What Is Salmon Steak
A salmon steak is different than a salmon fillet. The fish steak is cut crosswise, perpendicular to the spine cutting through the bone, whereas a fillet is cut lengthwise, parallel to the bone. There is not a big difference in flavor between the cuts of fish, although some people do prefer one cut over the other!
Trust And The Waiting Game
This is arguably the hardest part of cooking pan-seared salmon. Once the fish hits the pan, the very best course of action is to step away and let it do its thing. It might take some serious willpower, but you need to trust the process no touching, no poking or prodding, and no moving the fillet around. Youll be tempted to lift the fish or move it around the pan to see how its coming along, but the very best thing you can do is to keep your hands off and wait.
The Best Pan For The Job
While its certainly not the only way, we prefer sticking with a large stainless steel or cast iron skillet when cooking pan-seared salmon make sure its a pan thats large and wide enough to accommodate the fillets without overcrowding. And because the best results happen when the fish is cooked on a super-hot surface, its best to skip the nonstick cookware this time around.
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Helpful Tips For Grilling Salmon Fillets
Weve talked about how to grill salmon steaks, but we also want to give you some pointers to help you make the perfect grilled salmon steak every time:
How To Remove The Skin Of Salmon

Salmon is a popular fish that is good to eat. It is usually served in steaks, or sometimes in fillets. Many people like to remove the skin of salmon to cut down on the amount of fat they are consuming. The easiest way to remove the skin of salmon is to place the salmon in a bowl of water. Make sure you place the salmon in the bowl with the head facing up. After about 15-20 minutes, you should be able to pull the skin off without cutting into the flesh of the fish. You should make sure the skin is completely removed. You can now either eat the salmon right away, or freeze it for later use.
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Let The Visual Cues Guide You
When pan-searing, the bulk of the cooking takes place while the salmon is skin-side down. After its been cooking for a few minutes, youll start to notice the color of the fillet slowly begin to change. Starting from the bottom, where the skin touches the pan, and working its way upward along the sides of the fillets, youll see the flesh lighten from deep, dark pink to a much more pale color.
This change in the color of the flesh will act as your indicator for how the cooking is progressing. Once the color change has moved up about three-quarters of the way from the bottom, its time to flip. Since the bulk of cooking has already happened, the salmon will cook for a couple minutes more after flipping it flesh-side down. What youll get is a tender and flaky piece of salmon, cooked perfectly to medium, with super-crispy skin.
Take the salmon fillets out of the refrigerator.
How To Make Grilled Salmon Steaks
You can honestly pan fry or bake a salmon steak. But grilling it up is so easy and imparts that delicious charred flavor . So let me walk you through this process.
- Prep the salmon steaks. Heat your grill to medium-high heat. Then brush both sides of the salmon steaks with oil, and sprinkle on some salt and pepper.
- Grill it up! Grill the salmon for 5-7 minutes each side, depending on thickness. Then use a spatula to flip the salmon steak. Dont use tongs to squeeze and pick it up as it may fall apart from how tender the meat gets.
- Make the sauce. As the salmon is cooking, stir together the mustard, yogurt, chives, honey, lemon juice, salt and pepper in a small bowl.
- Ready to serve. Plate the salmon and drizzle a generous amount of the creamy mustard chive sauce on top.
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How Long Do You Cook Salmon Steaks
A salmon steak is a thin fillet of fish that is usually marinated before cooking. This process of marinating the salmon helps to remove much of the fishs fat, and the marinade helps to create a delicious taste for the fish. Often, a salmon steak is seasoned with salt and pepper, but there are several other ways to prepare this delicious fish.
When Do I Know My Salmon Is Ready To Come Off The Grill
Your salmon steaks should be pink and somewhat translucent before you attempt to take them off the grill. You can also put a spatula underneath one steak and lift it slightly. Is it holding itself together well? If so, its a sign that its ready to come off. If the fish is still falling apart, then its probably not cooked enough yet.
Salmon will continue cooking for a few minutes after you pull it from the grill, just like steak does. Youll want to take it off the grill before its completely done to avoid cooking it too much. The final cooked temperature of salmon and other fish, according to the United States Department of Agriculture , is 145 degrees Fahrenheit. So, you should remove the grilled salmon when it reaches about 125-130-degrees. Allow it to rest for another five minutes before rechecking the temperature with a digital meat thermometer to see if it reaches 145 degrees.
