There are five types of Pacific salmon. Chinook, also called the spring or king salmon, often weighs in at more than 35 pounds (15.75 kg); prized by gourmets, its firm flesh can range from ivory white to deep red. Chum salmon (also known as dog salmon) are known as keta when canned; the flesh ranges from pale to medium red. Coho, or silver salmon, is known for its red color and its versatility. Sockeye is the mainstay of the commercial fish industry; it has a deep red-orange, firm flesh, and is called “red salmon” when canned. Lastly, Pink salmon (also known as humpback or humpie) are the smallest and most abundant of the Pacific species; the flesh is light in color and delicately flavored.

Atlantic salmon, native to Nova Scotia and Norway, is usually farm-raised in the United States.