Is this salmon recipe healthy?

Salmon is part of a healthy balanced diet, especially if you purchase wild-caught salmon. Salmon is considered a fatty fish because it is rich in omega-3 fatty acids. See my entire clean eating food list for everything you need to buy for healthy eating and great recipes.

What temperature should cooked salmon be?

Fish is considered fully cooked when its internal temperature reaches 145 degrees Fahrenheit. Use a meat thermometer or an instant-read thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the salmon to be sure.

Can you put aluminum foil in the air fryer?

You can put foil in most air fryers, but you should read the instruction manual since there are so many different types and brands of air fryers. Also, for this recipe, you don't really need foil since there will be very little excess oil.

How do you add flavor to salmon?

There are so many flavorful salmon recipes out there. This recipe gives flavor to the salmon from the garlic powder, salt, pepper, and fresh lemon.

Can I cook the salmon fillets from frozen?

Yes, but you'll need to increase the cooking time from 7 minutes to 14 minutes. Flip the salmon once during the cooking process and use a thermometer to ensure the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F before serving.

How to Make Salmon in Air Fryer

Name: Air Fryer Baked Salmon (Cooked From Fresh)
Prep time: 10 min
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 17 min
Yield: 2
Cuisine: Healthy
Ingredients: 2 wild-caught salmon pieces, about 6 ounces each (most air fryers can fit up to 3-4 salmon fillets); ½ teaspoon olive oil or avocado oil; ¼ teaspoon garlic powder; ¼ teaspoon sea salt; ¼ teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper; Nonstick cooking spray; 1 lemon, sliced (optional, for serving)

Ingredients

Scale

2 wild-caught salmon pieces, about 6 ounces each (most air fryers can fit up to 3–4 salmon fillets)
1/2 teaspoon olive oil or avocado oil
1/4 teaspoon garlic powder
1/4 teaspoon sea salt
1/4 teaspoon freshly-ground black pepper
Nonstick cooking spray
1 lemon, sliced (optional, for serving)

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Instructions

Preheat your air fryer to 400°F.
Remove the salmon fillets from any packaging and place them in a shallow dish. Pat both sides dry with a paper towel.
Then, use a brush to lightly coat the tops of the salmon with the oil. Sprinkle each filet with the garlic powder, salt, and pepper. Repeat on the other side.
Spray the air fryer basket with nonstick cooking spray and place the salmon (skin side down) in the basket. Set the time to 7 minutes.
When the cooking time is up, remove the salmon from the basket and serve hot.

Notes

Not all air fryers require pre-heating. Check the manufacturers’ guide to see if your model of air fryer needs to be preheated.
If you want to be sure that the salmon is cooked through, you can use an instant-read thermometer. The internal temperature should read 145°F.
You can double or triple this recipe depending on how big your air fryer is. Try to keep the salmon fillets from overlapping too much while cooking to ensure they get cooked evenly.
If your salmon fillets are thicker than 1 1/2-inches, increase the cooking time to 10 minutes. If they are thicker than 2 inches, increase the cook time to 12-14 minutes.
You can cook the salmon from frozen, but you’ll need to increase the cooking time from 7 minutes to 14 minutes. Flip the salmon once during the cooking process and use a thermometer to ensure the salmon reaches an internal temperature of 145 degrees F before serving.
Store any leftover salmon in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days.

Author: Carrie Forrest, MPH in Nutrition
Prep Time: 10 minutes
Cook Time: 7 minutes
Category: Fish
Method: Air fryer
Cuisine: Healthy
Diet: Gluten Free

Nutrition

Serving Size: 1 piece of salmon
Calories: 128
Sugar: 0.6 g
Sodium: 357.4 mg
Fat: 5.2 g
Saturated Fat: 0.9 g
Carbohydrates: 1.9 g
Fiber: 0.1 g
Protein: 19.1 g
Cholesterol: 43.4 mg