How to Reheat Salmon: The 4 Best Methods With Step-by-Step Instructions

Want to know how to reheat salmon properly?

In this article, you will get detailed step-by-step instructions showing you how to properly warm up leftover salmon using effective methods like:

• Oven
• Frying Pan
• Microwave
• Air Fryer

There are also a couple reheating tips that will prove to be extremely useful.

3 Tips to Know Before Reheating Leftover Salmon

Before we get into the how to guides, there are a couple important tips you should know when it comes to warming up leftover salmon.

1. Reheat Properly

It is extremely important that food is reheated properly, as this will kill harmful bacteria that may have grown while being stored in the refrigerator. This significantly reduces or eliminates the risk of food borne illness.

Salmon should always be reheated until it reaches an internal temperature of 135°F to 140°F or it is steaming hot.

2. Don’t Let It Dry it Out

Salmon is a very delicate fish to cook and the same care should be taken when reheating it.

One of the mistakes people make when warming up salmon is that they use a temperature that is too high. High temperatures can quickly remove the fish’s moisture, which results in salmon that is overcooked and dry.

3. Manage Expectations

The third and final tip is to manage your expectations of reheated salmon.

It will never taste exactly the same as when you first had it, even if all the reheating instructions are followed to the T.

Once you’re OK with that, then continue along to see the different reheating methods that can be used.

Best Way to Reheat Salmon: 4 Practical Methods

If you have leftover salmon that has been sitting in the refrigerator and you want to reheat it, there are 4 different methods you can use.

• Oven/Toaster Oven
• Frying Pan/Skillet
• Microwave
• Air Fryer

Let us take a detailed look at each reheating method below.

1. Oven/Toaster Oven

One of the best methods to use when reheating salmon is the oven/toaster oven as it evenly distributes heat, resulting in a perfectly warmed dish.

Once the right temperature and time is used, you will not have to worry about the fish being overcooked/dry or having a drastic change in texture.

Directions:

1. Preheat Oven: Preheat the oven to 275 degrees Fahrenheit (135 degrees Celsius).
   
   
2. Cover the Salmon: Take a sheet of aluminum foil and loosely cover the salmon, this will prevent it from drying out.
   
   
3. Place on Baking Sheet. Place the covered salmon on a baking sheet.
   
   
4. Reheat. Put the salmon in the oven and warm for 15 minutes. Once the internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit (63 degrees Celsius) or it is steaming hot, remove from the oven.
   
   
5. Cool and Serve. Allow the salmon to cool before serving.

2. Frying Pan

Reheating in the frying pan/skillet is a quick and easy method to reheat salmon if you do not have the time to wait on the oven.

Directions:

1. Heat Frying Pan/Skillet: Heat oil or butter in a frying pan/skillet over a media flame.
   
   
2. Reheat: Once the pan/skillet has been heated, you will now add the salmon. Reheat for 2-3 minutes on each side (depending on the thickness of the fish).
   
   
3. Paper Towels for Excess Oil. Place the salmon on a plate with paper towels to absorb any excess oil.
   
   
4. Cool and Serve. Let the fish cool before serving.
   
   

3. Microwave

If you need your leftover salmon reheated quickly, then the microwave will have everything reheated and ready to eat in a couple of minutes.

While the microwave is quick, there are a couple of negatives you need to be aware of.

Can Dry out the Fish: If the right setting is not chosen before reheating, you could end up with overcooked salmon as the high heat of the microwave can dry it out.

Use the

Creates a Fishy Smell: When the microwave is used to warm up leftover salmon, there is a chance that the room could be filled with an unpleasant fishy aroma.

To reduce the chance of this happening, it is best to reheat using a lower heat setting, in incremental time segments.

Directions

1. Prep: Place the leftover salmon in a microwave safe container/plate.
   
   
2. Set the Microwave: Use the reheat setting of  your microwave or use it 30 percent power.
   
   
3. Reheat. Microwave the leftover salmon for 30 seconds.
   
   
4. Check. After 30 seconds, check to see if the salmon has been reheated. If it is still a bit cold in some areas, reheat in 10-15 second increments until it is steaming hot.
   
   
5. Cool: Once the salmon has finished reheating, let it sit and cool for a couple of seconds before eating.

4. Air Fryer

If you own an air fryer, it is also a pretty good option to use if you quickly want to warm up leftover salmon.

While we love the air fryer because it reheats fried foods really well, for salmon, it can not only make it steaming hot, but can also give it a nice crispy texture.

1. Preheat Air Fryer: Preheat the fryer to 370 degrees Fahrenheit (188 degrees Celsius).
   
   
2. Brush with Olive: Brush the salmon with some olive oil, before placing it in the air fryer.
   
   
3. Reheat. Reheat for 4 minutes.
   
   
4. Cool & Serve. Once reheated, remove salmon, let it cool and then serve.

Wrapping it up

Now I’d like to hear from you.

Which method will you be using to reheat salmon going forward?

If you used one from the list, how did the salmon turn out are there any extra tips you would like to add?

Either way, you can leave a comment below and let me know.