Americans eat more salmon than any other fish — and honestly, it’s hard to argue with their taste. It’s delicious, packed with nutrients, and, thanks to the air fryer, now borderline effortless to cook. While the battle over farmed vs wild-caught continues, most dietitians agree this is one of the healthiest proteins you can put on your plate.
The one problem? Cooking salmon on the stovetop makes a serious stink, but I found an easier way with almost no cleanup and far less of a residual fish smell.
The air fryer built its reputation on wings and fries, but it’s more than a one-trick appliance. It handles salmon, tuna, and just about any fish you throw at it with speed, minimal mess, and — perhaps most importantly — without fumigating your entire kitchen. No splatter, no lingering smell, no regrets.
This 10-minute method will crisp the outside, while the inside cooks to a tender medium-rare. And you don’t have to preheat the big oven, which takes more than twice as long as an air fryer does.
For busy nights when I need something affordable, healthy and quick, this air fryer salmon is an easy decision. You can also play with the recipe, mixing and matching sauces, seasoning and sides until you find a flavor that fits your taste. Salmon tacos are a particular favorite in this house.
Here’s how to make a perfect filet every time. And for more, see our favorite places to order salmon online and the best air fryers we tested. If you’re wondering how these trendy and efficient countertop cookers work and which model is best, read my complete guide to air fryers.
Ingredients for air fryer salmon
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 green onion, diced
- Salmon filet
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Parchment paper (optional)
Read more: Best BBQ Sauces
Directions for air fryer salmon
- Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F on either “air fry” or “roast.”
- Step 2: Whisk together olive oil, brown sugar, soy sauce and green onion.
- Step 3: Pat the salmon filet dry and place it in the air fryer on a parchment-lined tray (paper optional).
- Step 4: Pour the soy sauce mixture over the salmon and brush to coat completely.
- Step 5: Close the basket and cook for about 8 minutes, checking with a fork or an internal probe for doneness (cook a minute or two more if you prefer your salmon medium-well or well done).
The air fryer is my go-to for roasted chicken, replacing my slow and dirty dish-heavy oven recipe. I recently learned to make juicy air fryer cheeseburgers and sizzle bacon in less than 10 minutes and without dirtying a skillet or sheet pan.
Air fryers are incredibly convenient and can do many of the same jobs that an oven can. They only take a couple of minutes to preheat, contain many of the cooking messes you’d otherwise have to spend time cleaning up and are overall more energy-efficient cooking appliances.
When you’re planning to cook meals with an air fryer, you need to make sure you have enough space inside of your appliance for the food you want to cook. Many air fryers can accommodate for a single person’s serving size, but you’ll likely have to run the air fryer multiple times to make enough food for your whole family.
Yes, you can. The air fryer functions just like a convection oven, making it suitable for baking cookies, brownies and more.
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