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Learn how to cook Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer * for a delicious, flavor packed, quick & easy dinner. The salmon comes out perfectly cooked with lots of lemon flavor, and tastes as good as when cooked from fresh.
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Salmon is a true staple in my house, and 9 times out of 10 I use it to make my lemon pepper salmon recipe. So of course I had to test this out in my air fryer *, with frozen salmon.
And you know what? It's JUST AS GOOD. Not sure how it's even possible, but this salmon comes out perfectly cooked and with so much flavor. If I didn't know it, I'd never believe it was cooked straight from frozen!
Delicious served with a potato side, creamy rice, or a side of air fryer broccoli.
Why you will love this recipe
- It's the best way to cook frozen salmon
- No need to thaw, so it's a great last-minute meal
- Quicker than cooking it stove top or in the oven
- Flavor packed with lots of yummy lemon flavors
What you need to make it
Ingredient notes & substitutions
- Frozen salmon - I recommend individually frozen salmon fillets for this recipe, for the most even cook. It can be with or without skin.
- Lemon pepper adds amazing flavor, but if you can't find it you can swap it for a mix of black pepper, salt and a touch of onion powder - or another seasoning of your choice
- Lemon juice should be fresh squeezed
- Olive oil can be swapped for a neutral cooking oil, or a spritz of cooking spray
Does frozen salmon taste as good as fresh salmon?
It's almost always the case that fresh food does have an edge over frozen food, both when it comes to taste and texture. But salmon is one of those foods where the benefit of the fresh version is very slight.
I almost never buy fresh salmon, because the small benefit of the taste & texture of fresh salmon really doesn't make up for the difference in price.
How to make it
- Place the frozen salmon fillet in a preheated air fryer * basket
- Air fry 5 minutes at 360°F (180°C), until thawed
- Brush with olive oil on all sides
- Pour over lemon juice
- Season with lemon pepper
- Air fry 4 minutes at 190°F (200°C), then flip the salmon and air fry 4 minutes more, until cooked through
How to know when salmon is done cooking
The best way to know when the salmon is done, is by using a meat thermometer *. The US FDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C), which will make it cooked all the way through, but some people prefer it to not be cooked fully in the middle.
If you do not have a thermometer, you need to cut into the salmon to check for doneness. It's done when it's flaky and opaque, and light pink in color.
Tips & tricks
- Preheat the air fryer * for best results
- Don't defrost the salmon, cook it straight from frozen
- Don't overcrowd your air fryer * basket - if cooking multiple fillets, make sure there is still room for the air to circulate
- Thaw in the air fryer * before seasoning to allow for the flavors to actually stick to the fish
- Use a thermometer to check for doneness to avoid overcooking
- Adjust cook time depending on the size of the fillets
- Cook time can vary with different air fryers
- Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days
- Reheat leftovers in the air fry for a few minutes at 360°F (180°C), until heated through
Recipe FAQ
For more answers to your Air Fryer * questions, check out my extensive Air Fryer FAQ.
Yes, you can air fry salmon straight from frozen.
Individual frozen salmon fillets will require 12-14 minutes in the air fryer, or more or less if they are very large or very small.
Whole salmon fillets will require 14-18 minutes, depending on size and your air fryer.
I recommend air frying frozen salmon at 360°F (180°C) to thaw, and after seasoning raising the temperature to 390°F (200°C).
If the salmon has the skin on, it's best to leave it there for cooking. Season only the skin-less side, cook skin-side down, and don't flip the salmon while cooking.
More quick & easy air fryer recipes
Looking for more guides to air frying frozen food?
- Air Fryer Frozen Veggie Burgers
- Frozen Jalapeño Poppers in Air Fryer
- How to Cook Frozen Waffle Fries in Air Fryer
- Air Fryer Frozen Onion Rings
- Frozen Fried Chicken in Air Fryer
Did you love this recipe? Rate it five stars!
...and let me know what you loved about it in the comments.
Recipe
Frozen Salmon in Air Fryer
Print RateIngredients
- 1 frozen salmon fillet
- 1 teaspoon olive oil
- 2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice
- 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
Instructions
- Preheat air fryer by running it at 360°F (180°C) for 5 minutes.
- Place the frozen salmon fillet in the air fryer basket and air fry 5 minutes at 360°F (180°C) to thaw.1 frozen salmon fillet
- When thawed, brush the salmon fillet with olive oil on all sides. Then season one side with half the lemon juice and lemon pepper, before flipping it and seasoning the other side with the rest.1 teaspoon olive oil, 2 teaspoon fresh lemon juice, 1 teaspoon lemon pepper
- Air fry 4 minutes at 390°F (200°C), then flip the salmon and air fry 4 more minutes, until cooked through.
Equipment needed for this recipe
Video
Notes
Ingredient notes & substitutions
- Frozen salmon - I recommend individually frozen salmon fillets for this recipe, for the most even cook. It can be with or without skin.
- Lemon pepper adds amazing flavor, but if you can't find it you can swap it for a mix of black pepper, salt and a touch of onion powder - or another seasoning of your choice
- Lemon juice should be fresh squeezed
- Olive oil can be swapped for a neutral cooking oil, or a spritz of cooking spray
Tips & tricks
- Don't defrost the salmon, cook it straight from frozen
- Don't overcrowd your air fryer * basket - if cooking multiple fillets, make sure there is still room for the air to circulate around them
- Thaw in the air fryer * before seasoning to allow for the flavors to actually stick to the fish
- Use a thermometer to check for doneness to avoid overcooking, salmon is fully cooked when the internal temp is at 145°F (63°C)
- If cooking skin-on salmon - season only the skin-less side and air fry skin-side down, without flipping it while cooking
- Adjust cook time depending on the size of the fillets
- Cook time can vary with different air fryers
- Store any leftovers in the fridge in an airtight container for up to 3 days
- Reheat leftovers in the air fry for a few minutes at 360°F (180°C), until heated through
Nutrition
Nutritional information is approximate and automatically calculated, and should only be viewed as an indication.
Ruben
So glad to find a recipe to cook frozen salmon in an air fryer for a last minute dinner! Turned out great: well cooked in the center and crispy on the outside plus super flavorful