Wild Salmon vs. Farmed Salmon

Wild salmon vs. farmed salmon-- Which should you buy?  Does one taste better?  Is the other healthier?  This guide will help you choose!

Sustainably sourced salmon. 

Fresh salmon. 

Canned salmon. 

Frozen salmon.  

Wild salmon vs. farmed salmon.

Is your head spinning?  Are you confused?

I'm here to help!

Wild Salmon vs. Farmed Salmon: Which Should I Buy? 

Which is the Best?  The answer is-- it depends.

There are six types of salmon that you might find in an American supermarket or fish market. 

Atlantic salmon is always farmed.  The other 5 types of salmon are (almost) always wild.

Wild Salmon vs. Farmed Salmon: When to Buy Farmed

Why might you choose farmed salmon over wild?

• Cost. Farmed salmon is almost always less expensive than wild salmon.
• Flavor. Farmed salmon is milder than most wild salmon, so if you're worried about a "fishy" flavor, farmed salmon might be a good option.

Is Farmed Salmon Sustainable?

Maybe.  Look for a "Best Aquaculture Practices" (BAP) label.

Should I Buy it Fresh or Frozen? 

Either! 

Look for "Fresh Never Frozen" labels if you prefer fresh, so that you can make sure it hasn't been previously frozen and then later thawed at the seafood counter.

What Are the Downsides to Farmed Salmon?

Color is added chemically through feed.

Wild salmon gets its signature color from the food it eats, but farmed salmon needs a little extra help to attain that pretty pink color.

Sometimes the salmon are farmed in dirty conditions, and the fish are sometimes fed antibiotics to keep them healthy.

What About Norwegian Salmon?

Norwegian salmon is simply Atlantic salmon.

Try Farmed Salmon: This easy seared salmon recipe works perfectly with farmed salmon.

Wild Salmon vs. Farmed Salmon: When to Buy Wild

Why might you choose wild salmon over wild?

• Quality: Wild salmon is caught in the Pacific ocean, and you never have to worry about chemical coloring, antibiotics, or poor farming conditions.
• Flavor: While some prefer the milder Atlantic salmon, wild Pacific salmon has a flavor like no other. And each type of Pacific salmon tastes different from the other!

Is Wild Salmon Sustainable?

Yes, absolutely!

Should I Buy it Fresh or Frozen?

Very likely frozen.

If you live in the Pacific Northwest, you might be able to find fresh wild salmon during the summer salmon season.

For the rest of us, you'll be looking in the freezer aisle.

Quick Tip: You can also buy canned wild salmon, which is my favorite way to make these easy salmon patties.

Which Type of Wild Pacific Salmon Should I Try?

There are five types, but the two you're most likely to see at the grocery store are Sockeye salmon and Pink salmon.

Sockeye (or red salmon) is bright red, packed with healthy omega-3 fatty acids, and has a distinct (some might say strong) flavor. It also happens to be my favorite type of salmon.

Try Sockeye salmon: This grilled salmon with pineapple is perfect with Sockeye!

Pink salmon is a mild, less fatty salmon. It's generally very affordable, and while it's less luxurious than Sockeye, it makes a delicious, lean protein.

Try Pink salmon: This salmon Caesar salad is one of my favorite ways to use Pink salmon.