How to Cook Salmon

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Salmon is a fish rich in omega-3's and protein, and, when cooked properly, is a delicious, tender entree. Our guide, how to cook salmon, will lead you through the proper way to prepare and cook salmon and provide a number of tasty recipes for you to try.
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What Are The Best Ways To Cook Salmon?
- There are a variety of ways to prepare and cook salmon—you can grill it, bake it, broil it, even poach it in your dishwasher (how efficient!). And of course there are even more sauces, marinades, and other preparations to make salmon an equal delight for the health-conscious and the I-refuse-to-count-calories set. For this heart-healthy fish, the key is not to overcook, lest fish become tough and dry.
- Keep reading to learn the tools and tricks to making perfect salmon, as well as how to choose between wild and farmed fish. And don't forget to make a little extra to have cold on a salad the next day!
Before You Begin
2. Haven't bought salmon before? A few guidelines will help you choose the correct fish.
3. When selecting your fish at the market, make sure to buy salmon with the skin still on.
4. Allow about 6 ounces of fish per person.
5. And ask for a "center cut" single piece of salmon and then cut it into appropriate portions when you get home.
6. You'll need to decide between farmed and wild salmon (generally from the Pacific Ocean or Alaska). Proponents of wild salmon argue that farmed fish has polluted the wild fish population by escaping and sharing diseases with wild salmon. While farmed fish is less expensive and more widely available, it may be not be as healthy as wild salmon because it can contain harmful dioxins.
7. And people believe that wild salmon has a fishier and somewhat stronger flavor than its farmed counterpart.
How To Grill Salmon
- Perhaps the most popular and the easiest way to prepare salmon, all you'll need is the fish, some aluminum foil, a little oil, and a grill.
1. First, preheat your grill. If it's a charcoal grill, coals should be bright red and flames should have subsided. If you have a gas grill, put temperature between 300 and 325 degrees.
2. Everyone likes to use a different preparation for grilling salmon. The simplest way is to brush it with olive oil, keep skin on, and add a little salt and pepper. And if you've oiled the grill a little, you can simply sprinkle salt and pepper before adding the salmon.
3. You can also try applying mayonnaise to one side before placing on the grill.
4. For slightly more involved marinades, try whisking together three tablespoons soy sauce, 6 tablespoons olive oil, 1/2 teaspoon minced garlic, and two tablespoons Dijon mustard. Brush the marinade on top of the fish (skin side down) before placing salmon on the grill. When your salmon is finished grilling, pour the remainder of the marinade on top. This is enough marinade for three pounds of salmon, or 5-6 servings.
5. See a few ideas on Epicurious for grilled salmon prep:
  - Grilled Salmon with a Lime Butter Sauce
    Grilled Salmon with Balsamic Glaze
    Grilled Salmon with Tomato-Olive Salsa
    Fennel and Dill Rubbed Grilled Salmon
6. Grill the salmon for about 4 minutes per side. Only cover the grill if you have a gas grill.
7. Do not overcook! When you remove your salmon fillets from the grill, they will continue to cook a little as they sit, so they should look a little raw inside upon removal from the grill.
How to Grill Salmon Video

This video by ChefTips shows an easy way to grill salmon along with a simple 30 minute marinade.

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Broiling or Roasting Salmon
- Broiling salmon is a nice way to cook it if you don't have a grill, and often you can choose a recipe with an easy to make marinade you can prepare ahead of time.
1. Preheat your broiler and place aluminum foil on a baking sheet or on your broiler pan (this will make for easy clean-up later!). Lightly brush olive oil on the foil so the fish won't stick.
2. You'll want to broil the salmon skin side down about 4-6 inches from the heat source. Recipes vary in terms of keeping the fish uncovered or wrapping it in foil to trap in the marinade.
3. You do not need to turn salmon mid-broil. Broil for 6-8 minutes, or until salmon is the same color throughout.
4. Again: do not overcook! Your fish should be just cooked through when you remove it.
5. Many broiled salmon recipes involve some variation on a mustard sauce, often featuring brown sugar. Try:
  - Broiled Salmon with Herb Mustard Glaze
    Mustard-Broiled Salmon.
    Salmon with Mustard and Brown Sugar Glaze
    Broiled Salmon with Orange-Miso Glaze.
6. To incorporate different flavors, try Broiled Salmon with Onion, Tomato and Lemon or the simple and delicious Broiled Salmon with Tarragon Butter.
7. And it's definitely worth using cedar planks to roast salmon, which is a method derived from Native Americans living in the Pacific Northwest. Check out John's Cedar Plank Roasted Salmon for more instructions.
How To Make Slow Roasted Salmon With Sweet Mustard Sauce
Poaching Salmon
- Poaching is simply cooking in hot, simmering liquid kept just below the boiling point. Poached salmon is a classic means of preparation that you can do easily at home.
1. You can poach a whole fish in water or a court bouillon.
2. If you don't have the proper vessel for such a project, you can improvise. In 1964, House and Garden suggested using a baby's bathtub if you didn't have anything else on hand.
3. For fillets of salmon, obviously a deep skillet will do the trick.
4. Most recipes instruct you to just cover the fish with liquid (whether water, wine, a mixture of both, or something else entirely), and poach for 8-10 minutes until fish is opaque.
5. See the following recipes for more detailed instructions or variations:
  - Poached Salmon with Lima Beans and Green Goddess Dressing
    Poached Salmon in Lemon Mayonnaise
    Poached Salmon with Green Peppercorn, Ginger and Orange Sauce
6. For a slightly more advanced preparation, try Poached Salmon with Truffles and Shrimp in Cream Sauce.
7. And, as alluded to earlier, you can also poach salmon in your dishwasher if all else fails. Just be sure foil is sealed properly and skip the dishsoap if you're a beginner.
How To Make Poached Salmon
Salmon Resources | Add a Link
Grilled Salmon | Add a Link
Broiled or Roasted Salmon | Add a Link
Poached Salmon
- Video Jug: How to Make Poached Salmon
- Martha Stewart: Poached Salmon with Lima Beans and Green Goddess Dressing
- Epicurious: Poached Salmon Fillets with Dill Creme Fraiche
- Epicurious: Poached Salmon
- Epicurious: Poached Salmon with Green Peppercorn, Ginger and Orange Sauce
- Epicurious: Poached Salmon with Truffles and Shrimp in Cream Sauce
- Epicurious: Poached Salmon with Lemon Mayonnaise
- Wine X: Dishwasher Salmon

How to Cook Salmon

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Recent Contributors

What Are The Best Ways To Cook Salmon?

Before You Begin

How To Grill Salmon

How to Grill Salmon Video

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Broiling or Roasting Salmon

Poaching Salmon

Salmon Resources | Add a Link

Grilled Salmon | Add a Link

Broiled or Roasted Salmon | Add a Link

Poached Salmon

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