Do You Need To Rinse Salmon Before Cooking? An Expert Explains

Here's what to know about rinsing salmon.

Once you bring the filets of fish home from the market, what’s the best way to handle them before cooking? Should you rinse salmon? Is it necessary to clean the fish when you get it home? Salmon does not need to be rinsed; in fact, rinsing the fish can lead to contamination.

Salmon is an increasingly popular fish that’s easy to prepare at home with minimal fuss. It’s an oily fish loaded with omega-3 fatty acids. Sear it, roast it, throw it on a sheet pan, bake it on parchment: Salmon deserves to be on regular rotation in your dinner lineup. 

We consulted with Razieh Farzad, assistant professor and seafood safety extension specialist in the department of animal sciences at the University of Florida for the answer to this important question.

Meet The Expert

• Razieh Farzad is assistant professor and seafood safety extension specialist in the department of animal sciences at the University of Florida.

Related: 50 Side Dishes For Salmon Dinners That Are Easy And Delicious

Does Salmon Need To Be Rinsed?

Salmon does not need to be rinsed before cooking, says Dr. Farzad, who points out that, “food safety guidelines suggest that rinsing meat including fish/salmon can increase the risk of spreading pathogenic (disease causing) bacteria around your kitchen.”

No matter what kind of salmon you purchase—wild or farmed—the advice remains the same. To minimize the risk of bacterial spread, you shouldn’t rinse the fish.

Choose salmon that looks moist as this is a sign of freshness. You can ask your fishmonger to smell the fish, and if something smells off, look for another piece of fish.

Related: Why You Really Don’t Need To Wash Raw Chicken

Does Rinsing Increase The Risk Of Contamination?

Rinsing salmon can potentially increase the risk of contamination, says Dr. Farzad. “Water splashes can spread bacteria from the salmon to other surfaces and foods in the kitchen,” she says. This is the reason many food safety experts agree that rinsing raw fish and meats isn’t a good idea.

However, if you do decide to go against the advice of food safety experts like Dr. Farzad, there are a couple of things to keep in mind. Using cold running water, “carefully and quickly” rinse the fish, instructs Dr. Farzad. Make sure the sink is clean before you start the process, says the seafood safety specialist and when you’re done, be sure to clean and disinfect the sink and any other touched surfaces afterward.

“Also, avoid letting the fish come into contact with other foods and kitchen items during and after rinsing,” says Dr. Farzad.

Should You Rinse Salmon To Remove The Skin?

While salmon skin doesn’t need to be removed at all—in fact, many people enjoy a crispy, seared skin—rinsing the fish doesn’t make it any easier to remove the skin. Instead, Dr. Farzad says to cook the salmon skin-side down in a hot pan. This will allow the skin to separate from the fresh as it cooks. The USDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit.

Once the fish is cool enough to handle, you can then remove the skin with little effort. To remove the skin before cooking the fish, Dr. Farzad says to utilize a sharp knife and take it to dry salmon—“possibly after chilling in the refrigerator to firm it up.”

Related: Soaking Salmon in Milk Supposedly Takes Away Fishy Odor and Taste, So We Tried It

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