The Boiling Water Hack You Should Know To Effortlessly Skin Salmon

There are two types of people in the world: those who eat the skin on their salmon and those who don't. When seasoned and prepared in a hot pan with creamy butter or rich olive oil, fried salmon skin is the perfectly crispy addition missing from your meal. It's full of necessary vitamins and minerals that our bodies need to properly function. As a cherry on top, the skin also has a unique crackling texture that provides a noteworthy finish. However, if you prefer to eat your salmon skinless, there is a boiling water trick that might be right up your alley.

Skinning your salmon can be irritating, especially when raw filets are slick and hard to get ahold of. Many opt to use a kitchen knife when preparing their salmon, but it's not the safest route to take. In fact, kitchen knife-related injuries are some of the most commonly reported wounds in hospitals. Not to mention, you often lose some salmon flesh in the process.

It's best to swap out those knives and let the hot water do the talking. Essentially, the intense heat causes the skin to loosen from the fish's flesh. The ends of the skin will curl up, offering the preparer an easy peeling method to undress the rest. It's as simple as that! While hot water still requires adequate handling and care, this hack does not call for much additional time or effort.

The boiling water method was recently popularized by TikToker @rosereisman. In one hand, Reisman holds a raw salmon filet –- skin still intact –- while the other grips a silver kettle filled with preboiled water. Below, a baking dish and a wire rack are fashioned to create a countertop water-catcher. Once the salmon has been placed flesh-side down, Reisman drizzles the boiling water on the upper layer, causing the skin to visibly shrink and contract. Reisman then peels the skin off.

@rosereisman

I’ve got the greatest hack for removing salmon skin! (If you want to remove it. Some enjoy the skin!) Have you tried this method? Drop a comment with your thoughts/ questions. #rosereisman #kitchenhack #salmonskin

♬ original sound – Rose Reisman

However, it's worth noting that this trick has been used in some Asian cuisines for quite some time now. So, while it isn't exactly novel, it is handy. One of the most common concerns regarding this boiling water technique, though, is whether it will prematurely cook the filet. The answer is: No. While poached salmon is most certainly a thing, using hot water for a few seconds will not inadvertently boil it. Poached salmon requires at least 5 minutes in a covered pan.

That said, you can rest assured other methods used to prepare fish will still work swimmingly. Salmon skin can be removed with just your hands. In that scenario, it's important to pat your filet dry for a decent grip; for added control, sprinkle some salt on the end, too. This will provide a small barrier between the salmon's slimy flesh and the countertop as well as soak up additional juices working against your favor.

Even if you enjoy salmon skin, there are some nights when you don't want it. Perhaps you're changing up the usual and trying something new, or you want to enjoy your filet on a bed of pasta without picking silver scales out. If this is the case, don't discard your salmon skin right away –- it can make for an excellent appetizer. Fried salmon skin is a fantastic finger food that requires little preparation but yields amazing results. By cooking the skin in hot oil and sesame flavorings, you can give the salmon strips a savory and complex umami taste that's satisfying for both the mouth and the heart. 

In some parts of Southeast Asia, fried salmon skins, specifically those with a salted-egg flavor, are popular as bagged snacks available in stores. The trend began with Golden Duck, a Singaporean snack company, and it has since spread across the globe. Perhaps most notably, fried salmon skin also made a guest-star appearance in sushi trail mix on Netflix's "Snack vs Chef."

You can also enjoy fried salmon skins with a side of sesame or teriyaki sauce, on a bed of rice, or as a topping for tomorrow's salad. Wondering what to do with leftover salmon? You might as well include it, too. But if you're feeling particularly adventurous with salmon skin, try to incorporate them into sushi rolls. They will still need to be dried and fried, but once they are chopped up, add them to your seaweed, sticky rice, and veggies for a much-needed crunch.