What to know before scarfing up that seafood skin, or whether you should just take it all off.
Here’s what they have to say about eating salmon skin.
Jess Bryanis a registered and licensed dietitian at No Diet Dietitian, a telehealth nutrition practice.
Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Is It Safe To Eat Salmon Skin?
When cooked just right, it can offer a crispiness and an extra layer of flavor to your meal.
That being said, some people will probably want to forgo it due to its distinct fishy taste.
Credit:Caitlin Bensel; Food Stylist: Torie Cox
Both wild and farm-raised salmon can be contaminated.
Salmon sourced from other countries may not be as regulated as domestic fish.
The safest salmon is wild-caught in the Pacific Ocean.
When buying, look for environmentally sustainable salmon such as those rated by Seafood Watch.
Is Salmon Skin Healthy For You?
Salmon skin packs quite a punch when it comes to nutrition, she says.
It’s rich in omega-3 fatty acids which have anti-inflammatory benefits throughout the body.
It also has vitamin D and selenium, which are supportive of improved mood and metabolism.
I recommend selecting wild-caught salmon from the Pacific if thats within your budget, Bryan says.
It contains higher amounts of the anti-inflammatory fat omega-3 and fewer contaminants.
Some people shouldn’t eat it for health reasons.
Those with fish allergies and pregnant women should avoid it.
Unborn infants are at most risk of effects from mercury exposure.
There are also some cooking methods that don’t work well with the skin intact.
More commonly, using your chef knife start with the tail first, Tiess explains.
Once the skin in removed, trim away the dark, fatty flesh.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Pentachlorophenol.
Aquatic Toxicology.The effects of environmental pollutants on complex fish behaviour: integrating behavioural and physiological indicators of toxicity.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Learn about Polychlorinated Biphenyls.
Washington State Department of Health.Farmed Salmon vs. Wild Salmon.
Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch.Sustainable salmon guide.
Wild Alaskan Company.Can You Eat Salmon Skin?
Cleveland Clinic.Omega-3 Fatty Acids.
U.S. Department of Agriculture: Food Safety and Inspection Service.Safe Minimum Internal Temperature Chart.
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.Health Effects of Exposures to Mercury.
The Jacques Pepin Foundation.Removing Skin from a Salmon.
