How to Tell If Cooked Salmon Has Gone Bad

How to Tell If Raw Salmon Has Gone Bad

Appearance
You can tell that the raw salmon is ready to be thrown out by its appearance. Fresh raw salmon is moist with bright pink- or orange-colored flesh. Raw fillets past their prime time appear dull-looking, discolored, or gray. The fillets may also have dry edges. Fresh whole salmon has shiny silver skin, clear and slightly bulging eyes, and red gills. If the fish is no longer fresh, the eyes will appear sunken or cloudy, and the gills will appear dull and brown.

Texture
Fresh salmon is firm to the touch. When you press your fingers against the flesh, your fingerprints will not leave an indent. Salmon that has gone bad may have a slimy or mushy texture.

Smell
You can also tell if salmon has gone bad by its smell. Fresh salmon has a mild or neutral smell, while spoiled salmon often gives off a strong and unpleasant ammonia-like scent.

How to Tell If Cooked Salmon Has Gone Bad

If your cooked salmon appears moist without any mold growth and discoloration and it doesn’t have an off-putting smell, it can last up to four days stored in the refrigerator at 40 degrees F or below, according to USDA guidelines.

When you cook or reheat the fish, you may notice white stuff oozing out to the surface. Rest assured that no bacteria or viruses have plagued your salmon — the white stuff is a liquid protein called albumin that solidifies during cooking. The appearance of albumin indicates that the fish may be overcooked.