Smoked salmon is the preserved flesh of salmon, a fatty, cold-water fish prized for its delicious flavor. First cut into fillets, the salmon is soaked in a salt brine, then placed in a smoke-filled room until the fish cures. Hardwoods, such as alder, hickory, oak or fruit tree wood, are typically used for smoking salmon. The process kills any parasites or bacteria within the flesh and preserves it for storage and future use.
Contents
A typical 3 oz. serving of smoked salmon weighs 85 g. The USDA Nutrient Database indicates that around 16 g of this quantity is protein. The same serving also provides 4 g of fat, with saturated fat making up 1 g of that measure. The remaining portion of that serving consists of other nutrients and water. Smoked salmon is not a significant source of carbohydrates.
Caloric Value
The USDA Nutrient Database indicates that there are around 99 calories in a 3 oz. serving of smoked salmon, with protein contributing around 67 of those calories. The other 33 calories come from fat. This amount of smoked salmon can provide 5 percent of the total daily caloric intake for the average adult.
Vitamins
Smoked salmon possesses many of the vitamins required in a healthy diet. A single 3 oz. serving provides vitamin B12 at 2.8 mg or more than 100 percent, niacin at 4 mg or around 35 percent, vitamin B6 at 0.2 mg or 15 percent and pantothenic acid at 0.7 mg or 14 percent. Lower amounts of other vitamins include vitamin A, vitamin E, thiamin and riboflavin.
Minerals
The same serving of smoked salmon also provides essential minerals. These include selenium at 27.5 mcg or 50 percent, copper at 0.2 mg or 22 percent and phosphorus at 139 mg or 20 percent of the daily required intake. It also includes smaller amounts of other minerals, including calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium, zinc or magnesium.
Warning
The salt used in the preservation process can add significant amounts of sodium to the diet. A single serving of smoked salmon has 666 mg of sodium, or more than 44 percent of the daily recommended allowance.
Other Information
A 3 oz. serving of smoked salmon contains about 20 mg of cholesterol or approximately 7 percent of the daily recommended amount for the average adult. Smoked salmon is not a significant source of fiber within the diet.
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