Firstly, don’t worry too much about breaking down the salmon. We expect a chunky, hearty texture to a great burger. You don’t need the smooth, puree-like texture of a fully broken down salmon fillet. Overly processing the salmon will turn your burger mix into something more closely resembling pate.

Use instant read thermometer. You want to make sure the outside is crisp and that the salmon burger is either cooked through or medium rare. An instant read meat thermometer will come in handy here so you can ensure the internal temperature of your salmon burger is correct.

You don’t want to overcook your salmon burgers. Salmon, like most other types of fish, is somewhat prone to drying out, which the addition of add ins like breadcrumbs exacerbates. We recommend that you serve this dish medium rare in the middle, as overcooking the salmon will result in dry patties. Air fry for 10-12 minutes at 400°F or grill 3-5 minutes per side to get tender, flaky, perfectly cooked salmon.