What Does 6 Oz Of Salmon Look Like? Resolved (Updated)

Last Updated on July 14, 2024 by Shari Mason

It goes without saying that salmon is one of the top fish consumed globally.

Not only is salmon incredibly versatile, but its flavor and nutritional benefits make it a great choice for any meal.

But what does 6 oz of salmon look like, and what is the recommended serving size? Read on to find out.

6 oz Salmon: What Does It Look Like?

A 6 oz salmon fillet typically looks like a thick, rectangular-shaped piece of fish that is slightly curved in the middle. It is typically about 3/4 inch thick and 4-5 inches long.

It has a light pink color on the outside, with an orange hue on the inside. The flesh should be moist and firm and easily flake when cooked properly.

When cooked, 6 ounces (or 170 grams) of raw salmon will reduce by approximately 25 percent in weight due to moisture loss, so a cooked portion would weigh around 4 ½ ounces (or 125 grams).

Read: How To Cook Salmon On George Foreman Grill?

Visual Guide

Color

When purchasing a raw salmon fillet from your local grocery store, it’s very important to check if it’s fresh. And the first thing you’ll need to see is its color.

A fresh salmon fillet should be a vibrant pinkish-orange.

If you notice some discoloration (like it’s turning into something grayish) or bruises, that salmon is probably not in its best condition or has gone bad.

Read: How Long To Bake Salmon At 425?

Size

You don’t have to bring some measuring device when going to the grocery store because it just feels weird, but you should be able to estimate with some unwritten techniques.

Read: How Much Salmon Per Person?

Roughly Twice The Size of a Palm

A general rule of thumb is that a 6 oz salmon fillet should be roughly twice the size of your palm (from wrist to fingertips).

This should give you an idea of how much it weighs and whether it’s just enough for your meal.

Read: How Much Does Salmon Shrink When Cooked?

Approximately Twice The Size of A Deck Card

If you feel that the size of your palm is different from the average size, then you could use or imagine a .standard deck card. A 6 oz salmon fillet is roughly the size of two standard deck cards together.

Portion (Cut)

A 6-ounce portion should be about 5 ½ inches long and 3 inches wide for wild Alaskan sockeye or coho salmon. 

If purchasing farm-raised Atlantic salmon, your portions may vary slightly as these are larger varieties than their wild counterparts. [1]

A 6-ounce piece should still fit comfortably on an average dinner plate with room for side dishes such as vegetables or potatoes.

Appearance

The last thing you should check is the overall appearance of the salmon. It should be firm and shiny, with no signs of drying out or slimy patches. 

It shouldn’t be too slimy, as that could indicate it has been handled poorly or is starting to go bad.

Also, ensure it doesn’t have any overly fishy smell, as this is a sign that the salmon has gone bad already.

Is 6 oz of Salmon Too Much?

Generally, 6 ounces of salmon is enough for one to two people to enjoy as a meal. 

The FDA recommends consuming 8-12 ounces of low-mercury fish like salmon as it has many health benefits. [2]

“Your diet is a bank account. Good food choices are good investments.”

-Bethenny Frankel, Businesswoman

So serving 6 ounces of salmon to a single person can be done twice a week or up to four times a week if two persons were to share it.

FAQs 

Final Words 

Six ounces of salmon can be of different shapes, but it is generally twice the size of a palm or twice the size of a standard deck card.

An average person is safe to consume 6 oz of salmon twice a week or 8-12 ounces in total per week. A 6 oz of salmon can also be divided twice and should be enough for two people.

Salmon is considered one of those premium types of fish that are low in mercury, and consuming a little bit more than the recommended serving size is not that harmful as its health benefits outweigh any risks of consuming it.

References:

1. https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/wild-vs-farmed-salmon 
2. https://www.fda.gov/food/consumers/questions-answers-fdaepa-advice-about-eating-fish-those-who-might-become-or-are-pregnant-or