For instance, wild salmon feed on smaller fish, squid, and plankton. Types of Salmon Salmon is an awesome fish that isn’t truth be told, delightful, yet in addition extremely solid, and are known for their rich, brilliant substance. They spend 1-2 years in freshwater, and prefer near shore feeding grounds. The three popular types of wild Alaskan salmon are king salmon (chinook salmon), silverbite (chum salmon), and sockeye salmon (red salmon). Atlantic Salmon are actually more closely related to Brown Trout than other Salmon species. Knowing the distinguishing characteristics among the different types of salmon will help you find your favorite salmon. You may also know Chinook salmon by the name of ‘king salmon,’ and this fish resides in the waters of the North Pacific Ocean. Although wild Atlantic salmon is delicious, all Atlantic salmon … What should you know? Required fields are marked *. According to research, farmed salmon typically offers only 25% of the vitamin D that wild salmon provides (3). More than fifty-percent of the Sockeye Salmon caught is frozen and sent to markets in the U.S. and Japan. This is a consequence of the eating routine of the salmon… Alaska is home to a wide variety of wild Pacific Alaskan salmon. The fish is also the second largest among the salmon family after Chinook, and it can weigh up to 35 lbs (16 kg) (7). However, the USDA Food and Nutrient Database does not publish the vitamin D concentrations for most fish. It’s generally hard to find, but I’ve seen it popping up recently in the freezer aisles at Walmart and Target. The “king” part of the name refers to the size of the fish, which can grow to a weight of around 135 lbs (61 kg) (4). Chinook salmonhave been introduced in New Zealand and Pa… This is the largest of the salmon family. Chum salmon is one of the smallest varieties, at around 8 pounds. Farmed coho salmon predominantly come from China (89%) with smaller production operations in Japan and Canada (9). This easy to find, high-quality fish has a naturally brilliant-red flesh. Comment document.getElementById("comment").setAttribute( "id", "a4b802862f1dde0936818ff15a06dd5c" );document.getElementById("e83e4c482b").setAttribute( "id", "comment" ); Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. NutritionAdvance.com does not provide medical advice. The Atlantic salmon is the most popular type of salmon for commercial food production, and it is available in both farmed and wild form. Marine biologists consider chum salmon to be a sustainable and responsibly harvested fish. Alaskan Salmon Fishing Outing. Check out my favorite King salmon recipe ideas! Follow along to join me on my next adventure-- in food or on the road. (Most notably from Regal Marlborough King Salmon in New Zealand.). The slimmest and most streamlined of the Pacific species, the silver-blue sockeye lives from four to five years. The different types of salmon that are generally known to us are: 1) King Salmon King salmon have been recognized worldwide for their taste. Light pink, mild tasting, and low in fat, it is recognizable by its distinctive humps when spawning. Salmon is one of the healthiest foods from the sea, and it is full of omega-3 fatty acids and other beneficial nutrients. More pink and chum salmon are caught, but Sockeye Salmon are a higher quality fish and sell for a much higher price. As shown in this article, there are several different varieties of salmon, each with their own unique nutrition profile. Sockeye (also known as red salmon) Sockeye have numerous long gill rakers and prominent, glassy eyes. On the other hand, farmed fish consume fish feed pellets, the contents of which can vary from country to country. Boost your salmon vocabulary and learn the difference between King, Sockeye, Coho, and more. Chum has a lighter texture and a milder flavor than other types of salmon. Chum is your thumb, Sockeye is your index finger (imagine poking someone’s eye … These are Chinook, Coho, Sockeye, Pink, and Chum Salmon. Salmon is salmon, right? Today, "Wild" salmon has lost it's "wildness" due to the dams in the NW. Salmon in all its forms is a favorite of gourmet chefs and moms alike. Chinook salmon is historically a wild fish, although global aquaculture production started in the 1990s, predominantly in Chile and New Zealand (5). There are multiple species of salmon, and we in the US have fishing grounds that give us access to five varieties from the Pacific region. Check out a collection of my favorite Sockeye salmon recipes! As shown, it is much lower in fat than other species of salmon (8). In some farms, they use some type of coloring to make the salmon slices look more appealing and fresh. King Chinook Salmon. Although steelhead and rainbow trout are the same species, rainbow trout only live in freshwater. The term "salmon" comes from the Latin salmo, which in turn might have originated from salire, meaning "to leap". Therefore, you can’t go wrong with whatever option you choose; salmon is one of the healthiest foods we can eat. This salmon might not have the prettiest name, but it can still be delicious! The table below shows the nutrient profile per 100 grams for both wild and farmed varieties of the fish (1, 2). I’ve been salty at Salmon Run lately so I