As delicious as salmon is, sometimes you just can't finish it in one go. Fortunately, this marvelous fish is incredibly versatile, even when it’s no longer fresh from the market.
With the right cooking methods and ingredients, you can make the most of your days-old salmon and waste less food. Check out our list of leftover salmon recipes for quick and easy ways to reinvent this delectable fish.
How Long Is Leftover Salmon Good for?
Prior to cooking, if the salmon is in good condition with no signs of spoiling (foul smell, dull skin, discoloration), it should last in the fridge for 3 - 4 days. If your leftover salmon is from the restaurant, narrow it down to 2 days since you don’t know how fresh the meat is.
In the freezer, its shelf life might be extended indefinitely, according to the USDA. However, it’s recommended that you eat the fish within the first 3 months before the flavor and texture qualities decrease.
Check out Our Most Popular Leftover Salmon Recipes
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Salmon Croquette Recipe
Requiring just 20 minutes prep time, these Salmon Croquettes are our go-to choice for a quick high-protein meal. The best part is you can enjoy these with buns to make fancy burgers, or bread for a unique sandwich. Don’t skip the sour cream and garlic sauce for a much-needed flavor kick.
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Blackened Salmon Tacos Recipe
With these Blackened Salmon Tacos, everyone will look forward to Taco Tuesday. Few things are better than flaky, shredded, Cajun-seasoned fish wedged between a crispy tortilla. Add a sweet mango salsa. some sour cream sauce, and some chopped jalapeno and your taste buds will thank you for it.
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Salmon Dip Recipe
This Salmon Dip is not only seriously satisfying, but will make you serve it on repeat. And no one would complain! Who doesn’t love a rich, creamy seafood dip spread on a slice of toasted bread? Or, served with fresh, crispy celery, cucumber, and carrots. Sounds to us like the ultimate party snack.
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Salmon Burger Recipe
Who needs fast food when you have a Salmon Burger that’s so good you’ll forget it’s healthy? Everything you want in a tantalizing, guilt-inducing meal is packed into each of these chunky patties, but with significantly more nutrients. What’s more, all this on a budget that will keep you from overspending.
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Salmon Tacos Recipe
With these Blackened Salmon Tacos, everyone will look forward to Taco Tuesday. Few things are better than flaky, shredded, Cajun-seasoned fish wedged between a crispy tortilla. Add a sweet mango salsa. some sour cream sauce, and some chopped jalapeno and your taste buds will thank you for it.
Get the recipe.
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Lomi Lomi Salmon Recipe
When it comes to easy meals, this Lomi Lomi Salmom is the one you’ll reach for. Cured, not cooked, this seafood special is worth the 8-hour wait. Once the salmon has rested in a salt and sugar mix, dip it in lime juice and serve with a quick tomato, onion, and cashew mix for a fresh Hawaiian salad.
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Salmon Pasta Recipe
Salmon Pasta is so simple that it’s impossible to mess up. Seriously, everything is cooked in one pot and ready in 30 minutes - it doesn’t get easier than that! The dish is also a godsend for pasta and seafood aficionados, blending the two groups with a creamy chicken broth that seals in the flavors beautifully.
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Salmon Salad Recipe
This Salmon Salad is so texture-rich and tasty you’ll want to eat it all week long. Salmon, by itself, is easily enjoyable, and including it in a salad is a simplistic way to make its flavors shine through. Here we added lettuce, tomatoes, cucumbers, and radish to accompany salmon with crunchy textures that complement it flawlessly.
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Salmon Casserole Recipe
It’s been a while since you brought the family together with a tried and tested meal, and this Salmon Casserole will help correct that. Be warned, though, this is not your dose of typical seafood delicacy. It’s much more than that. A rustic replacement for your weekly comfort food that you’ll never tire of.
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Salmon Soup Recipe
This Salmon Soup is ideal for those cold winter days. However, there’s no need to limit it to just one season. Ask anyone whose sought solace in a bowl of comfort food - it knows no timely restrictions. And with plump salmon chunks and cubed potatoes swimming in each spoonful, who’d get enough of it?
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Salmon Patties With Cornmeal Recipe
Salmon Patties With Cornmeal are low-carb, high-protein, and omega-3 rich. Whether you’re looking for the perfect burger filling, or a post-workout snack, these patties will do the trick. And don’t let the crispy exterior fool you, these patties are juicy and buttery and served with a simple mayonnaise and ketchup dip that makes the experience so smooth.
