Why is my Salmon so OILY??

bhawkins0711
bhawkins0711 Posts: 92 Member
in Food and Nutrition
I know salmon is a source of "good fats" and is sometimes referred to as an oily fish; however, I recently bought a large fresh salmon filet from an international farmer's market. I cut it into several small pieces and froze each piece. When I cook them, I just take the frozen piece out and place it on a broiler pan. I usually spritz the fish with a little no-cal butter spray and lemon pepper. However, when the fish is done and I'm eating it, I notice that the fish is really oily. I've eaten salmon before, but never experienced it being this oily. Could it be because the fish was so fresh or is that a bad sign? There was a small area of skin on the bottom of the fish but that doesn't seem like enough to cause so much oil to be present. Any ideas?

Replies

  • withchaco
    withchaco Posts: 1,026 Member
    Some species of salmon are oilier than others. King salmon is super oily.
  • vim_n_vigor
    vim_n_vigor Posts: 4,089 Member
    I would skip the butter spray, and leaving the skin on can add extra oil too.
  • Sublimely_Self_Righteousreused
    Sublimely_Self_Righteousreused Posts: 935 Member
    It must be from that oil spill BP had a while back. :smile:
  • circuitsix
    circuitsix Posts: 12
    The skin is the healthiest part, try to eat it if you can. Salmon varies greatly in the amount of oils, especially from farm raised to wild.
  • Faintgreeneyes
    Faintgreeneyes Posts: 729 Member
    Instead of cooking it in a pan- try putting the piece of salmon in some tin foil with the lemon and baking it in the oven. It might reduce the oil, and you won't need to use any additonal butter spray.
  • windybaer
    windybaer Posts: 47 Member
    bump
  • tannaleigh
    tannaleigh Posts: 188 Member
    could just be that particular fish too.... at least its good oils!
  • trybefan
    trybefan Posts: 488 Member
    It must be from that oil spill BP had a while back. :smile:

    Hey-o!! Ba-da-doom...ting!
  • RAFValentina
    RAFValentina Posts: 1,231 Member
    Don't look at it as bad, most of it is the good heart healthy omega oils and stuff like CLA which can help your metabolism, fat burning, reduction of fat storage and also promote healthy cells which give you lovely healthy skin, nails, hair etc! :) x
  • bhawkins0711
    bhawkins0711 Posts: 92 Member
    So I shouldn't be freaking out about it???
  • bhawkins0711
    bhawkins0711 Posts: 92 Member
    I do cook it in the oven. I call the pan a broiler pan but it's one of those pans that you can set something on and if anything drips it catches it in the bottom. Anyways, I'll try not using any butter sray and see if that helps.
  • angelah682
    angelah682 Posts: 1 Member
    I know this post was from 2011 but I just went thru a similar experience tonight and am so grateful to have found this post (only one i found like it too)
    I also bought a nice $20 pc of salmon but instead of cutting it into portions i baked the whole thing for family in the oven in foil and then broiled it for a couple minutes at the end like I've done many many times over the last 20+ yrs and OMG not only was it sitting in a pile of oil the fish was unbelievably oily as well!!! I too had fat along the end of the pc and cut most of it off b4 cooking which I've never seen on my salmon nor had to do b4 so I'm assuming the fat had something to do w/ it. I sware I couldn't believe the amount of oil it was actually sopping 🤦🏼‍♀️
  • gininthegym
    gininthegym Posts: 47 Member
    I am not 1oo% certain but I do wonder if the seasons affect the amount of fat in the fish? Also there are different varieties of salmon - some oilier than others.

    I never use oil - just bake in a parcel of foil or parchment paper.

    I am cooking salmon this evening for dinner - I will report back on the oiliness :) Mine is Scottish salmon - fat content is 16.2g per 100g of fish.

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