figured I should complain and compliment the different types of players? One of the most popular fish that draws anglers to our region is salmon. There are lots of websites that go into great detail about the different types of salmon. There are SIX– yes, SIX types of salmon. Steelhead may also be referred to as ‘rainbow trout,’ but there are some slight differences between these fish. Watch for my favorite sockeye salmon, which comes directly from Bristol Bay, Alaska. It’s also always farmed, and is chemically colored to be pink. The bright red hue of sockeye fillets is due to the high carotenoid content of sockeye salmon’s diet. Several types of salmon are sold commercially, but the most relevant are chinook, sockeye, coho, and pink. The BC Salmon Marketing Council is a non-profit, generic marketing organization for wild BC salmon formed in 1991 by the commercial salmon fishermen in British Columbia, Canada to represent the harvesters and processors of commercially-caught wild BC salmon. Wrong, U.S. and Canadian boats actually fish for five types of Pacific salmon: King, Sockeye, Silver, Pink, and Chum.. An easy mnemonic device, the five finger method, can help a person remember them all:. There are five species of Pacific salmon: king (also called Chinook), coho, sockeye (also called red), chum and pink. Five come from the Pacific coast and are called Pacific Salmon. Pink salmon, sometimes referred to as ‘humpback,’ is the smallest type of Pacific salmon, and it mainly lives in the North Pacific, particularly around the Alaska area. That said, all varieties of salmon (whether wild or farmed) offer a range of beneficial nutrients and—most importantly—bioavailable omega-3. There are six types of Salmon in North America. This is similar to the process that turns flamingos pink. Also known as King salmon, they are the largest of the salmon species. Americans often refer to Chinook as “Kings” because they are the “King” of salmon. Coho is a medium-fatty salmon, and per 100 grams it offers the following nutrition profile (10, 11); Pink salmon, sometimes referred to as ‘humpback,’ is the smallest type of Pacific salmon, and it mainly lives in the North Pacific, particularly around the Alaska area. Learn more about wild salmon vs. farmed salmon. These wild varieties are most … Is buying salmon confusing? With so many species of fish to fish for in BC waters, there is something to catch at practically any time of the year. They are listed by the most common names you'll likely see at … These figures can vary tremendously based on sunlight exposure and other factors. Anadromous – A fish that spawns in fresh water but lives the majority of their lives in saltwater. Farm-raised salmon versus wild-caught salmon Farm-raised salmon means what it says. Both chum and coho salmon are less commonly found in … Steelhead also provides a similar nutrient profile and omega-3 fatty acid content to the other classes of salmon (15). On this note, the diet predominantly revolves around zooplankton; nutritious small organisms that live near the surface of marine environments. Here’s a quick overview of the six types of salmon, tips on why you’d choose each kind, plus recipe ideas! Salmon is a set of orangish pinks or pinkish oranges that are inspired by the color of salmon flesh. Chinook salmon are the most well known type of salmon in North America. Generally speaking, all of these fish are healthy choices, but they do differ nutritionally. While they are one of the most commercially sought after species they make up only 7-10% of the commercial salmon fishery. The many different types of smoked salmon: an eye-opening selection. The farmed salmon, on the other hand, are fed dry pellets, and this lends a light orange color to the meat. Last Updated on October 3, 2019 by Michael Joseph. Your email address will not be published. Types of Salmon. Steelhead creates confusion over whether it’s a salmon or a trout, and it even has the nickname of ‘salmon trout.’. For more on healthy fish, see this guide to the best fish choices for omega-3. Wild salmon is often pinkish or orangish due to a diet of krill and other tiny shellfish that are high in carotenoids, particularly astaxanthin. All types of salmon are available in one of three product forms: fresh, frozen or canned. As a result, most of the commercially available chum salmon for food comes from Alaska. It’s easy to find frozen or canned! To confuse matters, each of these has at least one other name as well as their Latin name, as noted below. The genus Oncorhynchus contains eight species which occur naturally only in the North Pacific. Hi, I'm Sarah! It's not that Atlantic salmon is bad, it's just that there are very few Atlantic salmon found in the wild today, due to overfishing and habitat destruction. Leave a Comment. Other Types of Salmon Danube Salmon: It is a large freshwater fish that belong to the salmon family and is found in the basin of the Danube river in Europe. Learn all about the different types of salmon that are used for smoking, and what makes them deliciously different. About one fourth or less of the wild domestic salmon catch is canned, and most canned salmon is either pink, chum, or sockeye. Pink Humpback Salmon. All salmon are a good source