Sometimes, we cook more than we need, resulting in a surplus. Or you might always be reluctant to cook fresh salmon whenever you crave it and prefer to store the excess instead. These reasons will lead you to wonder how long is cooked salmon good for and how to tell if salmon is bad.
Cooked salmon is good for about three to four days with proper storage, like refrigeration, and only two hours at room temperature. You can tell if the salmon is bad if it stays longer by checking for foul odor and slimness.
At the signs of spoilage in your cooked salmon, please do not eat it again. Spoiled salmon can lead to food poisoning and possible death. That is why we will elaborate on this article, so you can know how long salmon is good for and how to tell if your salmon is bad.
How Do You Know When Cooked Salmon Goes Bad?
When you cook correctly and eat your salmon immediately, it makes for a delicious and nutritious meal. However, when your cooked salmon stays out for a long time, it becomes a health hazard when you eat it. That is why you should know how to know if your cooked salmon goes bad.
Here are some ways to tell if your cooked salmon is no longer edible:
- Foul Odour
Cooked salmon has no foul odor. It has a sweet, savory flavor, so if your salmon starts giving off a sour, pungent smell, it indicates that your fish has gone wrong and you should not eat it. Even if the foul smell is mild, please do not eat it. You might end up with food poisoning.
- Sliminess
Well-cooked salmon is moist, flaky, and thick but never slimy. The slimy texture of your salmon is a huge sign that it has gone bad. Check for slimness and a grumpy look, and confirm that the fish retains its flaky texture. At the sign of slim or loss of thickness, do not eat the salmon to avoid food poisoning.
- Bacteria
Bacteria growth shows that your salmon surely has gone bad. Bacterias grow on spoiled food and not freshly cooked salmon. Check for green or whitish growth on the surface of the fish. Do not eat salmon with bacteria growing on it. It is a huge health hazard and could kill you.
You must ensure that your salmon is still edible if you are not eating it fresh. Spoilt salmon can cause food poisoning and complications that could result in death. Spoilt salmon does not have a good taste or smell.
Is Salmon Good After 5 Days In The Fridge
No, after five days, salmon is not good in the fridge. Cooked salmon will last four days in the refrigerator before it becomes terrible to eat. To ensure it stays suitable for up to four days, wrap it tightly with aluminum foil or plastic wrap and put it inside an airtight container before refrigerating.
Putting the salmon into the coldest part of the fridge would be best. The fridge bottom will be best. Although refrigerated salmon might not taste the same as the one you cooked freshly, it still gives you the same amount of nutrients.
How Long Does Leftover Salmon Last In Fridge
Leftover salmon can last three to four days in the fridge with proper storage. You could wrap the salmon in foil or wrap made of plastic and put it inside an airtight container. Then place the container in the deepest, coldest part of the fridge.
After four days in the fridge, your leftover salmon will not be edible again. After four days, you should check for signs of spoilage. The signs include slimness, foul odor, and bacteria growth. Please only eat leftover salmon if it stays less than four days in the fridge. You might risk getting food poisoning.
How Long Will Frozen Salmon Be Good In The Freezer
Frozen salmon can stay good for nine to twelve months in the freezer. However, after the first four months, the quality degrades, and the fish might lose its taste. After twelve months, the fish will no longer be suitable for eating.
To store properly, put the frozen salmon in a vacuum seal bag and put it inside the coldest part of the fridge. The storage degree for freezing salmon is zero degrees. If the salmon is fresh, ensure to remove as much water from the fish as possible before freezing to retain the taste, flavor, and texture.
Once ready to use your frozen salmon, you can thaw it out and cook it. Or you can wash, season, and cook your frozen salmon at 400 in the oven. Frozen salmon cook a little longer than fresh salmon.
Cooked Salmon Recipe for Sushi
Equipment
- Baking sheet
- Small bowl
- Whisk
- Shallow dish or resealable bag
- Oven
- Bamboo sushi mat
- Sharp knife
- Cutting board
- Sauce dishes
Ingredients
- 2 salmon fillets (about 8 ounces each), skin-on
- 2 tablespoons soy sauce
- 2 tablespoons mirin
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 1 tablespoon sesame oil
- 1 teaspoon grated ginger
- 1 teaspoon garlic powder
- Cooked sushi rice (approx. 3 cups)
- Nori sheets
- Fresh vegetables (e.g., cucumber, avocado, carrots)
- Pickled ginger
- Wasabi
- Soy sauce (for dipping)
Instructions
- In a small bowl, whisk together the soy sauce, mirin, honey, sesame oil, grated ginger, and garlic powder.
- Place the salmon fillets in a shallow dish or a resealable bag and pour the marinade over them.
- Make sure the salmon is evenly coated, cover the dish (or seal the bag), and refrigerate for at least 30 minutes to allow the flavors to infuse.
- To cook the Salmon, Preheat your oven to 400°F (200°C).
- Remove the salmon fillets from the marinade, allowing any excess marinade to drip off.
- Place the fillets, skin-side down, on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper.
- Bake the salmon for approximately 12-15 minutes, or until the fish flakes easily with a fork and reaches an internal temperature of 145°F (63°C).
- Lay a bamboo sushi mat on a clean surface and place a sheet of nori on top.
- Moisten your hands with water to prevent the rice from sticking and evenly spread a layer of sushi rice over the nori, leaving about an inch at the top without rice.
- Arrange thin strips of your preferred vegetables (cucumber, avocado, carrots) across the middle of the rice.
- Lay a strip of cooked salmon along the vegetables.
- Using the bamboo mat, tightly roll the sushi, applying gentle pressure to ensure it holds its shape. And then wet the top edge of the nori sheet with a little water to seal the roll.
- With a sharp knife, slice the sushi roll into bite-sized pieces, about 1-inch thick. Repeat the rolling and slicing process with the remaining ingredients.
- Arrange the sushi rolls on a platter, garnishing with pickled ginger and serving with wasabi and soy sauce on the side.
Video
Conclusion
Having leftover salmons after cooking is a very familiar because you might prefer to save food, plus the high cost of living. The good news is that you can store cooked salmon in the fridge for three to four days.
After the fourth day, you should check for signs of spoilage like slimness, foul smell, sloppy texture, and bacteria. Bad salmon is not good to eat. It could cause food poisoning. This article has explained your question of how long is cooked salmon good for and how to tell if salmon is bad.
