How long to bake one salmon fillet

Are you looking for a healthy family dinner? Baked salmon is easy to make! Just season with simple ingredients and bake in the oven at a moderate temperature to gently cook.

1. Salmon selection
2. Check for bones
3. Keep whole or slice
4. Should you remove the skin?
5. Customize the seasonings
6. How to bake salmon
7. Baking temperature and time
8. Finish with a quick broil
9. Checking for doneness
10. Serve this with
11. FAQ
12. Baked Salmon Recipe

An easy, healthy seafood dinner is just minutes away! When I’m looking for a nutritious entree, this baked salmon recipe is one of my favorites. This type of fish is packed with nutrition like protein and heart-healthy omega-3 fatty acids, so I try to incorporate it into my meal rotation at least once a week. It’s a stunning sheet-pan dish perfect for sharing.

I keep the fillet whole to make preparation a breeze, with the skin intact. Alternatively, you can slice it into individual salmon fillets. Baking ensures a consistent heated environment that prevents the dreaded dried-out texture. The fish gently cooks on a tray with melted butter, garlic, salt, pepper, and slices of lemon. Before serving, a quick broil helps brown the surface to enhance the taste and texture.

Salmon selection

There are many types of salmon to choose from at the market. It’s genuinely the chef’s choice. Although for the most buttery and rich taste, my preference is Scottish, Atlantic, or King salmon. Wild-caught salmon has a deeper red color and a more lean texture. It’s a healthier option but will taste a bit drier.

Check for bones

Nobody likes a surprise bone in their meal. Before seasoning, check for any long white pin bones running down the center of the fillet. I use needle-nose pliers or tweezers to pull them out. Pluck them in the same direction the bone is running to prevent the flesh from tearing.

Recipe Resources

Ingredient Guides

Types of Salmon

Knife Skills

How to Remove Salmon Skin

10 mins

Health Notes

5 Health Benefits of Fish

Keep whole or slice

Large salmon fillets are sold with the center bone removed. For a stunning presentation with minimal work, you can keep it whole or cut them into smaller fillets for individual portions, about 4 to 6 ounces in weight. The smaller pieces may cook quicker since more sides are exposed to the heat, so check for doneness a few minutes earlier. 

Should you remove the skin?

This recipe offers a lot of versatility in preparation. To keep things quick and easy, I leave the skin on if it hasn’t already been trimmed off at the store. You can remove the salmon skin in just minutes if desired. It’s a simple technique to master.

As the proteins in the fish cook during baking, it will be easy to separate the skin later by using a spatula. I don’t eat the skin because it will be very chewy and soft, not like a pan-seared salmon that is delightfully crispy.

Customize the seasonings

• Fat: Extra-virgin olive oil is a good swap for melted butter. Browned butter adds a nutty butterscotch taste. Use Ghee if you want to be free of milk solids.
• Spices: Dried onion powder or garlic powder and a concentrated earthy allium flavor. A small amount of smoked or sweet paprika for a red hue.
• Heat: Dried chili powder or chipotle adds a hint of sizzling spice.
• Herbs: Fresh or dried rosemary, thyme, or oregano. Sprinkle on Italian seasonings or Herbs de Provence with lavender and marjoram for a quick herb blend. Place whole sprigs on top to infuse aromatics while baking.
• Sauce: Slather an herbaceous pesto on top. Add some homemade barbecue sauce for a sweet and tangy taste. Serve with hollandaise sauce on the side for a luxurious brunch dish.

How to bake salmon

This method is fantastic because it has minimal clean-up! Just grab a rimmed baking sheet and line it with foil. Grease the pan with oil or cooking spray to prevent sticking. Place the salmon in the center, then season evenly with melted butter, salt, black pepper, and minced garlic. 

I like to add lemon wedges because the juices will cook as they bake, mellowing out in acidity and tartness. Squeeze some on top for a simple and delicious sauce. Now just bake until the fish reaches medium-rare doneness, around 125º (52ºC). Then a quick 3 to 4 minutes broil will complete the cooking process and deepen the flavor on the surface with additional browning.

Baking temperature and time

Bake at 375ºF (191ºC), until it reaches 125ºF (52ºC) for a medium-rare texture. Using a moderate temperature will ensure the flesh stays moist. Salmon does not experience carryover cooking like red meat because it does not hold heat well. The fish will continue to cook once broiled, to about medium doneness.