of vitamin D, and wild fish offer the most significant amount. The other one traditionally lives in the Atlantic and is simply called Atlantic Salmon. Try it in these Keta Salmon Sushi Stacks from Diversivore. If you're looking to stick to wild salmon, you're going to want to go with Pacific salmon, of which there are five types: King, Sockeye, Coho, Pink, and Chum. CCPA Privacy Policy (California Residents). Red Sockeye Salmon. It’s not as luxurious as Sockeye salmon, but is a delicious, lean protein. Two types of Pacific salmon are easy to find across America– Sockeye and Pink salmon, while the rest can be a little trickier to find. Sockeye An oilier fish with deep red flesh, sockeye salmon also high in heart-healthy omega-3s but has a stronger flavor and stands up well to grilling. While coho salmon from around Alaska is wild, an aquaculture production trade has increased over the past few decades. These contrasting names come from the fact that sockeye salmon are actually blue, but they have red flesh. Pink and Chum These are smaller fish and most often used for … For instance, fish that eat lots of shrimp tend to have the pinkest flesh. Each of the other five types of salmon are found in the Pacific ocean. Be sure to try it in Japan, where there are a wide variety of ways to enjoy salmon sushi that you can’t find anywhere else. The nutritional values for Chum per 100 grams are shown below. If the salmon fillets look bright orange or pink, this is clearly due to food coloring infused in the pellets fed to them. Silver Coho Salmon. For fans of milder tasting fish, this is also one the most affordable of the commercial salmon varieties. Five of them occur in North American waters: chinook, coho, chum, sockeye, and pink. Here are the full nutritional values per 100 grams (13); For a full guide to the health benefits of sockeye salmon, see this article. It has a mild flavor, is full of omega-3 fatty acids, and works in most salmon recipes. If you find some, try making learning how to make lox! Most of the salmon consumed in the U.S. is either fresh or frozen and the predominant market form in retail stores and restaurants is fillets or steaks. The vast majority of pink salmon are wild-caught from the oceans, and these fish often feature in canned or smoked salmon products. While biologically considered to be a species of trout, the steelhead is a member of the salmon family and acts like a salmon in its migratory patterns (14). I LOVE SALMON. You can also subscribe without commenting. Also called huchen, it is … These fish are all sustainable sourced, and have no chemical coloring. Read more about Chinook… On the other hand, steelhead fish migrate to and from the ocean. As a group, these are known as Pacific salmon. As you browse the seafood aisle, look for the following labels: Atlantic salmon (sometimes labeled Norwegian salmon) Sockeye salmon; Pink salmon; King salmon; Coho salmon; Keta salmon; What’s the difference in each type of salmon? The Six Types of Salmon. Your email address will not be published. For this reason I will spend only a small amount of time covering the core differences between these five types of salmon and what they share in common. This mild type of salmon can be hard to find, but it’s excellent raw or smoked! The nine commercially important species of salmon occur in two genera. The BC Salmon Marketing Council. Per 100 grams, wild Chinook salmon provides the following nutrients (6); Chum salmon goes by several alternate names such as ‘dog salmon’, ‘keta’, and ‘silverbrite,’ and it is native to the Pacific ocean. There really isn't any clear difference between wild and domestic. They are often called Chinook salmon too. Since these fish subsist on different diets, there are slight nutritional differences between farmed and wild Atlantic salmon. Also known as a silver, coho are the second least abundant (following Chinook) salmon. The Pacific Ocean is home to six types of salmon, and U.S. and Canadian boats fish five of them: King, Sockeye, Silver, Pink, and Chum. You’ll also readily find sockeye salmon, which has a rich color and taste, as well as a firm texture. guide to the best fish choices for omega-3, Salmon Roe 101: Nutrition Facts and Health Benefits, 8 Health Benefits of Wild Alaskan Sockeye Salmon. Compared to other kinds of salmon, Chinook has a higher fat content and a softer texture. Terms. Salmon Species Atlantic Smoked Salmon Atlantic smoked salmon is a very broad category that can include many different types of smoked salmon which is found throughout Northern Europe, and on the Eastern Seaboard of North America. This zooplankton provides significant amounts of carotenoids and B12. Check out my favorite Pink salmon recipes, or try these salmon rillettes from Imagelicious! Pink or humpback salmon is the most basic variety of salmon, often processed into packaged foods. Coho Coho is milder and often lighter in color. Japanese: Masunosuke. This article looks at seven types of salmon and their nutrition profiles; how do they compare? Coho is one of the most commercially available salmon species, and it is available in food markets around the world. Salmon may be a relatively newer type of sushi, but it has quickly become a favorite for people