I Asked 3 Experts To Name the Best Canned Salmon—They All Said the Same Thing

One of my favorite lunches as a kid was a tuna sandwich with all the fixings. Nothing beat the salty creaminess of tuna salad loaded onto wheat toast with lettuce and tomato. And while my love for a well-made tuna sando hasn’t faded one bit, my palette for canned seafood has since expanded. Whether it be anchovies, sardines, salmon, or even oysters, I have plenty of uses for tinned fish in my culinary pursuits. 

But in this canned seafood exploration, I’ve found that salmon is often forgotten about in the shadows of canned tuna despite being seriously delicious in recipes. Not only does it offer the same rich, savory flavor as fresh or frozen salmon, but it’s far more affordable—and shelf-stable for months on end. 

As a relatively new adopter of canned salmon, I’m still on the hunt for the very best brand on the market. I decided to ask a handful of food professionals what their favorite pick is, and lucky for me, they all cited the same brand!

The Experts I Asked

• Erin Clarke: Creator of the easy, healthy recipe blog Well Plated and author of the best-selling Well Plated Cookbook and Well Plated Every Day
• Joanne Gallagher: Owner and operator, alongside husband Adam, of Inspired Taste, a recipe blog
• Kat Marris: Senior recipe developer at Green Chef

The Best Canned Salmon, According to Food Professionals

According to these savvy food professionals, the ultimate canned salmon brand is Wild Planet’s Wild Sockeye Salmon. “I love canned salmon for its convenience and nutritional value and Wild Planet is my go-to for sustainable, wild-caught salmon,” says Gallagher. 

Marris was first introduced to Wild Planet through their canned tuna (“the only canned tuna I’ll eat!”) and soon discovered their canned salmon. “It's boneless, skinless, and sustainably caught,” she explains. Plus, the taste and quality of this brand can’t be beat. “This is my go-to for fresh, firm texture and clean flavor,” Clarke shares. “It’s never mushy,” Marris agrees.

But beyond being a smart environmental choice through small-scale fishing operations, Wild Planet’s skinless, boneless canned salmon can be quickly drained and ready for use in the midst of a busy day. “I love using it in salmon patties or adding it to a grain bowl for an easy, healthy, and affordable meal,” adds Clarke.

Marris also makes her favorite salmon patties with Wild Planet’s canned salmon alongside bread crumbs, egg, mayo, Worcestershire sauce, garlic powder, salt, pepper, and fresh parsley. “Then I form my cakes, pan fry for three to four minutes on each side, and eat them with a fresh salad—it's such a satisfying and easy dinner,” she explains.

Tips for Using and Buying Canned Salmon

There are plenty of other dishes that can be made using canned salmon, saving you the time, hassle, and cost of cooking and flaking fresh salmon fillets. 

“My go-to quick lunch is flaked canned salmon with olive oil, lemon juice, and sometimes a sprinkle of capers or onion. I also make a salmon salad (similar to tuna salad) with celery, onion, and mayonnaise, which I then serve as a sandwich or on top of salad greens,” says Gallagher. “Canned salmon is also a quick and easy way to add protein to pasta. For breakfast, I flake it into scrambled eggs with a little goat cheese for a high-protein meal that takes minutes to make but feels hotel fancy,” Clarke adds.

When it comes to buying canned salmon, these foodies all agree that prioritizing sustainability is important. Often, brands will mention sustainability initiatives on their packaging. Otherwise, a simple Google or Seafood Watch search can help you find brands that champion environmentally-friendly practices. Transparency about mercury levels and budget-friendly pricing are also important considerations for these food pros when searching for the best canned salmon brands.

Thankfully, Wild Planet checks all of these boxes and can be found at most large grocery stores and supermarket chains across the country.