Air Fryer Salmon Recipe – How To Make Perfect Salmon In 10 Minutes

If you are looking for one of the quickest and easiest ways to cook salmon, it is hard to beat the air fryer. In fact, you can have tender, flaky and perfectly cooked salmon on the table in less than 10 minutes!

When I first purchased my air fryer, I mainly thought of it as a healthier way to make foods that were traditionally deep fried. But once I started using it more often, I quickly realized that it could do so much more.

That is when I began experimenting with recipes that I would normally make in the oven, on the stovetop or even on the gas grill. And salmon quickly became one of my favorite foods to cook in the air fryer.

Not only does the salmon turn out light, flaky and full of flavor, it can be ready in as little as 7 minutes. In fact, my oven and grill often take longer to preheat than it takes to cook the salmon from start to finish!

It is the perfect way to get a healthy, delicious meal on the table on a busy weeknight without heating up the kitchen or spending a lot of time cooking.

However, there is one important thing to keep in mind when making air fryer salmon. Not all salmon fillets are the same. The type, thickness and size of the salmon you purchase can all affect the cooking time. With a few simple adjustments, though, you can easily make perfectly cooked air fryer salmon every time.

Wild Caught vs. Fresh Caught Salmon

Although fresh caught salmon costs less per pound, I always purchase wild caught salmon. Wild caught salmon contains fewer calories and fat when compared to farm raised salmon.

The filets are much leaner than farmed fish because the fish are constantly on the move in the search for food. Not to mention, there are far less contaminants in the fish itself.

Therefore, the actual flavor of the fish tastes much better. And you can actually see the difference between the two type of fish.

Pacific, wild caught salmon will have a deep pink color. While farmed salmon will be pale pink in comparison.

Therefore, when you are trying to figure out which is the best type of salmon to purchase for your Air Fryer Salmon, opt for wild caught whenever you can.

Fresh vs. Frozen Salmon

Depending on where you live, the availability of fresh fish will vary. For those who live on the Pacific coast, it is common to have fresh fish available at the market.

However, for those who are from areas more rural or inland, you may need to purchase frozen salmon instead. Because I live in a very rural area, most often I have to purchase a large, frozen wild caught salmon filet.

I find it in the seafood freezer section at my grocery store. It is pre-sliced into 4 semi-cut portions that can easily be separated for cooking. 

However, whether you purchase fresh or frozen salmon, the key to making the best salmon in the air fryer is to cook salmon filets that are similar in size.

Because I typically buy the large frozen filet, I will separate out the larger, two center cuts. I will cook those two at the same time and save the thinner edge pieces for another day.

Just be sure to thaw your salmon and pat it dry before cooking it. Doing so, you will have perfectly cooked salmon each and every time.

Best Air Fryer Salmon Recipe

*Specific measurements and complete recipe instructions are located in a printable recipe card at the bottom of this article. However, be sure to continue to read the tips and tricks to making this recipe below.

INGREDIENTS

• 2 Wild caught salmon fillets, approximately 1- 1 1/2 inches thick
• 2 teaspoons olive oil
• Kosher salt
• Fresh ground black pepper
• 1 teaspoon garlic powder
• 1 teaspoon onion powder
• 2 teaspoons smoked paprika*
• Lemon wedges, for serving

I use smoked paprika in a lot of my recipes. I highly recommend it over sweet paprika as it gives the salmon a slight smoky flavor.

INSTRUCTIONS

The first step in making salmon in the air fryer is to thaw the frozen salmon filets. If you are using fresh salmon you can skip this step, although you will still want to bring the salmon to room temperature before cooking.

Luckily, salmon thaws out quickly when compared to other types of meat. However, if you forgot to put the salmon in the refrigerator to thaw overnight, there is a quicker method that you can use.

How To Thaw Salmon Quickly

Remove the salmon from the vacuum sealed pack. Then place it in another resealable plastic bag.

Place the bag with the salmon in cold water for 30 minutes. If the fish has not yet thawed completely, replace the water and repeat.

Now that your salmon is thawed, it is time to let the filets come to room temperature. Although you could technically cook the salmon when it is frozen or cold, to make the best salmon, you must let it come to room temperature before cooking it in the air fryer.

Once the filets are at room temperature, pat them dry with a paper towel. Then rub each fillet with olive oil on both sides and generously season with salt and pepper.

In a small bowl combine the garlic powder, onion powder and smoked paprika. Mix until the spices are well incorporated.

Sprinkle the dry rub seasoning on the non-skin side of the filets. Set aside.

Air Fryer Cooking Instructions

Preheat the air fryer if your brand requires you to do so. My NuWave Air Fryer Oven has a preheat setting and takes approximately 5 minutes to preheat to the desired temperature.

However, not all air fryers require you to preheat the basket before cooking. Therefore, follow the recommendations for your specific air fryer brand.

Place the salmon, skin side down in the basket and cook at 390°F (199°C) for 7 minutes. Check for doneness by pressing on the thickest portion of the salmon.

The salmon is cooked when the center is slightly firm and the meat begins to separate and is light and flaky. Remove the salmon from the air fryer.

Before serving, squeeze lemon wedges over the filets. Serve warm with your favorite side dishes.

Other Delicious Salmon Recipes

If you enjoy eating salmon, but want to switch things up a bit, try some of my other favorite salmon recipes:

• Creamy Tuscan Salmon
• Pan Seared Salmon
• Parchment Paper Baked Salmon and Asparagus recipe
• Sheet Pan Lemon Pepper Salmon
• Maple Glazed Salmon
• Sheet Pan Salmon & Broccoli
• Honey Garlic Salmon

Enjoy! Mary

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