Salmon is one of the most loved fish types that people enjoy eating. While being an absolute delicacy, it also offers so many great nutritional benefits. Salmon is the perfect dish for those of you who are health conscious. It’s also a great choice to cook for a romantic dinner!
Did you get a little carried away with the amount of salmon you need? Don’t worry, it happens to the best of us. Here’s a way you can save it for later.
Can you freeze salmon with skin on?
Yes, you can freeze salmon with its skin on. It is better to store your salmon in the freezer with its skin as it protects the meat from any potential freezer burns. Salmon stays good for up to 12 months of freezing it.
Salmon being safe for the freezer is not all that matters. It is essential to know how to prepare your salmon for the freezer. And that’s exactly what we are here to help you with! In this post, we have discussed how to correctly freeze and thaw salmon with the skin on.
How to Freeze Salmon With Skin On
If you’re doubtful about freezing your salmon with its skin on, don’t be! As we mentioned earlier, it is better to freeze salmon with the skin. The presence of skin will help your salmon from drying out in the freezer and protect it from suffering any freezer burns. It keeps the meat insulated and prevents any ice crystal formation.
Freezing salmon is a simple technique but needs to be done correctly. Here are some steps you can follow to freeze your salmon:
Step 1: the first step is to thoroughly wash your salmon. This helps to get rid of any chemicals or bacteria present on the surface of the fish. Use a paper towel to pat it dry after you clean the meat.
Step 2: Next, wrap your salmon in aluminum foil, freezer paper, or plastic wrap. Making sure you tightly secure it with foil or paper makes for good because it protects the fish from freezer burns. The skin on your salmon makes for a good barrier to protect it from freezer burns. But no one gets hurt with some extra precaution!
If you have a large portion of salmon, we recommend cutting it into smaller pieces and wrapping them in the paper. You can then wrap Each piece separately before storing them in the freezer. This is a useful tip because you only need to thaw the portion you require instead of thawing the entire piece of meat.
Step 3: You can now place your wrapped salmon In airtight containers or sealable freezer bags. Please remember to remove all the air from the container or bag before storing it in the freezer.
Step 4: the final step is to pop it in the freezer! While freezing, we always recommend you label your containers or bags with the name of the meat and the date of freezing. Especially if you’re somebody that freezes a lot of food it helps to keep track of what meat you are storing and when. Once frozen, salmon stays good in the freezer for up to 12 months.
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Tips for freezing salmon
- While storing salmon pieces or fillets, Make sure they’re not overlapping in the freezer. This is an extra precaution you could take to prevent the meat from losing its moisture.
- Place your salmon in the coldest area of your freezer. You can place it at the back against the wall of your freezer as it takes warm air longer to reach there. It is best to expose your Salmon to the coldest temperatures possible.
- Another tip is to place the fish in the freezer with the skin side down.
How to Thaw Salmon With Skin On
If you’re ready to eat your salmon again, it’s time to thaw! Here are ways you can thaw your salmon for your next meal:
In the refrigerator
The best way to thaw salmon is by leaving it in the refrigerator overnight. Simply transfer the packaged salmon from the freezer to the refrigerator. Let it sit there overnight or for a couple of hours during the day before you’re ready to cook it. Refrigerating the salmon is a preferred method of thawing as it still keeps your salmon cold. This prevents the risk of any potential bacterial growth on the fish.
In cold water
You can thaw your salmon in a bowl of water if you are on a tighter schedule. Fill a bowl with cold water and transfer the salmon into it. Keep the freezer packaging intact while doing so. To keep the salmon submerged in the water you can try placing something heavy on it. Check the salmon in 30-minute intervals to see how much it has thawed. Please replace the water every 30 minutes as well until your salmon fully thaws.
In the microwave
The next way you can defrost your salmon is by popping it in the microwave. Simply, turn your microwave to a defrost setting. Take your salmon out of the freezer packaging and place it in a microwave-safe dish before heating it in the microwave. Generally, a pound of salmon takes about 5 minutes to fully thaw. Once it thaws completely, You can take it out of the microwave and immediately use it for your meal. Using the defrost setting on the microwave makes it easy to choose a temperature without worrying whether it is the right one.
Read our article on the differences between basting oil and olive oil.
One important point to remember is that it is essential to start cooking with the salmon as soon as you’re done defrosting it. Regardless of whether you’re grilling, frying, or baking it, you must get on with it as soon as it thaws. We are asking you to do this because defrosted salmon at room temperature has a high risk of developing bacterial growth. So, Do not let your salmon sit out too long. Get it on the pan to cook as quickly as possible.
This is not necessary while thawing your salmon in the fridge. You can store your salmon in the fridge until you’re ready to cook it. The cold temperature of the fridge doesn’t facilitate the growth of bacteria and keeps your Salmon fresh for up to two days.
Note: It is difficult to tell the difference between a frozen fish and a thawed fish Just by its appearance. Instead, keep an eye out for the texture of the fish before you decide that it has fully thawed.
Conclusion
We have reached the end of this article! We hope this article helped us guide you through the freezing and thawing procedures of skinned salmon. Salmon is nutritious and absolutely delicious fish meat that is completely worth the storage. Having it at your fingers tips encourages you to eat more of it whenever you want.
It is essential to follow the right procedure to freeze and thaw salmon with skin on. These steps, though Simple, are crucial as they determine how well and how long your salmon freezes. It is a great idea to freeze salmon with the skin on it as it serves as extra protection in the freezer. So, go ahead and pop that salmon right in to have it ready whenever you need it for up to 12 months.
