Whether it’s eaten straight out of the packet or combined with cream cheese in a bagel, smoked salmon is delicious. The problem you find yourself with is the packet is too big. You eat a few slices, but you’re worried it’ll go off, and who likes waste?
Can You Freeze Smoked Salmon?
Yes, you can freeze smoked salmon for up to 6 months. Layer smoked salmon between sheets of greaseproof paper in an airtight container before placing it in the freezer.
Does Smoked Salmon Freeze Well? Yes
Can You Refreeze Smoked Salmon? No
How to Freeze Smoked Salmon
Here’s what we recommend when it comes to freezing smoked salmon. Just follow these instructions:
- Prepare Container: Take an airtight container and line the base with a piece of greaseproof paper.
- Layer Up: Place two slices of salmon in the bottom of the container and then place another layout of greaseproof paper over the top of it.
- Repeat: Continue the process until you have filled the container.
- Seal and Freeze: Seal it up, add a layer of cling film and throw it into the freezer.
The greaseproof should stop the slices from freezing together and make it easier to remove individual portions from the freezer to defrost.
Yes, lox can be frozen. Layer it between sheets of greaseproof paper in an airtight container, seal and freeze for up to 6 months. 
3 Tips for Freezing Smoked Salmon
Now you know how to freeze it, we’ve got our 3 top tips which we strongly recommend following when freezing smoked salmon to have the best results:
Use Greaseproof Paper
Ensure you place a sheet of greaseproof paper between each piece of smoked salmon to prevent them from sticking to one another.
Use it Sooner Rather than Later
The longer you leave smoked salmon in the freezer, the more of the smokey flavour will be lost. Try to use it quickly.
Expect a Smelly Fridge
Unfortunately, as you thaw smoked salmon in the fridge, it will smell… Fishy! You can try to use an odour absorber in the fridge to get rid of some of the smell as it can be strong.
How Long Can You Freeze Smoked Salmon?
Your smoked salmon can be frozen for around six months. This will make sure it retains its quality after defrosting. Typically, smoked salmon would only last two months in the fridge.
That’s why freezing it makes for the perfect way to help your smoked salmon last longer.
If you want to be on the safe side, try and defrost and consume your smoked salmon within 4 months. The longer any product is frozen, the more its flavour degrades. It’ll be perfectly safe but can lose its delicious smokiness.
Smoked salmon can be kept for up to 2 weeks in the fridge, but it must be consumed before the use-by date.
How Do You Defrost Smoked Salmon?
To defrost smoked salmon, you need to do it in the fridge. It can take as long as 24 hours to defrost a large portion of smoked salmon. You’ll want to store the smoked salmon away from other foods in your fridge that the smell could taint.
An alternative would be to use a small bowl of baking powder or an odour absorber in your fridge to help with the smell.
Once your smoked salmon has fully defrosted, use it immediately. You can use your frozen smoked salmon on its own or use it as an ingredient in another dish such as pasta or salads.
Can You Refreeze Smoked Salmon?
Like most fish products, you cannot refreeze smoked salmon once you have defrosted it.
This means that if you freeze the entire packet, then when you come to defrost it, you will have to eat the entire packet.
That works fine if there’s a group of your having brunch, but if you want it for a quick smoked salmon and avocado (which you can also freeze) bagel, then you might need to consider alternative ways of freezing smoked salmon.
Does Smoked Salmon Freeze Well?
Fresh smoked salmon is a tasty treat, but you can also get great results from freezing it. Taking the right steps to freeze and then defrost your smoked salmon will ensure that you always have some to hand when you need it.
Remember that the longer it remains in the freezer, the more the smokiness will degrade. Therefore, try and consume it within 3 to 4 months.
Related FAQs
If you’ve still got questions about freezing smoked salmon or salmon in general, then these may help:
If you have whole, hot smoked salmon fillets, wrap each fillet tightly in cling film before placing them into a bag and then into the freezer. You’ll need to allow them to thaw, in the fridge, overnight. We would advise freezing hot smoked salmon for only a few months to avoid any major changes to the texture.
Smoked mackerel is one of the more popular smoked fish, and, like smoked salmon, it can also be frozen.
Yes, if smoked salmon is in a vacuum pack, it can be frozen directly in the packaging without placing it into an airtight container. It can be frozen in vacuum packaging for 6 months.
