This Is Why Your Defrosted Salmon Has Yellow on It

My family loves salmon. Seriously, it’s a staple in our weekly meal rotation. Whether it’s grilled to perfection with a squeeze of lemon or slow-cooked in a tangy teriyaki glaze, it’s always a crowd-pleaser. But the other day, I thawed a beautiful fillet I had in the freezer, and to my horror, I noticed a strange yellowish tint on the flesh. I wondered, “What is this, and can we still eat it?”

Initially, I was worried. Salmon has always had that gorgeous pinkish hue that makes my mouth water every time I see it, so a weird, yellowish spot was definitely not a sight I expected. I started playing detective in my kitchen, retracing my steps to see if I had done something wrong. Could it have been in the freezer for too long? Was it stored improperly? Or maybe it had gone bad without me realizing it?

After a deep dive into the world of seafood safety (and a couple of hours Googling while sipping coffee), I learned that a yellow tint on defrosted salmon isn’t necessarily an immediate cause for panic. Here’s what I found out.