What Is Canned salmon and How Can I Use It?
Here's everything worth knowing about canned salmon and how to pick it, what it is, how to store it, and what to use instead, plus 82 recipes to cook tonight.
Key Points
- Cooked, shelf-stable salmon in the can, soft enough to mash straight from the pantry.
- Pink is mild and cheap; red sockeye is deeper-colored, richer, and pricier.
- The soft canned bones are edible, full of calcium, and mash right into the mix.
- Binds into salmon loaf, patties, and cakes; works anywhere you would use canned tuna.
- Drain well and break it up gently, since over-mashing turns the fish pasty.
What is canned salmon?
Canned salmon is salmon that has been cooked and sealed in the can, soft enough to mash and ready to use straight from the pantry. It is the cheaper, more rugged cousin of fresh salmon, and the backbone of old-school comfort food like salmon loaf and salmon patties.
Two kinds fill the shelves. Pink salmon is the pale, mild, inexpensive standard. Red (sockeye) salmon is deeper in color and richer in taste, and it costs more, so people save it for dishes where the salmon flavor leads.
Eat the bones
Here is the part that surprises first-timers. Canned salmon comes with its bones in, and you are meant to eat them.
The canning process cooks those bones until they crush to nothing between your fingers. Mash them right into the mix. They carry a real hit of calcium and disappear completely once everything is bound together, so there is no reason to pick them out.
You will also find skin in the can. Most cooks leave it in for moisture and it blends right away, but you can lift it off if the texture bothers you.
What to make with it
Canned salmon was made for binding into patties and loaves. A Basic Best Salmon Loaf or a plate of Cheddar Salmon Cakes leans on egg and crumbs to hold the flaked fish together, then a quick fry or bake sets it.
Beyond the classics, it folds into a creamy Easy Salmon Pate Dip for crackers, and flakes into sandwiches like the Alaska Salmon Salad Sandwich. Anywhere you would use canned tuna, canned salmon works, with more color and a richer taste.
Drain the can well first. Break the fish up only as much as the dish needs, because over-mashed salmon turns pasty and loses the flakes that make a patty interesting.
Buying and storing
Pick cans that are clean and intact, with no dents along a seam and no bulge or rust. Both pink and red keep for years unopened in a cool cupboard, so it is worth keeping a couple on hand.
Read the label for "wild" versus "farmed" and for "skinless, boneless" if you would rather skip that step, though you give up the calcium from the bones. Once opened, move any leftover salmon to a covered container in the fridge and use it within a day or two.
Nutrition
Nutrition Facts
Serving Size unknown (100g)Quick facts
Where to find canned salmon: Canned salmon is usually found in the canned goods section or aisle of the grocery store or supermarket.
Food group: Salmon, canned is a member of the Finfish and Shellfish Products US Department of Agriculture nutritional food group.
- In Chinese
- 鲑鱼罐头
- British (UK) term
- Salmon, canned
- en français
- saumon en conserve
- en español
- salmón enlatado
How much does canned salmon weigh?
| Amount | Weight |
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Related
Finfish and Shellfish Products
Recipes using canned salmon
There are 82 recipes that contain this ingredient.
Super Salmon Burgers
Super salmon burgers bind canned pink salmon with egg, breadcrumbs, cheddar, and thyme into pan-seared patties, served in pita pockets with lettuce, tomato, and tartar sauce. A 35-minute pantry burger.
Salmon Salad
A quick, easy and delicious lunch or dinner when you feel too lazy to cook up a storm! Place the yummy salad in between two slices of toasted whole grain bread to make a nutritious meal.
Warm Salmon Salad with Crispy Potatoes
Kick it up a notch with this version of salmon salad. The crispy potatoes make the dish worthy of serving to guests. Be prepared for rave reviews. It can also be stuffed into a pita for a quick and healthy lunch.
Salmon-Spinach Loaf
This recipe is a pleasant compromise between a salmon loaf and a spinach souffle. It does not have a strong flavor or texture of spinach, as do some cooked spinach dishes.
Cheesy Salmon Potato Cakes
These golden, crispy salmon potato cakes combine flaky salmon, creamy mashed potatoes, and sharp cheddar for a comforting meal. Perfect with baked beans or a fresh salad, they’re an easy, budget-friendly dish for any occasion.
