How to Thaw Frozen Fish Quickly

Learn how to thaw frozen fish quickly AND safely whether you're trying to defrost frozen fish like cod, salmon, or any other type of frozen fish pieces or fillets. We show you how to thaw it in the microwave or thaw it on the counter in water. It's a WHOLE LOTTA YUM!

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How to Thaw Frozen Fish

We've all been there, we're ready to start making dinner and suddenly remember that we forgot to defrost the frozen fish that you're supposed to be serving in less than an hour. Have no worries because we're about to show you how to quickly and safely defrost or thaw all types of frozen fish and your family will never know you spaced on the defrost.

Use the thawed fish to make our easy and healthy recipes for blackened cod or air fryer salmon.

Did you know you can also cook seafood and fish from frozen? We did that with our air fryer frozen salmon recipe and our air fryer frozen shrimp with garlic butter!

Ingredient Notes

This process will work for literally any type of frozen fish fillets. We used 1 lb of fish fillets that were about 1" thick. If your fish is thinner or thicker it won't matter! They might just take a little longer to defrost.

We tried a Butcher Box delivery of Alaska cod and salmon, it's comparable to grocery store prices yet it shows up on our doorstep with overnight shipping.

• 1 lb+ frozen fish pieces (salmon, cod, etc)

How to Defrost Fish Quickly

We show you how to quickly defrost fish two ways, in cold water or in a microwave. The microwave method is the FASTEST way to defrost fish but if you have a little extra time, the cold water method might be the method you prefer. Both methods work well.

Thaw in Water

1. If you're using flash-frozen fish pieces you'll want to remove the packaging before you defrost the fish.
2. Place the frozen fish into a gallon-size sealable plastic bag. Make sure it's closed all the way because you don't want water to seep inside the bag. Place the frozen fish pieces into a bowl and add cold water to cover the fish. Leave the bowl on your kitchen counter.
3. Every 30 minutes replace the cold water and flip the fish over. It took our fish pieces about 1 hour to completely defrost on the counter in cold water.
4. Your salmon or cod pieces are now ready to cook for dinner or to be used in your favorite recipes!

Thaw in Microwave

1. Place the frozen cod, salmon, or other types of frozen fish on a microwave-safe plate. Cover the fish with a paper towel or a microwave-safe cover.
2. Set the Power setting to 30%.
3. Microwave the fish in 30 second increments, which will take about 3-5 minutes in total depending on the size of the fillets and the thickness.
4. Be sure to turn the fish by flipping and rotating it every 30 seconds so that it defrosts evenly.
5. Remove the fish from the microwave when it's JUST thawed throughout, the fish will continue defrosting due to the residual heat.
6. Use the fish pieces of fillets immediately in your favorite seafood recipe. Enjoy!

Recipe Tips

• Our frozen fish pieces weighed about 6-7 oz each.
• Do NOT defrost frozen fish that is in vacuum-sealed packaging without removing the packaging first. It'll separate the fish pieces as it expands during the defrost plus it is a safety issue as it can grow a deadly toxin called botulism.
• This method will work with any type of frozen fish pieces or thin whole fish fillets. The key is to place the fish in a waterproof plastic bag and to change the water frequently.
• Do not leave the fish on the counter at room temperature longer than it needs to be and cook the fish immediately.

Common Questions

What is the safest way to defrost frozen fish?

The safest way to defrost frozen fish is by thawing it overnight in the refrigerator. Place the frozen fish in a shallow container and cover it with plastic wrap, let it thaw overnight. If you're using the cold water method or microwave method to thaw cod, salmon, or other types of fish, be sure to cook it immediately after thawing.

Is it better to thaw frozen fish before cooking?

While it is entirely possible to cook fish from frozen, it does add extra moisture to your dish and might not yield as good of results, especially when trying to cook crispy fish. For many recipes, you can simply add a little extra cooking time and cook the fish from frozen, but for best results, we recommend cooking defrosted fish over frozen.

How to store?

Once you've thawed fish and cook it in a recipe, the fish will keep in the fridge for 1-2 days.

More Fish Recipes

• Blackened cod recipe
• Fish taco bowls
• Air fryer salmon with honey garlic sauce
• Thai curried cod