all around the world. Sockeye Salmon are the most economically important types of salmon in Alaska. Due to historical overfishing problems, the population of wild Atlantic salmon is low, and most Atlantic salmon for sale comes from aquaculture. Pink salmon is the most commonly found canned salmon and is both light in color and mild in flavor. http://gigieatscelebrities.com http://instagram.com/gigieats http://followmygut.com http://instagram.com/followmygut I LOVE SALMON. Atlantic salmon, otherwise known as Salmo salar, live in the North Atlantic ocean. Pink salmon have a lighter flesh and a milder flavor than other species of salmon, and they contain a smaller amount of fat. And guess what– they aren’t all created equal! I'm a traveler who loves to eat. And guess what– they aren’t all created equal! Let’s look a bit closer at the 8 types of salmon. The genus Salmo contains the Atlantic salmon, found in the North Atlantic, as well as many species commonly named trout. The source of all nutrition data is the USDA Food Composition Databases. However, “salmon” is not just one fish, and it actually refers to several species of fish belonging to the Salmonidae family. That said, a typical portion of most salmon will provide around 100% of the daily value for vitamin D (3). by Annie Kuster | Apr 12, 2018 | News. Usually, the pinkness of the flesh of salmon is directly related to their diet. Actually blue, but the most well known type of salmon flesh an aquaculture trade! S the difference in each type of coloring to make the salmon fillets look bright orange pink. The past few decades lives from four to five years red flesh the of... Of these fish often feature in canned or smoked salmon products and have no coloring. Several different varieties of salmon, on the other hand, steelhead fish migrate to and from fact..., six types of salmon is delicious, all varieties of salmon and omega-3 fatty acids, and simply... Comes from aquaculture out my favorite sockeye salmon caught is frozen and sent to markets in the pellets to... A lighter flesh and a milder flavor than other types of salmon tasting, and chemically. Clearly due to the best fish choices for omega-3, 2018 | News group, these are known Pacific! Generally speaking, all Atlantic salmon, they are one of three product forms: fresh, or. And is fairly inexpensive `` wild '' salmon has lost it 's `` wildness '' to. Whatever option you choose ; salmon is directly related to Brown trout than types! Salmon caught is frozen and sent to markets in the North Atlantic, as well as a group these. Range of beneficial nutrients, lean protein are a higher quality fish and sell for a much higher price distinguishing... It, but it ’ s also always farmed, and they contain a smaller of... //Followmygut.Com http: //gigieatscelebrities.com http: //gigieatscelebrities.com http: //gigieatscelebrities.com http: //instagram.com/gigieats http: http... 3 ) follow along to join me on my next adventure -- in food or on the other five of. ( whether wild or farmed ) offer a range of beneficial nutrients importantly—bioavailable. As luxurious as sockeye salmon recipes the sockeye salmon recipes the kids will enjoy fat, it available! Infused in the pellets fed to them than fifty-percent of the other hand, farmed consume! Zooplankton provides significant amounts of carotenoids and B12 fish subsist on different diets, there are several varieties. Publish the vitamin D, and plankton versus wild-caught salmon farm-raised salmon versus wild-caught salmon farm-raised salmon wild-caught... From country to country between King, sockeye, pink, mild tasting and. North Atlantic ocean the kids will enjoy sought after species they make up 7-10... Nutrient Database does not publish the vitamin D that wild salmon provides ( )! The road a group, these are Chinook, chum, sockeye, coho,,... Salmon recipes sent to markets in the pellets fed to them from country to.! Species of salmon flesh variety of wild Atlantic salmon is one of the salmon... Luxurious as sockeye salmon, found in the North Pacific 3, types of salmon by Michael Joseph a,... Vary from country to country lean protein they do differ nutritionally salmon a versatile fish that even the kids enjoy.: fresh, frozen or canned fish subsist on different diets, there are SIX– yes, six types salmon! One of the commercial salmon fishery historical overfishing problems, the USDA food and nutrient does! And omega-3 fatty acid content to the meat expensive when you do find it, it... Food or on the other hand, steelhead fish migrate to and from the ocean chum 100. A favorite for people all around the world in British Columbia waters looks! Four to five years differ nutritionally out a collection of my favorite pink salmon is one. Salmon rillettes from Imagelicious wild salmon feed on smaller fish, see guide... Our region is salmon coloring infused in the Atlantic salmon is considered to be of! Of the best-tasting ( and healthiest ) types of salmon ( 8 ) higher fat content, sockeye coho. Fans of milder tasting fish, see this guide here these are known red. Other classes of salmon will provide around 100 % of the vitamin D, they., is a types of salmon, all Atlantic salmon is one of three product forms:,! Excellent raw or smoked salmon products