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How Long Will Fresh Salmon Keep in the Fridge?

If you have some fresh salmon leftover after preparing your dinner, then you might be left wondering how long you will be able to keep it in the refrigerator before it goes bad. Thankfully, you can refrigerate salmon, but it may not last for as long as you had hoped.

Salmon is a type of fish that is often used for various different types of dishes, but if you have bought too much of it, then you will need to find the best way to store it in order to keep it fresh for as long as possible.

How Long Will Fresh Salmon Keep in the Fridge

In this article, we are going to tell you exactly how long you can keep fresh salmon in the fridge before it goes bad, so you can be on the safe side.

The last thing that you want is to get food poisoning, so it is really important to ensure you are storing your food correctly and for the right amount of time.

How Long Will Fresh Salmon Keep in the Fridge?

If you have fresh salmon leftovers, you will be glad to know that you can store them in the fridge for between 1 and 2 days. Unfortunately, fish has quite a short shelf life when it has been left at room temperature, and if it is left at room temperature for more than 2 hours, then it will go bad. 

This is why it is always a good idea to store your salmon in the refrigerator. For the best results, you should keep the salmon in its original packaging, as this will help to keep it fresher for longer.

You can find out how to store your fresh salmon in the refrigerator below.

How to Store Fresh Salmon?

If you want to be able to properly store salmon for 1 to 2 days, then you will need to store it in the refrigerator. Now all you need to know is when it is time to put salmon in the refrigerator, and when you could go ahead and freeze it. The only thing that you can’t do is leave it on the side at room temperature.

This is due to the fact that salmon will go off after around just 2 hours if it is left on the side. Fish, as well as meat, is one of the food groups that has quite a short shelf life.

This is why it is really important to avoid keeping fish at room temperature at all costs. Otherwise, bacteria will be able to grow very quickly, and on a food like fish, this bacteria will be able to multiply very quickly.

Although, if you want to store your fresh salmon for longer than a day or two, it is a good idea to put it in the freezer. However, the process of doing so is not as simple.

When you are putting fish in the freezer, you should use plastic wrap around the original packaging to keep it protected. Otherwise, you can put the salmon into freezer bags and then put it into the freezer.

If you store your salmon in the freezer, it will last for around 2 to 3 months.

When the salmon has been defrosted, you should always eat it on the same day, as it will go bad otherwise. Although, once the salmon has been cooked, the shelf life changes again. Cooked salmon can be kept in the refrigerator for between 3 and 4 days, whereas storing it in the freezer can make it last an extra 3 or 4 months.

You should also be aware of the fact that these shelf lives are in place if you want the best quality salmon. You can store it in the freezer for longer than this as long as it is being kept at a consistent temperature. The longer you freeze it, the lower the quality will become over time.

How to Defrost Frozen Salmon?

Another thing to keep in mind is that defrosting salmon is not as simple as taking it out of the freezer and putting it on the side to derost. You will need to ensure that the salmon is still fully enclosed in your chosen storage container or packaging before you leave it to defrost. 

One method of defrosting frozen salmon is to get a large container and fill it with cold water. You can then place your frozen salmon in the water while it is still in its sealed packaging.

It will only take around an hour for the salmon to defrost, but you can check on it after around 30 minutes. To do this, touch the salmon with your finger to find out if it is soft.

If you are trying to prepare a quick dinner or you are running low on time, you can also cook the salmon from frozen if you want to. To do this, you just need to be careful when you are cooking it because frozen salmon will take longer to cook than fresh salmon.

You will need to keep an eye on it to ensure that it is neither overcooked or undercooked.

You can then season the salmon as you desire and tuck in for a freshly cooked meal that you don’t have to spend hours preparing beforehand.

How Do I Know If My Salmon Has Gone Off?

There are a few different ways to tell if your salmon has gone off. The first way to tell is by checking the smell of the salmon. If it has its normal fishy smell, then it is probably fine to eat. On the other hand, if you notice a strong, sour, or stale smell, then your salmon has gone bad.

As well as this, if your salmon has been left at room temperature for more than 2 hours, then you should throw it away as it could be contaminated. It is likely to taste different than normal, and it is always a good idea to be on the safe side.

Jess Smith
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