How long to cook salmon in a airfryer

Air fryer salmon comes out so tender on the inside and perfectly crisped up on the outside. Plus, we’re serving our air fryer salmon recipe with our homemade salmon seasoning!

Delicious Air Fryer Salmon

Dinner in 15 minutes? Yes, please! This air fryer salmon is a quick-and-easy weeknight meal packed with omega-3 fatty acids and protein.

Air fried salmon comes our perfectly cooked every time — I mean flakey goodness on the inside and crisped-up skin on the outside.

Serve this delicious main with your favorite sides such as steamed broccoli, a baked potato, or air fryer Brussels sprouts.

The air fryer is definitely my new favorite way to cook up salmon and here’s why.

Featured Ingredients

Our air fryer salmon recipe calls for about 1.5 lbs. salmon. You can buy them pre-portioned (like we do) or you can buy a large filet from your grocery store and slice them yourself.

We find that by cooking salmon portions, it cooks faster and more evenly than cooking an entire salmon filet.

Our all-time favorite salmon is Surrender Salmon. They catch wild-Alaskan salmon off of Bristol Bay in Alaska. The salmon is bright orange, so flakey and delicious, and truly the best.

Surrender Salmon is a family-run company based here in Minneapolis and they are good friends of ours! Support a local business if you can.

For this recipe, in particular, we’re using a homemade salmon seasoning (AKA dry rub). We love how crispy the outside gets with a salmon seasoning, but you can always use a salmon marinade as well.

What you need for our salmon seasoning:

• Paprika
• Garlic powder
• Brown sugar
• Salt
• Thyme
• Mustard powder
• Black pepper

Homemade

Salmon Seasoning

This all-purpose salmon seasoning is so delicious on any kind of salmon! Make a batch and store it in your pantry for later.

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Olive oil

We’re using olive oil to make sure the salmon doesn’t stick to the air fryer basket, but you can also try nonstick cooking spray.

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Top Tips for Salmon in Air Fryer

How to Cook Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer

Like our air fryer chicken wings tutorial, you can cook salmon from frozen in the air fryer. Essentially the way it works is that you first defrost the salmon in the air fryer and then cook it as directed.

So, before beginning our recipe, place frozen salmon portions skin-side down on the air fryer basket. Cook at 400ºF for 7-9 minutes, or until defrosted.

Then, follow our recipe as directed.

So, if you’re wondering how long you should cook salmon in the air fryer, the answer is:

• From fresh: 7-8 minutes
• From frozen: 14-16 minutes

How long should I leave my salmon in the air fryer?

Do you have to flip salmon in the air fryer?

You do not have to flip salmon over in the air fryer because it circulates air to cook your food perfectly on both sides.

What temperature should salmon be in an air fryer?

Cook your salmon in the air fryer at 400ºF for around 7-8 minutes.

How do you know when salmon is finished?

You know when salmon is finished because it is a pale pink color, firm to touch, and flakey. You can also use a meat thermometer. The internal temperature should read at least 125ºF.

Can you put aluminum foil in the air fryer?

The answer is yes, but do we recommend it? No. The reason why air fryers cook food so perfectly is because of circulation. If you line your air fryer with tin foil, you are blocking the airflow and things won’t cook properly.

Can you cook frozen salmon in air fryer?

You can essentially defrost your salmon in the air fryer and then cook it. So, yes!

Store leftover air fryer salmon in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3-4 days.

Leftover Salmon Ideas

Got leftover salmon? Here are some quick and easy ways to use it up!

• Salmon Patties
• Salmon and Egg Scramble
• Salmon Salad
• Fiesta Salmon Rice Bowl
• Salmon Stuffed Avocados
• Smoked Salmon Breakfast Frittats

Salmon Seasoning

• 1 tablespoon paprika
• 1.5 tablespoons garlic powder
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 2 teaspoons kosher salt
• 1 tablespoon dried thyme
• 1 teaspoon mustard powder
• 1 teaspoon black pepper

Air Fryer Salmon

• 1.5 lbs. salmon filet sliced into 4 salmon steaks
• 1 tablespoon salmon seasoning
• 1 tablespoon olive oil

• First, combine all of the ingredients for the salmon seasoning. Mix to combine. Set aside. Note that you will have leftover salmon seasoning, so make sure to transfer the leftovers into a jar for later.

• Preheat the air fryer to 400ºF. Spray the air fryer basket with non-stick cooking spray.

• Pat the salmon steaks with a paper towel to remove moisture and then sprinkle steaks with 1 tablespoon of salmon seasoning. Be sure each steak is coated in seasoning (don’t worry about getting any of the seasoning on the skin). 

• Place the salmon skin-side down in the air fryer. Drizzle the salmon with the remaining olive oil. Be sure the salmon steaks are not overcrowded or touching (two batches may be needed depending on the size of the air fryer). 

• Cook the salmon for 7-8 minutes at 400ºF. 

• Use a fork to test to see if the salmon is done. If that salmon flakes apart easily, remove it from the air fryer. If the salmon is not done, cook it for 1-minute increments until it is done cooking. 

• Let the salmon rest for 5 minutes and enjoy. 

• Want to cook from frozen? Place frozen salmon portions skin-side down onto your air fryer basket. Cook at 400ºF for 7-9 minutes to defrost. Then, follow the recipe as directed.
• The salmon seasoning becomes a delicious thin crust on the outside of the salmon. It creates a blackened look so don’t be worried if it looks burnt. 

Calories: 322kcalCarbohydrates: 4gProtein: 48gFat: 12gFiber: 1gSugar: 2g

Photography: photos taken in this post are by Erin from The Wooden Skillet.