Air Fryer Teriyaki Salmon

Place the salmon fillets in the air fryer basket or tray. Season each one with a pinch of salt and garlic powder. Air fry for 5 minutes while making the teriyaki sauce (see the next step). Remove the salmon from the air fryer after 5 minutes. It will not be fully cooked yet.

Combine all the sauce ingredients (soy sauce through water) in a small saucepan. Whisk together until you get a milky looking mixture and the cornstarch is not clumped together.

Cook over medium-low heat stirring frequently for about 3-5 minutes, or until the sauce starts to boil and becomes more shiny and less dusty. Stir again and remove from heat. Tip: you can spoon out a tiny bit of sauce onto a plate and let it cool, then give it a taste. Adjust the flavor with additional sugar, vinegar, or a bit more soy sauce, if you want.

If you don't like the little bits of ginger and garlic, pour the sauce through a fine mesh sieve (catch the sauce in a jar or bowl) to remove the bits and get a smooth sauce.

Remove the salmon from the air fryer after 5 minutes of cooking and brush on ½ - 1 tablespoon of sauce on top of each fillet. Return to the air fryer and cook for 2 minutes. Check on the salmon and make sure the sauce is not burning. If it is browning, reduce the heat to 350F or 325F.

Brush on more sauce, and air fry for 2 more minutes. Continue this until you have a nice glaze cooked onto the salmon and the salmon is fully cooked when flaked inside with a fork (or 145F). I usually brush on the teriyaki sauce 4 times for a total cook time of about 13 minutes (5 originally plus 8 with sauce). For a thinner fillet, 11 minutes total might be enough.

Remove from the air fryer and serve with additional sauce on top.