You wouldn’t believe the many varieties of salmon that exist. It’s not just about wild-caught or farm-raised, it’s about the entirety of salmon species, but most importantly the ones you really want to eat.
Salmon is one of the most nutrient-dense foods and among the types of fish recommended for regular consumption. The more often you eat it, the more benefits you’ll get from all the antioxidants, the vitamins, and minerals present in this fish.
Let’s not forget that salmon is rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are extremely important for overall health. And this type of fat isn’t produced by the body itself but must be provided. Omega-3 fatty acids are essential fats that the body needs to receive from food.
You can get a lot of omega-3s from salmon, and if you choose the right type of salmon, you’ll be getting so much more. Fresh salmon is tasty and flavorful, especially when the fish has been handled as soon as caught.
The best types of salmon to introduce to your diet include:
King Salmon also called Chinook Salmon is a species of the Wild Pacific and widely considered by many connoisseurs to be the most flavorful of salmon. This salmon is high in fat and has rich flesh of reddish orange to pinkish red color, depending on how the fish is able to metabolize pigments it receives from food, which is shrimp, crabs, and krill most of the times.
So if a salmon is able to metabolize, say, carotene, then it would have a red-orange color. Otherwise, it would have white flesh.
Sockeye Salmon or Red Salmon is a deep-red salmon that maintains the color all throughout cooking processes, which is why it is one of the most popular types of salmon served at dinner parties.
The beautiful and distinct color of this fish makes a long lasting impression, but the taste and the flavor are even stronger. Undoubtedly this is among the best salmon varieties.
Chum Salmon or Silverbrite Salmon is also known as Keta Salmon and Dog Salmon and is a smaller fish that has managed to earn a bad reputation over the years.
However, this is an excellent option for people who prefer less fatty fish. Keta salmon have a lower fat content compared to both Sockeye and King Salmon while offering lighter flavors too, which is why some people prefer it over other varieties.
Humpback Salmon or Pink Salmon is a common variety, and often the type of salmon sold widely in supermarkets and at fish markets.
Similar to Chum Salmon they offer a lower fat content and are less colored, but still, provide decent flavor. Humpback Salmon is often sold canned or smoked, although bought fresh the fish is suitable to grill or bake. And another thing on the positive side is that this salmon is very affordable.
Coho Salmon or Silver Salmon have silver skin, hence the name and a beautifully colored red flesh. Its flesh is rich, and some say one of the best-tasting.
Silver Salmon is great for grilling and is a lot cheaper that the King variety or Sockeye. Often mistaken with King Salmon, what differentiates the two types is above all the stronger flavor of Coho salmon. Also, the latter is less fatty and with a firmer texture.
There are also many other types of Salmon, but these are among the five main varieties found abundantly in stores.