How to Perfectly Baked Salmon (2024)

FAQs

How do you know when salmon is baked enough? ›

Firmness: Cooked salmon should be firm but still moist. When you press down gently on the flesh with a fork or your finger, it should feel slightly resistant but still give way easily. If the salmon is still hard or resists your fork, it needs more time to cook. If it is mushy or falls apart, it may be overcooked.

A dry brine gives you firmer, juicier fish fillets with kettle-chip-crisp skin. Credit... Gentl and Hyers for The New York Times.

Pan-frying or pan-searing is one of the best ways to cook salmon fillets. It's quick, easy, and gives the fish that perfect crispy, crunchy skin. A simple pan-fried salmon is the secret to a flavorful and healthy weeknight dinner in 30 minutes or less. Season the salmon fillets with salt and pepper.

What is the best temperature to bake salmon? 400°F (205°C) is ideal as it allows the fish to gain colour and the skin to become crispy. If you prefer a milder method, you can bake it at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 minutes or until done. The salmon baked at 425°F (215°C) produces tender, creamy fillets that cook quickly.

Don't Over Cook It

Perfectly prepared fish is moist, flavorful, and succulent. When fish is overcooked, it dries out and loses flavor. To cook fish perfectly, remove it from the heat source before it appears fully cooked, while there is still some translucency in the middle.

So, you want skin that is super crisp and flavorful, just as you would want with chicken. Starting your salmon skin-side down, and cooking it until it is well rendered, lightly browned, and crisp, and then turning the salmon to finish the cooking, will make for a terrific dining experience.

Baked salmon is best when cooked at 425°F in the oven.

Even thicker fillets don't take long. We recommend baking the salmon uncovered. Simply rub the fillets with a little oil, sprinkle them with salt and pepper, then place them in the roasting pan skin-side down before popping them in the oven.

The foil helps cook the fish faster and just all around better. Another reason is that it's a healthy way to cook fish. Yes, salmon is already a very healthy fish. But if you cook it in foil, you don't have to use a lot of oil or butter to cook it.

Salmon – like all fish – has almost no collagen, which means it will start to lose moisture more quickly than beef. While the FDA recommends cooking fish to 145°F, for a flakier, more moist and tender salmon filet, many chefs find that it's best enjoyed when cooked to medium – 125°F.

Do you eat salmon skin? ›

Salmon is one of the healthiest and most popular fishes to make, and if you like the skin, there's absolutely no reason to discard it. In fact, the salmon skin is known to be an excellent source of minerals, plus omega-3 fatty acids, vitamins B and D, and more nutrients.

It is not recommended to eat undercooked or raw salmon. Consuming undercooked or raw salmon can put you at risk of foodborne illness, specifically an infection with the parasite known as Anisakis.

Use a food thermometer: The most accurate way to determine if salmon is cooked to the correct temperature is to use a food thermometer. Insert the thermometer into the thickest part of the fish and make sure it reads at least 145°F (63°C). Watch the color: As salmon cooks, its color changes from translucent to opaque.

Preheat the oven to 450 degrees F. Season salmon with salt and pepper. Place salmon, skin side down, on a non-stick baking sheet or in a non-stick pan with an oven-proof handle. Bake until salmon is cooked through, about 12 to 15 minutes.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) states that salmon (and all fish) should be cooked to an internal temp of 145 degrees.