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Leftover salmon? Don’t let it go to waste. This guide covers the best ways to reheat salmon—whether you prefer the air fryer, oven, or even the microwave—while keeping it juicy and flavorful.
Can You Reheat Salmon?
You can reheat salmon in the microwave, oven, air fryer, or steamer—but it dries out easily. The key is choosing the right method. For fillets, the oven is often best since it reheats gently and keeps the salmon moist.
❗Salmon is a very delicate fish to cook with. The trick to reheating salmon is patience. Trying to reheat salmon quickly on high heat can make your salmon dry out, leaving you with a fish-scented hockey puck.
✅ Quick Reheat Time & Temp Chart
| Reheat Method | Temperature | Time | Best For |
| Air Fryer | 350°F | 3–5 min | Skin-on or crusted fillets |
| Oven | 300°F | 10–15 min | Large or saucy portions |
| Microwave | Low power | 1–2 min | Flaked or small portions |
How To Reheat Salmon in the Oven
If you have the time and the patience, reheating salmon in the oven is your best bet. Oven reheating takes time, because you need to wait for the oven to preheat.
Also be prepared to to do some washing up with the pan you’re reheating the salmon in. It takes more time and effort, but reheating salmon in the oven is by far the best way to return your salmon leftovers to their former glory.
| Step | Action |
| 1 | Preheat to 300°F (150°C) |
| 2 | Place salmon in a baking dish and cover with foil |
| 3 | Add broth, oil, or lemon juice |
| 4 | Bake for 10–15 minutes |
❗Best for: Baked salmon fillets, whole portions, or salmon with sauce.
How To Reheat Salmon in the Microwave
Microwave reheating is the quickest method to warm up your salmon leftovers, but it’s not our favorite. If you aren’t careful, it will dry your fish out. Take care with a few extra steps to ensure that your salmon doesn’t dry out.
To keep the salmon nice and moist, you’ll want to cover it and add some additional moisture to the microwave safe container.
| Step | Action |
| 1 | Place salmon in microwave-safe dish |
| 2 | Cover with damp paper towel or microwave-safe lid |
| 3 | Heat on 50% power for 20–30 seconds |
| 4 | Flip and repeat until warmed through (1–2 min) |
❗Best for: Small portions or flaked salmon
How to Reheat Salmon in the Air Fryer (Without Drying It Out)
An air fryer is a nice combination of convenience and quality when it comes to reheating salmon. If you’re pressed for time, it won’t take as long as the oven, either.
To reheat your salmon in an air fryer, you’ll set your fryer to 350-360 degrees F, placing your salmon skin-side down in the basket. Be sure to line the basket with parchment paper to prevent the salmon from sticking. Cook for five minutes until the salmon is nice and hot.
Make sure to use an instant read meat thermometer to check the internal temperature of your salmon prior to serving. Salmon is OK to serve at an internal temperature of 125 F.
| Type of Salmon | Temp | Time | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baked/Grilled Fillet | 350°F | 3–5 min | Add lemon juice or olive oil |
| Crusted or Breaded | 350°F | 4–6 min | No foil – use basket directly |
| Salmon Patties | 360°F | 4–5 min | Flip halfway for crispiness |
❗Pro Tip: Check at the 3-minute mark to avoid overcooking. Perfect for skin-on fillets and crusted salmon.
How to Reheat Salmon by Steaming
Steaming is a great way to reheat salmon without it losing moisture.
Steaming isn’t great if your salmon is in a sauce or marinade, as the higher moisture can deplete the flavor in the meal.
Reheating salmon via steaming requires a few steps. First, set up a steamer, fill it with water, and wait until the water simmers. If you don’t have a steamer, set a pan with water over heat. When your water is simmering, you can put a smaller pan inside with the salmon in the middle of the smaller pan. Cover this steamer, letting the fish cook for 4-5 minutes.
It takes a bit of extra effort, but your moist, tender salmon is totally worth it.
How to Reheat Smoked Salmon
The key to reheating smoked salmon is ensuring that you don’t lose any of the delicious smoky flavor in the fish flesh.
To reheat smoked salmon, drizzle the top with olive oil, creating a moisture barrier. Then you’ll tent the fish in foil, which keeps it from burning. Then pour a little water or broth into the package, bake in the oven at 300 F, and leave it in there for 15 minutes, or until the fish is hot.
Tips for Reheating Salmon
- Avoid the microwave: While you can use the microwave if you absolutely must, we recommend the other reheating methods in this list. The risk of drying out your salmon is simply too high. It can also make your kitchen smell of fish for a long time after making your salmon.
- Add moisture: Salmon inevitably loses some moisture during any heating process. Make sure to rub a tablespoon of olive oil or squeeze half a lemon into the fish. Both of these methods will help to preserve the fish’s natural flavor and moisture content.
- Be patient: The trick to reheating salmon is to take your time. Preheat your oven to 300 F, allow time to leave the fillet for fifteen minutes, and understand that low and slow cooking is directly proportional to your salmon cooking well.
- Cover the fish: Always lightly wrap your salmon in foil to help trap the moisture in and around the fish, and prevent any fishy odor from escaping the oven. This also keeps the edges of the fish from drying out before the fish is warm.
- Get creative: Don’t feel like you’re limited to your original recipe when reheating leftovers. You can slice up the original fillet for use in a salad, or use the cold fillets.
❓ FAQs
Yes—thaw it first in the fridge overnight, then reheat using your method of choice.
Only once is recommended for safety and best texture.
Yes! Gently heat in a covered skillet with a bit of oil or butter.
Salmon Dinner Ideas to Try!!!
- How Long to Marinate Salmon
- Air Fryer Salmon Bites
- Easy Salmon Marinades
- What Temperature to Cook Salmon
- Creamy Dill Sauce for Salmon
- Miso Glazed Salmon
- Pineapple Salmon
How to Reheat Salmon
Ingredients
- Leftover salmon
- Lemon juice or olive oil
Instructions
How To Reheat Salmon in the Oven
- Preheat your oven to 300 degrees °F, squeeze some lemon juice on your salmon, tightly wrap it in foil, and bake for fifteen minutes. The lemon juice will add flavor and help add moisture.
How to Reheat Salmon in an Air Fryer
- Set your air fryer to 350 degrees °F, placing your salmon skin-side down in the basket. Be sure to line the basket with parchment paper to prevent the salmon from sticking. Cook for five minutes until the salmon is nice and hot.
How to Reheat Salmon by Steaming
- Set up a steamer, fill it with water, and wait until the water simmers. If you don’t have a steamer, set a pan with water over heat. When your water is simmering, you can put a smaller pan inside with the salmon in the middle of the smaller pan. Cover this steamer, letting the fish cook for 4-5 minutes.
How To Reheat Salmon in the Microwave
- Pour a tablespoon of water, lemon juice, or sauce into the bottom of a microwave-safe dish and add the salmon on top. Now cover this dish with plastic wrap (not foil!) and microwave the salmon for 30 seconds at a time until it’s hot.
How to Reheat Smoked Salmon
- Drizzle the top with olive oil, creating a moisture barrier. Then you’ll tent the fish in foil, which keeps it from burning. Then pour a little water or broth into the package, bake in the oven at 300 °F, and leave it in there for 15 minutes, or until the fish is hot.
Notes
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