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Cook Through On Skin Side Before Flipping
Serious Eats / J. Kenji López-Alt
This is the big trick for salmon. Salmon skin typically has a thick layer of fat underneath it. This fat needs to be rendered to get the skin crisp and pleasant. Fat is also a great insulator, which means that cooking the salmon skin side down is much gentler on the flesh than cooking it with the skin facing up. I like to cook my salmon about 90% of the way through with the skin side down, in order to take advantage of the skin’s insulating properties and render fat in the process.
For salmon with a nice, translucent medium-rare center, cook until an instant-read thermometer inserted into the very center of the fillet registers 120°F . This will take about six minutes for a large fillet like the one pictured.
If your heat management was on point, the salmon skin should be nice and crisp by the time the center of the fish has reached 120°F. This should make it easy to lift and flip. I like to use that same flexible spatula to turn the fish, and use a second spatula or a fork to help get leverage. Be gentle when flipping the fish: You don’t want to damage it, nor do you want it to splash down and splatter hot oil.
Fnk: Sweet: And: Spicy: Grilled: Salmon: Hjpg
This recipe has hundreds of great reviews, and for good reason: the salmon bakes up all juicy in just about 12 minutes, and then gets served with a quick but interested toasted almond parsley salad.
Food Network Kitchens Everything Salmon Fillets and Cream Cheese Potatoes.
This quick dinner version of a favorite breakfast has all the flavors of an everything bagel with lox: fillets of salmon are coated in a bagel chip-crust, scallion mashed potatoes have a cream cheese boost and a side of tomatoes and onion completes the dish.
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Cook A Grilled Salmon Steak Successfully Every Time
Grilling salmon isnt tough once youve done it a few times. We hope this guide leads you to learning to cook flavorful, restaurant-quality salmon on the grill every time.
If you want salmon with unbeatable taste and quality, try Wild Caught Salmon from Chicago Steak Company. This delicacy is bred naturally in the wild, sourced from high-quality farms, individually wrapped and vacuum-sealed, and then flash-frozen to deliver to your door. Thaw them out and pop them on the grill for an effortless grilled salmon dinner everyone in the family will love.
Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon

Using a cedar plank to grill salmon is an effortless way to add enormous flavor to your dish. The fish takes on a lovely smokiness, stays wonderfully moist and the skin doesn’t stick to the grates. We spiced ours up with a maple-ginger marinade and whipped up a quick side salad for a tasty, incredibly easy weeknight meal.
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How Long To Cook Bone
It takes between 12-16 minutes at 390°F to air fry salmon steak, depending on your air fryer and the size of the steak.
Always check that your salmon steak is cooked by using a meat thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the meat. Salmon is safe to eat if it has an internal temperature of 135°F.
Which Type Of Salmon Is Best For Grilling
A typical serving of salmon is 6 to 8 ounces per person. Look for steaks or center-cut, skin-on fillets. Center-cut pieces are thicker and more uniform, so they cook evenly. The skin will hold the fish together and protect it from drying out or sticking to the grill. It’s easy to remove after grilling if you don’t want to eat it.
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How To Marinate Salmon
It isnt necessary to marinate salmon before grilling it, but doing so can impart extra flavor and moisture to your finished fish. And you dont have to let your salmon marinate for long just 10 minutes will do. Make a simple marinade from a fat and acid in a 3:1 ratio, then add salt and an aromatic. We love Ina Gartens Asian Grilled Salmon, which has hundreds of five-star reviews and leans on a marinade made from olive oil , Dijon mustard , soy sauce and garlic . Drizzle the marinade on the salmon while you preheat the grill.
How Long Should Salmon Steaks Be Cooked
Salmon is a type of fish that is really good for you. It is also a good source of protein. It is also low in fat and calories. It is also naturally oily and rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which are essential for good health. But salmon can become overcooked. This can make the fish lose its nutritional value and taste. So, how long should you cook salmon? The general rule is to cook fish to an internal temperature of 145 degrees Fahrenheit. This is the minimum temperature recommended by the FDA. A recent study found that fish that is eaten at room temperature had significantly higher levels of mercury, a toxic metal that can cause serious health problems if ingested. If you want to be really safe, you should cook your fish to 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
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Why You’ll Love This Recipe
Delicious – This baked salmon recipe is so delicious. Each bite is packed with flavor that your family will truly love! This salmon is also great for entertaining a crowd!
