Air Fryer Salmon

Meet your new, go-to, ready-in-under-10-minutes weeknight dinner: air fryer salmon! This dish is so simple to prepare, yet has all of the flavor and presentation of a fancy meal. An air fryer is a convenient countertop tool that has made cooking some of our favorite meals faster, cleaner, and easier to make, with a lot less oil! It’s also the perfect way to prepare salmon for a small dinner for two. Serve with steamed rice and your favorite vegetable side, and you're set for a tasty, healthy meal.

What is the best cooking method for salmon?

From baked to grilled, to coated with honey and soy, there are multiple ways to cook salmon. The air fryer is one of the easiest! It preheats in minutes and its circulating air cooks the salmon quickly and evenly. 

What is the best air fryer temperature for salmon?

With other cooking methods, like baking, salmon turns out decadently moist when it's cooked low and slow. But that's not the case when it comes to air frying. It's best to cook salmon at a high temperature, such as 400 degrees to achieve salmon that is flaky and tender, with a slight crust on top from the higher heat. If you air fry it at a lower temperature for longer, that tasty caramelization on top doesn't form.

How long do you cook salmon in the air fryer?

You can count on two, six-ounce fillets taking about 8 minutes to cook to medium rare (about 135 degrees). If you prefer salmon that is cooked more well done, add another 2 to 4 minutes to the cook time. 

Do you put the salmon skin up or down when air frying?

Place the fillets skin side down in an air fryer basket that has been sprayed with nonstick spray. You can cook them all of the way through like this, or flip them halfway through to create crispy skin. 

Can you put aluminum foil in an air fryer?

Yes—aluminum foil is fine to use in an air fryer. If you like, line the basket with the foil, then spray with nonstick cooking spray, so the fillets are easy to remove. This helps to contain some of the oil that the salmon omits when cooking and makes clean up easy.