The Best Easy Marinated Air Fryer Salmon

An air fryer is a fantastically low-lift way to perfectly cook fillets of salmon. We like to use four ounce fillets, which cook a little faster, fit in the basket better, and offer more surface area for the air fryer to work on. That way they get nice and crispy on the outside while staying buttery-tender inside. While the USDA recommends fish be cooked to 145°F, that often leaves salmon dry and overcooked. Many chefs recommend 120-125°F as acceptable—and as long as you're using high-quality wild-caught salmon, we agree.

You can air fry salmon with nothing but a little salt, or you can season it with your favorite marinades or rubs. Here, we've put together a very basic combination of maple syrup, lime juice, and soy sauce, which can be cooked down into a delicious glaze in about 5-10 minutes, while the fish is cooking. It's important to not let the fish marinate for too long or the acid from the lime juice will make the salmon turn mushy, the ideal amount of time is 15 minutes.