Is Salmon Gluten Free?

Is salmon gluten free? If you’re new to a gluten free diet it can be hard to know what’s gluten-free and what isn’t. As an ingredient salmon is naturally gluten free. But it becomes tricky to know whether or not salmon is gluten free once it has been cooked into a recipe. Read more to learn how to tell if salmon is gluten free and if popular products like canned salmon and smoked salmon are safe to eat if you have celiac.

This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases at no cost to you. See my Affiliate Disclosure to read my policy and more about affiliate links.

Table of Contents

• Is Salmon Gluten-Free?
• Is Smoked Salmon Gluten-Free?
• Does Canned Salmon Have Gluten
• Is Wild Salmon and Farm Raised Salmon Both Gluten Free?
• Salmon Health Benefits
• Is All Fish Gluten-Free?
• Gluten-Free Salmon Recipes to Try At Home
• Does Avocado Have Gluten?
• Keto Salmon Recipe with Butter and Shallots
• Is Salmon Keto Friendly?
• How to Make Gluten Free Salmon At Home
• Ingredients for Gluten-Free Mustard Glazed Salmon
• How to Make Gluten-Free Salmon In the Air Fryer and Oven

Is Salmon Gluten-Free?

Yes salmon is gluten free as well as all seafood and meat. Since salmon is an animal protein and isn’t derived from wheat it doesn’t have any gluten in it by itself. If salmon has gluten in it the gluten would have to be in another ingredient that was added to the salmon in a recipe.

Some common ingredients used in salmon recipes that have gluten include soy sauce and bread crumbs. Sometimes, the side dishes served along with the salmon are the source of gluten including side dishes like pasta.

Most of these ingredients can be swapped out for other gluten free options. For example, soy sauce can be swapped out for naturally gluten-free tamari. Breadcrumbs can be exchanged for quinoa or gluten-free breadcrumbs.

Instead of serving pasta as an accompaniment to salmon you can serve brown rice or white rice instead.

No matter what kind of salmon you’re craving, there’s always a way to make it gluten-free for people with celiac disease or who follow a gluten free diet. Many ingredients commonly used in salmon recipes aren’t gluten free like lemon juice, olive oil and fresh parsley!

So yes whether you like salmon fillets, salmon cakes or salmon patties they’re going to be gluten free as long as they’re made with gluten free ingredients!

Is Smoked Salmon Gluten-Free?

In short, yes smoked salmon is gluten free. Smoked salmon is made by curing salmon filets with salt and then placing them inside of a smoker. The result are sweet and Smokey pieces of sashimi or lox.

Smoked salmon is rich in nitrates (which aren’t so great for your health). But they’re 100% gluten free!

Does Canned Salmon Have Gluten

Most canned salmon is gluten free. But don’t assume that all canned salmon is gluten free because some brands pack their salmon with vegetable broth that has gluten in it. You need to read the label. If you see the word wheat anywhere on the label don’t eat the salmon. Look for zero references to wheat and or a “gluten-free” label on the outside of the can.

The law states that in the United States all food that has wheat in it must be clearly labeled to protect people with celiac disease.

What ingredients are in canned salmon?

Many brands of canned salmon that you can find in American supermarkets like Costco, Target, Publix and Aldi’s only have two ingredients: salmon and salt. One of these brands is the ever popular Bumble Bee!

Remember, some brands of canned salmon can have vegetable stock or oil in it. Make sure to check the label to see if it’s gluten free.

Is Wild Salmon and Farm Raised Salmon Both Gluten Free?

Yes both farm raised and wild salmon are gluten free. While farm raised and wild salmon eat different diets the gluten that could be in the farm raised salmon’s feed gets metabolized out of the flesh once the salmon digests it. Wild salmon would encounter gluten in the wild. I’ve never seen a a gluten containing sea vegetable! But when wheat starts growing at the bottom of the ocean let me know!

Salmon Health Benefits

Salmon has loads of healthy fats, omega-3’s and B vitamins.

Is All Fish Gluten-Free?

Yes, all fish are gluten free because they are a form of protein that comes from animals. Animals are not a source of gluten. All of the gluten in nature comes from wheat.

Gluten-Free Salmon Recipes to Try At Home

Here are some of my favorite gluten free salmon recipes you can try at home!

Does Avocado Have Gluten?

No avocados are gluten free because they are a fruit that grows on a tree. Fruits are naturally gluten free along with vegetables.

Keto Salmon Recipe with Butter and Shallots

This keto salmon recipe is full of flavor from the butter sauce and shallots. Salmon is one of the best foods you can eat on a keto diet because it has zero carbs and tons of omega-3 fatty acids. Salmon is filling and satiating which will help you stick to a low carb diet.

Is Salmon Keto Friendly?

Yes, salmon is keto friendly because it’s high in fat and has zero carbohydrates. Keep in mind that salmon is high in protein so you cannot eat an endless amount of salmon on a keto diet. Since keto also limits the amount of protein you can consume. However, if you’re on a low carb diet you can have all the salmon you want.

How to Make Gluten Free Salmon At Home

There are so many gluten-free salmon recipes out there and on this blog. But here I wanted to include one of my favorite easy, naturally gluten free salmon recipes to help you get started. This mustard glazed salmon is one of the most requested recipes on my blog. I know you’re going to love it. Let’s get started.

Ingredients for Gluten-Free Mustard Glazed Salmon

• Salt 
• Salmon 
• Agave 
• Dijon Mustard 
• Gluten-Free Breadcrumbs 
• Lemon Juice

How to Make Gluten-Free Salmon In the Air Fryer and Oven

Brine The Salmon

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Combine the salt with 2 cups of warm water mix until the salt dissolves. Place the salmon in the salt water and allow it to brine for five minutes.

Make the Dijon Mustard Sauce

1. Lightly grease a foil lined baking sheet and place the salmon skin side down. Cover with mustard and bread crumbs. Try not to get the sauce on the baking sheet itself since it will burn.
2. Bake the salmon for 8-15 minutes. In the last minute of baking place the salmon under the broiler for 20 seconds. This will caramelize the sauce but beware that any sauce on the tin foil will burn and give off smoke.