There are a few things you should check check including the expiration date, how the salmon looks, how it smells, and how it feels. Salmon that is old or spoiled will look dull or gray and may have a white, filmy residue. In addition, it will have fishy or ammonia-like odor and a mushy or slimy texture.
Raw salmon has spoiled if it has a strong ammonia odor, white film on the meat, dull coloration, and mushy consistency. Leftover cooked salmon spoils after 2–3 days, or when it has a sour odor and slimy texture. Use salmon within 1–2 days of the “sell by” date on the packaging, or before the “best by” date.
If it's past the date, toss it. Smell: Fresh salmon should have a neutral or mild smell. If the salmon smells fishy, sour or ammonia-like, then it's gone bad. Appearance: Fresh salmon fillets should be bright pink or orange with no discoloration, darkening or drying around the edges.
Proper storage is key to maintaining freshness. Salmon can be kept for up to two days in the refrigerator. Remove the salmon from its wrappings, rinse thoroughly with cold water and pat dry with a paper towel. Wrap the fish tightly in a layer of plastic wrap, followed by another layer of aluminum foil.
Can raw salmon last 4 days in the fridge? With the correct storage methods, your uncooked salmon has a lifespan of up to two weeks in your fridge. To ensure that you have delicious and safe fish meals each time, remember to discard any fish showing signs of spoilage!
When stored properly, fresh salmon will last for up to two weeks in the refrigerator. To get the most out of your salmon, it's important to follow proper storage guidelines such as keeping it sealed and refrigerated between 32°F and 40°F (0°C-4°C).
You know when salmon has gone bad if it smells sour, rancid, fishy or like ammonia. If it stinks like this when it's raw, it's likely to get stronger when it's cooked. You don't want to risk salmon food poisoning, and experts say you should throw the fish out.
While many people are mindful of the bacteria that can grow on raw fish, they sometimes forget that the same thing can happen to cooked fish. Like other foods, when fish starts to spoil, it can develop harmful bacteria including brochothrix thermosphacta, carnobacterium piscicola and lactobacillus plantarum.
Bacteria growth in all meats is impossible to stop. The bacteria are born from the animal itself and multiply as they decompose the meat. Cooking the meat to the right temperature kills the smaller amount of bacteria living on unspoiled meat. However, cooking bad fish will not kill the many colonies of bacteria on it.
Salmon can last up to 3 days in the fridge if it has been opened from its original packaging. Undeniably, proper storage is the key to maintain the freshness of this seafood.
"The FDA Food Code states seven days is the absolute maximum amount of time you should store cooked fish in the fridge." Hutchings shared that if you keep the leftovers any longer than one week, you may be taking a risk that Listeria monocytogenes, a bacteria that can grow in refrigerator temperatures, has grown on the ...
Typically, raw salmon from your local supermarket can only be stored for only 1-2 days after purchasing. This is due to the long seafood supply chain that sends the salmon overseas to be processed before it reaches the store. It can take 20-30 days for the seafood to get to your local store.
Color: Cooked salmon should be opaque and have a pink or orange color, depending on the species. The flesh should no longer be translucent or raw-looking. If the salmon still looks translucent, it needs more time to cook. If it looks white, it may be overcooked.
Fish tastes "fishy" when it hasn't been handled properly. To avoid "fishy" fish, smell and feel it. It should have a fresh and mild odor. It should be firm to touch and "spring back" into place.
Shelf Life Tips
Properly stored, unopened smoked salmon will typically last for 2 to 3 weeks, or the date on the package, in the fridge.
If you do choose to eat fish that is past its expiration date, make sure to cook it thoroughly. If the salmon has been properly stored and handled, then it may be safe to eat. However, if the fish has not been stored properly, then it could be contaminated with bacteria that can cause food poisoning.
After the sell-by date, you should have one to two extra days to eat the fish, as it's typically considered safe to keep in your refrigerator for one to two days after purchase.
Raw fish and shellfish should be kept in the refrigerator (40 °F/4.4 °C or less) only 1 or 2 days before cooking or freezing. After cooking, store seafood in the refrigerator 3 to 4 days. Any frozen fish or shellfish will be safe indefinitely; however, the flavor and texture will lessen after lengthy storage.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, fresh fish, including salmon, should not have a fishy odor. Raw salmon should have a mild scent and should smell like the ocean. If the salmon has a strong fishy smell, it's probably not fresh.
Fresh salmon should have a mild scent, whether it's cooked or raw. It just should not be overbearing. If the smell of salmon causes you to make a funky face, it probably isn't fresh. You can also do a smell test on frozen salmon, despite the nice smell.
Check if it's slimy. If it's not, it's not bad, yet. Consuming salmon that is two days past its expiration date carries some risk, and it is generally recommended to err on the side of caution and avoid consuming it. The expiration date is provided as a guideline for the optimal freshness and safety of the product.
It is not recommended to re-freeze fully thawed raw product. After opening raw salmon, it is best to consume within 3 days of thawing. Smoked salmon packages can be refrigerated for up to 2 weeks. DO NOT Keep sealed vacuum-packed raw salmon in your refrigerator for more than 2 days.
Packaged salmon should always be stamped with a “sell-by” date, so use that as your guideline for when the fish will expire. But if you buy salmon from the butcher counter, it won't be labeled with a date. Use the USDA guideline instead: Raw salmon is good for up to two days in the refrigerator.
Can you eat salmon a day out of date? The use-by date is only a guideline for freshness. If it's only a day or two out of date, inspect the salmon and look for signs of spoilage, such as sliminess and smell. If in doubt, discard.