3 Ways To Know If Salmon Is Bad - WikiHow

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Terms of Use wikiHow is where trusted research and expert knowledge come together. Learn why people trust wikiHow Telltale Signs That Salmon Has Spoiled PDF download Download Article Executive chef Abyssinia Campbell & wikiHow staff explain how to check if salmon is safe to eat, plus how to cook it properly Co-authored by Abyssinia Campbell and Hunter Rising

Last Updated: June 25, 2025 Fact Checked

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This article was co-authored by Abyssinia Campbell and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Abyssinia Campbell is an Executive Chef and the Owner of Chef Abyssinia, Personal Chef and Catering. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in catering, event planning, menu development, meal planning, and food business operations. When it comes to cooking, Chef Abyssinia enjoys using fruits, vegetables, healthy food alternatives, and local farm-fresh ingredients. She holds a BASc in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. There are 13 references cited in this article, which can be found at the bottom of the page. This article has been fact-checked, ensuring the accuracy of any cited facts and confirming the authority of its sources. This article has been viewed 669,136 times.

Do you want to enjoy a delicious piece of salmon, but you're worried it might be spoiled? Whether you’re cooking a fresh filet or reheating some leftovers, it’s important to make sure your salmon is still good so you don’t get sick. Luckily, it’s really easy to check your salmon and notice the signs of spoilage. Keep reading to find out when your salmon is still okay to eat and when it’s best to toss it out.

How to Tell If Cooked Salmon Is Bad

Touch your leftover cooked salmon to see if it has a slimy or mushy consistency, or if there is a white film on the meat—if any of these things are true, then your salmon has gone bad. You can also tell that salmon has spoiled if it’s dull and discolored or emits a strong ammonia odor.

Steps

Method 1 Method 1 of 3:

Raw

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  1. Step 1 Check for a strong, ammonia-like smell. 1 Check for a strong, ammonia-like smell. Smell the raw salmon to see if it has a bad odor.[1] Fresh salmon will have a very mild scent, but salmon that has gone bad gives off a pungent, fishy, or ammonia-like odor.[2]
  2. Step 2 Look for a milky coating on the fish. 2 Look for a milky coating on the fish. Before cooking, inspect your salmon to make sure it doesn't have a translucent white film on its surface.[3] If you see any type of slimy film developing on your salmon, toss it out.[4] Advertisement
  3. Step 3 Poke the salmon to see if it breaks apart easily. 3 Poke the salmon to see if it breaks apart easily. Press your finger into the meat to check the raw salmon’s consistency. If the fish holds together and springs back to its original shape, then it’s okay to cook the meat. However, if the meat easily mushes or breaks apart when you handle it, throw it away.[5]
  4. Step 4 Inspect the salmon’s eyes for cloudy discoloration. 4 Inspect the salmon’s eyes for cloudy discoloration. If you purchase salmon with the head still on, check the appearance of its eyes. Fresh salmon should have bright, clear eyes with a dark pupil in the middle. When the fish goes bad, the eyes appear discolored.[6]
    • The eyes on fresh salmon also appear to slightly bulge. If the eyes are sunken in, the fish has likely gone bad.
  5. Step 5 Check if the meat has a dull, pale color. 5 Check if the meat has a dull, pale color. Fresh salmon should have a bright pink or orange color when it’s still good to eat. If your salmon has a pale gray or pink color, then it’s probably best to throw it away.[7]
    • Fresh salmon also has fine white lines running through it, which indicate freshness. If you don’t see any white lines, your salmon has spoiled.
  6. Step 6 Look at the "best before" and "sell by" dates. 6 Look at the "best before" and "sell by" dates. If you are in doubt about the quality of your salmon, check the "best before" date indicated on the packaging. This date is not a definite prediction of when your fish will go bad, but it gives you a good idea of when it might spoil. Then, look at the "sell by" date on the packaging to see how much time has passed.[8]
    • As a general rule, refrigerated fresh salmon will keep for 1–2 days after its "sell by" date.[9]
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Method 2 Method 2 of 3:

