Fresh King Salmon: Delicious and Nutritious Eating

There’s nothing to compare with the flavor and texture of fresh king salmon bought from a seafood market on the pier. King salmon, also known as Chinook salmon, can grow to well over 100 pounds, and is caught off the West Coast from California to Alaska. Last year’s fresh king salmon season ended early in Alaska last year, but this season looks to be shaping up into a good one. Here’s what you should know when you buy king salmon this year.

Fresh King Salmon

Look for king salmon filets that are bright, vibrant orange. If they have the skin on, the skin should be bright, silvery chrome. Avoid salmon with dark or red skin – the flesh will be practically tasteless and mushy. Always look for Pacific salmon, preferably wild, ocean-caught king salmon, which will taste better and be less fatty than river-caught salmon or farm-raised salmon. Farm-raised salmon is still tasty, but it doesn’t approach the same quality of taste and texture as ocean-caught wild king salmon.

How to Tell the Difference

Keep in mind that wild king salmon commands a higher price, so a seafood market will always advertise it as such. If it doesn’t specifically say “wild” or “ocean-caught,” assume that the salmon is farm-raised.

Sustainability

When you buy fresh king salmon that is wild-caught, you are buying seafood responsibly. Sustainably fished Alaskan king salmon are considered a “best choice” in sustainable seafood by the Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch, and California king salmon are listed as a “good alternative.”

Cooking Fresh King Salmon

King salmon is among the most versatile and easy to cook of the big ocean fish. Kings are loaded with omega-3 fatty acids – they are the fattiest of all salmon, in fact. The extra fat makes king salmon a very forgiving fish for novices, unlike other fish that will get tough and dry if they’re overcooked by just a minute or two. King salmon are ideal for grilling, slow barbecuing and smoking, make great sushi and sashimi and are delicious cooked just about any way you can imagine.

However, the high fat content also means that king salmon must be used quickly or it will go rancid. If you buy fresh king salmon fillets, cook it immediately, or keep it in your home freezer no longer than three months.

You’ll find king salmon for sale at your local seafood market, or you can buy king salmon fillets from a seafood market online. If you choose to buy fresh king salmon from an online market, always check their delivery policies to ensure that your salmon will arrive fresh and ready to prepare.