How To Tell If Salmon Is Bad?
Salmon isn’t necessarily bad if it looks fine. But there are certain signs that indicate that it might be spoiled. You should look out for any of the following symptoms:
If the smell is strong, it may mean that the fish is rotting. If the color is discolored, it means that the flesh is decaying. If the texture feels slimy, it means that the fish is rotten. If the odor is overpowering, it may mean that bacteria are growing inside the fish.
You’ll never want to eat leftover salmon that smells bad. And if you find yourself wondering whether or not it’s safe to eat, you should throw it away right away.
What Makes Salmon Go Bad?
There are several reasons why salmon goes bad. Improper handling, improper storage, bacterial growth, or just old age can cause salmon to become unsafe to consume.
Improper handling means that the fish was not handled properly during transport or preparation. Bacteria can grow if the fish isn’t stored at the proper temperature. Old age can occur if the fish hasn’t been refrigerated or frozen correctly.
To avoid any problems with your salmon, make sure that it is fresh and free of any signs of spoilage. You should also store it in the refrigerator or freezer until you plan to cook it.
Tips To Tell If Salmon Has Gone Bad
Salmon goes bad quickly after being caught. Once it starts to spoil, it won’t last long. So, if you find yourself eating spoiled salmon, there isn’t anything you can do to save it. However, you can still eat it safely. There are several signs that indicate whether or not salmon has gone bad.
Smell It
You’ll notice that the packaging says that the salmon should smell fresh like the ocean. You won’t find any fishy odors coming off of the salmon. Instead, you’ll find a mild fishy odor that isn’t overpowering.
Fresh, high-quality salmon doesn’t have much of a sour smell at all. However, if there is a strong fishy odor, it means that the salmon was frozen and thawed multiple times. Frozen salmon tends to have a stronger fishy odor than perfectly-good salmon.
Make sure that you buy only fresh salmon. Avoid buying frozen salmon. Freezing kills most bacteria, but it does alter the flavor of the salmon.
Look It Over
Salmon is delicious, but if you buy it at the store and it doesn’t smell right, you’ll want to throw it out. You may not realize it until after you’ve eaten it, but there are certain telltale signs that indicate whether or not your salmon is safe to eat.
First off, salmon should be red when it is raw and turn to orange color when it has already been cooked. If it looks grayish or has white opaque skin, it has probably spoiled. Next, look for any kind of discoloration, including dark spots or mold. These are all signs that your fish has spoiled.
You might think that you can save your Alaskan salmon by cooking it longer, but that isn’t necessarily true. Some types of salmon spoil faster than others. If you find yourself smelling salmon and it smells fine but it still seems to be rotting, toss it out. Don’t risk eating rotten food!
Feel It For Firmness
You’ll want to make sure that your wild salmon isn’t spoiled before cooking it. One way to tell if it’s safe to eat is to feel it for firmness. If it feels soft or falls apart easily, then it probably needs to be thrown out.
To avoid any surprises, it’s a good idea to follow the tips listed above before cooking your salmon. These tips include checking the color, odor, and flaky texture.
Once you’ve cooked your salmon, you’ll want to serve it right away. If you let it sit for longer than two hours after cooking, it may start to spoil.
A piece of salmon should be moist but not slimy consistency. If it feels slimy or falls apart easily, throw it out.
How Long Does Salmon Last
You should definitely buy fresh salmon at the store. However, if you’ve already bought it, there are still ways to extend its lifespan. One of those ways is freezing it.
Cooked salmon will only last two days in the fridge. After that, it begins to deteriorate quickly. So, if you haven’t eaten it yet, you’ll want to eat it within the next couple of days.
Frozen salmon will keep for 2 – 3 months before the quality starts deteriorating. That means that frozen salmon won’t taste quite as delicious as fresh salmon, but it will still be safe to consume.
Salmon Shelf Life Chart
You should only eat raw salmon within 1 hour after purchase, and cooked salmon within 3-4 days. However, smoked salmon can last 6 months if kept refrigerated.
Risks Of Eating Bad Salmon
There are two main types of food poisoning that you can get from eating bad salmon steak. One is called ciguatera poisoning, and the other is called scombroid poisoning.
Both of these types of food poisoning cause symptoms similar to those caused by salmonella poisoning. However, unlike salmonella poisoning, neither of these types of food poisoning is contagious.
Ciguatera poisoning occurs when diners eat certain types of fish that have accumulated high levels of toxins from coral reef algae known as ciguateras. These toxins accumulate in the flesh of the mild fish and can remain deadly after the fatty fish is cooked.
Symptoms of ciguatera include gastrointestinal distress, muscle pain, headaches, itching, numbness, and temperature fluctuations.
Scombroid poisoning occurs when diners consume seafood containing histamine. Histamines are naturally occurring chemicals found in foods like tuna, mackerel, anchovies, and herring.
Scombroid poisoning causes gastrointestinal distress, flushing, hives, and sometimes diarrhea.
Does Cooking Bad Salmon Kill Bacteria?
Cooking your bad salmon leftovers isn’t going to kill off any of the bacteria that cause salmon food poisoning. However, if you cook your fish at high temperatures, you may end up killing off the bacteria that cause food poisoning.
You should never eat raw seafood. Raw seafood carries the risk of bacterial contamination. You should only consume cooked seafood. Cooked seafood is safe to eat.
To avoid getting sick after eating your bad salmon, cook it thoroughly. Don’t leave any uncooked parts of the fish sitting out. Keep your fish refrigerated until you’re ready to serve it.
How Long Will Salmon Stay Fresh In The Fridge
Salmon is delicious, nutritious, and healthy. But, there are certain factors that determine whether or not your safe salmon stays fresh for a long time. One of those factors is how fresh your salmon is.
Freshness is determined by how quickly the fish is frozen. If you buy your salmon from a reputable source that flash-freezes right away, you should be fine storing it in the refrigerator for up to five days.
However, if you buy your salmon from the grocery store, it’ll only stay fresh for two days. So, if you plan on keeping it longer than that, you’ll need to freeze it.
Wherever you keep your salmon, make sure to store it properly to avoid spoiling and bacteria growth. Keep it below 40 degrees Fahrenheit in your fridge, and tightly wrapped in plastic or foil in the freezers. Then, be sure you properly thaw your salmon prior to cooking.