Alaska Salmon Salad Sandwich
This quick and easy recipe will help you make a light but scrumptious lunch.
Easy & Yummy Salmon Burgers
Very low calorie alternative to your typical beef burger. The water chestnuts give the burger a good crunch.
Crustless Salmon Quiche with Fresh Herbs
Crustless salmon quiche: low-carb, gluten-free, weeknight-fast. Canned salmon, sharp cheddar, eggs and milk baked with fresh basil, tarragon, oregano, and parsley into a tender herb-flecked custard.
Peas 'N' Salmon Loaf
Salmon loaf with canned salmon, cracker crumbs, eggs, and green peas, baked in a loaf pan with a tangy ketchup glaze. A budget-friendly retro pantry dinner that bakes up in under an hour.
Cheddar Salmon Cakes
These delicious salmon cakes are so easy to make, and well satisfy your appetite. Well balanced flavor, texture and nutrients, and the ingredients are reasonably economical as well.
Best Salmon Cakes
These quick and easy salmon patties are the perfect starter dish for any dinner party. With just a few ingredients, these golden brown and crispy patties are sure to impress.
Favourite Salmon Patties
Very very good, we baked the pasties in the oven, and they turned out perfect.
Pacific Salmon Loaf
Pacific salmon loaf made with canned salmon, mayonnaise, bread crumbs, and chopped vegetables, baked and served with cucumber sauce. A simple, budget-friendly seafood dinner.
Basic Best Salmon Loaf
Leave the ground beef in the freezer, and use this delicious recipe that uses not chicken, but fish!
Lazy Salmon Cakes
Lazy salmon cakes turn canned salmon and leftover mashed potato into pan-fried patties with dill, lemon and onion. A pantry dinner that comes together in 30 minutes with whatever's already in the fridge.
Quickie Salmon-Potato Casserole
Creamy salmon casserole with potato soup, celery, and a crunchy shredded wheat topping. Ready in 30 minutes using pantry staples and canned salmon.
Fishy Fries
Deep-fried salmon fritters made with canned salmon folded into a light egg white batter. Crispy, golden fish fries served with tomato or tartar sauce. Kid-friendly.
Tangy Salmon Mousse
Light salmon mousse made with canned and smoked salmon, Greek yogurt, ginger, and whipped egg whites, served with a grapefruit-walnut oil salad. An elegant British-style starter.
Fisherman's Catch
Fisherman's Catch sandwiches are kid-friendly fish-shaped bread sandwiches filled with canned salmon, cream cheese, and cucumber, decorated with cucumber slice "scales."
Salmon Oysters
Salmon oysters are crispy pan-fried fritters made from canned salmon, eggs, flour, and baking powder. Shaped like oysters and fried golden. Serve with fries, coleslaw, and tartar sauce.
Cheesy Fisherman's Grill
Cheesy fisherman's grill: canned salmon and fresh crab folded into a parsley-tomato béchamel, topped with parmesan, and broiled bubbling gold. A quick seafood gratin for two.
Salmon & Basil Ravioli
Salmon and basil ravioli: homemade basil-flecked pasta dough filled with canned salmon and curd cheese, poached in fish stock and served with a fresh tomato-pesto sauce.
Salmon-Wiches
Salmon patty sandwiches on English muffins with hollandaise sauce. Canned salmon patties coated in crushed cheese crackers, sauteed, then slow-cooked in a Crock-Pot for tender results.
Salmon Salad Platter
Salmon salad platter with marinated broccoli, hard-boiled eggs, tomatoes, and cucumbers on mixed greens. Dressed with a light tarragon yogurt dressing made from the broccoli marinade.
Creamy Salmon Soup
Silky pureed salmon soup made in the microwave with white wine, curd cheese, and Greek yogurt. Uses canned salmon for a quick, protein-rich bowl ready in under 45 minutes.
Salmon Souffles
Cold salmon souffle with canned and smoked salmon, cream cheese, horseradish, and gelatine, set in moulds and coated in watercress. An elegant no-bake British starter.
Scandanavian Salmon Souffle
Low-fat Scandinavian salmon souffle with canned salmon, dill, lemon juice, and whole wheat bread baked in a custard of egg and evaporated skim milk. A light, single-serving lunch.
