How to Air Fry Salmon Without Drying it Out

 

 

If you love to eat healthy and you like fancy meals instead of the typical chicken salad, you might be thinking of salmon. This delicious meat is packed with protein and has a rich taste and can be combined with all sorts of vegetables and carbs. But there’s nothing worse than eating a dry and mealy salmon fillet, so we’ll let you know the best way to air fry salmon without drying it out.

Preheat the air fryer

This is a very crucial tip not many people know about. If you want to air fry the perfect, juicy salmon fillet, you can start by prepping the air fryer and let it run a cycle so it’s hot when you place the fillets. If you were to cook your salmon in a skillet, you wouldn’t expect to throw it in without pre-heating! Run a cycle of 10 minutes so the air fryer is warm enough.

Cut your salmon fillets in even pieces

When you buy your salmon, make sure to pick pieces that still have the skin, and cut them in even pieces. Even though the cooking time is the same, the thickness can affect the result. Thicker pieces will take longer to cook, while the thinner ones will be ready earlier and end up drying out by the time you’re done. Picking salmon with skin will add a juicy extra layer that protects the meat from drying out.

Season correctly

The first ingredient you should spread olive oil across the surface of the salmon fillet, you can do it by hand, spray it or use a pastry brush. Next, you can pick your desired seasonings to top off and add flavor. If you’re not sure how to season your salmon, we recommend the basics: minced garlic, lemon zest, some parsley, a bit of lemon juice and, of course, salt and pepper to taste.

Pick the right temperature

Remember that, to protect the borders of the salmon, you should always place parchment paper at the bottom or the air fryer basket. You can also start by placing your fillet on the parchment paper and then lower it into the basket.

Don’t pick the highest temperature, and set the air fryer to 10 minutes to let the salmon cook. When the beeper goes off, open the basket and check the temperature using a thermometer. If the salmon is 135ºF, then your salmon is fully cooked. If you don’t have a thermometer, insert a fork and twist it, the salmon should flake with ease.

Serve it right away!

Probably the most important thing to do in order to avoid your salmon drying out is to remove it from the basket immediately, or the heat will keep cooking it. Transfer your fillet directly to a plate and take advantage of the “juice” and grease it leaves on the basket. You can even cook your side dish such as sweet potato fries. Salmon is best served fresh and hot!

Now that you know the optimal way to cook a salmon fillet using your air fryer, you’re ready to create balanced and delicious recipes!