How to Make Air Fryer Salmon
August 19, 2024
Cooking salmon in an air fryer is a quick and efficient way to prepare a healthy and delicious meal. Here are some of the benefits and considerations when cooking salmon in the air fryer:
Advantages:
Quick Cooking: Salmon fillets cook quickly in an air fryer, often taking only about 8-12 minutes depending on the thickness of the fillet. This makes it an excellent option for a fast weeknight dinner.
Crispy Exterior, Moist Interior: The circulating hot air in the air fryer creates a beautifully crisp exterior while keeping the salmon moist and tender inside. This contrasts with some traditional methods where the fish can dry out.
Even Cooking: The air fryer ensures even cooking throughout the fillet. The consistent airflow around the salmon reduces the risk of overcooking in one area while undercooking another.
Minimal Oil Use: You can achieve a perfect sear on the salmon with little to no oil, making it a healthier cooking method. If desired, a light mist of oil can help enhance the crispiness without adding excessive calories.
Easy Cleanup: Air fryer baskets are typically non-stick and dishwasher safe, making cleanup after cooking salmon a breeze. There’s also less mess compared to stove-top cooking where oil splatter can be an issue.
Versatility: The air fryer allows for experimenting with various seasonings, marinades, or even cooking the salmon with a crust (like panko or herbs) that remains intact and crispy. You can also cook vegetables alongside the salmon for a complete meal.
Considerations:
Preheating: It’s generally a good idea to preheat the air fryer for a few minutes to ensure the salmon starts cooking immediately, leading to a better sear and texture.
Thickness of the Fillet: Cooking time can vary based on the thickness of the salmon fillet. Thicker fillets might require a bit more time, while thinner pieces may cook more quickly.
Skin On vs. Skin Off: Cooking with the skin on can help protect the delicate flesh and can become crisp in the air fryer. However, if you prefer skinless salmon, it’s still effective to cook it in the air fryer, but be mindful that it may cook a bit faster.
Avoid Overcrowding: For best results, avoid overcrowding the air fryer basket. Giving the salmon space allows the hot air to circulate effectively, ensuring even cooking.
Overall, air frying salmon is an excellent method for achieving a delicious, healthy meal with minimal effort and cleanup.
Air Fryer Salmon with Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce
Servings: 3
Ingredients:
3 salmon fillets
3 to 4 tablespoons butter
1 large garlic clove, minced
1 1/2 lemons, juiced
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Salt & pepper to taste
Instructions:
Preheat the air fryer.
Season Salmon:
Season the salmon fillets with salt on both sides. Optionally, add black pepper.
Squeeze the juice from half a lemon over all the fillets.
Cook Salmon:
Place the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket.
Reduce the heat to 350°F (176°C) and cook for 8 minutes.
Prepare Garlic Lemon Butter Sauce:
While the salmon is cooking, melt the butter in a small pan over medium heat.
Add the minced garlic, lemon juice, and chopped parsley to the melted butter.
Season the sauce with salt and pepper to taste.
Keep the sauce warm until ready to serve.
Serve:
Remove the salmon fillets from the air fryer and place them on a plate.
Pour the warm garlic lemon butter sauce over each fillet.
Serve immediately.
Nutritional Breakdown (Whole Recipe)
Calories: Approximately 950 kcal
Protein: 75g
Carbohydrates: 7g
Fiber: 2g
Sugars: 3g
Fat: 68g
Saturated Fat: 35g
Cholesterol: 300mg
Sodium: 480mg (varies with the amount of salt used)
Potassium: 1350mg
This nutritional breakdown is for the entire recipe. If you divide it into three servings, each serving would have about 317 calories, 25g protein, 23g fat, and 2.3g carbohydrates. The values can vary slightly depending on the exact size of the salmon fillets and the amount of butter used.