Should You Wash Salmon Before Cooking?

When preparing food, it is usually necessary to wash it. You wash your vegetables, rice, even fruit before you eat it. But what about salmon? Should you wash your salmon before cooking?

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When it comes to meat, many people’s gut reaction is to rinse it in water, just like as is done with rice and vegetables; many view the cleaning process a vital part of preparation.

However, with salmon this is not necessary.

There is a misconception that washing your salmon with water will get rid of any germs and bacteria when in reality this does nothing. The water does not remove the bacteria but can make it worse.

The safest option is to continue cooking without rinsing your meat.

On the other hand, there are still those who believe rinsing their salmon is for the best. Whatever you choose to do is up to you however just know that washing salmon heightens the chances of cross contamination.

This applies to all salmon, including salmon steaks and salmon fillets.

Should You Wash Frozen Salmon?

Frozen salmon comes prewrapped in packaging. In this case, you should remove this packaging and then rinse the salmon with cool water to remove the layer of ice. When that is done you are free to cook your fish.

When it comes to rinsing your salmon with water, this is the only exception as it is necessary for the cooking process. It helps to remove the ice and makes the process efficient.

Washing Your Salmon With Lemon

If you decide to, instead of water try washing your salmon with lemon juice. Not only is this ideal for enhancing your fish’s flavor but it also works to clean the salmon too. Although it is not essential to clean your fish, it is not the end of the world if you choose this route.

We recommend lemon over water, however, as you will be guaranteed a gorgeous flavorsome meal by the end of it.

Salmon Misconceptions

Just like with washing salmon, there are many misconceptions when it comes to preparing and cooking this meat. There is a constant back and forth between what is right and what is wrong, so we have put together a helpful guide to get to the bottom of these debates.

Skin

When it comes to your salmon’s skin, you may not know whether this should be removed or kept on. There are those who enjoy consuming salmon with its skin however are also plenty of people who prefer the skin off.

If you are one of the latter, try leaving the skin on whilst you are cooking the salmon. By doing this you are retaining its moisture which will improve its overall taste.

Seasoning

It is easy enough knowing how to season your chicken but when it comes to fish it can be difficult to know where to start. You fear you are either over seasoning or under seasoning your salmon, so what is the right way to do this?

Although salmon naturally carries a sharp flavor, that is not to say that it cannot be seasoned. Glaze your salmon with olive oil before sprinkling your fish with salt (this works beautifully for its moisture) along with some herbs and spices.

Try not to overdo it with too many seasonings as “less is more” but do not be afraid to experiment with flavors.

Cooking Time

One of the more difficult areas is understanding the salmon’s cooking time. There are countless recipes online suggesting the best ways of cooking your salmon and plenty of them highlight the benefits of cooking it until it flakes.

This can be done but for the best quality salmon, try cooking until either side of your salmon is matte.

How To Tell If Your Salmon Has Gone Bad

As like with any foods, there is a chance your salmon can go bad. This can occur for various reasons such as your fish not being stored correctly or due to cross contamination.

But what are the signs that your salmon has gone bad?

Smell

Since salmon is fish, it can be hard to know whether what you are smelling is something rotten or just the smell of fish. Salmon should smell fresh, only holding a mild fish scent.

If, however, you are welcomed by an overpowering smell which is unpleasant to the nose, you are facing a salmon which has gone bad.

Color

Another noticeable sign is your salmon’s color. Salmon should be one of a fresh pink tone. If you see your salmon’s pink tone has faded and is dulling into a gray, you know then that this fish is ready to be thrown out.

Touch

Take your finger and touch the body of the salmon. What you should be feeling is a light pounce which shows life in the raw fish. If you do not feel that bounce then it is likely your salmon has gone bad.

Make sure that your salmon springs back up at your touch and does not sink under your finger’s weight.

Is It Sturdy?

This sign is linked similarly to touch for you need to press the salmon with your finger. Not only should your salmon spring back into place but it should stay solid and sturdy too.

If you press your finger into the salmon and it breaks apart under you weight, this is a bad sign.

Final Thoughts

The way salmon is cooked and prepared is up to the individual, however it is highly recommended that you avoid washing your fish. Many choose to wash their salmon due to misconceptions, believing doing so will get rid of unwanted bacteria.

In reality, however, washing your fish in water does nothing. Instead, you are heightening the chances of cross contamination.

For safe eating, leave your salmon fillet unwashed before preparing with plenty of seasoning to taste. If you want to add something extra, feel free to sprinkle some lemon juice on your salmon for that added flavor.

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Jess Smith

Hi, my name is Jess Smith, and I love cooking in my spare time. Around three years ago, I decided to give up my day job as a teacher to pursue my passion for food. While I have enjoyed sharing tips and tricks on Social Media, I have decided to expand my horizons through this blog.

Through this blog I hope to help others learn the basics and more intricate details of cooking. I know from personal experience how frustrating it can be to cook a meal, only to realize you are missing one ingredient from your list. This is why I love to write articles chatting readers through some great substitutes that can be used in an emergency.

I hope you will find this blog useful, and that it will help you to develop your culinary skills, to help you cook up a storm!