This tutorial will show you how to cook salmon from frozen in the air fryer and oven in easy steps using simple everyday ingredients. You will learn tips on how long to cook frozen salmon and the best temperate to cook it. The fish comes out delicious, moist, and flaky with crispy skin like you used a fresh one.
If you have ever wondered if you can cook salmon from frozen the simple answer is yes. With this method, you don't have to worry about forgetting to thaw your salmon overnight. You can cook it straight from frozen and it works for all types of fish as well.
There are many ways to cook frozen fish, it can be grilled, pan seared, poached, broiled, or even steamed. All the processes are fairly simple and straightforward too. However, today you will be learning to cook your frozen fish in the oven or air fryer, let's get started.
Related recipes: how to cook sausages from frozen and homemade fish seasoning.
The thing you need to know before cooking salmon from frozen
- The thickness and size of the salmon will determine how long to cook for, also the temperature you cook it at. The thicker fillets, sides, or whole fish the longer it will take to cook through.
- Cook frozen salmon fillets skin side down. This helps the skin to crisp up nicely and prevents the fillets from sticking to the cooking surface.
- You may need to rinse ice crystal off the salmon if need be.
- Use your meat thermometer for doneness or use these other methods to know when your salmon is cooked through.
- You may cook frozen salmon at any temperature you are comfortable with between 375°F and 450°F.
- Cook the frozen fish directly on the baking tray or air fryer basket, this will help any excess liquid from the fish drip away without steaming the fish.
- Do not overcrowd the pan or basket, cook frozen salmon in batches if need be. If the fish is too close together it will steam and not fry or bake properly.
- Partially cook the fish first before adding sauce or butter so that the sauce can adhere to the fish properly without it being washed off.
Tools needed
Air fryer or oven
Meat thermometer
Rimmed baking tray
What You Will Need
Frozen salmon Fillets or side
Olive Oil or Cooking oil spray
Salt and black pepper
Seasoning of choice: You can season salmon with any herbs and spices of your choice. I love to use old bay seasoning, cajun spices, lemon pepper seasoning, parsley, dried dill, or a mixture of dried herbs.
How to cook frozen salmon in the air fryer
Preheat your air fryer to 375F/200C for 2-3 minutes then spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil
Rinse off any ice crystal from the frozen salmon under cold running water and pat the fish dry with a kitchen paper towel
Place the salmon in the air fryer basket skin side down.
Brush or spray the salmon with cooking oil and season with salt and black pepper
Air fry the frozen fish for 5 minutes, remove the air fryer basket, and season with any seasoning of choice.
Continue to cook the salmon for another 8-10 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. If in doubt that the fish is cooked, insert a meat thermometer in the center of the fish, it should read 145F/63C.
How to cook frozen salmon in the oven
Preheat your oven to 450F/230C and line a baking tray with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
Rinse off any ice crystal from the frozen salmon under cold running water and pat the fish dry with a paper towel
Brush rimmed baking lightly with cooking oil
Arrange the frozen fish on the tray making sure they are not overlapping. Brush the fish lightly with oil then season with salt and black pepper.
Bake in the oven for 5 minutes, remove the tray from the oven, and carefully decant any liquid from the tray. Sprinkle any season of choice on the salmon then return to the oven and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes or until cooked through. The internal temperature of the fish should reach 145F/63C in the center of the fillet when it is fully done. Serve and enjoy!
How to store
Cooked salmon will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days when stored properly in an airtight container.
You can also freeze cooked salmon for up to 3 months. Place it in an airtight container or freezer bags removing as much air as possible before sealing. Label and date the bags then place them in the freezer.
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How To Cook Salmon From Frozen
Ingredients
- 1 pound Frozen salmon Fillets or side
- 1 Tablespoon olive Oil or Cooking oil spray
- Salt and black pepper to taste
- ½ Tablespoon seasoning of choice
Instructions
Air fryer instructions
- Preheat your air fryer to 375F/200C for 2-3 minutes then spray the air fryer basket with cooking oil
- Rinse off any ice crystal from the frozen salmon under cold running water and pat the fish dry with a kitchen paper towel
- Place the salmon in the air fryer basket skin side down.
- Brush or spray the salmon with cooking oil and season with salt and black pepper
- Air fry the frozen fish for 5 minutes, remove the air fryer basket, and season with any seasoning of choice.
- Continue to cook the salmon for another 8-10 minutes or until the fish flakes easily with a fork. If in doubt that the fish is cooked, insert a meat thermometer in the center of the fish, it should read 145F/63C.
Oven instructions
- Preheat your oven to 450F/230C and line a baking tray with parchment paper or aluminum foil.
- Rinse off any ice crystal from the frozen salmon under cold running water and pat the fish dry with a paper towel
- Brush rimmed baking lightly with cooking oil
- Arrange the frozen fish on the tray making sure they are not overlapping. Brush the fish lightly with oil then season with salt and black pepper.
- Bake in the oven for 5 minutes, remove the tray from the oven, and carefully decant any liquid from the tray. Sprinkle any season of choice on the salmon then return to the oven and bake for an additional 10-12 minutes or until cooked through. The internal temperature of the fish should reach 145F/63C in the center of the fillet when it is fully done. Serve and enjoy!
Notes
Cooked salmon will stay fresh in the fridge for up to 3 days when stored properly in an airtight container. You can also freeze cooked salmon for up to 3 months. Place the cooked salmon in freezer bags removing as much air as possible before sealing. Label and date the bags then place them in the freezer.
I hope you found this article helpful, Do you have any tips on how to cook fish from frozen? Share them in the comments below! Don't forget to leave feedback and save it to your Pinterest.
Nicole Sears says
This recipe is amazing! The flavors were perfectly balanced, and it was so easy to make. I will definitely be making this again.
Sam says
Thanks for the feedback, Nicole. We are glad this post was helpful.
Alex says
The recipe is easy to follow, thank you.