Cooking air fryer salmon delivers some of the most succulent, tender, and delicious salmon you’ve ever had the pleasure of tasting. Plus, making salmon in air fryer is super quick and easy too!
In recent years, several small kitchen appliances have emerged to make our home cooking experience so much easier and even more enjoyable. We love our Instant Pot, and who can live without a submersion blender? However, the small kitchen appliance that has changed everything is the air fryer. This device has changed how we eat.
Cooking salmon with an air fryer is a great way to get a delicious meal quickly. Start by preheating the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit. Then, season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper and place them in the air fryer. Set the timer for 8 minutes. Once it is finished, check the internal temperature of the salmon to make sure it is cooked to your desired level.
Once cooked, you can serve the delicious salmon with your favorite sides or sauces. The air fryer gives the salmon a delicious crunchy exterior, while keeping the interior moist and juicy. With the air fryer, you can have a delicious, healthy meal ready in no time!
This low-calorie, low-carb salmon air fryer recipe only takes around ten minutes to prepare and cook, and it makes for a fantastic easy weeknight dinner. Air fry salmon browns wonderfully and delivers results just like fish served in your favorite seafood restaurant.
I simply love cooking in my air fryer. It’s super easy to use, and airfryer salmon comes out quickly and so flaky, and juicy, it’s kind of ridiculous! Aside from grilling, air frying salmon is my new go-to method of cooking, especially when I want a quick and simple meal.
If you love using your air fryer, you’re going to love this air fryer salmon recipe. Below we’ll show you just how to air fry salmon, including the ingredients you’ll need and how long to air fry salmon.
Of course, you can always add or change the air fry salmon recipe to suit your tastes. One of the things I love about salmon is that it’s one of the easiest fish to cook, nearly impossible to get wrong — especially with air fryer salmon recipes!
How to Prepare Air Fryer Salmon
To make airfried salmon, first, start by cutting your salmon fillets into even pieces while preheating your air fryer. How long to cook salmon in air fryer will depend a lot on the portion sizes you cut, so you really want to ensure they are as close to the same size as possible.
You can also remove the skin if you want, but it’s really unnecessary. In fact, I personally love the crispy skin you get from cooking salmon in the air fryer, which captures a lot of flavors.
Next, you’ll need to season each filet with paprika, garlic, pepper, salt, and just a drizzle of olive oil over the top. I find that the paprika gives your fish a wonderful browned color after it’s cooked, so I find it ideal for fish like salmon. Ensure you rub all your spices in real deep for the best flavor. Once that’s done, place your fish in the air fryer.
Other factors when it comes to how much time you should cook your salmon include the thickness of your fish and the model air fryer you own. However, on average, you should be looking at about 7-9 minutes, maybe 10. You’ll know your salmon’s ready to serve when the meat begins flaking off with a fork. By this time, your fish is ready to eat!
Side Dish Ideas for Air Fried Salmon
There are a wide variety of delicious side dishes you can serve that will perfectly complement your golden, juicy air-fried salmon.
Salads
Spinach and Strawberry Salad
Arugula Salad with Grilled Pecan and Brown Rice
Spinach and Fruit Salad
Kale Quinoa Salad
Spinach and Blueberry Salad
Arugula Nectarine Salad
Spinach Salad with Candied Walnuts and Raspberries
Here are a few tips to help you make the juiciest, most delicious air-fried salmon imaginable.
Tip #1: Thickness
Cooking all your salmon pieces evenly is critical. Depending on what size air fryer you’re using, you need to cook your fish in batches, cooking similar sized pieces together.
Tip #2: Doneness
The easiest way to check if your air fryer salmon is done is by using a fork. If you experience rubbery resistance, then it’s not fully cooked.
Tip #3: Proper Preheating
Proper air fryer preheating will help ensure your fish cook evenly. It will also speed up your cooking time and deliver crispier edges.
Tip #4: Overcrowding
If you overcrowd your basket, your salmon won’t be as crispy since the moisture from the fillets coming into contact with each other will impact the ability of the hot air to circulate around each piece properly. This is another reason to cook in batches.
What Are the Best Air Fryers to Use?
Finding the best air fryer depends mostly on the features you’re looking for and the size.
For meals like salmon, you want one with a larger basket that can accommodate a few pieces without touching. Smaller models might not be ideal unless you wish to cook one fillet at a time.
How much money should I spend?
As with most things, you will get what you pay for. Generally, you should expect to spend around $80 on a decent air fryer, with top-tier models costing $300 or more. That said, there are a few models under $80 that might be worth checking out. Just be sure to read as many reviews as you can to learn their pros and cons better.
What about functions and buttons?
While many models may offer different “options” for cooking, they basically all do the same thing: turning on the heating element and fan. Don’t be lured in by an air fryer that offers too many options. Once again, they all do the same thing.
What are the limitations of an Air Fryer?
There are a few recipes not suited for an air fryer. For example, deep-fried foods such as egg rolls will not come out as crispy compared to traditional frying. Also, frozen pre-made dishes like stuffed chicken breasts don’t fare well in air fryers and can even be dangerous to consume. You should also avoid cooking any dish with running batter in your air fryer, as it could cause a big mess.
Cleaning your air fryer
My biggest piece of advice for cleaning an air fryer is investing in disposable Teflon sheets you can cut to fit on the bottom of your air fryer. These sheets are heat resistant, and you can pull them out, brush them off, wash them, or throw them away when they get too dirty.
