Fresh salmon lasts 1 to 2 days in the fridge, 2 to 3 months frozen
Quick answer
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Fridge
Keeps for 1-2 days
Refrigerate fresh salmon at 40°F (4°C) or below if you'll use it within 2 days of buying it.
Watch out Never leave salmon out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C).
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Freezer
Keeps for 2-3 months
Wrap the salmon tightly in plastic, foil, or moisture-proof paper and freeze it.
Watch out Freezing isn't recommended for salmon salad.
Fresh salmon keeps 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator and 2 to 3 months in the freezer. Cooked salmon keeps 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator and 1 to 2 months in the freezer. Smoked salmon lasts longer, 14 to 45 days in the refrigerator depending on how it's smoked and packed. Don't eat salmon that smells sour, rancid, or fishy.
Buying salmon this week?
On a Listonic list, every item gets the amount you need and a note on when to use it by.
- Quantity and unit on every item
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Fresh salmon keeps 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator, so the clock starts the day you buy it. If you won’t cook it within 2 days, freeze it, and it keeps 2 to 3 months. Cooked, smoked, and thawed salmon each follow their own timeline.
The times in this guide come from the USDA’s FoodKeeper data and the FDA’s seafood guidance.
How long does salmon last in the fridge?
Fresh salmon lasts 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator. That’s the FoodKeeper time for fresh fatty fish such as salmon, so plan to cook it soon after you buy it.
Keep the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below. If you’ll use the salmon within 2 days of buying it, refrigerate it. Otherwise, wrap it tightly in plastic, foil, or moisture-proof paper and freeze it.
Never leave salmon out of the refrigerator for more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C). Bacteria grow fastest between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C), and they can double in number in as little as 20 minutes.
How long does cooked salmon last in the fridge?
Cooked salmon lasts 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. Refrigerate leftovers within 2 hours of cooking, or within 1 hour above 90°F (32°C).
If you won’t eat it in that time, freeze it. Cooked salmon is good for 1 to 2 months in the freezer.
Can you freeze salmon?
Yes, fresh salmon keeps 2 to 3 months in the freezer. Wrap it tightly in plastic, foil, or moisture-proof paper before it goes in.
Cooked salmon keeps 1 to 2 months in the freezer. Salmon salad is the exception, because freezing isn’t recommended for seafood salads.
Food kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, so freezer times are about quality, not safety. Freezer burn leaves grayish-brown, leathery, dry spots where air reached the surface. It doesn’t make salmon unsafe, and you can cut those parts away before or after cooking.
How long does smoked salmon last in the fridge?
Smoked salmon lasts 14 to 45 days in the refrigerator, depending on how it’s smoked and packed. These are the FoodKeeper times for smoked fish, which covers smoked salmon.
- Cold-smoked salmon in an air pack keeps 14 to 30 days in the refrigerator.
- Cold-smoked salmon that’s vacuum-packed keeps 21 to 30 days in the refrigerator.
- Hot-smoked salmon keeps 14 to 45 days in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze smoked salmon?
Yes, cold-smoked salmon keeps 9 to 12 months in the freezer. Hot-smoked salmon keeps 9 to 12 months in an air pack and 6 to 12 months vacuum-packed.
How long is salmon good for?
Fresh salmon is good for 1 to 2 days in the refrigerator, and cooked salmon for 3 to 4 days. The table puts every type side by side.
| Salmon | In the refrigerator | In the freezer |
|---|---|---|
| Fresh salmon | 1-2 days | 2-3 months |
| Cooked salmon | 3-4 days | 1-2 months |
| Cold-smoked salmon | 14-30 days in an air pack, 21-30 days vacuum-packed | 9-12 months |
| Hot-smoked salmon | 14-45 days | 9-12 months in an air pack, 6-12 months vacuum-packed |
| Salmon salad | 3-4 days | Not recommended |
How to defrost salmon
Thaw frozen salmon in the refrigerator overnight, or use cold water or the microwave if you need it sooner. Never thaw salmon on the counter or in hot water.
In the refrigerator
Move the frozen salmon to the refrigerator overnight. After it thaws, it stays good for another day or two before you cook it. You can also refreeze it without cooking, with some loss of quality.
In cold water
For a faster thaw, seal the salmon in a leak-proof plastic bag and submerge it in cold tap water. Change the water every 30 minutes. Cook the salmon right after it thaws, and cook it before refreezing.
In the microwave
Use the microwave defrost setting only if you’ll cook the salmon right away. Stop while the fish is still icy but pliable. Cook it before refreezing.
How to tell if salmon is bad
Bad salmon smells sour, rancid, fishy, or like ammonia, and the smell gets stronger after cooking. Don’t eat raw or cooked salmon that smells sour, rancid, or fishy, or cooked salmon with any ammonia smell.
What fresh salmon should smell and feel like
Fresh salmon smells fresh and mild, not fishy, sour, or ammonia-like. Fillets should have firm flesh that springs back when you press it, with no discoloration, darkening, or drying around the edges. Color alone doesn’t show freshness, so check the smell and the feel too.
What does bad salmon look like?
Bad salmon can show discoloration, darkening, or drying around the edges of the fillet, and its flesh doesn’t spring back when you press it. A fresh fillet has none of these.
Color alone doesn’t show freshness, so check the smell and the feel as well. If salmon smells sour, rancid, or fishy, don’t eat it, raw or cooked.
Frozen salmon to avoid
Avoid frozen salmon in packages with frost or ice crystals, which can mean long storage or thawing and refreezing. Also avoid fish that isn’t hard or that bends.
How to reheat salmon
Reheat leftover salmon to 165°F (74°C), measured with a food thermometer.
When you cook fresh salmon, the FDA says to cook most seafood to 145°F (63°C). Without a thermometer, salmon is done when the flesh separates easily with a fork.
Frequently asked questions
How long does salmon salad last?
Salmon salad keeps 3 to 4 days in the refrigerator. Freezing isn't recommended for seafood salads.
What temperature should the fridge be for salmon?
Keep the refrigerator at 40°F (4°C) or below when you store salmon.
Can you refreeze thawed salmon?
You can refreeze salmon that thawed in the refrigerator without cooking it, with some loss of quality. Salmon thawed in cold water or the microwave must be cooked before you refreeze it.
Can you tell if salmon is bad by its color?
Color alone doesn't show whether salmon is fresh, so check the smell and the feel of the flesh too.
Is frozen salmon safe after 3 months?
Salmon kept constantly at 0°F (-18°C) stays safe, and only quality suffers with long freezer storage. The 2 to 3 months for fresh salmon is a quality guide.
How long can salmon sit out?
Salmon can sit out of the refrigerator for no more than 2 hours, or 1 hour above 90°F (32°C). Bacteria grow fastest between 40°F (4°C) and 140°F (60°C), doubling in number in as little as 20 minutes.