Approachable – This recipe is approachable and is easy to make. You only need a sheet pan and a small bowl to make this recipe!
Versatile – This is great for an easy weeknight meal or a meal prepped lunch! This salmon pairs with a variety of dishes, making it a versatile meal you can enjoy again and again.
Serve It With A Lemon
After you have perfectly boiled the salmon you can pour lemon juice on it to enhance the taste of the fish. Lemon juice will make your taste buds tingle and eventually it will help in improving the taste of the salmon.
The procedure mentioned above is an ideal way to boil salmon. You can enjoy an amazing salmon experience if you follow the instructions as described above.
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How To Cook Salmon Steak
Salmon Steak v. Salmon Fillet
A fish steak is cut crosswise , cutting through the bone, whereas a fillet is cut lengthwise parallel to the bone.
Can you buy boneless salmon steaks?
Depending on your fishmonger, yes. But as a general rule, salmon steaks have more bones than fillets.
How do you cook salmon steaks?
You can pan fry, bake, or grill salmon steaks. We love pan-frying them in a skillet because they take only 10 minutes to cook.
salmon steaks
Kosher salt
crushed red pepper flakes
Freshly chopped parsley, for serving
The Recipe: Simple Grilled Salmon Steaks

What you need: as always a great sea salt, and if cooking indoors you will need a grill pan.
- 4salmon steaks, about 1″ thick
- sea salt and freshly ground black pepper
- 1 1/2tablespoonsolive oil
- 1tablespoonbutter
- lemon wedges for garnish
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Season both sides of salmon steaks with generous sea salt and pepper
Heat a grill pan on high heat for 90 seconds. Turn heat down to medium, add olive oil and butter, swirl and then add steaks
Cook each side for 3-4 minutes until seared and golden. Place in the oven for five minutes. Remove from oven, allow to rest for a few minutes, serve with lemon wedges if desired.
Preheat grill to 400 degrees.
Brush both sides of salmon with olive oil and sprinkle with desired amount of sea salt and pepper. Place on grill, close lid and cook for 4-5 minutes turn and cook for 4-5 more minutes. Remove from heat and drizzle with melted butter or ghee. Serve!
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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.
How To Store Salmon
Fresh salmon is best when eaten the same day you buy it. But it will stay for a day or two, tightly wrapped in plastic and stored in the coldest part of the fridge.
You can freeze salmon for up to 6 months. To thaw, take it from the freezer to the fridge the night before you intend to eat it. Or, if time is an issue, submerge fillets in cool water frozen fillets should be thawed entirely in about an hour or two. Never thaw salmon at room temperature because bacteria can build up in the thawed outer portions even as the center remains frozen.
Tip: If you find a good deal on flash-frozen wild salmon fillets, buy a bunch store them in your freezer, and thaw them during the workweek for quick meals. No time to thaw? Here are tips on how to cook with frozen seafood.
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How To Cook Salmon Steaks
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Learn how to cook Salmon Steaks and enjoy this delicious and healthy protein that turns out restaurant-quality fish in less than 15 minutes. The prep is simple and easy and you can use your favorite spice blend or rub to make a dinner that is perfect for weeknights or company!
Salmon is one of our favorite proteins that we enjoy often. Some of our other favorite salmon recipes are Blackened Salmon Tacos, Smoked Salmon Chowder, and Grilled Soy Brown Sugar Salmon in Foil.
One of our favorite Japanese restaurants offers grilled salmon steak on their menu and it’s seriously so good. The fish is always perfectly cooked and so rich and moist. I decided I had to learn how to cook salmon steaks at home so we could enjoy this wonderful cut of meat anytime!
This simple recipe for how to cook salmon steaks is something I came up with while doing Whole 30 a few years ago and it is a dinner we have kept making over and over. It is healthy, so easy and so good!
Serve it with grilled veggies and you have a super healthy, quick and yummy dinner that can be on the table in less than 15 minutes!