For starters, even if you don’t live on the Alaska coast, you can still have access to salmon directly from the fishery to your doorstep. Thanks to flash-freezing techniques, insulated packing, and expedited shipping services, customers can enjoy premium-quality frozen salmon year-round. But with the variety of delivery services on the market, it can be tough to choose between wild and farmed, or smoked and fresh. That’s why we’ve done the work for you and have compiled a list of the best salmon delivery services nationwide.
Best Salmon Delivery Services
Best Overall: Secret Island Salmon Best Value: Wulf’s Fish Best for Bulk Salmon: Salmon Sisters Best for Smoked Salmon: Blue Circle Foods Best Wild-Caught Salmon: Sitka Salmon Shares Best for Smoked Salmon: Goldbelly
Why You Should Try ItThe “Secret Island” of its namesake refers to the south of Chilean Patagonia, where the deep, cold waters are conducive to growing this BAP (Best Aquaculture Practices)-certified salmon. Pros and Cons ProsComplete satisfaction guarantee for freshness upon arrivalFlash frozen within hours of harvestingBoth prepared individual fillets and multipacks ConsLimited number of types of salmonSame or next-day air shipping unavailableOverview If you love salmon in all its forms, it’s worth checking out Secret Island for its variety and unique cuts of Atlantic and Coho salmon. Salmon is sold prepped and marinated in convenient individual packets or frozen in four- and 12-packs. If you love to grill, the company also makes salmon burgers and hot dogs and sells them together in a grilling bundle large enough to serve 12 people. Prices start at $30.99 for a pack of four Coho salmon fillets and go up to $92.97 for a 12-pack of the same, and $101.79 for a 12-pack of Atlantic salmon—they also offer something called Coho Salmon Bacon—i.e., center-cut salmon belly, which is cured and smoked with hardwood and sea salt. There’s flexibility in how you order the products, too; you can choose a delivery frequency of once, every two weeks, or on a monthly basis. ProsUnique super-freezing process locks in flavor and nutritionEasily navigable websiteModerate price pointConsNo specific sustainability certifications/alliances Only three types of salmon availableOverviewWulf’s is known for its unique super-freezing process: The company freezes its fish and seafood quickly and at a lower temperature than a standard freeze, preserving the seafood’s freshness and texture. Customers can choose from a variety of farmed and wild options, and it’s easy to filter a selection to include salmon supplied by CleanFish, which lets consumers trace the origins of their fish back to its source, method of harvest, and sustainability certifications. With such a huge selection, there is something to accommodate just about any budget, from $25 Nordic Blue salmon short cuts to $40 poke packs. Wulf’s also gives its customers the flexibility to order à la carte style or via a subscription option, the latter of which is easy to skip or cancel if needed. ProsMultiple sustainability certifications Shipping materials are eco-friendly and recyclable Founded the Give Fish Project, which donates fish to the Food Bank of AlaskaConsLimited selection No small orders possibleOverview If you are looking to stock your freezer with delicious, fresh, salmon, then Salmon Sisters may be the choice for you. The level of freshness and quality of fish and fishing partners that the Salmon Sisters work with keeps customers reordering. We like the level of transparency and accountability, too, as well as the company’s philanthropic bent. The company offers 10-pound boxes of wild Alaska sockeye salmon priced from $329. Beyond that, its menu of offerings is fairly streamlined, with items like Pacific cod (also in 10-pound portions) or 40 sockeye salmon cakes ($229). Items are easy to thaw overnight and cook for a quick lunch or dinner. (Other delicacies are available, too, such as tins of wild Alaska smoked herring and Bering Sea smoked octopus—but these are not sold in bulk.) Why You Should Try ItWith a tagline of “feel-good fish for everyday eating,” you get just that with Blue Circle’s sustainably sourced offerings of fillets, burgers, dogs, and kid-friendly breaded salmon bites. Pros and Cons ProsWide variety of farmed and wild-caught productsWebsite very easy to navigatePricing is very transparentConsNo subscription boxesSalmon offerings are 20 ounces or smaller OverviewBlue Circle is unique in that it offers a lot of options for pre-portioned seafood and salmon, some of which are sold pre-seasoned in single-serving packages, making it even easier to get a tasty salmon dish on the table. The company is very transparent about its product descriptions on its website, which makes it easy to understand the origins of its salmon; each product contains details of the method of harvest (i.e., wild caught or farm raised), how the seafood is processed, and community impact. There’s absolutely no guesswork on the part of the consumer, which makes Blue Circle the winner in our sustainability