With salmon being one of our go-to weeknight mains, we love cooking a few extra fillets to store and reheat later. Reheating salmon so it’s flaky and tender is simple and can be done in 15 minutes using your oven. The oven’s gentle heat works wonders for heating up the fillets while retaining their moisture. This allows you to eat thoroughly warmed and juicy salmon fillets as if they were freshly cooked. On top of this, there’s no need to worry about fishy odors since wrapping the fillets in folding locks in the aroma and flavor as it’s heating up. Here’s how to reheat salmon so the fish ends up yummy and moist rather than dry and bland!
The basics of salmon
Salmon is an oily fish, which means it contains plenty of fat that keeps the flesh moist. So, whether you’re baking, grilling or poaching the fillets, cooking them properly will produce buttery and tender fish. Another perk of preparing salmon is that it lasts 3 to 4 days in the fridge, giving you enough time to reheat it in the oven to delicious perfection. (Click through to our stories addressing if it is ok to eat salmon skin and how to buy salmon at the grocery store.)
Why the oven works best for reheating salmon
Since salmon fillets are thick, reheating them in the oven is the number 1 option. The oven’s even distribution of heat warms up the inside and outside of the fillet, avoiding any extreme hot or cold spots. Your oven also provides enough room to reheat multiple fillets if you’re making dinner for a crowd. Plus, covering the fillets in foil while they bake seals in their juices — results in moist and tender fillets. Since the oven is the clear winner for reheating salmon, doing so at the right temperature is the way to guarantee tasty fish!
The perfect oven temperature for reheating fillets
Your oven temperature is key for retaining the fish’s moisture while it’s reheating. “Blasting cold fish in the oven at a high heat is the most common mistake I see home cooks make, and it leads to a dry, flavorless piece of fish,” chef and cookbook author Dan Churchill, explains. “By reheating your salmon low and slow, you can make sure that your fish will stay moist and flaky, which is just what you want.” An oven temperature of 275°F is gentle yet effective for warming up leftover salmon in about 15 minutes.
How to reheat salmon in the oven
With all of these tips in mind, you’re now ready to enjoy those salmon fillets a second time around. Here’s how to reheat salmon in the oven using these four steps from chef Claudia Sidoti.
A delicious salmon recipe worth reheating
Our test kitchen loves this Roasted Salmon Fillet With Tzatziki recipe as it feeds 6 people and reheats well in the days after. Even better, it comes together in under an hour!
Roasted Salmon Fillet With Tzatziki
Greek yogurt, cucumber and dill come together to create an irresistible sauce that perfectly complements our flaky and tender centerpiece.
Ingredients:
- ½ English cucumber
- 1 cup fat-free plain Greek yogurt
- 3 Tbs. chopped fresh dill
- 3 Tbs. lemon juice
- 1 tsp. grated lemon zest
- 1 (2 lb.) skin-on salmon fillet
- 1 Tbs. extra-virgin olive oil
- ⅓ cup white wine
- Lemon slices, dill and parsley (optional)
Directions:
- Active: 25 mins
- Total time: 45 mins
- Yield: 6 servings
For more ways to revive your favorite seafood leftovers, take a look at our guides below!
Have Leftover Fried Fish? Here’s How to Reheat It to Crispy, Golden Perfection
How to Reheat Shrimp So They Stay Sweet and Succulent — Chef’s #1 Secret
How to Reheat Crawfish Fit for a Tasty Southern Feast
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