How Much Salmon Should You Serve Per Person?

Whether making a weeknight meal, or serving an entire side of the fish for a dinner party, you might find yourself at the seafood counter wondering exactly how much salmon you should buy per person. The fishmonger can certainly help guide you, but the math, it turns out, is fairly simple. Let us show you how to buy the perfect amount of salmon every time.

How Much Salmon To Buy Per Person

According to the Southern Living Test Kitchen, the standard portion of salmon is six ounces per person. Although, for hungrier folks or planned leftovers, you can make the portion closer to eight ounces or a half pound per person. (Personally, I always go with half pound per person, as it's better to have extra than not enough.) These weight guidelines apply whether you're serving individual fillets or an entire side of salmon.

We've created a handy weight chart to reference the next time you go shopping:

What To Look for When Buying Salmon

No matter how many people you're serving, you want to buy the best fish possible. And with salmon, it's pretty easy to decipher what's good from what's bad if you know what to look for.

• The first thing to do is trust your nose. Fresh salmon really shouldn’t have much of a smell, and if it does have a fishy odor, that’s a good sign it’s less than fresh.
• Another clear sign that it’s not very fresh is if there is any discoloration, such as brown or gray spots on the flesh. The meat should be smooth and unbroken in texture (old salmon can have huge fissures running through the meat). It should also be plump, moist, and firm to the touch, not soft, mushy, or slimy.

What To Do With Leftover Salmon

If you do end up with extra salmon, here are a few recipes that can put it to good use:

• Simple Salmon Croquettes
• Sweet-And-Spicy Salmon Rice Bowl
• Salmon Patties
• Cast-Iron Salmon With Baby Kale Salad