Cooked

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  1. Step 1 Check for a foul, sour odor. 1 Check for a foul, sour odor. Give your salmon a sniff test to see if it has a foul fishy or rotten odor. If the salmon is still good, then it will have a mild, appetizing smell instead.[10]
  2. Step 2 Feel if the salmon has a slimy texture. 2 Feel if the salmon has a slimy texture. Touch the leftover cooked salmon to see if it has a slimy consistency.[11] If your salmon has lost its thick, flaky texture, then it’s starting to go bad and could make you sick. Throw it away if it has any sliminess to it.[12]
  3. Step 3 Avoid leaving cooked salmon at room temperature for over 2 hours. 3 Avoid leaving cooked salmon at room temperature for over 2 hours. If cooked salmon sits out at room temperature, bacteria will begin to grow on the meat. Always take note of the time you cook salmon or the time that you order it at a restaurant, and the time you are able to put it into the fridge to make sure it’s still safe to eat.[13]
  4. Step 4 Throw away leftovers that are more than 2–3 days old. 4 Throw away leftovers that are more than 2–3 days old. Regardless of whether the salmon appears to be spoiled, toss it out after 3 days. Since bacteria and mold start growing after a few days, eating the leftover salmon past that range could make your really sick.[14]
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Method 3 Method 3 of 3:

Cooking Salmon Safely

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  1. Step 1 Use your fork to see if the fish flakes. 1 Use your fork to see if the fish flakes. Gently scrape through the salmon steak or fillet with your fork to see how the meat reacts. When you cook salmon properly, it will easily break into flakes when nudged. If your fish feels dense or rubbery, then it isn't cooked properly.[15]
  2. Step 2 Look for opaque meat. 2 Look for opaque meat. Cut into your piece of salmon at its thickest point and inspect its color. Fully cooked fish will have a solid opaque color. If the salmon appears translucent, let it cook for longer.[16]
  3. Step 3 Check that the fish is at least 145 °F (63 °C) in the middle. 3 Check that the fish is at least 145 °F (63 °C) in the middle. Stick a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the meat and let it sit for a minute to get an accurate reading. As long as the internal temperature is at or above 145 °F (63 °C), your salmon is cooked all the way through.[17]
    • If you eat salmon before it reaches the proper temperature, it could make you sick.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question If the salmon is a greyish colour only on the bottom but the rest is totally fine, is it still off? wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer This answer was written by one of our trained team of researchers who validated it for accuracy and comprehensiveness. wikiHow Staff Editor wikiHow Staff Editor Staff Answer It's normal for the meat right next to the skin to have a grayish color. Just make sure that the rest of the meat isn't discolored or slimy. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 1 Helpful 7
  • Question How do I cook already smoked salmon? C Grace C Grace Community Answer Smoked salmon does not require more cooking - the smoking process has already cooked the fish. Enjoy warm or cold! Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 8 Helpful 20
  • Question How do I know if canned salmon is bad? Community Answer Community Answer Although it may seem counter intuitive because salmon is a type of fish, if it's still edible it should not smell unpleasantly "fishy" in any way. If your salmon smells somewhat sour or anything like ammonia,, it has gone bad and you need to toss it. Fresh salmon has a mild aroma, or one that smells similar to the sea. Thanks! We're glad this was helpful. Thank you for your feedback. If wikiHow has helped you, please consider a small contribution to support us in helping more readers like you. We’re committed to providing the world with free how-to resources, and even $1 helps us in our mission. Support wikiHow Yes No Not Helpful 10 Helpful 11
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Video

