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How Long Does Salmon Last in the Fridge

By: Author William Thomas

William Thomas

Editor-in-Chief & Pitmaster

I have been smoking and grilling meat from an early age and enjoy sharing my knowledge and expertise through the hundreds of articles I have written about BBQ. I hope to make everyone’s BBQ journey that little bit easier.
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How Long Does Salmon Last in the Fridge

Salmon is a delicious meal that’s bursting with nutrients. Salmon may be beneficial for heart health and brain functioning.

But even the most seasoned salmon enthusiast has left salmon sitting in the fridge for some time.

Whether it was hiding behind your bottom round roast or you forgot you had salmon in the fridge, it’s essential to know how long salmon lasts in the refrigerator.

Does Vacuum Sealed Salmon Go Bad?

Even though a vacuum sealer is a fantastic way to store food, vacuum-sealed salmon will eventually spoil.

You will not gain additional storage time by vacuum-sealing salmon.

On average, vacuum-sealed salmon will last for 20 days when stored in the freezer.

However, if the salmon’s packaging is damaged, it will only last for 3 days.

How To Store Salmon in the Fridge

How the fish is stored is essential to salmon’s reheating process.

In the same way, how the salmon is stored will ultimately determine how long the salmon lasts.

If your salmon is unopened, it can be left in its original packaging.

Place the salmon onto a plate to catch any condensation which may contaminate any foods before placing it in the fridge.

If your raw salmon is opened, place it into an airtight container.

The container will prevent the fish from drying out and inhibit bacterial growth. 

Salmon can also absorb odors from other foods. Therefore, you may want to wrap the salmon with plastic wrap to prevent it from absorbing different aromas.

Place the salmon into the fridge on a shelf by itself, away from ready-to-eat foods or leftovers.

How To Store Salmon in the Freezer

Whether it is salmon or Alaskan cod, freezer-burned fish is the worst. Freezer burn dries out the fish and gives it a stale flavor.

This is why you must know how to store salmon properly to prevent freezer burn.

The most common ways to freeze salmon are wrapping it with freezer paper, foil paper, or placing it into a freezer-safe airtight container.

However, I prefer to vacuum-seal the salmon.

Vacuum sealing keeps the salmon fresh and inhibits freezer burn.

Vacuum seal packaging will also prevent the salmon from absorbing other odors and takes up less space than an airtight container.

Alternatively, you can also wrap your salmon individually with plastic wrap, flash freeze them, and place them into a large freezer-safe ziplock bag.

How Long Does Salmon Last in the Fridge

Salmon will inevitably spoil. While there are several techniques you can do to extend the shelf life of salmon, it will go rotten at some point.

How Long Does Raw Salmon Last in the Fridge

When it comes to raw salmon, it will last for 1-2 days when stored in the fridge.

Therefore, if you know you are not going to cook the salmon, you should freeze it.

Even if your fridge is in perfect working order, the salmon’s freshness will start to decline on the third day.

This is because of the high concentration of fat the salmon contains.

Therefore, it will always be the best choice to purchase fresh salmon from your local fish market on the same day you intend to cook it.

If you are going to keep the salmon longer, freeze the salmon until you are ready to cook it.

You can defrost the salmon overnight in the freezer or in cold water and cook as you see fit.

Alternatively, you can also purchase frozen salmon from your local grocery store and store it in the fridge.

By the time you are ready to prepare the salmon in 1-2 days, it will be fully defrosted.

How Long Does Cooked Salmon Last in the Fridge

Cooked salmon will last a little longer than raw salmon. According to the USDA, cooked salmon will last in the fridge for 4 days. 

Some people may suggest cooked salmon can last in the fridge for up to 7 days. However, 7 days is pushing your luck.

The salmon will be stale on the 7th day and may even have a cluster of bacteria or mold.

In addition to this, the salmon may feel slimy and nasty and taste disgusting. Therefore, you must consume leftover salmon within 4 days after it was cooked.

Even though the salmon may show no signs of spoilage on the 7th day, there will be a drastic difference in the salmon’s flavor and texture.

How Long Does Salmon Last in the Freezer?

How long salmon lasts in the fridge depends on whether it is raw or cooked salmon.

Raw salmon can last for up to a year as long as it is kept at a temperature at or below 0°F.

Nevertheless, the salmon will not stay fresh for up to a year.

Salmon’s freshness will start to decline after 3 months if the salmon is stored correctly. 

If the salmon is not stored correctly, it could start to spoil within a month. So, make sure it is sealed tightly to prevent it from going bad quickly.

Cooked salmon can remain fresh as long as raw salmon if it is stored appropriately. Cooked salmon will last up to 9 months in the fridge.

However, it’s best to consume the cooked salmon within 3 days for the best flavor.

While you can still eat the salmon after 3 months, its taste and texture will be different.

How To Tell if Salmon Is Bad?

It’s essential to know how to tell if salmon is bad. It will prevent you and your loved ones from getting food poisoning.

Luckily, it’s easy to know if salmon is spoiled.

You can quickly tell if salmon is rotten by taking a whiff of it.

Yes, the salmon will have a distinctive smell; it should never be overpowering. If the salmon has an unpleasant, rancid odor, it is spoiled.

You can also determine if salmon is bad by looking at it.

Fresh salmon has a pink color. Salmon should not be oily or contain any marks.

Rotten salmon may have a yellowish hue and have a slimy film on the skin. In addition to this, any discoloration or dryness means the salmon is spoiled.

If the salmon’s flesh does not spring back when you touch it, this means it’s bad.

The fish is fresh if you have the salmon springs back and is free of any dimples.

Final Thoughts

Salmon is a delicious, filling meal. But before you fire up your natural gas grill to make BBQ salmon, you must know how long salmon lasts in the fridge so you can cook it before it spoils.

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