Can You Freeze Cooked Salmon?

Salmon is a popular fish as it is easy to cook and really versatile. Not to mention it has lots of health benefits like being full of Omega-3s. It is fairly expensive though, so if you want to learn how to freeze cooked salmon, then we have all the tips for you.

Cooked salmon freezes really well and it can be stored for up to 3 months. Once it is fully cooled, split into individual portions and wrap in cling-film (plastic wrap). Make sure the fish is completely enclosed. Place the wrapped fish into freezer bags and label and date the bag and place into your freezer.
If it is not stored correctly, or if it is frozen for too long, the risk of food poisoning will increase.

Continue reading to see how to defrost salmon safely and advice on reheating as well as recipes that use salmon.

Jump to:

• 📋What you will need
• 🧾 Step by step
• 🧊 Does cooked salmon freeze well?
• ⏲️How soon should cooked salmon be frozen?
• ⚖️How much salmon should be frozen?
• 🗓️How long can you freeze cooked salmon for?
• 👃How to tell when cooked salmon has gone bad
• ❄️How to defrost frozen salmon
• 🧊Can defrosted salmon be refrozen?
• 🍳Can you reheat cooked salmon?
• 🥙How to use leftover salmon
• 💬 Comments

📋What you will need

• Cooked salmon
• Cling-film - Plastic food wrap, also known as Saran Wrap.
• Freezer bags - Any food storage freezer bags will work, we used ziploc.

🧾 Step by step

One: Allow the cooked salmon to cool completely.

Two: Divide into individual portions and wrap in cling-film (plastic wrap). Make sure the fish is completely enclosed.

Three: Place the wrapped fish into freezer bags.

Four: Label and date the bag and place into your freezer.

🧊 Does cooked salmon freeze well?

Salmon freezes very well indeed. If stored using the methods here and kept for no longer than 3 months in the freezer, your salmon will taste just as good as when cooked fresh.

⏲️How soon should cooked salmon be frozen?

We would recommend freezing your cooked salmon as soon as it has cooled. However, cooked salmon can be kept in the fridge for up to 3 days.

If your cooked salmon is older than 3 days, it should be discarded.

⚖️How much salmon should be frozen?

When cooked, salmon typically loses around 25% of its weight. A standard 120g (4oz) fillet will weigh around 90g (3oz) when cooked.

Portion out the cooked salmon to 90g (3oz) each and wrap each portion individually.

🗓️How long can you freeze cooked salmon for?

Cooked salmon will keep in the freezer for up to 3 months. If you keep it frozen for longer than this it will start to lose its flavour and will also run the risk of freezer burn.

👃How to tell when cooked salmon has gone bad

You can tell if cooked salmon has gone bad by the smell and consistency. If it has a sour and overly fishy smell, then it has probably gone bad. If it has a slimy consistency, rather than flakey texture, then it needs to be thrown away. Eating salmon that has gone bad risks food poisoning.

❄️How to defrost frozen salmon

The best way to defrost frozen salmon is to place it in the fridge the day before you plan to use it. Keep it in its wrapping and put it onto a plate. Put the plate in the fridge at night and it will be ready for use the next day.

You can defrost the frozen salmon in your microwave, but make sure to use your microwave's defrost setting. This will defrost it slowly and gently. Microwave defrosting on a higher heat will dry the salmon out. Even defrosting using the defrost setting can dry out food. We always recommend defrosting in the fridge overnight.

🧊Can defrosted salmon be refrozen?

Salmon should only be frozen once. This is why it should be portioned out before freezing. That way you can defrost as much or as little as you need, reducing food waste.

🍳Can you reheat cooked salmon?

Absolutely! Cooked salmon can be reheated in many ways. You can simply microwave it or fry it in a pan with a little oil.

Our recommended way of reheating cooked salmon is to loosely wrap it in some foil with a splash of water, oil or lemon juice and heat in the oven. Heat your oven to 150°C/300°F/Gas 2 and cook the wrapped salmon for 15 minutes.

🥙How to use leftover salmon

Once you have defrosted your frozen cooked salmon, you might be looking for some ways to use it in recipes. Why not try these Salmon Fishcakes, Salmon and Egg Scramble, Easy Salmon Wrap, Salmon Spring Rolls, 10 Minute Salmon Gnocchi or Salmon Soufflé.

By following the method in this post, you will ensure that no cooked salmon is wasted and that it is frozen and defrosted safely.