In a nutshell, yes, you can freeze smoked salmon to preserve its quality, but avoid repeated thawing and refreezing to maintain its texture and prevent bacterial growth.
Smoked salmon is known to be somewhat of a delicacy. It is by no means a cheap product but is worth the splurge to enjoy its salty, smoky pop of flavor and delicately smooth texture.
Smoked salmon is incredibly healthy and can be enjoyed with breakfast, lunch, or dinner in a variety of dishes. This makes it the perfect ingredient to have on hand for last-minute catering.
Smoked salmon is prepared by drying, smoking, or curing the fresh fish in a combination of salt, sugar, or nitrite to retain optimal flavor and color. The cure ingredients can be rubbed on or dissolved into a brine.
With so much tender care given to one piece of fish, you wouldn’t want this prized ingredient to go to waste. The good news is that you can freeze smoked salmon to keep it fresh for longer when following the correct storage procedures.
Can Smoked Salmon Be Frozen?
Yes, smoked salmon can be frozen to preserve its quality, texture, and flavor. You can also freeze cooked salmon and freeze hot smoked salmon. Freezing smoked salmon is a great way to prolong its shelf life for months to ensure you always have a healthy and delicious protein ready for a meal at any time of day.
It is, however, important to keep in mind that once you purchase prepared smoked salmon, it has very likely already undergone freezing in-store as it is more economical for retailers to keep frozen stock. Therefore, by the time you freeze smoked salmon, this would be its second time in and out of the freezer.
It is best not to repeatedly thaw and freeze smoked salmon. If you do not eat the full pack once opened, freeze it in small enough portions so that you can take what you need out of the freezer without having to refreeze smoked salmon leftovers for a second time.
Repeatedly defrosting and freezing smoked salmon not only degrades the meat by causing microscopic damage to the muscle strands but also enables the growth of harmful bacteria.
How to Freeze Smoked Salmon
Store-bought smoked salmon generally comes ready prepared in deboned fillets or thin smoked salmon slices. If you have a whole fish or have done the smoking yourself it is best to properly clean and portion the fish before you prepare it for freezing.
Make sure there are no scales or bones. Depending on your preference, you may want to skin the fish as well.
When preparing your smoked salmon for freezing, it is important to follow the right steps to avoid having it spoil as a result of poor packaging and storage.
There are 2 preparation methods you can use to safely and properly freeze smoked salmon.
Method 1: Wrap and Freeze
Step 1: Portion
Divide your smoked salmon into portions sizes you would want to defrost for a single serving. This prevents having to thaw the entire batch and being stuck with leftovers.
Step 2: Brush with Oil
Brush both sides of the fish lightly with olive oil using a basting brush. This seals in the flavor and protects the smoked salmon from exposure to air which will cause freezer burn.
Step 3: Wrap
Similar to freezing cooked salmon, wrapping the product is the most important part of preservation in the freezer. If not wrapped properly, contact with air can cause oxidation, freezer burn, loss of texture, and poor flavor making it unfit for consumption.
Wrap each portion securely in 2 layers of cling film. Ensure that you fold and secure all the edges so that no air can get in. Optionally wrap it again in foil and then place each portion in a sealable freezer bag.
Step 4: Remove Air
Before sealing, lie the bag flat on the counter and lightly squeeze out all the air. Alternatively use a vacuum sealer to make sure your smoked salmon is packaged completely free of air pockets.
Never freeze smoked salmon in containers without following the full wrapping procedure as there will be too much air circulating the food and causing it to spoil.
Step 5: Label
Since you have wrapped your smoked delicacy so well you may want to label the freezer bag as it is not always easy to remember what is inside once it is frozen. Also, date the packaging so that you can keep track of how long it has been in the freezer.
Method 2: Flash Freeze
Flash freezing is another way of securing the longevity of your smoked salmon in the freezer.
Step 1: Flash Freeze
Place your portions of smoked salmon in a single layer on a baking sheet. It is best to lay it on a layer of cling film so that it won’t stick to the baking sheet once frozen. Place the baking sheet in the freezer just until the fish is completely frozen.
Step 2: Wrap
Once frozen, remove the salmon pieces from the baking sheet and store them in a freezer bag or wrap them in a double layer of cling film.
Step 3: Remove Air
Ensure that you fold and secure all the edges of the plastic wrap so that no air can get in. Lie the ziplock freezer bag flat on the counter and lightly squeeze out all the air before sealing it.
Never store smoked salmon in containers without any wrapping as there will be too much air circulating the food and causing it to spoil.
Step 4: Label
This is optional, but you may want to label the freezer bags as it is not always easy to remember what is inside once it is frozen. Also, date the packaging with a permanent marker so that you can keep track of how long the frozen fish has been stored.
How to Thaw Smoked Salmon
There is only one way to thaw smoked salmon and that is to place it in the refrigerator to defrost gradually at a controlled cool temperature.
Due to its vulnerability to oxidation and harmful bacterial growth, defrosting smoked salmon should not be done at room temperature, neither in warm or cold water.
Here is the safe guide to thawing smoked salmon.