Popular Air Fryers
Here is a list of a few popular air fryers, along with some of their pros and cons.
Corsi Smart wifi Air Fryer
The Corsi Smart wifi Air Fryer represents one of the very best models for most folks. It has consistent performance when it comes to crisping and browning foods such as french fries and even Brussel sprouts. Plus, it also broils hamburgers and roasts chickens like a champ and is a lot easier to clean than a traditional oven.
This device also has electronic controls with a few preset options for specific foods. The outside of the matching remains cool to the touch as it cooks. Plus, the baskets are nonstick and dishwasher safe. You can also control your device while searching for recipes using the mobile digital assistant app.
Pros
Amazing air frying
Outstanding roasting
Cool exterior while cooking
Baskets are dishwasher safe and nonstick
Connects to your wifi and can be controlled remotely using a free app
Cons
Not great at toasting
Controls can be kind of sluggish
Smaller inner space
Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven
If you want the functionality of a few appliances in one machine, the Cuisinart Air Fryer Toaster Oven might be just what you’re looking for. It’s not only an air fryer. It also toasts, roasts, and bakes. You don’t have to worry about preheating, and it’s very quiet.
Unlike many air fryers, the Cuisinart isn’t housed in a plastic shell or shaped like a giant egg. Instead, it’s made of stainless steel with a boxy design. Not only does it fit neatly on any countertop, but it looks pretty darned good too!
The controls are not digital but very straightforward with well-marked dials. It does not come with any pre-programmed settings, but the manual does include air frying times and temperatures for a number of recipes.
Pros
Fantastic at air frying
Does a great job roasting
Preheating not required
Versatile
Large inner space
Quiet
Includes a three-year warranty
Cons
The exterior does get very hot
Accessories should not be washed in the dishwasher
Now, don’t let the GoWise USA 3.7’s low price fool you. This 8-in -1 device does a great job air frying and comes with pre-programmed buttons along with digital controls you find on much more expensive units. While the basket is on the small side, it is large enough to roast a 4-pound chicken.
Plus, you don’t have to worry about preheating, and the outside doesn’t get too hot while cooking. The baskets are coated in a nonstick finish that makes hand cleaning much easier. However, they are not dishwasher safe.
The machine also includes a handy cookbook filled with delicious recipe ideas. And you can choose from a variety of different colors such as purple, black, and bright red. This is certainly a nice air fryer for those looking to save some dough.
Pros
Excellent air frying
Amazing Roasting
No Preheating needed
Exterior remains cool while cooking
Cons
The timer can only be set for 30 minutes
Baskets can’t be washed in the dishwasher
Not the most spacious model
What Are the Benefits of Cooking Salmon in the Air Fryer?
Aside from creating some of the juiciest, crispiest, perfectly cooked salmon you’ve ever tasted, preparing this meal is super easy, as is the clean-up. Plus, you can prepare the rest of your meal and not worry about having to flip your salmon or splash oil everywhere. And it’s much healthier than frying your fish the traditional way.
How Long Does Air Fried Salmon Keep For?
If you keep your cooked salmon in an airtight container, it should last up to three days in the fridge. And if you freeze it, your fish will be good for up to three months. But note, you should thaw your frozen salmon overnight in the fridge and then warm it until it’s heated through.
How long should you cook salmon in the air fryer?
For perfectly cooked salmon, air fry for 10-12 minutes at 400°F (204°C). Adjust the cooking time depending on the thickness of your salmon fillet. Thicker pieces may need a couple more minutes, while thinner pieces could be done in less time.
Do you put skin side up or down when air frying salmon?
When air frying salmon, it is best to place the fillet skin-side down in the air fryer basket. This helps to crisp up the skin while keeping the flesh moist and tender.
Is baking or air frying salmon better?
Both baking and air frying are great methods for cooking salmon, but air frying offers a few advantages. It cooks salmon faster, uses less oil, and gives the salmon a crispy exterior. However, if you prefer a moist and tender salmon with a slightly different texture, baking is also a good option.
What is the ideal salmon air fryer temp and time?
The perfect temperature and time for air frying salmon are 400°F (204°C) for 10-12 minutes. This ensures that the fish is cooked evenly and retains its moisture for a tender, succulent result.
How can I prepare teriyaki salmon in an air fryer?
To make teriyaki salmon in an air fryer, first marinate the salmon in a mixture of soy sauce, brown sugar, garlic, and ginger. Allow the marinade to sit for at least 30 minutes. Preheat your air fryer to 400°F (204°C) and cook the salmon for 10-12 minutes, skin-side down, until it reaches your desired doneness. Optionally, you can brush additional teriyaki sauce on the salmon halfway through cooking for added flavor.
What are some tasty air fryer salmon recipes with dill or dijon mustard?
For a dill-flavored salmon, mix chopped fresh dill with lemon juice, olive oil, garlic, salt, and pepper. Coat the salmon in the mixture and air fry at 400°F (204°C) for 10-12 minutes.
Alternatively, for a dijon mustard salmon recipe, combine dijon mustard, honey or maple syrup, a splash of lemon juice, and minced garlic. Spread the mixture evenly over the salmon fillet and air fry at 400°F (204°C) for 10-12 minutes. Enjoy your delicious and flavorful air-fried salmon.
Amazing Air Fryer Salmon
I am so excited for you guys to try this recipe. It’s such a lifesaver! Your whole family will love this meal, and it’s ready for the dinner table in just minutes!
