How to Clean Salmon: Tips for Cleaning and Filleting It Quickly at Home

Thanks to its tender flesh and unmistakable flavor, salmon is a much-loved and widely used fish in our kitchens, a simple and incredibly versatile ingredient. Typical of the cold seas of the North, particularly the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, salmon can be enjoyed cooked or raw, in practically any type of preparation.

Royal, silver or red: salmon is a food with exceptional nutritional properties, it is rich in proteins with high biological value, contains vitamins and mineral salts and guarantees us a load of omega-3 fats essential for the correct functioning of the cardiovascular system and fundamental for reducing blood pressure levels.

If your trusted fishmonger hasn't cleaned the salmon fillet or tail, you can clean it yourself before cooking: here's a simple guide that will teach you how to clean salmon at home to perfection.

How to Clean Salmon

Fresh or thawed, salmon can be easily cleaned and filleted at home in a few simple steps. To do this, get a clean cutting board, a pair of scissors, a very sharp knife and a pair of kitchen tongs that will help you easily remove the bones. Then proceed as follows:

Pass the steak under cold running water, then dry it by dabbing it gently with a sheet of absorbent paper and place it on the cutting board with the skin facing down; following the veins of the salmon, with the help of the tweezers remove all the bones; if you do not have tweezers available, you can remove the bones simply with your hands, even if it is a little more laborious.

At this point you will have to  remove the skin: starting from the tail, insert the knife immediately above the skin and cut a small portion; turn the fillet so as to block the detached portion of skin with your fingers and with the knife slowly push removing all the skin; rinse the fillet and dry it again before using it.

If you have purchased a whole tail, you will have to cut it with scissors along the back and belly, then divide it in half with the knife and remove the central bone; in this way you will have obtained two fillets and you can proceed following the steps described.

How to Cook Salmon

The secret to salmon’s popularity isn’t just its rich, flavorful meat—it’s also its incredible versatility. This is a fish that can do it all, making its way into everything from light appetizers to hearty main courses. Whether grilled, baked, or smoked, salmon fits seamlessly into a wide range of dishes, earning its place as a staple in American kitchens.

If you're in the mood for a classic comfort dish, try salmon mac and cheese, where flaky, tender salmon meets creamy, cheesy pasta for the ultimate indulgence. Short on time? Keep it simple by throwing it on the grill with a lemon-butter glaze, letting the smoky char enhance its natural flavors. And if you're feeling adventurous, go for a bagel with lox and cream cheese, an iconic New York-style favorite that never disappoints. Want something refined yet easy to make? Salmon en papillote, baked in parchment with fresh herbs and veggies, locks in moisture and flavor for an elegant but fuss-free meal.