Certain cooking methods necessitate thawing frozen salmon
before cooking. Learn more about safely thawing frozen salmon.
3 Methods for Thawing Frozen Salmon
There are three primary methods for thawing frozen
salmon:
Storage: Salmon must be kept cold to prevent bacterial growth, which
can lead to food poisoning.
Fill a large bowl halfway with cold water. Place the salmon
fillets in a resealable plastic bag and submerge it in cold water. To keep the
salmon from reaching room temperature, change the water every thirty minutes.
You can defrost salmon in hot water as well, but using cold water preserves the
texture of the fish and keeps it from entering the danger zone for microbial
growth (40 to 140 degrees Fahrenheit).
Refrigerator: Salmon can be defrosted in the refrigerator
overnight. This is the simplest method, but it requires planning ahead of time.
When thawing salmon in the refrigerator, keep it in a bowl or rimmed dish to
prevent the water from spilling onto other foods in your fridge.
Microwave: Microwave defrosting is the quickest way to
defrost salmon. To prevent splatters, place the salmon on a microwave-safe
plate and cover with paper towels or plastic wrap. Defrost the salmon in the
microwave for three to five minutes, depending on the size and thickness of the
filet. To ensure even defrosting, flip the salmon every thirty seconds. When
the salmon is bendable but still has a few ice crystals, remove it from the
microwave. Allow the salmon to thaw for a few minutes on a plate before
cooking.
Should you thaw frozen salmon before cooking it?
Some salmon cooking methods necessitate defrosting, while
others do not. When baking or poaching salmon, there is no need to defrost it
first because the lower heat ensures that the salmon cooks evenly. Cooking
frozen salmon on the grill or over high heat requires defrosting to ensure that
the outside and inside cook evenly, especially if you want to cook it skin-side
down for crispy skin. Furthermore, seasoning frozen salmon is difficult because
the seasonings do not adhere to the frozen fish.