How To Check Salmon For Doneness
How long to grill salmon varies based on the thickness of the fish you select. The thicker the cut, the longer the salmon grill time.
- Using a fork, check the flesh at the thickest part of the fillet. Youve reached the ideal grilled salmon temp when the salmon is opaque yet moist and pulls apart easily.
Another way to check doneness is to test grilled salmon temp with an instant-read thermometer. Insert it horizontally into the fish. Remove the fish from the grill when it reaches an internal temperature of 140°F.
Love Salmon Try Our Top Salmon Recipes:
Theres so much you can do with salmon and the recipe options are endless! These are the top-rated salmon recipes on our site. Its so hard to pick a favorite.
- Baked Salmon with garlic and dijon sauce
- Teriyaki Salmon you will fall in love with this glaze
- Salmon Cakes;dont skip the homemade tartar sauce
If you make this recipe, Id love to see pics of your creations on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter! Hashtag them #natashaskitchen
My entire family really enjoyed this salmon. My 2-year old was surprised by the taste at first but she enjoyed it also! That is just the best feeling when your kids happily eat something you make and especially when salmon is full of brain and heart-boosting Omega 3 fatty acids. YES!!
How To Season Salmon Fillets For Grilling
Theres no healthier, tastier or easier summer dish than grilled salmon. Grab a few filets, season them up and throw them on the barbecue for a delicious meal that can be enjoyed any day of the week. This fresh fish is simple to prepare and great for cooks of any level. No reason to be intimidated by grilling salmon. Especially if you know how to season salmon filets for grilling. Its almost foolproof and always tastes delicious.
There are so many different ways you can season your salmon to grill. Salmon has a delicious flavor profile. So it can be seasoned simply with fresh salt and pepper. Or get elaborate with a fresh marinade. You can even top salmon with a mango habanero salsa. No matter which way you go, youre guaranteed to have a healthy and flavorful feast!
Follow our easy salmon seasoning tips and theres no doubt you will have the perfect piece of grilled salmon every single time!
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Adding Flavor With Glazes Sauces And Marinades
What Temperature Is Grilled Salmon Done

How to tell when grilled salmon is done. Grilled fish is cooked when it is 145°F, but remember about carry-over cooking, where food will continue to cook once youve pulled it from the grill or oven. To ensure your fish isnt overcooked, transfer it from the grill when it is 125°-130°F, then let it rest for a few minutes before stripping away the skin and serving.
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Dont Move The Fish Around
Place the salmon on the grill and leave it one spot until you are ready to flip just once. Constantly moving the fish will prevent a good sear and grill marks, increases the risk of tearing, and will cause your fish to stick to the grill. It will also make it harder to cook the salmon evenly since the heat source is constantly changing.
Our Fav Salmon Marinades & Seasonings
The key to flavorful grilled salmon is of course adding a delicious marinade or seasoning. Our fav and seasonings have three necessary components:
Ready to try one? Here are the best marinades for salmon:
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How To Bake Salmon
Baking salmon is convenient because its hands-off and theres very little mess or smell. This technique is not only great for fillets, but also larger pieces of salmon. Heres what you do. Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F and line a baking sheet with foil. Place the salmon skin-side down on the baking sheet and crimp all four sides of the foil to create a border around the salmon: this will help collect the juices so they dont spread and burn. If youd like, you can place lemon slices on the salmon, brush the surface with Dijon mustard or season the flesh with your favorite spices at this point. Bake until the outside is opaque and slightly firm to the touch and the inside flakes easily. Insert a small paring knife between layers to check; the color will vary from bright pink to pale pink to orange .
The Best Baked Salmon
This simple baked salmon really hits all the right notes: tangy, sweet, savory, a little spicy and crunchy.
Matt
How To Make Garlic Lime Butter:
This amazing flavored butter is used to marinate, baste, and then brush the salmon once its off the grill.
1. In a saucepan, melt butter and add smashed garlic, salt, and black pepper. Simmer 1 minute until fragrant then add chopped dill and lime juice and immediately remove from heat.
Cooks Tip: Smashing the garlic infuses great garlic flavor into the butter sauce without burning on the grill.
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Secrets To The Best Grilled Salmon Ever
So here are my tips for perfect grilled salmon.