For a 1 ½ pound salmon, you need about 10 to 12 minutes for medium-rare doneness. The cook time depends on the fish’s thickness. Note that the tail end cooks faster than the thicker body portion. Generally, it takes about 5 minutes for every half-inch thickness. For example, for a 1-inch thick fillet, you need at least 10 minutes of cook time.

Finish with a quick broil

To add extra flavor to the surface, broil the salmon for 3 to 4 minutes after baking. Keep a close eye on the fish after the first 2 minutes of broiling. Make sure the garlic browns but doesn’t burn. This step is optional but deepens the flavor of the fish and citrus with roasted notes. If you skip broiling, add a few more minutes of bake time for medium-cooked doneness.

Checking for doneness

Use a fork to gently separate a few layers of flesh in the thickest part to test for doneness. It should flake easily with the fork. The color should be opaque unless you like it medium-rare, and it will be a little more glossy in the center. 

If you have an instant-read thermometer, insert the probe in the thickest part of the salmon. If you like a medium-rare center, target 125ºF (52ºC). For medium and fully opaque flesh, target 140º (60ºC). Above 145ºF (63ºC) the fish will taste dry.

Serve this with

• Steamed broccoli
• Sauteed green beans
• Roasted brussels sprouts
• Steamed rice

FAQ

What temperature should salmon be cooked at?

Bake at 375ºF (191ºC) to gently cook the fish, then briefly broil to finish cooking and brown the surface.

How long does it take to bake salmon?

At 375ºF (191ºC), about 10 to 12 minutes for a 1 ½ pound whole fillet for medium-rare doneness. Smaller portions will cook faster. You can cook longer for medium doneness if you skip the broiling step. To estimate based on thickness, factor about 5 minutes of cook time for every half-inch thickness.

How do you tell when salmon is done?

The flesh should go from translucent orange to opaque pink. It should flake easily with a fork in the center. The internal temperature will be between 125 to 140ºF (52 to 60ºC) in the thickest part.

Do you eat the skin on salmon?

The skin contains the highest amount of omega-3 fatty acids, which has heart health benefits. However, it’s easier to eat when pan-seared and crispy as baked salmon skin will be rubbery and harder to chew.

Benefits of two heat sources

Salmon cooks very quickly as its flesh is high in moisture and fat. Within minutes, the texture can rapidly change. To prevent it from drying out, cook at a gentle moderate temperature to just about medium-rare. Then for the last few minutes, adjust the heating element to broil and brown the surface.

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Baked Salmon

Baked salmon recipe seasoned with garlic, roasted lemons, and fresh herbs. A healthy family dinner ready in just 30 minutes. 

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4.97 from 183 votes

Prep Time15 mins

Cook Time15 mins

Total Time30 mins

Servings 4 people

Course Entree

Cuisine American

Ingredients USMetric 1x2x3x

• ▢1 ½ pound salmon fillet
• ▢2 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
• ▢½ teaspoons kosher salt
• ▢¼ teaspoon black pepper
• ▢1 tablespoon minced garlic
• ▢8 lemon wedges
• ▢1 teaspoon chopped parsley
• ▢1 teaspoon chopped dill

Instructions 

• Set the oven rack to the center position—Preheat to 375ºF (191ºC).

• Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil and lightly grease with vegetable oil or cooking spray.

• Place salmon on the sheet, skin-side down (if still intact). Brush half of the melted butter over the fillet. Season with salt and pepper. Drizzle the rest of the butter on top.

•  Sprinkle the minced garlic evenly over the salmon. Place lemon wedges around the sides.

• Bake until the thickest part reaches an internal temperature of 125ºF (52ºC), about 12 minutes.

• Change the oven setting to broil on high. Cook until the surface is a light golden color and garlic just begins to brown, 3 to 4 minutes.

  How long does it take to cook 1 inch salmon?

  The answer may vary depending on the thickness of your salmon, but it should only take around 20-25 minutes to bake a 1-inch thick filet. You can check the salmon's doneness by inserting a fork into the thickest part of the fish and twisting gently.

  Is it better to bake salmon at 375 or 400?

  Salmon is a wonderfully fatty fish and very flavorful! While you can cook it at a lower temperature, 400 F is the best as it allows the salmon to garner some color and the skin to become crispy.

  How long does it take to bake salmon at 375?

  The time needed to bake salmon in aluminum foil at 375 F is about 10 to 12 minutes. However, if you bake it uncovered, it takes about 5 minutes longer at about 15 to 17 minutes.

  Is it better to bake salmon at 350 or 400?

  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.