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Did you know you can make salmon in the air fryer – it’s super easy, just rub your salmon down with spices and pop it in the air fryer!

Air Fryer Salmon is my go to when I want a home cooked meal, feeling lazy, something healthy and nutritious, and perhaps I forgot to defrost meat (chicken, beef, pork, lamb just takes way longer to defrost!)

This recipe takes only 20 minutes, and the salmon comes out perfectly tender!

How to air fry salmon (high level)

The main high level steps basically go like this:

• We will first defrost the salmon filets (if they are frozen).
• Rub it down with some spices.
• Pop it in the air fryer for 10 minutes.
• Flip it over.
• Pop it back in the air fryer for another 10 minutes.
• And serve!

I got more tasty details than that though below, but for those of you in a rush, that’s basically it.

What spices to use with salmon

I encourage you to use your favorite spice blend on it! But here are some awesome delicious ideas:

Salt and Pepper – You can’t go wrong with good old salt and pepper! When you’re in a rush this is the way to go!

Salt and Garlic Powder – I love garlic so in reality I add garlic powder basically to everything. Actually, I have this Garlic Salt I buy that I use on everything, it’s so easy and delicious!

Salt and Other Seasonings – Some other seasonings I like to use include paprika, onion powder, cumin, ground ginger.

Store Bought Seasonings – These are awesome too because you don’t have to even think about it! Some of my favorites are Old Bay and Tony Chachere’s Creole Seasoning.

Another idea outside of rubbing/sprinkling the salmon is to serve it with some sort of sauce afterwards.

Skin or no skin

Should you cook salmon with or without the skin? This is completely up to your personal preferences. I prefer my salmon to have skin. It’s best when it comes out crispy too! (Think crispy salmon skin sushi or Japanese Salted Salmon (Shiozake) 塩鮭 – yum!)

If you cook with the salmon skin, make sure to cook it skin down the first 10 minutes, and then skin up the last 10 minutes for maximum crispiness!

If salmon skin is not something you are used to eating or like, you can totally also cook it without the skin on also, the directions are basically the same.

Air Fryer Salmon Recipe

All right, here is how to actually make this air fryer salmon in details:

First, gather your ingredients:

• 2 4-oz salmon filets
• Cooking spray
• Salt, to taste
• Any other seasoning you prefer, to taste

I line my air fryer pan or basket with aluminum foil for easy cleaning, but this is optional.

Spray the aluminum foil/pan with cooking oil.

Place salmon filets on foil/pan, and spray with cooking oil. Sprinkle salt/seasonings. You can also rub it evenly through out, but let’s be honest, half the time when I’m making this I’m really trying to keep it super simple, so I don’t really want to dirty up my hands.

Cook in air fryer at 425°F for 10 minutes. If you chose to have skin on, make sure the skin is face down for this first half of cooking.

Flip the salmon filets over, and allow it to cook for another 10 minutes. If you chose to have skin on that means the skin is now facing up.

Remove from heat and serve! I recommend serving with some veggies like broccoli or green beans!

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