Can You Microwave Leftover Salmon?

As much as salmon makes a delicious dinner, it’s sometimes too much to finish in one sitting. You don’t have to throw away leftover salmon the next day.

Microwaving is the quickest way to cook or reheat food. But not all foods can be reheated in the microwave.

So, can you microwave leftover salmon?

Let’s answer this in the following short article and learn more about microwaving salmon.

Is it Okay to Microwave Leftover Salmon?

Yes, it is entirely safe to microwave leftover salmon. But you must reheat it in stages at medium temperature to avoid a fishy smell that’s likely when your salmon dries up.

When you think of the fastest and the most hassle-free way to prepare your leftover salmon, microwaving should be your number one idea.

I find it quite helpful, mainly when working against tight deadlines with less time to adjust and take meals or when I am starving after work and there is no ready food in my kitchen.

But you must do it correctly to ensure your leftover salmon retains its taste and flavor. You could end up with a burned salmon with an awful taste and smell.

Tips for Microwaving Your Leftover Salmon

But before delving into the steps to follow when microwaving leftover salmon, let’s look at some mistakes people make when microwaving food. You’re a microwave away from making these mistakes, so you must know them to be on the lookout whenever you need to microwave your leftover salmon.

I’ve noticed the following mistakes when microwaving:

• Microwaving everything simultaneously. Your food can become overcooked, or undercooked because heat does not travel evenly.
• Microwaving water in a smooth glass container. Doing that can lead to superheating.
• Using any material to cover food in the microwave. Not all lids are microwavable, and some even melt under extreme heat.
• Failure to keep track of your food temperature.

As much as these mistakes may seem petty, they can harm your microwave greatly. You don’t want to go through the stress of cleaning melted plastics, for example, in your microwave.

You should observe these microwaving-safe practices:

1. Avoid metals and papers. Do not toss any metal container or kitchenware containing Metal handles or trims in the microwave. Also, get rid of any aluminum foil on the food before reheating. Paper cups and disposable paper utensils should also not go into your microwave. This kitchenware may cause sparks or generate a fire.
2. Avoid flammable food and beverages. Never heat or cook flammable foods and beverages because they can induce a fire in your microwave. Even worse, these items may cause an explosion in your microwave.
3. Avoid sealed food and beverage items. Tossing packed and sealed food and beverage items in your microwave increases the risk of an explosion. Always remove the food or beverage from the sealed packet and put it in a microwave-safe container before heating it in your microwave.
4. Place your microwave away from heating sources. Never put it near or beneath heating or cooking appliances like the cooker because they can cause it to overheat.
5. Never cover the vent of your microwave at the top when in use. Doing this may cause overheating of the appliance and, in some cases, generate a fire.
6. Avoid using your microwave with your door open because that exposes the appliance to microwave energy and can lead to an explosion.
7. If your food catches fire inside the microwave, turn off the power, unplug the device, and keep its door closed.
8. Don’t remove the plate or dish from your microwave immediately after cooking or heating. Allow it to sit there for a short time to let the container cool down and protect yourself from getting burned. It is also best if you get a microwave mitt to handle utensils safely from your microwave.
9. Avoid putting oversized food containers in your microwave because they can easily cause the risk of fire and electric shock.
10. Avoid using your microwave as a storage unit. Limit its use to reheating and cooking food and liquids using microwavable containers.

Step-By-Step Guide To Microwaving Leftover Salmon

Despite the risk of drying and having an awful smell, there is a simple way to microwave your leftover salmon.

Here is a quick guide to microwaving leftover salmon:

1. Put your leftover salmon in a microwavable dish.
2. Add a tablespoon of water to the dish.
3. Cover the dish with microwave paper or a wet paper towel.
4. Press the reheat button or set your microwave to medium heat or half power level.
5. Microwave for 30-second increments.
6. Flip and rotate your leftover fish.
7. Keep nuking and adjusting every 30 seconds until the internal temperature of your leftover salmon reaches 74 °C or 165 °F.

How Do You Know That Your Leftover Salmon in the Microwave Is Heated?

Your salmon is fully reheated when it reaches an internal temperature of 74 °C or 165 °F. You can also know that your leftover salmon is heated in the microwave when its surface gets sizzling, produces a lot of steam, and generates a smell of cooked salmon.

The best way to find out if your salmon is heated is to keep checking after 30 seconds.

A key thing to note before tossing your leftover salmon in your microwave is to add water to the fish to prevent it from drying. Turning your microwave to a 50% power setting and using a microwave-safe dish is also vital.

Besides checking frequently, you should also keep flipping your fish to allow even reheating. While doing this, keep checking the temperature to ensure it doesn’t heat beyond the recommended temperature of 74 °C or 165 °F.

Takeaways

Microwaving leftover salmon is necessary. However, doing it hurriedly without following a proper procedure can cause it to dry up and retain a fishy smell.

When reheating your leftover salmon, you must use a microwave-safe dish and keep checking and flipping your fish in 30-second intervals. You should also purchase a microwave mitt to protect yourself from injuries when taking your meal from the microwave.