#How To Cook Salmon: Different Ways To Prepare Your Fish

Salmon is by far one of the most popular fish for its’ health benefits and delicious flavor.

It’s a fish that’s delicious, affordable, easy to find, packed with protein and omega-3s and other healthy nutrients, and it pairs beautifully with a variety of different seasonings and sauces.

We will go over the basics and talk about how to make baked, grilled, and pan-fried salmon filets on their own.

With a few simple tips, your salmon can be perfectly crispy on the outside, moist and tender and flaky on the inside. Then, the decision will be up to you whether to serve it plain or add on your favorite sauces or seasonings.

FDA Recommendation

*The FDA recommends cooking salmon to an internal temperature of 145°F, measured in the thickest part of the salmon filets.

The salmon will continue to cook a bit more once it has been removed from the oven, so I would pull it out of the oven once it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F. Or if you like your salmon a bit less cooked, we recommend pulling it out at 135°F.

Baking Salmon (Steaming)

Salmon cooked in foil (or parchment): This is technically a way of steaming the salmon, but don’t let that fool you—salmon cooked in foil or parchment is incredibly flavorful.

It’s also fast, easy, and light on the cleanup.

Preheat your oven to 350°F and line a large baking sheet with foil. Bake your filet skin-side-down for 12 to 15 minutes, or until pink and opaque.

If you substitute parchment paper for the foil, you can even do it in the microwave in a mere 3 to 4 minutes.

Pan-Fried Salmon

Coat a large frying pan with oil/cooking spray. Dip each salmon fillet in the spice mix evenly on either side then add to the pan.

Allow salmon to sear for 2 minutes then flip them over to the other side and sear for another 3 minutes. Remove the salmon from the pan and allow it to sit for approximately 5 minutes before serving.

Grilled Salmon

Spray fish lightly with non-stick cooking spray and place it over the grid on sprayed grill rack. Coals should be ashen hot.

Grill salmon about 4 minutes, turn, and grill until done to taste (about 10 minutes for 1-inch thick steak). Serve salmon on individual dishes over pasta, vegetables, rice, or whatever you’d like – top with sauce, herbs, and spices for added flavor.

How To Tell If Your Salmon Is Cooked

When working with good quality salmon, we tend to check for doneness with a fork rather than a thermometer.

Once the salmon easily flakes with a fork, it’s good to go! Just be sure you’re checking the thickest part of the fillet.