Step 1: Refrigerate
Take your wrapped salmon out of the freezer and place it directly in the refrigerator.
Step 2: Pierce Packet
If you are defrosting cold smoked salmon, pierce the packet slightly when placing it in the refrigerator as this will prevent the growth of harmful bacteria during the process of temperature change. Leave smoked salmon in the fridge to defrost overnight.
Step 3: Unwrap
Remove the wrapping once your fish is fully defrosted. Your thawed smoked salmon is now ready to be devoured. If not using it immediately, keep it stored in the refrigerator. When serving, it’s best to reheat salmon to warm it up and serve with some salmon sides.
Types of Smoked Salmon
Smoked salmon refers to a general variety of salmon including everything from wild and farmed salmon to fillet, steak, cured, hot-smoked and cold-smoked.
Below is an outline of the most popular types of preserved and smoked salmon you will generally find in store.
Lox
Lox is a cured salmon preparation ideally made with the belly of the fish (called belly lox) which has a higher fat content. Lox is salt-cured, using a combination of salt, sugar, spices, herbs, and citrus zest.
After curing, the salmon is often fully cooked with heated wood smoke. The fish will take on the salty flavor of the cure or wood smoke and is used to top bagels with a combination of cream cheese and capers.
Gravlax
Gravlax is cured only, in a mix of salt, sugar, and dill. It is generally served whole, sliced, with dill and mustard sauce and crackers. Additional spices such as citrus, coriander, juniper berries, or fennel are sometimes added to the cure mixture as well as spirits like vodka.
Nova
Nova is cold smoked fish. This means they smoke salmon over a very low heat which gives it its distinctive smoky flavor. As the low smoking temperature does not cook the salmon but only imparts flavor, the fish has to be cured or brined before smoking.
Nova and other smoked salmons are generally served on platters, sliced thin, with a spread including capers, hard-boiled eggs, cucumbers, red onions, soft cheeses, and crackers.
Hot-smoked Salmon
Hot-smoked salmon refers to salmon smoked at high temperatures which cook the fish as well as imparting a smoky flavor. When ordering smoked salmon at your favorite restaurant this is most likely the type you will be served.
FAQ
How long does smoked salmon last in the refrigerator?
Smoked salmon should always be kept in the refrigerator and never left at room temperature. If smoked salmon is purchased vacuum packed it can last 1 – 2 months unopened in the refrigerator.
However, once the seal is broken and the pack is open you need to consume the smoked salmon within 3 days. If you know you will not use the entire pack within three days, freeze it while it is still fresh.
How long does smoked salmon last in the freezer?
Frozen smoked salmon will last approximately 6 months in the freezer before the flavor starts to decline. Defrosted smoked salmon should be kept in the refrigerator and consumed within 3 days.
How do you tell if smoked salmon has gone off?
Smoked salmon could be a health risk causing food poisoning if eaten after it is no longer fresh. Signs that the smoked salmon has gone bad include a sour odor or dull color.
Can you freeze smoked salmon that is already incorporated into a dish?
Smoked salmon recipes which include a creamy component should not be frozen. The dairy or cream ingredient will split on thawing, making it very unappetizing and unhealthy to consume.
Can you freeze smoked salmon slices or fillets in the original packaging?
If you have purchased vacuum sealed sliced smoked salmon or fillets from the store and have not opened it or broken the seal, it is ideal to pop into the freezer as is.
Can you defrost smoked salmon in the microwave?
No, frozen salmon (or any fish for that matter) should not be defrosted in the microwave nor at room temperature as this exposes it to the risk of harmful bacterial growth. Always thaw smoked salmon overnight in the refrigerator.
Can I freeze smoked salmon pate for later?
Yes you can, however, unless you know you are going to use all the smoked salmon pate in one go, freeze it in small portions to prevent smoked salmon spoilage. Wrap it well and place it in an airtight container. Always thaw smoked salmon overnight in the refrigerator.
Can you freeze lox?
Yes you can. The same method for freezing smoked fish will apply. Wrap lox salmon prior to freezing and place it in an airtight container. Always thaw smoked salmon overnight in the refrigerator.
Can I freeze smoked salmon once opened?
Yes, you can freeze smoked salmon once opened to extend its shelf life, but it’s recommended to freeze it in small portions to avoid repeatedly thawing and refreezing.
Conclusion
If prepared and packaged correctly, fillets and sliced smoked salmon freeze well and can last six months in the freezer retaining superb taste and texture. It is a delicious food component to use in breakfast, lunch, and dinner dishes as well as canapes and tea snacks.
Enjoy with scrambled eggs, a few slices on a bagel, in a quiche, on blinis with cream cheese, or as a whole fillet with crunchy vegetables on the side.
Smoked salmon is a delicacy totally worth stocking up on if you see it on special in-store – allowing you to enjoy smoked salmon goodness all year round, fresh from your freezer.
As a qualified Holistic Nutritionist, Helga has also combined her passion for good food and healthy living in wellness coaching. After years practicing in the catering and hospitality industries, Helga now focuses on sharing her knowledge and experience with others through writing about food tips, cooking advice, wellness, global food trends, and travel.