Tips

  • While wild salmon is sometimes thought to be better for you than farmed salmon, neither is bad. All types of salmon are rich in vitamins and nutrients such as Omega-3 fats and vitamin A.[18] Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 0
  • Storing raw salmon in the freezer can extend its shelf life by 2-3 months.[19] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
  • Store salmon in its original store packaging or in a tightly-sealed container to keep it fresh. Thanks Helpful 1 Not Helpful 1
Show More Tips Submit a Tip All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published Name Please provide your name and last initial Submit Thanks for submitting a tip for review! Advertisement

Warnings

  • Eating salmon that’s gone bad can cause food poisoning. If you have diarrhea, stomach pain, nausea, vomiting, or a fever, then you could have food poisoning. See a doctor if you notice blood in your stool, diarrhea lasting more than 3 days, or difficulty keeping liquids down.[20] Thanks Helpful 0 Not Helpful 0
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References

  1. ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview
  2. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/selecting-and-serving-fresh-and-frozen-seafood-safely
  3. ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ https://cfaes.osu.edu/news/articles/chow-line-tapeworms-in-salmon-potential-risk
  5. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/food/buy-store-serve-safe-food/selecting-and-serving-fresh-and-frozen-seafood-safely
  6. ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview
  7. ↑ https://cfaes.osu.edu/news/articles/chow-line-tapeworms-in-salmon-potential-risk
  8. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/food-product-dating
  9. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/media/101389/download
More References (11)
  1. ↑ https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/18244
  2. ↑ https://www.foodnetwork.com/how-to/packages/food-network-essentials/how-to-tell-if-salmon-is-bad
  3. ↑ Abyssinia Campbell. Executive Chef. Expert Interview
  4. ↑ https://www.stilltasty.com/fooditems/index/18244
  5. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/leftovers-and-food-safety
  6. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-tell-if-salmon-is-cooked
  7. ↑ https://www.bonappetit.com/story/how-to-tell-if-salmon-is-cooked
  8. ↑ https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/safe-temperature-chart
  9. ↑ https://doh.wa.gov/community-and-environment/food/fish/farmed-salmon
  10. ↑ https://www.fda.gov/media/101389/download
  11. ↑ https://www.cdc.gov/food-safety/signs-symptoms/index.html

About This Article

Abyssinia Campbell Co-authored by: Abyssinia Campbell Executive Chef This article was co-authored by Abyssinia Campbell and by wikiHow staff writer, Hunter Rising. Abyssinia Campbell is an Executive Chef and the Owner of Chef Abyssinia, Personal Chef and Catering. With over a decade of experience, she specializes in catering, event planning, menu development, meal planning, and food business operations. When it comes to cooking, Chef Abyssinia enjoys using fruits, vegetables, healthy food alternatives, and local farm-fresh ingredients. She holds a BASc in Culinary Arts and Food Service Management from Johnson and Wales University. This article has been viewed 669,136 times. 2 votes - 100% Co-authors: 7 Updated: June 25, 2025 Views: 669,136 Categories: Featured Articles | Salmon Article SummaryX

To know if fresh salmon is bad, check the smell. Fresh salmon has a mild scent, so if yours smells pungent or ammonia-like, it's probably bad. You can also inspect the surface for a white, translucent skin. If you see a milky film on your salmon, get rid of it. You'll know cooked salmon is bad if it has a foul odor and slimy texture. If leftover salmon sat out at room temperature for 2 or more hours, toss it. Leftover salmon that's been in your fridge longer than 3 days should also be thrown out. If you want to learn how to check if salmon is cooked properly, keep reading! Did this summary help you?YesNo

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Yes No Advertisement If you buy through links on our site, we may earn a commission.Cookies make wikiHow better. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our cookie policy. Abyssinia Campbell Co-authored by: Abyssinia Campbell Executive Chef Co-authors: 7 Updated: June 25, 2025 Views: 669,136 100% of voters found this recipe helpful. 2 votes - 100% Click a star to add your vote Gisela Turner

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"Thank you, wikiHow, I followed your guide and it worked beautifully! The packaging instructions on frozen salmon..." more Share yours!

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