Microwaving Salmon

Yes, salmon can definitely be cooked in the microwave. For a very simple recipe, place your salmon fillets or steaks in a microwave-safe dish. They should be about 1/2 inch thick and in a single layer.

Season with salt, lemon juice (about a tablespoon to divide between your steaks), olive oil (again about a tablespoon), and a little bit of crushed garlic if you like it on your salmon.

Cover the salmon and microwave until the edges flake easily. Depending on the power of your microwave, this will take between 5 and 7 minutes on the high setting.

After removing the salmon from the microwave, let it "rest" for a few minutes before serving.

Storing Fresh Fish

To store fresh salmon and fish, remove the salmon from its package, rinse under cold water and pat dry with paper towels. When fish sits in its own juices, the flesh deteriorates more rapidly. To prevent this, place cleaned salmon and fish, whole, fillets or steaks onto a cake rack so that the salmon and fish do not overlap. Set the rack in a shallow pan. If it is necessary to keep the fish for more that 24 hours, fill the pan with crushed ice. Since ice leaches color and flavor from fish, make certain that it does not come into contact with the fish.

Health Benefits of Eating Salmon

Omega-3 fatty acids found in salmon is an excellent source to boost up HDL in your blood stream. Omega-3 fatty acid is, a type of poly-unsaturated fatty acids which can only be supplied by food sources. A study chaired by Gary J. Nelson, Ph.D., of the U.S. Dept of Agriculture´s Western Human Nutrition Research Center in San Francisco, showed that HDL increased by 10% by just eating 20 days of of a high salmon diet. Moderation is the key. Include salmon to your meals occasionally and enjoy its health benefits.

Serving Smoked Salmon

Smoked salmon are best eaten with a squeeze of lemon juice or a sprinkle of a relish in which cayenne pepper is mildly present. Serve with your smoked salmon cress, cucumber or your favorite green salad.

Fresh Fish and Fresh Seafood

To find out if a fish or seafood is fresh, look it in the eyes. The eyes should be clear and never sunken.

Nutritional Value of Salmon

All fish, including salmon, is known for its healthy balance of nutrients and smoked salmon is no exception. Good levels of protein, polyunsaturated fat and lack of carbohydrate means smoked salmon is an ideal healthy constituent in your diet.

Keeping Fresh Salmon

After buying, wrap salmon and other fish in waxed paper or place in a covered dish and refrigerate the salmon. It is important to cook the salmon as soon as possible, although fresh salmon and other fish can be refrigerated for a day or two. Frozen salmon and other fish may be stored in the freezer for up to six months.

Cooking Salmon When defrosting salmon, remember it must remain cold until the salmon is cooked, therefore it should not be defrosted at room temperature. But rather defrosted in the refrigerator or for quicker results, use the microwave before serving salmon.

More Health Benefits of Salmon

There are many health benefits of regularly eating cold water fish like salmon that are naturally rich in omega-3 fatty acids. These benefits range from lowering the risk of heart attacks, to inhibiting breast cancer, to reducing inflammation in rheumatoid arthritis and fibromyalgia, and promoting improved bone growth. Salmon and other fish also appears to counteract the effect of a high-fat diet which a study suggests contributes to Alzheimer´s disease and can lower the level of a certain cholesterol that contributes to the risk of heart attacks.

Salmon for Pregnant Women

Pregnant and lactating women might be interested to know about the beneficial role of omega-3s in brain growth for neonatal and prenatal infants.

Canned Salmon and Calcium

Calcium is an added bonus offered by canned salmon. The bones in canned salmon are soft and edible making canned salmon an excellent source of dietary calcium, which is vital in the fight against osteoporosis.