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Cooking Tips

3 Ways to Make Salmon Taste Less Fishy

Salmon can have a very strong flavor. Here are three delicious ways to minimize it. 
By Published Aug. 26, 2022

Doctors say it all the time: “Salmon is good for you.” It’s high in protein. It’s high in potassium. It has a ton of those fancy-pants omega-3 fatty acids.

The problem is that not everyone likes salmon.

Some people love it. Others think it tastes too. . . fishy.

Don’t worry! Our masterminds at ATK have come up with a few ways to help minimize salmon’s strong flavor. These techniques will have you eating (and enjoying) salmon in no time.

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1. Sugar + acid is your friend.

Whether you use honey, teriyaki, or miso, glazed salmon is all the rage. There’s a reason for it! For one, it’s delicious. But from a scientific standpoint, the sugar and acid cut through salmon’s fishiness. Glazes add a ton of flavor while taming the salmon. It’s a win-win. 

Try this method with our Air-Fryer Honey-Glazed Salmon with Snap Peas and Radishes or my personal favorite, Miso-Marinated Salmon.

2. Turn on your grill!

Cooking your salmon outside actually does two things: For starters, the smoky char from the grill offsets the salmon. Second, it also prevents the salmon from stinking up your kitchen. Nobody wants a stinky kitchen. 

Try this method with our Grill-Smoked Salmon or even our Cedar-Planked Salmon.

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3. Burger it.

Turning salmon into salmon burgers is a great way to enjoy salmon. Why? It’s a patty mixture, which means you can mix in whatever you want. The flavor combinations are endless. 

Our Salmon Burgers with Asparagus and Lemon-Herb Sauce, for example, combines lemon, scallions, Dijon, capers, and herbs. Oh and be sure to try our Grilled Southwestern Salmon Burgers. The spicy chipotle-lime mayo is to die for. 

They’re also grilled. (See 2. Turn On Your Grill!)

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