5 Ways to Cook Salmon in an Air Fryer—From Crispy Fillets to Juicy Burgers

If you've been wondering how to cook salmon in the air fryer, you're not alone. Salmon is a very popular dinner entrée, thanks to its high levels of protein and omega-3 fatty acids—not to mention its delicious taste. Air frying salmon cuts down on time and makes cleanup more manageable, especially compared to frying or pan-searing. It also allows cooks to diversify how they cook salmon, all while using a single appliance. We have five different ways to air fry salmon—some might surprise you.

Best Cuts of Salmon and How to Cook

Cooking salmon in the air fryer is a quick and easy way to get dinner on the table. The best cooking method can vary depending on the cut of salmon. Fillets are the most common cut, but as with any other protein, different parts produce different cuts. 

• Fillets: Fillets are often center-cut or second-cut, which is part of or near the loin. These are thick and considered a more premium cut. 
• Steaks: These are made from the cross-section of the fish. They have a slightly sturdier structure since they are held together by part of the backbone. Because of this, they take a little longer to cook than fillets. 
• Collars: Located behind the fish’s gills, collars don’t provide a lot of meat compared to a fillet or steak, but they are very flavorful. 
• Tails: These thin pieces are located at the tail-end of the fish. They have the same flavor, but need to be watched carefully since they cook quickly.

Try any of these techniques the next time you break out the air fryer—you won’t be disappointed!

Baked

The air fryer is probably best at mimicking the effects of baking or roasting in an oven. This technique is perfect if you’re simply craving a classic preparation or simply don't have room in your oven or on your stovetop. Fillets or any other cut will come out flaking to perfection. Baking in the air fryer works no matter how thick or thin your salmon pieces are. 

How to Bake Salmon in the Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer: Preheat the air fryer to 400 degrees Fahrenheit; allow it to heat for at least 5 minutes. 
2. Arrange the fish in the basket: Place the salmon in an even layer in a greased or lined air fryer basket, taking care not to overcrowd (a standard air fryer can handle 3 to 4 six-ounce pieces. 
3. Add oil and seasonings: Drizzle the top of the pieces lightly with olive oil and add your seasonings of choice. 
4. Cook: Bake the salmon, carefully turning once or twice, until it is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork, 5 to 10 minutes, depending on the thickness and type of cut.

Steamed

Steaming is an underutilized method for the air fryer. Some newer, more high-tech models have a steaming function, but you can still steam if your model doesn’t have one. Bonus: you can even add vegetables like broccoli florets, green beans, or asparagus in during the last few minutes to steam alongside the fish. 

How to Steam Salmon in the Air Fryer

1. Add liquid to the air fryer: Add 1/2 cup of water to the bottom of the air fryer basket. To amp up the flavor, use a good-quality fish, chicken, or vegetable stock in place of water. Place the rack on top. 
2. Add oil and seasonings: Drizzle the tops of the salmon lightly with olive oil and add your seasonings of choice. A few thin slices of lemon are a nice addition when steaming; the citrus aroma will permeate the fish as it cooks. 
3. Create foil pouches: Wrap each piece of salmon in aluminum foil, sealing tightly. 
4. Cook: Turn the air fryer to 350 degrees and arrange the packets in the air fryer. Steam the salmon, carefully turning once or twice, until it is cooked through and flakes easily with a fork, 8 to 15 minutes, depending on the thickness and type of cut.

Breaded

Since the air fryer is designed to create crispy food while using less fat, the breading will become nice and crunchy. The key is ensuring it remains stuck to the salmon, since there is significantly more air flow inside the air fryer than with most other appliances. 

How to Cook Breaded Salmon in the Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer: Preheat to 400 degrees and let it heat for at least 5 minutes. 
2. Make a breading: The breading can be as simple as seasoned breadcrumbs, or you can add minced garlic, chopped parsley, and/or grated Parmigiano-Reggiano cheese. We like using flaky panko breadcrumbs. 
3. Bread the fish: Brush the tops of the fish with a condiment that will help the breadcrumbs stick—mayonnaise or Dijon mustard (or a combination) is our go-to. Sprinkle the breadcrumb mixture over the top of the fish, pressing gently to help it adhere. 
4. Arrange fish in the basket: Place the salmon in an even layer in a greased or lined air fryer basket, taking care not to overcrowd. 
5. Drizzle or spray with oil: Drizzle oil lightly or spray the top of each piece with nonstick cooking spray. 
6. Cook: Bake the salmon, without flipping, until it is cooked through, flakes easily with a fork, and the top is light golden, 8 to 12 minutes, depending on the thickness and type of cut.

Burgers

Whether store-bought or homemade, salmon burgers are juicy and delicious when cooked in the air fryer. The fattiness of the fish ensures that the burgers won’t dry out. 

How to Cook Salmon Burgers in the Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer: Preheat to 400 degrees and let it heat for at least 5 minutes. 
2. Arrange the burgers in the basket: Place the burgers in an even layer in a greased or lined air fryer basket, taking care not to overcrowd. 
3. Add oil and seasonings: Drizzle the tops lightly with olive oil and add your seasonings of choice. We like blackening spice or lemon pepper seasoning. 
4. Cook: Bake burgers, carefully turning once or twice, until they are cooked through, about 10 minutes.

Cubes

Bite-sized chunks of salmon are always a hit with kids and adults alike. The best part? They only take a few minutes to cook. 

How to Cook Salmon Cubes in the Air Fryer

1. Preheat the air fryer: Set it to 400 degrees. Allow it to heat for at least 5 minutes. 
2. Arrange the salmon in the basket: Cut the salmon into 1-inch cubes and place in an even layer in a greased or lined air fryer basket, taking care not to overcrowd. 
3. Add oil and seasonings: Drizzle the tops lightly witholive oil and add your seasonings of choice. 
4. Cook: Bake the salmon, tossing them occasionally, until they are cooked through and flaky easily with a fork, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Tips for Air Fryer Success

Keep these hints in mind when cooking salmon (or really anything) in the air fryer. 

• Preheat the air fryer: Just as you need to preheat your oven, you need to preheat the air fryer. Placing food in a cold appliance means it will take longer to cook and may cook unevenly. Preheating also helps prevent the food from sticking to the liner basket. 
• Grease the basket: Always spray it with nonstick pan spray or brush it with oil—a little goes a long way. This step will make cleanup much easier, since you won’t have to worry about stuck-on salmon skin. 
• Don’t overcrowd: An overcrowded air fryer basket will result in steamed salmon. For crisp salmon pieces, give them some room to breathe. 
• Toss or flip often: For even cooking, toss or turn the salmon throughout. Fillets only need a flip once or twice during cooking, but salmon cubes will need more rotation. The only exception is breaded salmon—don't turn them since the breading will fall off if disturbed. 
• Cooking from frozen: Forgetting to defrost is not a problem. Most air fryers have a defrost setting, which can be used for about 5 minutes before continuing with one of the techniques above. After the 5-minute defrost, add your oil and seasoning and continue.