How To Tell If Salmon Is Bad
Plus, how to store your fish so that it stays fresh.
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Salmon is tasty, a good source of protein and easy to prep, but it’s also highly perishable. How can you tell if salmon is bad? We consulted the FDA (U.S. Food and Drug Administration) and USDA (U.S. Department of Agriculture) for guidelines on safely selecting, storing and serving fresh and frozen seafood.
How To Tell If Salmon Is Bad
You can tell if salmon is bad by reading labels and assessing a few sensory cues, including how it smells, looks and feels.
Expiration date: Check the salmon’s label for the expiration date. If it’s past the date, toss it.
Smell: Fresh salmon should have a neutral or mild smell. If the salmon smells fishy, sour or ammonia-like, then it’s gone bad.
Appearance: Fresh salmon fillets should be bright pink or orange with no discoloration, darkening or drying around the edges. If you notice any dull or gray coloring, dark spots or filmy white residue, then it’s a sign that the salmon has spoiled. Whole fish should have clear, shiny eyes and red gills. If the eyes or gills are dull or faded, then it’s not fresh.
Texture: Fresh salmon has a firm texture, and the flesh should spring back when pressed. If the texture is mushy or slimy, the salmon is bad.
Note: According to the FDA website, “fresh fish and fish fillets sold as 'Previously Frozen' may not have all the characteristics of fresh fish (e.g., bright eyes, firm flesh, red gills, flesh, or bloodlines), however, they should still smell fresh and mild, not fishy, sour, or rancid.”
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How Long Is Salmon Good in the Fridge?
Salmon will last for up to 2 days in the fridge when stored properly in a clean refrigerator at a temperature of 40 degrees F or below. The FDA recommends putting seafood on ice or in the refrigerator or freezer soon after buying it. To prevent airborne bacterial growth, keep it at room temperature for no more than 2 hours (or 1 hour when temperatures are above 90 degrees F).
How Long Is Cooked Salmon Good For?
According to the USDA, cooked salmon will last for 3 to 4 days when stored in the refrigerator at a temperature at or below 40 degrees F.
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How Long Can You Freeze Salmon?
According to the USDA, frozen raw fish is best used within 3 to 8 months. Cooked salmon can be frozen for up to 3 months. Be sure to wrap salmon tightly in plastic, foil or moisture-proof paper and store it in the freezer in an air-tight, resealable bag labelled with the date and contents. When you’re ready to use the salmon, thaw by defrosting it overnight in the refrigerator (or, see our guide on How To Cook Frozen Salmon Without Thawing It).
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