How To Cook Salmon In The Air Fryer

Air fryer salmon comes together beautifully with just a few ingredients. Most of these you might have in your pantry already, but here is what to need to make our suggested salmon seasoning:

• Salmon: Since it is a salmon dish, skin-on or skinless works just fine, whichever suits your taste. We recommend keeping it with the skin since this gets extra crispy. Go for a fresh and bright pinkish-orange king or sockeye salmon.
• Dijon Mustard: Goes on top of salmon fillets, it will keep the top moist and give all that tangy and zippy taste with a bonus of complementing spices used. You can also use ground mustard if you want an additional texture.
• Seasoning: Salmon rub is made using salt, pepper, and smoked paprika. Herbally speaking, you can use oregano, thyme, and rosemary.
• Ginger and Garlic: You can use ginger and garlic powder for flavor, but we highly recommend you go with fresh garlic and fresh ginger. Grate the ginger, and mince the garlic to make a fine paste that then goes on top of the salmon fillets.

Gather your ingredients and let's get cooking!

Step 1

Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF. Prepare salmon fillets. If they are of uneven sizes, then cut the ends so that are of similar size. The even size is important for even cooking in the air fryer.

Pat the salmon dry with a paper towel to take off any moisture on the salmon. Removing the moisture is important if you want a crispy outside on the fish.

Step 2

Place half a tablespoon of mustard on each salmon fillet. Spread evenly on each with a brush or the back of a spoon. This helps the seasoning mix to stick on the fish, as well as prevents the top from drying out in the cooking process.

Step 3

Add the seasoning. Take the mix of seasoning and sprinkle on top of each of the fillets. You can just eyeball the quantity. Do the salt and pepper and work your way down to the smoked paprika.

Add in your mix of ginger-garlic mix and rub onto the fillet. Finally, add some olive oil on top to get that crispy top while the inside of the fish remains soft and succulent.

Step 4

Put the air fryer basket with two salmon fillets in it. Cook for 8-10 minutes or until fish is flaky. Leave some space between the two fillets. The space should be enough for the passage of air. In turn, the hot air cooks the salmon from all sides evenly.

Once cooked, transfer the salmon fillets to a plate and let it cool for a few minutes before serving!

Air fryer recipes are known for being quick and easy to make. And air-fried salmon is no exception.

Regular-sized salmon filets will be ready in the air fryer for 10 minutes. If they are larger or smaller-the cooking time might be different.

The prep for salmon takes about 5 minutes, meaning that air fryer salmon is ready in 15 minutes in total.

If you want to make sure that salmon is cooked through, then you can either check if it flakes with a fork or use a meat thermometer that should read 145ºF. 

• Thin Fillets (½ inch or less): 7-8 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
• Medium Fillets (¾ inch): 8-10 minutes at 400°F (200°C).
• Thick Fillets (1 inch or more): 10-12 minutes at 400°F 200°C.

Even Thickness: As explained, it is better if you use salmon fillets of comparable thickness. Salmon that are of similar thickness cook at about the same time. This makes it easier for you to monitor the cooking time and provide consistent results throughout.

Preheat the Air Fryer: Let's face it, everyone loves a good crispy crust when it comes to salmon, and that's what preheating the air fryer is for. This also cuts the cooking time and actually helps you achieve these crispy edges on your salmon.

Don't Crowd the Basket: Place one or two pieces of salmon fillets in the air fryer basket at one time, making sure there is some space between them for hot air to pass through.

Don't Wrap the Fish: Wrapping your salmon in foil will create a steam pocket. That means you won't achieve that perfectly crispy top on your salmon. Instead, cook the salmon without any cover at a high temperature.

No Flipping: Air fryer requires no flipping. There is a continuous flow of air through the basket and consistent heat that cooks the fillet evenly from all sides.

You can store your air-fried salmon in the fridge for 3 days. Store the filets in an air-tight container and place it in the fridge. However, salmon is a really easy protein to repurpose, so try using it in different recipes.

Reheat

Air fryer is the ideal appliance to reheat salmon. The deal is always heating salmon at a lower temperature compared to cooking. When you are reheating salmon; you should heat it at 350 degrees F for some minutes.

The temperature can just be enough to heat the fish without causing further browning. We don't recommend microwaving because it can make your salmon dry.

Freeze

You can freeze salmon in a clean zip lock bag if you want to keep it for a month, but we don't really recommend that, due to the fact that salmon is best when fresh.

The salmon air fryer is an easy and fast dinner. This healthy food deserves other healthy side dishes that would complete the meal itself.

You can also pair it with some grains and salads if you need something filling. Following are a few suggestions:

• Roasted veggies: Pair your air fryer salmon with some roasted veggies like Brussels sprouts, asparagus, and even potatoes. Salmon and asparagus go well together and are quite a classic. You could try roasted asparagus or simply prepare it in the air fryer itself.
• Rice Bowl: If you are craving a healthy meal that at the same time is filling, then go for a bowl. Add rice or any of your favorite grains alongside some veggies, salmon, and some soy sauce. You can even try making Mexican rice which goes quite well with salmon.
• Salads: Serve it with a fresh salad on days when you do not have much time. This low-effort side goes well with salmon. Go for something like a classic cucumber salad or a Greek salad.