High in protein, minerals, and omega-3 fatty acids, salmon is a healthy and delicious seafood superstar. Its great for your overall health, brain health, and even recommended for expecting moms. Therefore, salmon should be a staple in your home. At BluGlacier, we like our salmon fresh. So we typically don’t recommend freezing it. Never frozen salmon is always the tastiest. You might want to buy and store salmon if you want to eat it often but don’t live near a store or don’t have time to go to the store often. You can enjoy salmon for longer and whenever you want if you store and freeze it. Fortunately, salmon can be stored frozen for up to three months or even longer. But you have to freeze it right! If you follow these steps, you can keep salmon frozen for a long time.
Here is an all-in-one guide to storing and freezing salmon to extend its shelf life. Let’s get started!
Trader Joe’s is my go-to grocery store for quality ingredients at affordable prices. Their fresh salmon fillets are a kitchen staple for quick and easy weeknight dinners But I don’t always use up the entire package before the expiration date This led me to wonder – can you freeze Trader Joe’s salmon to extend its shelf life?
The good news is yes, you can absolutely freeze Trader Joe’s salmon! Properly frozen, it maintains flavor, texture and freshness for later use. In this article, I’ll provide a complete guide to freezing Trader Joe’s salmon including storage times, how to freeze, thawing methods, and tips for maintaining quality.
Benefits of Freezing Trader Joe’s Salmon
Freezing leftover Trader Joe’s salmon offers several advantages
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Saves money – Freezing prevents food waste and saves the cost of buying more salmon for future recipes.
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Extends shelf life – Frozen salmon stays edible and tasty for 2-8 months stored at 0°F. Much longer than fresh.
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Provides convenience – Frozen salmon portions are ready to thaw and eat whenever you need a quick protein source.
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Preserves texture – Properly frozen fillets maintain a tender, flaky salmon texture when thawed.
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Retains nutrients – Flash freezing locks in the healthy omega-3 fatty acids and vitamins salmon provides.
Trader Joe’s Salmon Refrigerator & Freezer Storage Times
Here are the recommended maximum safe storage times for Trader Joe’s salmon:
- Fresh raw salmon in the refrigerator: 2 days
- Cooked salmon in the refrigerator: 3-4 days
- Fresh or cooked salmon in the freezer: 2-8 months for best quality
Be sure to freeze salmon by the printed “use by” date on the packaging. For maximum freezer shelf life, use frozen salmon within 2-3 months.
How to Freeze Trader Joe’s Salmon
Follow these simple steps to properly freeze Trader Joe’s salmon:
- Rinse salmon fillets under cold water and pat dry with paper towels.
- Wrap salmon tightly in plastic freezer wrap or place in resealable freezer bags.
- Squeeze out excess air and seal bag tightly. This prevents freezer burn.
- Label bag with contents and freeze-by date 2-3 months out.
- Lay bag flat in freezer set at 0°F or below.
- Once frozen, salmon portions can be grouped together in larger freezer bags.
Ensuring no exposure to air by securely wrapping salmon is key for freezing.
Thawing Frozen Trader Joe’s Salmon
Always thaw frozen Trader Joe’s salmon gradually using one of these safe methods:
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Refrigerator – Unwrap frozen salmon and place in a bowl or on a plate. Thaw overnight in the refrigerator.
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Cold water – Keep frozen salmon sealed in packaging and submerge under cold tap water. Change water every 30 minutes until thawed.
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Microwave – Use the defrost setting and check often to prevent outer edges cooking.
Never thaw frozen salmon at room temperature or in hot water, which can cause bacterial growth. Cook or refreeze thawed salmon within 2 days.
Cooking Previously Frozen Salmon
Previously frozen Trader Joe’s salmon can be cooked in various ways:
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Oven – Bake at 400°F for 15-20 minutes until salmon flakes easily with a fork.
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Sauté – Heat oil in a pan and cook over medium-high heat 3-5 minutes per side.
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Grill – Oil grill grates and cook salmon skin-side down first for 6-8 minutes total, flipping once.
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Poach – Gently simmer salmon in liquid like wine or broth for 4-7 minutes until opaque.
Always cook frozen salmon thoroughly to an internal temperature of 145°F. Adjust cook times as needed for frozen portions.
Storing Leftover Cooked Salmon
Follow these guidelines for storing leftover cooked Trader Joe’s salmon:
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Refrigerate cooked salmon within 2 hours in an airtight container.
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Use refrigerated leftovers within 3-4 days.
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Freeze cooked salmon up to 2-3 months at 0°F in sealed packaging.
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Avoid refreezing previously frozen salmon more than once.
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Maintain refrigerator temperature below 40°F at all times.
Freezing Tips for Maintaining Quality
Use these tips to help frozen Trader Joe’s salmon retain optimal quality and flavor:
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Start with fresh salmon, not salmon that’s already been frozen before.
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Freeze salmon in a single layer for quicker, even freezing.
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Exclude air and seal packaging tightly to prevent freezer burn.
