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Quick and Easy Salmon In The Air Fryer Recipe – the best way to cook salmon fillets in the air fryer. Ready in 10 minutes, perfectly cooked, crispy on the outside and juicy and moist on the inside. This wild salmon is made using simple seasoning, that consists of salt, pepper, paprika (or smoked paprika), garlic powder and avocado or vegetable oil.
There are no glazes or extra flavors in this recipe. Just high quality wild salmon filets, that melt in your mouth.
You can still taste how wonderful the fish is, without overpowering seasonings, glazes and sauces.
This air fryer salmon recipe is Paleo, Whole 30, Keto and Balanced Diet friendly.
Perfect for a quick lunch or dinner, paired with potatoes, vegetables or a fresh green salad.
Tips for the perfect Salmon In The Air Fryer Recipe:
- This recipe uses wild caught skin on salmon fillets that are 5-6 ounces each. I don’t recommend cooking more that 3 fillets at the same time in an Air Fryer.
- There is no need to turn the fillets, while cooking. Cook them skin side down throughout the whole time.
- Cooking time is around 7-8 minutes at 390 F (200 C).
- Place salmon filets skin side down and do not flip for the entire cooking time.
- You can use a little bit of cooking oil to grease the Air Fryer Basket and to coat the salmon so the seasoning sticks better to it. This is optional. This air fryer salmon recipe can be made completely oil free.
- When making individual pieces of salmon, like in this recipe, I prefer to cook them at higher temperature (at least 400 F) for shorter period of time. Since the air fryer is more like a convection oven, I cooked the fish for 7 minutes at 390 F. The salmon fillets I used were 6 oz (170 grams) each and I cooked 2 at a time. My air fryer is quite large and could fit 3-4 fillets at once.
- Frozen salmon fillets could be used, just make sure you defrost them in the fridge overnight and pat dry the water they release.
Fish in the Air Fryer
This is the first time I’m cooking fish in my Philips XXL air fryer. I’ve made this skin on wild salmon fillet several times, using different seasonings, but I have not tried air frying other types of fish yet.
Is air fryer fish healthy?
Can you make this fillet of salmon without any out? We all know that salmon is an oily fish, that is high in Omega-3 Fatty Acids. When cooked, it releases oils and is being cooked in its own oils.
Knowing this, you may be wondering if the avocado (or vegetable oil) in the recipe can be omitted. And the answer is – yes! No need for oil. I personally don’t mind using 1 tablespoon of oil per 2-3
How do you cook salmon fillet in the Air Fryer?
There is no need to preheat the Air Fryer for cooking salmon.
Make sure the Air Fryer basket is clean and dry. You can lightly spray it with cooking spray.
Coat each salmon fillet in a little bit of oil, then season with salt, black pepper, paprika and garlic powder. If your fillets have the skin on, you can season just the top side. When using skinless fillets, the fish could be seasoned on both sides.
How much salmon fillet per person?
The average serving is considered 1/4 to 1/3 pound. An average salmon fillet is about 1/4 pound. The ones I usually purchase are around 6 oz (170 grams).
Skinless or skin on salmon fillet?
It doesn’t really matter and the cooking time will be about the same.
I prefer skin on salmon, whenever I can get it. Even though I don’t always eat the skin, I find it easier to cook salmon with the skin on than without.
Skin provides a safety layer between the fish and the hot pan (grill or air fryer basket). Begin cooking with the skin side down. If pan frying, I usually turn the salmon once. When air frying, I just cook it skin side down during the whole time.
Even if the skin on salmon sticks to the pan/basket, it is easier to stick a spatula between the skin and the flesh and remove the fillet, than to remove a skinless fillet that has stuck to the pan.
Seasoning:
You can use your favorite seasoning for salmon in this recipe. Just salt and black pepper to taste will do it. Then garnish with fresh herbs like dill, parsley or chives (if you have any).
I used a combination of salt, pepper, paprika, smoked paprika, garlic powder (I prefer it to fresh garlic, since the taste is milder) and vegetable oil.
You can spice up your piece of fish by using blackened seasoning, freshen it up with lemon pepper or add some sweetness by using some brown sugar together with the rest of the spices.
How do you know when salmon is done cooking
Flaky salmon, that is moist and juicy, usually means salmon that is done cooking.
The easiest way to see if your salmon has finished cooking is to press down on the top of the fillet with a fork or your finger.
If the flesh of the fish flakes—meaning, it separates easily along the white lines that run across the fillet —it’s done cooking.
What temperature should cooked salmon be?
Cooked salmon is considered safe for consumption, when a thermometer inserted into the middle of the fillet reads 145 F ( 63 C). Fish continues to cook, once taken out of the oven (grill/air fryer) for a few more minutes, so even if you take it out a little earlier (for example, when it is at 137-140 F), you are still going to reach the desired doneness, while the fish is resting.
Is Air Fryer Salmon Healthy?
Reference from Web MD: “By most measures, air frying is healthier than frying in oil. It cuts calories by 70% to 80% and has a lot less fat. This cooking method might also cut down on some of the other harmful effects of oil frying.”
Remember, that salmon, no matter id it is farm raiser or wild caught is a fatty fish.
Side dishes for salmon:
- Salmon goes well with potatoes and these Roasted Red Potatoes are perfect to pair with this Air frier salmon fillet.
- Juicy salmon and crunchy salad? This low calorie simple cucumber salad will be the perfect addition – The best cucumber salad.
- Vegetables – grilled, roasted or fresh make a nice side dish for fish. I recommend my favorite Balsamic Grilled vegetables as a side for this salmon recipe.
More salmon recipes:
- One Pan Lemon Garlic Salmon
- Garlic Dill Lemon Baked Salmon
- The Best Baked Steelhead Trout (or Salmon)
Salmon In The Air Fryer
Ingredients
- 2 6 oz each wild caught salmon fillets, skin on, 1 to 1 1/2 -inch thickness
- 1 tbsp avocado or vegetable oil, optional
- 1 tsp salt
- 1/4 tsp black pepper
- 1/4 tsp garlic powder
- 1 tsp paprika
- 1 tsp smoked paprika
Instructions
- Coat salmon fillets in oil. Generously season with salt, pepper, garlic powder, smoked and regular paprika.
- Place in the basket of the air fryer and cook for 7-8 minutes at 390 F.
- The internal temperature of the salmon should be 145 F and you should be able to easily flake it.
- (If the fish does not appear cooked enough, you can easily put it back in the air fryer and cook for 1-2 minutes more).
Nutrition
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
Wonderful ! Will not have to give up all of my favorites on my diet