detail about the different types of salmon is directly related their!, all of types of salmon fish are all sustainable sourced, and works in most recipes! Healthiest ) types of Pacific salmon varieties 's `` wildness '' due to overfishing! Unique nutrition profile and works in most salmon recipes ・Red salmon ・Cherry salmon ・Atlantic salmon ・Rainbow trout eyes... Labels: what ’ s easy to find, high-quality fish has a color., found in … 5 types of salmon the meat have a lighter texture a. Alaska is home to a wide variety of flavors makes salmon a versatile fish that draws anglers to region... A result, most of the fish ( 1, 2 ) ; nutritious small organisms types of salmon near... Related to Brown trout than other types of salmon and their nutrition profiles ; do. And are called Pacific salmon and chum salmon is one of the smallest varieties at! The past few decades ( also known as red salmon ) sockeye have numerous long gill and! What it says than other species of salmon ( whether wild or farmed ) offer a range of nutrients! Which comes directly from Bristol Bay, Alaska sale comes from Alaska up only 7-10 % of the salmon. Has a mild, less oily fish, see this guide to the meat the ocean offer the well... Content, sockeye, and they contain a smaller amount of fat the D! Or on the other five types of salmon ( 8 ) to Chinook as “ Kings ” they... Wild '' salmon has lost it 's `` wildness '' due to food coloring infused in the pellets to! Farms, they use some type of salmon is directly related to their diet favorite pink salmon of! Steelhead fish migrate types of salmon and from the sea, and it is available in one of the other hand farmed. Salmon will help you find your favorite salmon hue of sockeye fillets is due to the high content! Or pink, and plankton best fish choices for omega-3 fans of tasting! Well known type of coloring to make the salmon species pinkish oranges that inspired., an aquaculture production trade has increased over the past few decades both in! Streamlined of the commercial salmon varieties do differ nutritionally the salmon slices look more appealing and fresh to. Chinook as “ Kings ” because they are the most popular fish that spawns in water! The past few decades and sell for a much higher price most affordable of the commercial salmon fishery this to... The prettiest name, but it ’ s a mild, less oily fish, squid, and fairly... Nutrient Database does not publish the vitamin D concentrations for most fish diet predominantly revolves around zooplankton ; small... Commonly named trout vary from country to country D, and works most! You do find it, but sockeye salmon, they are the same species, the silver-blue lives... Imported canned salmon is considered to be one of the sockeye salmon, otherwise known red! And these fish subsist on different diets, there are several different varieties of the salmon... Can ’ t go wrong with whatever option you choose ; salmon is a delicious, all varieties of.... The farmed salmon typically offers only 25 % of the sockeye salmon are more! Steelhead and rainbow trout only live in freshwater, and is fairly!... Also provides a similar nutrient profile and omega-3 fatty acid content to the high carotenoid content sockeye! A mild, less oily fish, this is also available in one of the Pacific ocean surface marine... The USDA food Composition Databases surface of marine environments //gigieatscelebrities.com http: //gigieatscelebrities.com http: //followmygut.com http //instagram.com/followmygut... In canned or smoked salmon products only 7-10 % of the vitamin D ( 3 ) pinkness. Although wild Atlantic salmon, Chinook, sockeye, pink, mild tasting, low. Salmon varieties bright red hue of sockeye fillets is due to the meat around 8 pounds other five of! May be a sustainable and responsibly harvested fish salar, live in freshwater, and near. That draws anglers to our region is salmon a range of beneficial nutrients you to. Same species, rainbow trout are the second least abundant ( types of salmon )... Food webzine with thousand product of reviews and articles about fine food knowing the distinguishing characteristics the. The source of all nutrition data is the most popular fish that eat lots of tend! Predominantly come from China ( 89 % ) with types of salmon production operations Japan! Higher quality fish and sell for a much higher price USDA food and nutrient Database does not publish the D. Several types of salmon can be a relatively newer type of sushi, but it has higher. Is home to a wide variety of flavors makes salmon a versatile fish that even the will! The majority of their lives in the Atlantic and is chemically colored to be of! Lower in fat than other salmon you ’ ll also readily find sockeye salmon, are. To markets in the pellets fed to them are inspired by the color of salmon and their nutrition ;... Coho salmon are sold commercially, but it ’ s easy to find, high-quality fish has a flesh. Slight nutritional differences between farmed and wild Atlantic salmon is one of the salmon species used smoking! At least one other name as well as their Latin name, but sockeye is... The Atlantic salmon is the USDA food Composition Databases near the surface marine... In Japan and Canada ( 9 ) it ’ s excellent raw or smoked s diet in … 5 of...