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Coat salmon in oil and herbs/spices before freezing for extra flavor.
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Place frozen fillets on a baking sheet if stacking to prevent sticking.
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Wrap fish in parchment paper before sealing in plastic to prevent sticking.
Enjoy Trader Joe’s Salmon Anytime
By following proper freezer storage steps, Trader Joe’s salmon stays fresh-tasting with a tender texture when thawed. Use this guide for mess-free freezing and thawing.
Keep your freezer stocked so you can enjoy budget-friendly, high-quality Trader Joe’s salmon anytime for meal prepping, hectic weeknights, or satisfying seafood cravings.
How Long Can You Keep Salmon Frozen?
The duration for which salmon can be freezed varies depending on the type of salmon.
Heavy-duty aluminum or plastic wrap should be used to keep smoked salmon fresh longer after it has been opened.
If you store it right, an opened package in the freezer will last for about a month, but it will still be safe after that.
Constantly refrigerated canned salmon is safe for up to 3-4 days. You can extend the shelf life of canned salmon by freezing it.
Constantly frozen canned salmon, at 0°F, remains safe for consumption for up to 3 months.
When frozen, raw salmon will maintain its best quality for about 2-3 months. Though you can freeze it for up to six months, its quality starts degrading after three months.
To freeze raw salmon, first rinse it, pat it dry, and wrap in an air-tight container. Label it with the date of freezing, and use it before six months.
How To Thaw Frozen Salmon
When it comes to defrosting and thawing frozen salmon, you have a few options. Cooking frozen salmon may spoil its flavor and texture. So, be careful and give the fish enough time to defrost properly so that its nutrients and flavor stay the same. Remember, thawing is different than reheating. We’ve discussed how to properly reheat salmon on this post.
Make sure you keep the fish away from a dangerous temperature range (41-135°F) where salmon can grow bacteria.
Let your frozen salmon thaw naturally in the refrigerator for about 12 hours or more. Plan your meal in advance and transfer the frozen salmon to the refrigerator.
Do not freeze the salmon for more than 24 hours before cooking if it weighs more than one pound. Take it out of the box and cover it with a piece of plastic wrap that is big enough to hold the whole thing. Keep it away from sweet food; otherwise, it may absorb the fishy smell.
It’s possible to let the salmon thaw in cold tap water if you only have an hour to cook your dish.
Remove the salmon packaging, package it again in a dry zip-lock bag and seal it closed. Place the bag in a large bowl so that the fish defrosts evenly.
Next, move the bowl in the sink and fill it with cold tap water. Do not thaw out fish in hot water because it may create the risk of bacterial growth.
Replace water in the bowl every 10-15 minutes until the fish completely defrosts. Cook the salmon immediately; otherwise, the fish may go bad if left uncooked for too long.
Microwave thawing is the fastest way to defrost salmon and get it ready to cook, but it’s also the least recommended way. This method isn’t our favorite because microwaves can be dangerous and make the salmon thaw unevenly. There is also a higher chance of bacteria growing.
To thaw salmon in the microwave, remove the salmon from its packaging. Then place it on a paper towel in the microwave. Position the fish so that the thinnest parts rest in the middle of the container. Cover the fish with another paper towel.
Set the timer five minutes for every one pound of salmon. When the timer goes off after two and a half minutes, flip the salmon over and cook the other side. Keep thawing for one minute.
Once your salmon is thawed properly, you can broil, grill, fry, or cook it!
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FAQ
Is it OK to freeze store bought salmon?
Can you freeze vacuum packed salmon?
Can you cook Trader Joe’s salmon from frozen?
How to defrost Trader Joe’s frozen salmon?
Can you freeze smoked salmon at Trader Joe’s?
Yes, you can freeze smoked salmon for 1-2 months in the freezer or up to 6 months. There are so many ways to enjoy Trader Joe’s lox: Turn a bag of Trader Joe’s groceries into dinner! Download your FREE 5-day dinner plan + grocery list. Here are a few more reviews of popular Trader Joe’s items:
Does Trader Joe’s sell frozen salmon?
This process is known as “once-frozen” in the fish world. And, while it may be found elsewhere now, Trader Joe’s was once the only grocery retailer in the U.S. that sold it. According to a Trader Joe’s podcast about their frozen foods, the salmon you find is wild Alaskan salmon.
Is Trader Joe’s Fresh Atlantic salmon good?
Product Description: Trader Joe’s Fresh Atlantic Salmon is a solid farm-raised fresh fish option in the refrigerated case of Trader Joe’s. If you are looking for a quick and easy dinner and aren’t near a solid fish market then this is one of the best farm-raised salmon I’ve tried. For some, only wild will cut it.
Does Trader Joe’s freeze fish?
According to Wild For Salmon, there really is no way to verify that frozen fish has not been defrosted and then refrozen at any point, sometimes even more than once. This practice will affect the texture and possibly some nutrient loss in the process. How does Trader Joe’s get it right? “They catch the fish, they freeze the fish, that’s it.