How to Fix Undercooked Salmon: A Step-by-Step Guide

Salmon is one of the most popular and delicious fish to cook at home. With its flaky texture, mild flavor, and stellar nutritional profile, it’s easy to see why. However, it can also be tricky to cook just right. We’ve all experienced the disappointment of biting into a beautiful salmon fillet only to find it’s undercooked and nearly raw on the inside

Not to worry – with the right techniques, you can easily fix undercooked salmon and save your meal. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the various methods for fixing undercooked salmon, spotting the signs of undercooked fish, avoiding potential health risks, and ensuring your salmon turns out perfectly cooked every time.

How to Tell If Your Salmon is Undercooked

Before jumping into the fixing methods, it’s important to be able to identify undercooked salmon. Here are the main signs

• The flesh is translucent and glossy instead of opaque.

• The center of the fillet is dark pink or brown rather than light pink or orange.

• The texture is soft and gelatinous rather than firm and flaky.

• It falls apart easily when you poke it with a fork.

• Cut into the thickest part of the fillet and check that the color and flakiness extends all the way through.

Using these visual and textural cues, you can determine whether your salmon needs more cooking time. It’s much easier to spot undercooked salmon when you know what to look for.

Dangers of Eating Undercooked Salmon

Consuming undercooked salmon poses some health risks that are important to keep in mind:

• Bacteria: Salmon may contain dangerous bacteria like salmonella, Vibrio parahaemolyticus, Listeria monocytogenes, and more. Thorough cooking kills these pathogens.

• Parasites: Raw or undercooked salmon can contain parasites like tapeworms, cod worms, and Anisakis worms. Proper freezing and cooking methods kill parasites.

• Toxins: Some salmon species contain natural heat-stable toxins that are only destroyed by thorough cooking, like histamine in some wild salmon.

While the risks are relatively low, it’s still best practice to fully cook salmon to the proper internal temperature to destroy any potential bacteria, parasites, or toxins. Sicknesses usually cause stomach issues like vomiting, diarrhea, and fever. But infections can become serious in those with compromised immune systems.

Quick Fixes for Undercooked Salmon

If you’ve realized your salmon is undercooked part way through your meal, don’t worry – you have options for fixing it quickly:

• Microwave: Cut the salmon into smaller pieces and microwave 30-60 seconds until opaque.

• Pan-sear: Cut into portions and sear 1-2 minutes per side in hot oil or butter until cooked through.

• Oven: Bake at 400°F for 5-10 minutes until flaky and 145°F internal temperature.

• Sous vide: If you have a sous vide cooker, submerge ziplock bags of salmon in 130°F water for 10-15 minutes until opaque.

These fast cooking methods will eliminate any harmful pathogens and also improve the taste and texture. Keep a close eye to avoid overcooking the salmon.

Thorough Ways to Fix Severely Undercooked Salmon

For salmon that is completely raw in the center, you’ll need to use some more thorough cooking methods to completely eliminate any risks and improve taste. Here are a few options:

Oven-Baked

• Preheat oven to 350°F. Place salmon on a foil-lined baking sheet.

• Bake for 10-15 minutes until opaque and flakes easily with a fork. The internal temperature should reach 145°F.

• Let rest for 5 minutes before serving for juicier salmon.

Skillet-Cooked

• Heat a skillet with 1 Tbsp oil on medium-high heat.

• Cook salmon for 4 minutes skin-side down. Flip and cook 3 minutes on the other side until opaque and flaky.

• If the center is still undercooked, cover and cook for 2-3 minutes to let the fillet steam and finish cooking.

Poached

• Fill a skillet with water, white wine, or broth. Add aromatics like lemon, herbs, garlic, etc.

• Bring to a gentle simmer. Lower the heat, add the salmon fillet, and poach for 7-10 minutes until cooked through.

Grilled

• Oil the grill grates and preheat. Place salmon skin-side down.

• Grill for 5-6 minutes per side with the lid closed until opaque and 145°F internal temp.

• Baste with a glaze or marinade for extra flavor.

Sous Vide

• Vacuum seal seasoned salmon portions in bags.

• Cook in a water bath at 115°F for 45 minutes up to 2 hours until pasteurized.

• For food safety, make sure to start with previously frozen salmon.

No matter which thorough cooking method you choose, always double-check that your salmon is cooked through by taking the internal temperature in the thickest part of the fillet. With a little extra TLC, you can turn any undercooked salmon into a delicious, safe meal.

Tips for Cooking Salmon Perfectly Every Time

Now that you know how to salvage undercooked salmon, let’s go over some tips to nail perfectly cooked salmon right out of the gates:

• Use a meat thermometer to monitor the internal temp and eliminate guesswork. Cook to at least 145°F.

• Watch thick parts of the fillet to ensure even cooking. Thinner parts will cook faster.

• Flip halfway through roasting or grilling to cook both sides.

• Let rest for 5+ minutes before serving so the proteins can relax and reabsorb juices.

• Add fatty ingredients like oil, butter, or bacon to prevent drying out.

• Don’t overcrowd the pan or sheet to allow proper searing and prevent steaming.

• Use marinades sparingly since acids can start “cooking” the salmon early.

• Pat dry before cooking for better browning. Wet fish won’t sear properly.

Mastering these simple salmon cooking techniques will help you turn out tender, flaky, and delicious salmon every single time. Never serve up sad undercooked salmon again!

What to Do With Leftover Salvaged Salmon

You went through all the effort to rescue that undercooked salmon – so now what? Luckily, leftover cooked salmon keeps well and is extremely versatile. Here are some delicious ways to repurpose your leftover fixed salmon:

• Toss with pasta, veggies, and lemon-herb dressing for a salmon noodle bowl.

• Mix into salmon salad with greens, vinaigrette, and toasted nuts.

• Top on crusty bread for an open-faced salmon sandwich.

• Fold into an omelet with dill and cream cheese for a tasty breakfast.

• Mix with mayo, onion, and celery for salmon salad sandwiches.

• Layer on crackers with cream cheese and everything bagel seasoning.

• Enjoy salmon hash by crisping it up with potatoes, onion, and bell pepper.

With a little creativity, you can reinvent your recovered salmon into all sorts of easy salmon meals throughout the week. Get the most out of your seafood!

Perfectly cooked salmon can be finicky – but now you’re equipped with all the knowledge to fix underdone fish and cook it properly going forward. Keep these tips in mind:

• Visually check salmon and use a thermometer to test for doneness.

• For quick rescue methods, use the microwave, skillet, or oven to reheat until opaque and 145°F.

• For severely undercooked salmon, bake, poach, grill or sous vide thoroughly to eliminate risks.

• Employ techniques like basting, flipping, resting, and using thermometers to cook salmon right each time.

• Transform leftover cooked salmon into versatile meals and side dishes.

With the right techniques, you’ll be serving up tender, flaky salmon with confidence. Never let undercooked fish go to waste again thanks to these handy tips and tricks. Let us know how your salmon turns out! Bon appétit.