category. Why You Should Try ItSitka offers sustainable wild Alaska salmon to customers through its network of small-boat fishermen. Pros and Cons ProsCommunity-supported modelSustainable practicesVariety of box sizesConsLimited variety year-roundAvailability of products can vary Overview You may have heard of community supported agriculture (CSA): Sitka does the same thing, except for salmon fishing. Named for the Sitka Sound, from which it sources most of its fish, Sitka shares the same CSA approach. Customers pay for the salmon ahead of the fishing season, with portions delivered when the salmon is available (typically August through December). The salmon arrives frozen in vacuum-sealed portions, and you can order one box at a time or opt for a monthly share of a little under 5 pounds per order (prices start at $129 per box). If you’re dedicated to eating seasonally and believe that fish and seafood should be included in that equation, then Sitka is a good choice. ProsWide variety of brands Range of price points Extensive customer service options ConsShipping prices varyShipping time frames varyOverview With Goldbelly, you have the services of a large company from a range of stellar small and large food brands, including well-known smoked salmon purveyors like SeaBear Smokehouse and Russ & Daughters. As the suppliers vary widely, so do the shipping and pricing: Some items are sold by weight, while others are sent vacuum sealed in preportioned sizes. But if you’ve got a preference for Pacific Northwest smoked wild salmon, for example, SeaBear Smokehouse offers a four-pack from $59.95 with four different flavors (garlic, brown sugar bourbon, traditional, and beer garden). Or you can get super fancy with chef Daniel Boulud’s smoked salmon collection (from $179.95), which includes Scottish smoked salmon, salmon rillette, and a range of smoked and cured salmon with different flavorings (trout roe and bagel chips included!).
Guide for Choosing the Best Salmon Delivery Services
Who Should Use a Salmon Delivery Service?
Salmon is an easy way to incorporate a healthy protein into your diet; in fact, the American Heart Association recommends eating fish (particularly fatty fish, like salmon) twice a week. Besides having known health benefits, salmon is a fairly easy fish to cook, and many services offer fillets that are pre-seasoned for added convenience. These services are also a good choice for consumers who may have limited access to wild-caught or sustainably farmed salmon.
What Are the Different Types of Salmon?
While salmon is found in both the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, most Atlantic salmon will be farmed, due to overfishing and habitat destruction. Pacific wild salmon species include king, sockey, coho, pink, and chum. Wild-caught and farmed salmon are very comparable in terms of health benefits, but some salmon are more sustainably harvested than others. The Monterey Bay Aquarium Seafood Watch is an excellent resource for consumers who want to ensure their salmon is sourced as sustainably as possible.
Is Salmon Expensive to Purchase?
Salmon can be as expensive or as inexpensive as any other animal protein; it just depends on where it’s coming from and the practices surrounding its fishing and catching. Shipping can add up, too, if you’re ordering it from a salmon delivery service.
Does Eating Salmon Help With Weight Loss?
Salmon is a healthy protein option, being relatively low in calories and full of beneficial nutrients. However, many factors can contribute to weight loss, and you are unlikely to achieve weight loss with salmon alone. As always, consult with your physician before embarking on any weight loss plan.
How Do Salmon Delivery Services Package Their Fish?
Most of these companies will ship the product to you overnight or via two-day air and packed in dry ice to ensure the salmon remains frozen. Salmon is typically flash frozen within hours of being caught, which ensures that when it arrives to you, its texture and flavor remain intact. Fresh fish will typically be shipped overnight with gel packs and in an insulated box and should arrive cool to the touch. Contact customer service immediately if your shipment appears to have an odor or unpleasant texture.
Can I Return Salmon I Buy Online?
Typically, you can’t return a food product such as salmon due to its perishable nature. However, reputable companies such as the ones we’ve featured here will aim to make it right and will often offer you a credit or replace your product if it arrives in anything other than a fresh and satisfactory condition.
What Is the Best Way to Thaw Frozen Salmon?
The best way to thaw frozen salmon is the same as any other protein: overnight in the refrigerator or, barring that, about six to eight hours before you plan to prepare it. Put the package on a plate or a shallow bowl to catch any liquid that might be released while it thaws. To accelerate the thawing, submerge the vacuum-sealed pouch in very cold tap water and change the water every 30 minutes until thawed.
