, these cuts of fish are excellent when done on a grill, under a broiler, or even just in a pan.

The biggest thing to keep in mind when shopping for salmon steaks is that y'all want to exist on the spotter for a uniform thickness in the cutting. An equal thickness all the style across the salmon steak will help ensure an even melt.

  • Sides

A salmon side with various herbs on its flesh on top of a white chopping board
Salmon sides can be washed perfectly on a grill, broiled, poached, or broiled

Sides, or whole sides, are quite literally 1 entire side of a salmon cut from half of the fish. These sides can be around four or v pounds each and can typically provide eight servings at a fourth dimension. Salmon sides can be done perfectly on a grill, baked, poached, or broiled. Nonetheless, it is non recommended that yous cook them on a stovetop due to their considerable size.

The best trick for cooking a salmon side is to utilize a lower estrus than usual and for longer. This ensures that the whole cutting cooks through without drying out.

Best Uses for Thawed Cooked Salmon

Two frozen salmon side cuts on a green plate
The texture of the cooked salmon changes later on being in the freezer

No matter what salmon cut you have in your freezer, it is essential to remember that the texture will not be the aforementioned afterward thawing, as it was just after it was cooked. Some means are more constructive than others in using cooked salmon after it has been thawed.

Salmon Spread

Salmon spread on a terracotta pot
Like shooting fish in a barrel to make, nutritious, and delicious

1 perfect mode to apply your thawed cooked salmon is in function of a spread. By breaking the fish down and combining it with other ingredients for flavor and texture, y'all can create a delicious and protein-rich spread to put on toast, bagels, crackers, or anything else. Effort combining your salmon spread with cream cheese on a toasted bagel for breakfast.

Curries and Soups

Salmon soup garnished with thyme, on a white bowl on top of a wooden table
Only add together it to the soup a few minutes before y'all take it off the heat

Both of these options are marvelous for using your thawed cooked salmon. The brothy nature of these foods will add flavor to your fish while masking the softer texture that it gets when thawed. Consider adding the salmon into the broth only a few minutes before you lot're ready to serve it. By doing so, you lot can heat the fish through without overcooking it and affecting its texture further.

Salmon Burgers or Cakes

Burger buns filled with a couple of salmon fillets, tomatoes, gherkins, red onion, and rocket. The burger is accompanied with fries, lemon and it is served on a wooden board
Flavor your patties with dill and lemons, and have a burger that volition wow the family

One of the simplest means to use your thawed cooked salmon is by flaking information technology apart and then forming information technology into patties to be used with burgers or fish cakes. The all-time part virtually going with this method is that you tin can flavor information technology in any way you like, though dill and lemon are great choices if you require direction for your meals.

You lot can endeavour our Spicy Thai Fish Burger recipe which is absolutely succulent.

Frosty Fish

Salmon has a considerable number of uses, and even afterward it's been cooked, frozen, and thawed, there are many ways to go the almost out of this delicious and nutritious fish. Attempt going to a local market place, if you lot live near a coastline, and pick upwardly some freshly caught salmon. You are well prepared now in knowing the best means to freeze and thaw your salmon.