How long does salmon last?
In the fridge, salmon keeps for 1 to 2 days from the package date.
Where these times come from. USDA FoodKeeper has no entry named "salmon". The times on this page are the USDA figures for salmon, copied without change from its Fatty fish entry. The full entry lists other kinds too.
No guideline
1 to 2 days
from the package date
No guideline
Does salmon go bad?
Yes. The fridge time above is the window USDA gives for good quality; after it, salmon may still be safe for a short while but quality drops and spoilage signs start. The date on the package is the maker's quality promise; the times here count from purchase unless marked "from the package date".
Two numbers to keep in mind: a fridge at 40 F (4 C) or below, and no more than 2 hours at room temperature (1 hour above 90 F / 32 C) for anything perishable.
How to tell salmon has gone bad
- Fresh fish smells mild and clean, never fishy, sour or like ammonia. A sour, rancid or fishy smell in raw or cooked fish means do not eat it.
- A whole fish should have firm flesh that springs back when pressed, clear shiny eyes and red gills with no odour.
- Fillets should be firm with red blood lines and no discolouration, darkening or drying around the edges.
- Spoilage odours get stronger after cooking. If cooked fish gives off even a fleeting ammonia smell, throw it out.
- Use fresh fish within 2 days of buying, kept at 40 F (4 C) or below. If you cannot, wrap it tightly and freeze it.
Sources: Selecting and Serving Fresh and Frozen Seafood Safely (FDA). The times on this page are quality guidelines, not safety limits; food that shows these signs goes out regardless of the date.
How long do other seafood: fresh last?
Source: USDA FSIS FoodKeeper dataset (public domain). How we decode the data.