Can smoked salmon be frozen? Yes, you can freeze smoked salmon. Smoked salmon freezes quite well if stored tightly wrapped in plastic wrap or in an airtight freezer bag or container. The shelf life of smoked salmon stored in the freezer is 3-4 months.

This article is a complete guide to freezing smoked salmon.

You’ll learn how to freeze and thaw smoked salmon and get answers to the most common questions about freezing various smoked salmon dishes, including salmon pâté, mousse, and terrine.

Does smoked salmon freeze well?

Sometimes you’ll find smoked salmon at your local grocery store. But how much smoked salmon can you eat in a single day?

And skipping a chance to stock up on this delicacy isn’t something you want to miss out on either. What should you do?

Luckily, smoked salmon freezes quite well. If proper freezing and thawing techniques are used, smoked salmon will not undergo major changes in texture and flavor.

3 rules to follow when freezing smoked salmon

Smoked salmon freezes well as long as you know the do’s and don’ts of freezing smoked fish. Here are the three main rules you must follow to get the best results.

1. Keep it airtight

The key to freezing smoked salmon in a way that doesn’t change its texture and flavor is to put it in an airtight bag.

A vacuum sealer works perfectly for freezing smoked salmon; however, if you don’t have one, use a zippered freezer bag and push excess air out of the bag as much as possible.

If you don’t have a plastic bag, put the fish in an airtight container.

2. Check the expiration date before freezing

You should always freeze smoked salmon while it is fresh. We do not recommend freezing salmon that is about to go bad. Freezing salmon that is about to go bad will not save the fish.

Instead, you’ll be filling your freezer with something that will most likely be unfit for consumption when thawed.

The sooner you freeze the smoked salmon, the better. Smoked salmon typically has a 2-week shelf life. Freezing smoked salmon when it is in the first week of freshness is a good way to extend its shelf life.

As long as your smoked salmon is only a few days old, it’s best to think of a way to use it while it’s good instead of freezing it.

3. Freeze salmon without the accompanying ingredients.

It is best to freeze salmon without any accompanying ingredients. Many people like to eat smoked salmon with creams.

However, freezing salmon with cream ingredients is not the best idea, as cream tends to separate after freezing and thawing.

We also do not recommend freezing smoked salmon with vegetables. While salmon holds up well in freezing, vegetables like peas, celery, and onions will lose their crunch once you thaw them.

When thawing, the water released from the vegetables will affect the flavor and texture of the fish.

As for herb smoked salmon, you can successfully freeze it as herbs hold up quite well in the freezer.

That being said, if you have the opportunity to add herbs to your fish after thawing, do so, as fresh herbs will certainly make your salmon look and taste better.

How to freeze smoked salmon

If you’ve decided to freeze the smoked salmon to preserve the pretty fillet for later use, take your time preparing the fish for freezing. Here are step-by-step instructions for freezing smoked salmon.

Prepare an airtight container or bag . We recommend using airtight freezer bags as you can squeeze out excess air helping the fish maintain its freshness. However, if you decide to use a container, be sure to choose one that is not too large for the piece of fish you are freezing. This will minimize the contact of the fish with the air.
Portion the fish . If you have a large piece of smoked salmon, we recommend that you divide it into portions before freezing it.
Seal the container . If the lid of your container is not 100% airtight, wrap the smoked salmon fillet in plastic wrap and only then put it in the container. The same goes for zippered bags that do not offer a secure closure.
Label with the date. Label the container or bag of smoked salmon with the date. The last thing you want is to go defrosting your fish for dinner without remembering how long it’s been in the freezer.

If you have an unopened package of smoked salmon, freeze it in its original container if it’s not damaged. You can wrap the package in transparent paper for an extra layer of protection.

Can smoked salmon be frozen after opening?

If you have an open package of smoked salmon in the fridge that is still edible, you can go ahead and freeze it.

Do not freeze smoked salmon in its original container if it has already been opened. Transfer the fish to a freezer bag and freeze it following the instructions above.

Can smoked salmon be refrozen?

As with most products, refreezing smoked salmon is not recommended.

Since you can’t refreeze smoked salmon, it’s important to freeze it in smaller batches.

Otherwise, if you thaw the entire package of smoked salmon and don’t manage to eat it all in a couple of days, you’ll need to throw away the leftovers.

Can the smoked salmon slices be frozen?

Yes, you can freeze the smoked salmon slices. Freeze them following the general rules for freezing a whole piece of smoked salmon.

If you have a large piece of smoked salmon, we recommend that you cut it into slices and freeze it in portions. Sliced smoked salmon also takes less time to thaw.

How long can smoked salmon be frozen?

For best flavor and texture, keep smoked salmon in the freezer for 3-4 months. Although the fish may still be safe to eat after that time, the smoky flavor of the salmon will gradually degrade as the fish remains in the freezer.

Stored in the fridge, smoked salmon lasts 2 weeks if unopened and only 1 week once opened. Therefore, freezing smoked salmon is certainly a good idea for long-term storage.

Considering you can eat smoked salmon for breakfast, lunch, and dinner, there’s absolutely no chance that smoked salmon stored in your freezer will go to waste.

How to defrost smoked salmon

There are two methods for thawing smoked salmon. Choose the one that suits you best depending on the time you have to defrost the fish.