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Salmon Loaf Recipe
This Salmon Loaf takes a more rustic approach to the ocean delicacy. Perfect for cookouts and parties, it’s the go-to recipe for whipping up a quick batch. It’s tender, it’s aromatic, plus, you won’t be late to the party - the dish is ready in less than an hour!
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Salmon Fried Rice Recipe
We think pretty much any occasion calls for this Salmon Fried Rice. Just because everything is heaped and cooked in one pan and has an effortless appeal to it doesn’t mean it’ll be a sloppy meal. So don’t go gorging on it alone while you hide in your room. This’ll be a darn good meal that everyone else will want to dig into.
Get the recipe.How to Store Leftover Salmon
Proper storage ensures the leftover salmon lasts longer and maintains its overall quality. Here are the basics on how to store this cooked fish in the fridge and freezer.
- In the Fridge
Place the salmon in an airtight container or tightly wrap and seal it in plastic wrap. Use a sharpie to write down the best-by date so you can eat it before it goes bad.
- In the Freezer
Tightly wrap the fish in plastic wrap, then wrap again in aluminum foil or a freezer bag. Make sure the leftover salmon is completely cool before wrapping it to avoid moisture condensation.
Similar to the fridge, you should label the package with its best-by date and the dish’s name. Don’t forget to check on the fish every once in a while to ensure the wrapping is still intact and the fish hasn’t gone bad.
How to Thaw and Reheat Leftover Salmon
The preparation for leftover salmon is quite important as the wrong techniques can lead to the meat being overly dry and delicate. This section highlights some crucial steps to thawing and reheating.
- Thawing Salmon
If your salmon is frozen, you need to thaw it first by transferring it to the fridge and leaving it there for a minimum of 6 hours and a maximum of 1 day. Pat the excess moisture dry with a paper towel before you reheat it.
- Reheating Salmon
You can reheat salmon in the oven at 275°F for around 15 minutes. Days-old salmon is likely dried out somewhat, so you should loosen it by drizzling some olive oil or lemon juice over the fish’s surface. Lightly wrapping it in baking foil also helps to prevent the fish from drying out even more.
Other ways to reheat leftover salmon include using the air fryer and microwave. These methods are simpler but more prone to overcooking, so you need to be careful.
What to Do With Leftover Salmon
There’s a lot more to leftover salmon than simple reheating. Here are some suggestions that can transform the fish and make it taste almost as good as the fresh kind.
- Soup
Flake the salmon and add it to your soup, stew, or chowder. It will add a tender flavor and soft texture, making your soup much more comforting and filling.
- Baked Dishes
Casserole, quiche, soufflé, etc., are some baked dishes you can make using leftover salmon. They come together in a flash using mostly pantry staples; absolutely ideal for when you want a decent meal made with little effort.
- Fried Dishes
Frying leftover salmon is a good way to mask any inconsistency in texture and changes in flavors that it may have. Salmon itself is quite versatile, so there are numerous dishes you can make, such as fried rice, burger patties, pasta, scrambled eggs, and many more.
- Salad
Salad is a great choice when you don’t want to reheat or cook the salmon. If you don’t know where to start, you can use it in any recipe where tuna normally goes. Cold leftover salmon blends marvelously in a bowl of veggies drenched in dressing.
- Spread and Dip
If your salmon becomes a bit mushy after being stored for too long, turning it into a dip or spread is not a bad idea. It can be thoroughly blended into a creamy mixture where its flavor still has a chance to shine.
Salmon’s versatility has proven to have no limit. From brand new dishes to second-day meals, it’s a good fit for almost any recipe. If you’ve been having doubts about reusing salmon, let our leftover salmon recipes list change your mind and help you bring new life to old dishes.
A writer and entrepreneur, Luna’s day doesn’t start at the computer keyboard, but in the kitchen.
Half of her working hours are spent on mixing ingredients for her recipes. The other half involve working with the tech team to research and test the tools and appliances that promise to make kitchen work effortless and mess-free. From a kitchen knife or water filter to the Instant Pot, if it can help save time and effort for the home cook, Luna and her team are on it.
Luna’s extracurricular pastimes include camping, travel, and photography.