Our easy Baked Salmon recipe takes less than 30 minutes and yields perfect, tender salmon. Gently baking salmon in a small amount of liquid keeps the fish juicy and tender. It practically melts in your mouth.
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Related: We love this salmon baked with garlic, capers and butter.
How to cook salmon in the oven so it’s perfectly moist
This quick and easy salmon recipe never fails! The inspiration comes from my mother who made it and still does it. It’s her favorite dish – especially when she’s entertaining guests. And you know what? everyone loves it
The trick to perfectly cooked salmon is to bake the fish in some liquid — You can use wine, broth and even water.
After adding the liquid, cover the fish with parchment paper or foil and bake until just cooked through. The salmon is poaching in the liquid. You could also call this recipe “Oven Poached Salmon”. It’s practically not a mistake.
Three easy steps to perfect salmon
- Season the salmon with salt and freshly ground black pepper. I am generous with the salt and make sure to season the salmon fillets on both sides.
- Place sliced lemons and fresh herbs in the bottom of a casserole dish. We used fresh dill in our photos, but almost any tender herb will work in its place. Think parsley, cilantro, thyme or even mint.
- Place the salmon fillets on the herbs and lemon Then cover with foil or parchment paper. After about 20 minutes in the oven, the salmon is perfectly cooked, tender and delicious.
How to tell when salmon is cooked
Your best bet to check if the salmon is done is a thermometer – We cook salmon at 125 degrees F, which means it’s soft, tender, and slightly pink in the center. The consistency is much better at this temperature than at a higher temperature.
For a visual cue, note that the flesh is slightly opaque. Also, if you stick a knife into the salmon, it should slide through easily.
Note that the USDA recommends cooking salmon at 145 degrees F. Interestingly, Cooks Illustrated suggests that the ideal internal temperature of salmon (especially wild salmon) is 120 degrees F. Everyone has an opinion on this, but for now we’re going to stick with it up to 125 degrees F.
frequently asked Questions
How long and at what temperature should salmon be cooked?
The cooking time for salmon depends on the type of salmon and the thickness of the salmon you are cooking. Use our tips on how to tell when salmon is done as your main guide. Generally, salmon takes 12 to 30 minutes to bake in a 325°F oven. I like to check the doneness after about 10 minutes and then move on.
How do I know when the salmon is done cooking?
Salmon is done when the meat looks a little opaque and if you stick a knife in the salmon it slides through easily. An indoor thermometer is also helpful. You can find out which temperatures you should take into account in our tips above.
What other ways are there to prepare salmon?
While we love the ease of baking salmon in the oven, like this recipe showcases, as well as our Sour Cream Salmon and Baked Salmon with Green Beans, you can also cook salmon on the stovetop or on an outdoor grill and poach it over gentle simmering water. Check out our Seared Salmon Burgers and our Cedar Plank Grilled Salmon recipe for more ideas.
What should I serve with the salmon?
Salmon tastes good when served with various side dishes. Here are some of our favourites:
More easy salmon recipes
Perfectly baked salmon with lemon and dill
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PREPARATION
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COOK
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IN TOTAL
The trick to perfectly baked salmon is to gently cook the fish in some liquid – such as wine, broth, or water. Then cover the mold and bake until done. You could call this oven poached salmon. It’s practically not a mistake. If your fish is quite thick, expect the cooking time to be a few minutes longer than indicated below.
Makes 4 servings
Watch as we prepare the recipe
you will need
One 1 1/2 pound salmon fillet or two 12 ounce fillets, preferably wild caught
1 tablespoon olive oil
Salt and freshly ground black pepper
1 lemon, sliced, 3 to 4 sprigs of fresh dill, plus more for serving
1/2 cup dry white wine, e.g. B. Sauvignon Blanc (substitute: fish broth, chicken broth or water)
directions
1Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F.
2Lightly oil the salmon and season both sides with salt and pepper.
3Arrange lemon slices and fresh herbs in the bottom of a casserole dish large enough for the salmon, then place the salmon skin-side down on the bed of lemon and herbs.
4Pour wine (or broth) into the casserole dish, then cover with aluminum foil. Bake the salmon until fish flakes and white protein bubbles appear on the surface, 12 to 30 minutes depending on the thickness of the fillets. Check the salmon after 10 minutes to see its progress.
5Checking the salmon’s temperature with an indoor thermometer is the best way to prevent overcooking. You want the thickest part of the salmon to read 125 degrees F. Remove the salmon from the oven and cover loosely with foil for 5 minutes (the fish will continue to cook during this time). Serve sprinkled with chopped fresh herbs.
Adam and Joanne’s tips
- How to Tell When Salmon is Done: The best way to check salmon is done is with a thermometer – we cook salmon at 125 degrees F, which means it’s soft, tender and slightly pink in the middle. For a visual cue, note that the flesh is slightly opaque. Also, if you stick a knife into the salmon, it should slide through easily.
- Nutritional Information: The nutritional information below is an estimate. We used the USDA database to calculate approximate values.
If you make this recipe, take a picture and tag it with the hashtag #inspiredtaste – we love to see your creations on Instagram and Facebook! Find us: @inspiredtaste
Nutritional value per serving
serving size
6 ounces
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calories
300
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protein
37g
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carbohydrate
1g
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fiber
0g
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total sugar
0g
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total fat
13g
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Saturated Fatty Acids
2g
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cholesterol
91 mg
Recipe updated, originally posted August 2009. Since posting in 2009 we have tweaked the recipe to make it clearer. – Adam and Joanne