How To Reheat Salmon

Salmon is a delicate fish with a distinct taste. It is delicious and tender when fresh. But if you are looking at reheating it the salmon usually ends up dry, burnt, or crumbly. If you don’t take the proper precautions, salmon ends up losing its taste and texture.

If you have salmon left over, here are a few great ways to reheat them that are efficient and easy.

How To Reheat Salmon in the Oven

As salmon is so delicate, it is best to heat it slowly over low heat so that the fish doesn’t burn or break apart. We want the salmon to be tender, flaky, evenly warmed, and still delicious. The oven comes close to delivering that.

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F.
2. Place the salmon in aluminum foil.
3. Dab some oil or butter on it and squeeze a little lemon juice on it.
4. You can sprinkle some water on top as well.
5. Cover the salmon in foil. Make sure the edges are sealed tight with no gaps.
6. Place the salmon in a baking tray and place it in the oven.
7. Heat the salmon for about 15 minutes.
8. Remove and serve immediately.

Quick tip:

• You can also add some water to the salmon before sealing it in foil, this traps the moisture and keeps the salmon from drying out.
• Slicing the salmon before popping it in the oven, speeds up the process.

The oven method gives you great results. The salmon comes out perfectly warmed and there is no compromise in texture as the salmon does not dry out. The oven also retains the flavor of the dish. If you are heating up a number of portions of salmon the oven is the way to go. But, keep in mind that it is time-consuming, and reheating salmon in the oven does require a fair bit of work.

How To Reheat Salmon in the Microwave

While this is not the ideal method for reheating salmon, it is quick and convenient and works in a pinch. I would not recommend reheating salmon in the microwave in large numbers or if you are hosting people as microwaved salmon doesn’t have the most appetizing texture.

1. Place the salmon in a microwave-safe dish.
2. Dab some butter or oil all over the salmon.
3. Cover the salmon in a damp paper towel.
4. Heat the salmon in 30-second intervals till you get the desired temperature. Flip the salmon every 30 seconds.

Quick tip:

• Reduce the intensity of the microwave, if possible, the lower the heat, the better.
• Wrapping the salmon in a damp towel prevents it from drying out by trapping the moisture.

One thing you are going to know right off the bat is that heating salmon in the microwave stinks. That’s one of the reasons it is not recommended. Microwaves heat up food on high heat and this can make the salmon chewy and rubbery. This is why you have to blitz it at short intervals.

It is also easy to dry out salmon in the microwave, so do not let it heat for long stretches.

While the salmon is warmed quickly, the texture comes out a little on the slimy side.

How To Reheat Salmon in the Air Fryer

This method is quick and mess-free and you get a crisp, warm filet of salmon with no extra work.

1. Preheat the air fryer to 360 degrees F.
2. Line the air fryer basket with parchment paper.
3. Place the salmon in the air fryer basket, with the skin side down.
4. Heat the salmon for 4-5 minutes.
5. Remove from the fryer and serve.

Quick tip:

• Lining the fryer basket keeps the salmon from sticking to the bottom and prevents flakes from falling into the fryer base.
• You can add some oil or butter to the salmon to keep it moist

The air fryer gives you a crispy salmon that is tasty and heated well. The whole process is straightforward and doesn’t take as long as the oven. Your salmon will be much crisper though.

But do keep in mind that it is easy for the salmon to burn in the air fryer so you need to keep a close watch.

How To Reheat Salmon in the Skillet

This is one of the best ways to reheat salmon as you can reheat the salmon just the way you want it. The results are most satisfying as you get a flavorsome salmon that is warmed evenly, with tender flesh and a slightly crisp skin.

1. Heat a skillet over medium heat.
2. Add a generous helping of butter or oil.
3. Once heated, add the salmon to the skillet.
4. Add a few tablespoons of water or broth to the skillet and cover it with a lid.
5. Bring the heat to low.
6. The salmon cooks in the steam and remains moist, while the heat from the pan crisps the skin.
7. The salmon takes about 5 minutes to warm through.
8. Take off the heat and serve.

Quick tip:

• If your salmon has any broth or liquid to it, you can add it to the pan instead of water.
• You can also keep the salmon on one side of the pan and the liquid on the other side so that the salmon gets heated by the steam without getting soggy.
• Always cook on low heat as it is easy to burn the salmon.

Salmon reheated on the skillet was the most flavorsome and the skin and texture don’t get compromised. The salmon remains tender, flaky, and delicate and retains much of the flavor. Just don’t leave the salmon on the skillet for too long, it will burn quickly.

How To Reheat Salmon by Steaming It

This is another great way to reheat salmon by keeping it moist and tender. Make sure you don’t get your salmon too wet and soggy.

1. Add a cup of water to your steamer and bring it to a gentle simmer.
2. Place your salmon in the steamer basket and cover it with the lid.
3. Let the salmon steam for about 3-5 minutes.
4. Remove from heat, dab with a paper towel to remove all the excess moisture and serve.

Quick tip:

• If you don’t have a steamer, you can use a pot of simmering water and place a colander or perforated plate or dish on top of the pot. Close with a lid that fits.
• You need to pat the salmon after steaming it to remove the excess moisture caused by the steam. Else you will end up with a soggy mess.
• This method works best for plain filets of salmon. If your salmon has a sauce or marinade on top, it will just get washed away during the steaming.

Steaming salmon keeps it juicy and moist and retains the flavor well. It is easy to over-steam the salmon if you are not careful, and it will get mushy or disintegrate.

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