How to Make the Best Air Fryer Salmon
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Air Fryer Salmon with Ginger and Miso. Recipe and photo by Ashley Strickland Freeman.
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Air frying is one of my go-to methods for making dinner in a dash on busy weeknights, and my air fryer salmon recipe is one the whole family loves. The sweet and savory miso sauce caramelizes on top of the salmon fillets as they cook and creates the most gorgeous glaze.
With just a few minutes prep time, no marinade, and a cook time of less than 10 minutes, this dish comes together in a snap. And the salmon comes out moist and perfectly cooked every time. Even better, it tastes like something you’d get at a fancy restaurant.
So yes, this weeknight dinner doubles as the best salmon to make for entertaining. Your guests are sure to be impressed, and they’ll never know how easy it is to make!
But besides being super simple, tasty, and impressive? What I might love most about cooking salmon in an air fryer is that cleanup is a breeze. Make the recipe and see for yourself!
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How to cook salmon in an air fryer >>
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Salmon with Ginger and Miso >>
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Air fryer salmon Q & A
New to air fryer cooking? Start here.
What’s the best air fryer to use for this recipe?
There are so many different air fryer models out there, and it can be confusing if you’re in the market for one. My air fryer has a wide air fryer basket with lots of surface area so the salmon and other foods I cook can be spread out in a single layer. This promotes even baking and airflow circulation for best results.
What temperature to cook salmon in an air fryer
With my recipe tests I determined that 400°F is the best temperature to cook salmon in the air fryer. The higher temperature lets the miso glaze caramelize while cooking the salmon to perfection without drying it out.
Can you use frozen salmon?
I prefer to use fresh salmon fillets for this recipe, but you certainly can use frozen salmon, which is a great product. Just be sure that it’s fully thawed before air frying.
How to cook salmon in an air fryer without making a mess
For easy clean-up, line the bottom of the air fryer with aluminum foil and place the air fryer basket on top. That way, as the salmon cooks, any sauce that drips through the holes will be caught by the foil. As a bonus, as the fish cooks, the air fryer captures the aromas.
Should salmon be air-fried skin side up or down?
Definitely skin side down. The skin helps prevent the salmon from sticking to the air fryer basket and it gets crispy that way too. Cooking with the skin on also keeps the salmon moist.
How long to cook salmon in an air fryer
This depends a bit on the thickness of the salmon. For this recipe, I tested with 1-inch salmon fillets and cooked them 8 to 10 minutes. To test doneness, I like to insert the tip of a knife in the thickest part of the salmon to check that it’s no longer translucent and that it flakes easily. On a meat thermometer or instant-read thermometer, the internal temperature is about 125°F.
How to store leftover salmon
If you have any leftovers, place the salmon fillets in an airtight container and refrigerate for up to 2 days.
How to reheat salmon in an air fryer
To reheat the salmon using your air fryer, preheat the air fryer to 300°F. (Don’t forget to line the bottom of the air fryer with aluminum foil.) Coat the air fryer basket with cooking spray and place the salmon skin side down in the air fryer basket. Air fry salmon for 5 minutes, or until the fish is hot in the center.
What to serve with air fryer salmon
Just add a couple of side dishes like steamed rice and your favorite veggies and you’re good to go. I love to serve steamed baby bok choy with my air fryer salmon recipe, but sauteed Brussels sprouts or even air fryer asparagus would be great too.
How to cook salmon in an air fryer
Now that we’ve addressed some common questions, let’s cook my recipe!
1. Preheat the air fryer
Line the bottom of the air fryer (not the air fryer basket) with aluminum foil. Place the air fryer basket in the air fryer. Close the lid and program the air fryer to 400°F for 8 minutes. Preheat the air fryer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. (Mine beeps and says “add food” once it’s preheated.)
2. Brush salmon with miso sauce
Photo by Ashley Strickland Freeman
Stir together miso, honey, vinegar, ginger, and sesame oil in a small bowl. Place the salmon on a plate or tray with the skin side up and spray the salmon skin with cooking spray. (You want a high-heat cooking spray or oil, not olive oil.) Then turn the salmon over and brush with the miso sauce.
3. Air fry the salmon
Photo by Ashley Strickland Freeman
Add the salmon to the air fryer basket, skin side down. If the fish won’t fit in a single layer, cook it in batches. Cook the salmon until it’s no longer translucent in the center and flakes easily when checked with a small knife, 8 to 10 minutes.
4. Serve it up
Transfer the salmon to a platter and sprinkle with green onions. Total time: 25 minutes!
Get the recipe: Air Fryer Salmon with Ginger and Miso
If you love salmon, then you’re going to want to make this air fryer salmon recipe. Miso paste, honey, rice vinegar, and ginger create a delicious umami glaze. As a bonus, the air fryer captures the fish aromas and makes cleanup a breeze.
Air Fryer Salmon with Ginger and Miso
So many ways to love salmon
Healthy, versatile, and delicious, salmon is America’s favorite fish for good reason — and you’re going to want a lot of salmon recipes at your fingertips. While you’ve got your air fryer out, here’s another favorite air fryer salmon recipe, this one with brown sugar, chili powder, black pepper, kosher salt, garlic powder, and paprika. (Or try smoked paprika!) Just add a squeeze of lemon juice. Explore lots more salmon dinner recipes in these next articles.