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I've been trying elaborate recipes and testing fancy kitchen gadgets for more than five years, but one of my favorite kitchen discoveries of 2024 couldn't be simpler. It's a 10-minute air fryer salmon recipe and it's become a fixture in my weekly rotation.
Air fryer salmon has been a revelation, and the speedy, clean method for cooking the omega-rich fish me eating more of it than ever. An air fryer cooks fish fast, makes very little no mess and uses less energy than the big oven. It's also difficult to mess up, making it the perfect foil for those frantic days when you're brain is shot but you still need a healthy, hot meal.
A fresh filet and seasonings are all you need to make the perfect air fryer salmon dinner.
David Watsky/CNETThe mighty air fryer only takes one or two minutes to preheat, so if you're making a quick weeknight meal for one or two, cooking salmon in the air fryer is an ace up your sleeve. Making salmon in the air fryer takes about 10 minutes from start to finish.
Here's how to make a perfect filet every time. And for more, see our favorite places to order salmon online and the best air fryers we tested for 2024. If you're wondering how these trendy and efficient countertop cookers work and which model is best, read my complete guide to air fryers.
Ingredients for the 10-minute air fryer salmon
- 1 tbsp olive oil
- 1 tsp soy sauce or tamari
- 1 tsp brown sugar
- 1 green onion, diced
- Salmon filet
- Salt and pepper to taste
- Parchment paper (optional)
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5 easy steps: The perfect 10-minute air fryer
- Step 1: Preheat the air fryer to 380 degrees F on either "air fry" or "roast."
- Step 2: Whisk together olive oil, brown sugar, soy sauce and green onion.
- Step 3: Pat the salmon filet dry and place it in the air fryer on top of parchment paper (paper optional).
- Step 4: Pour soy sauce mixture over salmon and brush to coat completely.
- Step 5: Close the basket and cook for about 8 minutes, checking with a fork or internal probe for doneness (cook a minute or two more if you prefer your salmon medium well or well done).
Just 8 minutes in the air fryer and you have perfectly medium rare salmon.
David Watsky/CNETThe air fryer is my go-to for roasted chicken, replacing my slow and dirty dish-heavy oven recipe. I recently learned to make juicy air fryer cheeseburgers and sizzle bacon in less than 10 minutes and without dirtying a skillet or sheet pan.
Air fryers are incredibly convenient and can do many of the same jobs that an oven can. They only take a couple of minutes to preheat, contain many of the cooking messes you'd otherwise have to spend time cleaning up and are overall more energy-efficient cooking appliances.
When you're planning to cook meals with an air fryer, you need to make sure you have enough space inside of your appliance for the food you want to cook. Many air fryers can accommodate for a single person's serving size, but you'll likely have to run the air fryer multiple times to make enough food for your whole family.