If you have time, thaw the salmon in the fridge. If you need to speed up the process, use cold water.

Even if you’re in a hurry, never thaw frozen fish at room temperature. Thawing fish at room temperature will cause bacteria to grow. Exposing fish to drastic changes in temperature will also greatly affect its texture and flavor.

Here’s how to thaw smoked salmon safely.

Defrost in the fridge

The best way to thaw smoked salmon is gradually in the fridge.

If you plan to serve smoked salmon for dinner the next day, move the salmon from the freezer to the fridge 20-24 hours in advance.

The best way to reheat smoked salmon is in the oven with a drizzle of olive oil. You can also reheat smoked salmon in the microwave if you want to save time.

Thaw in cold water

If you don’t have 24 hours to wait for the salmon to thaw, you can speed up the process by using the cold water method.

Put the frozen smoked salmon in a sealed bag in a bowl of cold water or under a cold tap. Although this method of thawing takes significantly less time, don’t expect your salmon to thaw in a matter of minutes.

Salmon submerged in cold water will take 3-4 hours to thaw. Never use hot or lukewarm water to thaw salmon.

Even if you do it will work, hot water on frozen fish will increase the risk of bacterial growth and affect the texture of the fish.

3 Tips for Freezing and Defrosting Smoked Salmon

Sometimes knowing the proper freezing technique is not enough, as you may run into unexpected problems. Here are some tips to make your smoked salmon freezing and thawing experience easier.

1. Use parchment paper

When you have a lot of slices of smoked salmon that need to be frozen, you don’t need to use multiple plastic bags and containers.

Instead, use parchment paper to sandwich the salmon slices to prevent them from sticking together, as well as save space in your freezer.

2. Cut the salmon into slices before freezing it.

If you want to be able to thaw your smoked salmon more quickly, you need to take steps when preparing the fish for freezing.

Cut salmon into slices when freezing to reduce thawing time. The smaller the pieces of fish, the faster they will defrost.

Slicing salmon before freezing also reduces prep time for smoked salmon sandwiches and wraps .

3. Expect your fridge to smell bad.

When you thaw smoked salmon in the fridge, don’t be surprised if it starts to smell fishy in the fridge. To avoid this problem, we recommend that you use an odor absorber.

If you don’t have any in your fridge, opt for natural odor-eliminating products like baking soda.

How long does smoked salmon last after thawing?

If you have thawed smoked salmon in the fridge, you can eat it in 3-4 days.

For smoked salmon that was thawed using rapid thawing techniques (cold running water or a water bath), you should consume the fish immediately to avoid any health risks.

Signs that Smoked Salmon Has Gone Bad

Even if you frozen your smoked salmon fresh and followed all the freezing guidelines, the fish can still go bad for one reason or another.

Always check smoked salmon before freezing and after thawing for any signs of spoilage.

Bad salmon is very easy to spot. These are some of the signs of bad smoked salmon

Slimy white coating on fish caused by mold or yeast
Rancid smell as opposed to the smoky smell of good smoked salmon
Dull appearance and color changes

Now that we’ve gone over the best ways to freeze and preserve smoked salmon, let’s look at some related questions.

Can smoked salmon pate be frozen?

As salmon pate often contains ingredients of dairy origin, such as cream cheese , freezing may not give perfect results, as the cream tends to separate as a result of freezing.

However, from a food safety point of view, you can freeze salmon pâté , and doing it right will minimize the risks of texture changes.

The best way to freeze salmon pâté is in small batches in airtight plastic containers.

If you know you’ll need to thaw the entire batch for dinner, shape it into a loaf of smoked salmon pâté, wrap it tightly in plastic wrap, label it with the date, and freeze it.

Use the salmon pâté within 2 months for the best flavor and texture.

Be sure to thaw it well before serving. You can serve the thawed smoked salmon pate with chopped dill sprinkled on top for freshness. Or you can serve it spread on slices of bread.

Can smoked salmon mousse be frozen?

The salmon mousse has a very delicate texture. However, you can freeze it if you have any left over after a fancy dinner.

To successfully freeze salmon mousse, place it in a freezer-safe container with a tight-fitting lid . Label the container and consume within 1-2 months.

Texture and flavor changes should be minimal if you freeze the mousse correctly. If the mousse separates after thawing, mix it again to bring it back to its smooth texture.

Can smoked salmon terrine be frozen?

The smoked salmon terrine is the star of any dinner. But can you freeze leftovers or save time by making the terrine ahead of time and storing it in the freezer? The good news is that you can!

Wrap the salmon terrine in plastic wrap, making sure not to leave any open areas. If you do, your salmon terrine may get freezer burn.

Next, transfer the cling film-wrapped terrine to an airtight container or freezer bag.

One thing to know about frozen salmon terrine is that it will take hours to thaw. So keep this in mind if you’re going to defrost your smoked salmon terrine for dinner.

Can salmon be frozen?

The difference between smoked salmon and lox is that smoked salmon is brined and smoked, while lox is brined but not smoked.

You can freeze lox in the same way as smoked salmon. If it’s in an unopened package, freeze the salmon as is. For smoked salmon that is already out of its original container, freeze it in a zip-top bag, pushing out any excess air.

Can smoked salmon be frozen?