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Use;skin on salmon fillets. The skin holds the salmon together much better when handling on the grill. Serve the salmon;with the skin peeled off, or serve as is and let people decide for themselves!
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Drain excess marinade off the flesh side set it aside for 10 minutes or so to really make the marinade drip off. .;This tip is especially relevant when you have sugar in the marinade.
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Drizzle with oil just before cooking.;Key tip!
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Brush grills generously with oil before heating BBQ
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Grill salmon on medium or even medium low, if you know your BBQ is very strong. It is safer to cook on a lower ;rather than higher temperature. You can always cook for longer but cant undo a burnt mess! Key tip!
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Put the flesh side down first because you just oiled it, and its the more fragile side so its just safer to cook that side perfectly first. The skin side is hardier and can take longer cooking if needed. Plus, its a general rule to cook the presentation side first.
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Do not move the salmon once you put it on the grill.Key tip! It will initially stick to the grills, then it will release once cooked
If youre a pro griller, you might feel confident enough to skip some of these. But for ordinary folk like myself you dont want to risk the salmon, follow these for grilled salmon success;every. Single. Time!!
How To Master The Charcoal Grill
Gas grills are popular for their convenience and ease in heat control, but a charcoal grill is where youll really find that smokey flavor and aroma that makes the neighbors noses twitch with envy, wishing they were invited over for dinner.
Setting the standard, Webers kettle BBQ grills have come a long way from the classic Weber. With a heavy duty steel cart, side table, and propane starter, our Weber Performer Premium Charcoal Grill also comes with a built in thermometer, LCD timer and a handy bin attached underneath the cart to keep charcoal within reach but out of the elements.
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Ingredients For Grilled Salmon Marinade
- Salmon: Read below for tips on buying salmon. I prefer to use wild salmon, which has more flavor and is leaner in comparison to farm-raised. Sockeye, King, Coho, Spring, etc. are all types of salmon you can look out for.
For those who arent massive fish fans, farmed salmon may actually be preferred as it tends to be slightly more mellow in flavor. Though its often more fatty too!
The grilled salmon marinade Ingredients:
- Oil: I recommend using a neutral cooking oil like avocado oil or olive oil .
- Seasonings: I used a really simple combination of smoked paprika , garlic powder, and salt and pepper.
- Acid: You can use lemon/lime juice or apple cider vinegar.
I love how smoked paprika boosts the color and smokiness added to the grilled salmon from the grill and is a spice I use often with grilled salmon. However, the grill will add smokiness too, so get creative with the spices and use what you have!
Making This Recipe In Advance

Make ahead: You can leave the fillets covered, in the refrigerator before grilling.
Storing: Allow the grilled salmon to cool down, then refrigerate, covered, for up to 4 days. The leftovers are great for enjoying cold in a salad, sandwich, or wrap!
Freeze: Transfer the salmon to a freezer-safe airtight container and store for up to 3 months. Try to do this within a couple of hours of cooking them to prevent bacteria growth. Thaw in the refrigerator before re-serving.
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Why Making Your Own Salmon Seasoning
Many pre-made salmon seasonings are pretty high in salt, so the nice thing in making your own seasoning is that you know exactly what amount of salt you are using. If you need to watch or cut down on your salt intake, just remove salt entirely; your seasoning preparation will be perfect for you. Plus it takes just a few seconds to combine, and of course, it is also glutenfree!
How Long To Grill Salmon
Salmon cooks quickly on the grill , so don’t walk away or get distracted. The salmon will be medium-rare when an instant read thermometer inserted into the thickest portion reads 120 degrees F. Let it rest for a few minutes before serving to allow for some carryover cooking.
And there you go! Perfect grilled salmon, every time.
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How To Keep Salmon From Sticking To The Grill:
Do yourself a favor and oil the grates! Its a quick step that will make grilling and flipping salmon so much easier. Oil the grates after preheating. To oil the grill, dip a folded paper towel in a high heat cooking oil . Use tongs to hold the oiled paper towel and rub over the hot grates. This also works great when making Grilled Salmon Skewers.
