Air Fryer Frozen Salmon

This method for Air Fryer Frozen Salmon shows you exactly how to cook a frozen salmon fillet in your air fryer or Ninja Foodi in just 15 minutes or less. There’s no excuse for getting healthy food on the table quickly when using this way to air fry frozen fish.

As a chef with a busy family, I cook lots of frozen foods in my air fryer. Doing this has drastically reduced the number of times we go out to eat because I really don’t have any excuse for getting healthy food on the table, even if I have such a small amount of time. 

Since we eat salmon once a week for those good Omega 3’s, I decided to experiment with cooking frozen salmon in air fryer. To be honest, the experiment was because it wasn’t thawed, but it worked!  

Cooking frozen salmon in the air fryer resulted in a salmon filet that was tender on the inside while being browned and crispy on the outside making it the perfect protein to serve with any side dish.

🥷🏻Ninja Foodi Frozen Salmon

The Ninja Foodi is a multifaceted kitchen appliance that combines the functionalities of several kitchen gadgets into one. It incorporates the capabilities of an air fryer, pressure cooker, slow cooker, and even a dehydrator, making it an all-in-one solution for quick and efficient meal prep. When using the Ninja Foodi to cook frozen salmon, you’ll need to use the air crisp or air fryer setting. This setting is perfect for achieving a crispy exterior and tender, flaky interior for frozen salmon. Depending on the recipe and the thickness of the salmon, you’ll generally want to use the air fryer function at a temperature between 350F and 400F, ensuring quick cooking that locks in flavor and nutrients. Always preheat the unit before adding the salmon for optimal results.

🐟What You’ll Need 

• Frozen Salmon Filet – I buy my salmon from Costco and cut it into 6oz filets for freezing to save money. You can also buy the frozen Atlantic salmon that are individually sealed for this recipe. 
• Simple Seasonings – Halfway through cooking time, I brush my salmon with avocado oil, garlic powder, salt and pepper, but you can use any seasonings or oil you like! 
• Air Fryer or Ninja Foodi – Any air fryer will work using this method. My favorite air fryer continues to be from the Ninja Foodi line. I use their multi-cooker and Ninja Foodi Grill, both of which have air frying capabilities.

📖 How To Air Fry Frozen Salmon Filet

1️⃣Prepare your air fryer. For this method, I not only preheat my air fryer to 400F, but I also lightly grease the air fryer basket with avocado oil. This helps keep the salmon from sticking as it thaws and then cooks. 

2️⃣Air fry the salmon filet. Place frozen salmon filets at the bottom of the air fryer basket and set the timer for 15 minutes. Halfway through, take a spatula and get under the salmon to release it and flip over. 

3️⃣Season the salmon. After it’s flipped, brush with a small amount of avocado oil, then add salt and pepper. Let it cook for 5-7 minutes more or until salmon is completely cooked through. 

4️⃣Remove and serve. Remove the cooked salmon using tongs or a spatula. Add a squeeze of lemon juice and serve hot with your favorite side dish. 

⏲Best Time and Temperature for Air Frying Frozen Salmon (Cooking Chart)

How long to cook frozen salmon in the air fryer will depend on the size and thickness of the salmon filet. I find the best results when cooking frozen salmon at 400 degrees. The chart below is an estimated cooking time. Add more or less time as needed until your salmon reaches the correct temperature.

Thickness	300F	350F	375F	400F
1-2 inch	20-25 minutes	18-22 minutes	15 minutes	15 minutes
½ inch	13-18 minutes	12-16 minutes	8-12 minutes	8-10 minutes
Skin on filet	15-20 minutes	13-18 minutes	12-16 minutes	10-12 minutes

👩🏻‍🍳Chef Val’s Cooking Tips and Variations

• Don’t skimp on seasoning! While frozen salmon is cooking, it’s absorbing the flavors you’ve added. Consider a dry rub of your favorite herbs and spices, or even a marinade, applied before freezing for an infusion of flavor.
• Opt for an oil with a high smoke point, like avocado oil, as suggested, or consider olive oil for a hint of flavor.
• Invest in a reliable kitchen thermometer. Salmon is cooked through at an internal temperature of 145F. This ensures your fish is safe to eat and prevents overcooking, which can lead to dryness.
• Let your salmon rest for a couple of minutes after removing it from the air fryer. This allows the juices to be redistributed, ensuring a moist and flavorful bite.
• Use a flexible, thin spatula to gently flip the salmon filets halfway through cooking, especially breaded or skin-on variations. This ensures even cooking and prevents the skin or breading from tearing.
• Breaded Salmon: Cooking frozen breaded salmon in the air fryer requires a simple process for a crispy, delicious outcome. First, preheat your air fryer to 400°F (200°C), then place the frozen breaded salmon fillets in the basket, ensuring they aren’t overlapping, and cook for 12-15 minutes, flipping halfway through, until the breading is golden and the salmon is cooked through to an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C). It’s important not to overcrowd the air fryer, as this allows for even air circulation around the fillets, ensuring a uniformly crispy texture.
• How to cook skin on salmon: When cooking skin-on salmon, place the filets skin-side up initially. This prevents the skin from sticking to the basket and allows for easy flipping halfway through. Plus, it gives the skin a chance to get crispy.
• Garnishes: Complement your air-fried salmon with a drizzle of lemon-tahini dressing, dijon mustard, a fresh herb salsa, or a side of creamy yogurt-dill sauce.
• How long to cook frozen salmon in air fryer at 375: 12-16 minutes.
• How long to cook frozen salmon in air fryer at 400: 10-12 minutes

♻ Storing & Reheating

Storing: Store cooked and cooled air fried salmon in an airtight container in the fridge for 1-2 days. Re-freezing cooked salmon is not recommended. 

Reheating: To reheat air fried salmon, preheat your air fryer to 325F and place cooked filets to cook for 5-6 minutes or until warmed through. 

❔FAQ

Should I add oil to frozen salmon when using my air fryer?

No additional oil besides the light greasing of the air fryer basket is needed. The salmon is not deep-fried as it is “fried” in dry circulating hot air.

What temperature do you air fry frozen salmon?

Depending on the thickness, you’ll want to air fry your salmon between 350F and 400F. If you air fry at the lower end of that range, it may take a few more minutes.

How do I know when salmon is done cooking?

An internal temp of 145F is the proper temperature to cook salmon, however, you can tell if it’s cooked if it’s opaque and flaky and is slightly firm to the touch.