Uses for Canned Salmon

• Unlike a solid salmon filet, canned salmon is comprised of salmon pieces. Salmon with lemon image by Lev Aleshin from Fotolia.com

  When you open a can of salmon and find little bones, don't be tempted to pick out and discard the bones. They are rich in calcium and magnesium, and because they have been pressure cooked, they are soft and will easily break up and dissolve into what you are making. If the bones turn you off completely, look for cans of skinless and boneless salmon. While they won't be as nutritious, they are still delicious and good for you.

Sandwich Spread

• Use canned salmon to make sandwich spread, just like cans of chicken and tuna. Serve the sandwiches cold or grilled. Make a salmon panini or use the spread in a wrap. Top an English muffin half with the spread and a slice of melted cheese on top. Spoon the filling over an avocado half or stuff it into a hollowed tomato. When preparing the spread, use mayonnaise or yogurt. Experiment by adding diced vegetables or seasoning to the mix. Dill weed complements salmon, as do diced red onions. Other vegetable that work well with salmon include cucumbers, green onion and zucchini.

Salmon Patties

• Salmon patties are an excellent way to serve canned salmon with bones and skin, as the unappealing bones and skin blend into the mixture and disappear. Rinse the salmon and squeeze out the excess moisture before making the mixture. When you do this, it is easy to break up the bones. When making basic salmon patties, add cracker crumbs, egg and diced green onions. Form the patties and fry them in a little hot oil until golden brown and crispy on each side. Some recipes call for un-drained salmon. While many recipes call for saltine crackers, some recipes call for flour, mashed potatoes or breadcrumbs, instead of cracker crumbs.

Salmon Loaf

• Instead of making a meatloaf from ground beef, make a healthy salmon loaf. This involves mixing the canned salmon with diced vegetables, bread or cracker crumbs and egg, and baking it in the oven. Depending on the recipe you use, it can be similar to a salmon patty in taste. Some recipes call for milk, diced bell peppers, diced onions and a dash of Worcestershire sauce. Recipes vary, and some include a salsa-like ingredient, to spice up the loaf.

Salad

• Add the canned salmon to a salad recipe, such as a green salad or a pasta salad. For best results, use a can of skinless, boneless salmon, as the pieces of salmon don't mix with the salad ingredients in the same way as when making a spread, patty or loaf. A piece of bone or skin sitting atop a lettuce leaf is unappealing.