Salmon-Corn Casserole
Salmon-corn casserole with canned salmon, creamed corn, herb stuffing mix, hard-boiled eggs, and pimentos. A pantry-friendly one-dish dinner that comes together in 10 minutes.
Salmon Long Grain Risotto
Catch your family's attention with this scrumptious salmon dish made with long grain rice, fresh basil and chopped scallions.
Salmon Balls
Salmon balls baked in cream of mushroom soup made with canned salmon, rice, grated carrots, and onion. A budget-friendly, old-fashioned casserole that families love.
Alaska Matelote
French seafood stew (matelote) with canned salmon, prawns, mussels, white fish, and mushrooms simmered in cider-stock broth with basil and lemon: hearty mixed seafood soup.
Wild Salmon Crepes
Green-flecked spinach crepes folded around flaked wild salmon, sauteed mushrooms, and tangy yogurt sauce with fresh tarragon. An elegant brunch for two that's ready in 30 minutes.
Creamed Salmon in Rice Ring
Canned salmon and hard-boiled eggs in a mushroom-beer cream sauce served in a molded rice ring. A retro dinner party centerpiece that's back in style.
Instant Pizza
Instant pizza turns soft dinner rolls into quick salmon melts, spread with tomato relish, piled with flaked salmon and cheddar, then grilled bubbly. Ready in 15 minutes for a fast lunch or snack.
Dad's Favourite Salmon Cakes
Pantry-staple salmon cakes from canned salmon, cracker crumbs, and eggs, browned in butter and served with mushroom or celery soup sauce and fresh fennel. Old-school weeknight dinner in 30 minutes.
Flaky Salmon Surprise
Flaky salmon surprise with canned salmon and cucumber in a creamy tarragon sauce layered inside golden puff pastry rounds. An elegant British-style seafood main course.
Smokey Salmon Burgers
Crispy pan-fried salmon burgers made with canned pink salmon, mashed and grated potato, and smoky bacon. Budget-friendly, makes 10-12 patties in about 30 minutes.
Canny Cannelloni
Cannelloni tubes stuffed with canned salmon, mushrooms, and fresh breadcrumbs, covered in a pesto cheese sauce and cooked entirely in the microwave. A clever British weeknight supper ready in an hour.
Easy Mini-Salmon Burgers
Mini salmon burgers made with canned salmon, crushed saltine crackers, dill, and lemon juice. Pan-fried until golden for a quick appetizer or light main.
Spicy Pittas
Spicy salmon pittas: flaked canned salmon tossed with fromage frais, cumin, ginger, and beans, stuffed into warm pita pockets. A quick, protein-packed no-cook lunch.
Ginger Salmon Cakes
Pan-fried ginger salmon cakes built on canned salmon with fresh grated ginger, scallions, and parsley. Served over peppery watercress with a lemon-ginger oil dressing.
Salmon Puff
Salmon puff is a make-ahead microwave casserole layering canned salmon, seasoned croutons, and cheddar cheese in an egg custard with Worcestershire and dry mustard.
Deluxe Salmon Spread
Canned salmon spread with mayo, pimentos, dill, horseradish, and tarragon vinegar. A no-cook party appetizer ready in 10 minutes. Serve on brown bread or crackers.
Potato - Salmon Chowder
Creamy potato salmon chowder with carrots, peas, and celery in a homemade white sauce. A big-batch soup using canned salmon that makes 3 quarts.
Salmon & Rice Balls
Baked salmon and rice balls in cream of mushroom sauce. Canned salmon, cooked rice, eggs, and breadcrumbs shaped into balls and baked in a creamy gravy. Simple and satisfying.
Salmon Corn Scallop
Salmon corn scallop casserole made with canned Alaska salmon, creamed corn, sharp cheddar, and a buttered cracker crust. A hearty, old-fashioned bake with a golden, crunchy top.
Awesome Escalloped Salmon
Escalloped salmon bakes flaked canned salmon in a buttery white sauce topped with bread crumbs until golden and bubbling. Old-fashioned American comfort dish from the canned-fish era, ready in 30 minutes.
Lemony Lentil Salad with Salmon
Lemony lentil salad with salmon combines flaked salmon, canned lentils, red bell pepper, cucumber, and fresh dill in a zippy Dijon-lemon vinaigrette. A high-protein, no-cook lunch ready in 20 minutes.