Which Salmon To Buy
In this household, buying salmon is a treat its definitely not the most cost-efficient ingredient. However, when I do buy salmon, there are a few things to look at; primarily whether to buy wild vs. farmed salmon.
Wild salmon: This includes Sockeye, Coho, Spring, etc. Wild salmon contains more minerals, higher levels of Omega-3s and a 3x reduction in Omega-6s . Wild salmon is also leaner but more expensive.
Farmed salmon: Most fish labeled Atlantic are farmed. Farmed salmon can contain more contaminants, are often fed antibiotics and artificial GMO feed. Farmed salmon is also very confined with limited movement, which results in higher amounts of Omega-6s . However, it is cheaper than wild salmon, and the extra fats can mean its more buttery in flavor and texture.
We live on the Pacific ocean, so we fish all the time. Salmon is not that easy to catch. But when we do, we stock the freezer and make a stock of healthy salmon recipes.
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Honey Mustard Grilled Salmon With Puy Lentils
A light and vibrant fish dish with earthy beetroot and lentils, served with basil, rocket and sweet grilled salmon
Grill healthy fish with chipotle spice then serve with cabbage salad, coriander and chilli in soft tortillas
For a quick and healthy dinner try this tasty salmon dish, full of fresh flavours
This delicious, substantial salad is inspired by two Mediterranean classics – Caesar and Niçoise
Plank Grilled Salmon Steaks
The biggest problem people have with grilling fish is that it falls apart on the grill. Of course, this can be solved by a very clean cooking grate, a very large spatula, and patience. Or it can be solved with a grilling plank, allowing you to make plank grilled salmon steaks, readily available at supermarkets. Another upside to this time-tested cooking method: it adds a delicious smoky flavor to the salmon.;
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Ways To Prevent Sticking To The Grill
Some people complain about salmon sticking to the grill. The biggest contributor to that problem? Dont try to turn it too soon! When the salmon is cooked just enough, it releases from the grill grates, making it easy to flip. But if you touch it before that time, it can stick and break apart. You dont need to oil the grill grates. Just lightly oil the fish, and when cooking wait until the salmon is easy to release . Then its easy to flip!
Another tip: make sure to cook with skin on salmon. This helps it to stay together on the grill. Salmon with the skin off easily sticks to the grill. We dont recommend using it here.
How Much To Cook

The cooking time is based on the thickness of the salmon fillet. For every inch, i.e., 2.5 cm of thickness, cook the salmon for 10 minutes. For example, if the fillet is 1.5 inches, which is 4 cm thick, then cook it for 15 minutes.
A seasoning can make or break any dish very easily. Finding what works and doesnt work with a particular meat is crucial. A good seasoning should support the main dish, in this case the salmon, while sharing the spotlight with it. It should neither be overpowering, nor should it take the backseat. Salmon has such a delicate flavor, and yet it has a distinct taste to it. Keeping the seasoning to the minimum while choosing ingredients, and make sure they complement the fish.
The cooking time of salmon is equally important. It too can easily ruin an exquisite dish. Whether you choose to bake, smoke, broil, pan sear, pan-fry a fish, or simply choose to use it in a salad, or along with a salad, the cooking time matters. Dont forget to keep an eye on the fish while it is cooking to prevent the skin from blackening. Peel off the blackened skin if it does burn a little.
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How To Season Baked Salmon
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Baked salmon is a popular dish that is unique from standard fish-based meals. While some prefer their salmon mildly flavored to maintain the straight-from-the-sea taste, others prepare it a bit more seasoned. If you fall into the latter category, you’re in luck! Two great seasoned baked salmon dishes are garlic butter and tangy mustard, which are both simple and tasty.
Soak Wood Chips Or Cedar Planks
Wood chips for smoking are easy to find at hardware stores, some grocery stores, and online. Many people prefer alder or applewood chips when smoking salmon, as they don’t overwhelm the fish’s delicate flavor.
Barbecue Bible author Steven Raichlen recommends soaking chips, or/and cedar planks in water for at least 30 minutes. Then place wood chips directly on the coals of a charcoal grill, or on a piece of foil on top of a gas flame or in a smoker. Some people swear by soaking chips in bourbon or vinegar, though those ingredients might be difficult for most palates to detect. Better to save the bourbon for your Manhattan!
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