The 4 Best Ways to Cook Salmon

TL;DR: Learn how to cook salmon like a pro with these four easy, delicious methods—all using under five ingredients and ready in less than 20 minutes. Plus, get expert cooking tips and insights into salmon’s health benefits.

Main Points:

• Pan Seared Salmon – Quick, reliable, and crispy with a simple three-ingredient recipe.
• Breaded Salmon – Golden, crunchy panko crust for a flavorful twist.
• Baked Salmon with Lemon – A juicy, healthy, “set it and forget it” option.
• Poached Salmon – The lightest, healthiest method, delivering tender, delicate texture.
• Plus Pro Cooking Tips – How to test doneness, keep salmon moist, and best seasonings.
• Plus Salmon Health Benefits – Rich in Omega-3s, protein, and essential vitamins.

Do you love eating salmon out at your favorite restaurant but aren’t sure how to replicate that fresh flavor at home? Well, you're in the right place to get the answers you're searching for. In this blog, we’ll teach you the easiest ways to cook salmon. You’ll be sure to find a method you love, whether you’re looking to impress or just eat a little healthier each week.

The 4 delicious salmon recipes we’re sharing today are simple, quick, and oh-so flavorful! Add these salmon preparation techniques to your repertoire, and you’ll never struggle to find a salmon recipe again.

Each of these recipes has under 5 ingredients and will be ready in less than 20 minutes. In fact, you can prepare some of them in as little as 10 minutes!

All of these preparation methods were reviewed and endorsed by our in-house Chef, Andrew. He’s a 40-year veteran in the restaurant industry and knows what he’s doing! When you’re done reading, you’ll know how to make salmon like a true professional!

Here are the salmon dishes we'll be breaking down today:

~ Click Below & JUMP TO Recipe ~

Pan Seared Salmon

Breaded Salmon

Baked Salmon with Lemon

Poached Salmon

How to Test if Your Salmon is Done

Frequently Asked Questions About How to Cook Salmon

Cooking Salmon at Home is Easy

Salmon is one of the healthiest, tastiest, and most popular fish in the United States and across the globe. Whether you realize it yet or not, Salmon is also one of the EASIEST fish to cook at home. No joke.

Salmon is versatile and can be prepared in so many different ways. Even so, it can be confusing (and sometimes a bit intimidating) to decide on the best way to cook salmon. Our advice? Just K.I.S.S. – Keep it SIMPLE Seafood. 

Salmon is already packed with natural flavor with a tender, melt in your mouth texture. That means it does not require a long list of ingredients or complicated steps. The simplest preparation will still reward a truly delicious Salmon dish!

Health Benefits of Salmon

But first, let’s quickly talk about the health benefits of salmon. The USDA and the American Heart Association both recommend that you should be eating fish two to three times per week. They advise that a minimum of 8 ounces is necessary in order to maintain a healthy diet.

Some of the numerous nutrition and health benefits of salmon include:

• Packed with Omega 3 Fatty acids. Omega-3s can reduce inflammation, lower blood cholesterol levels, and lower risk of heart disease and stroke
• Loaded with lean protein
• Extremely rich in Vitamin D
• Rich in micronutrients and minerals, including Vitamin A, Vitamin B-12, Selenium, Niacin, Calcium, Magnesium, and more!

Healthiest Way to Cook Salmon

We’re often asked, “What’s the healthiest way to cook salmon?” That depends on your personal nutritional and lifestyle goals. For those counting calories, poaching is a wise choice because it doesn’t require any added oils. There are only 145 calories in 100 grams (3.5 ounces) of poached salmon!

With that said, if you’re looking for health benefits, you really can’t go wrong with this Omega-3-rich superfood. Adding salmon to your diet has been shown to support heart health and brain function no matter how you prepare it!

Tips for Cooking Salmon

• Be sure to pat your salmon dry of any excess moisture. This will ensure the best possible sear and the cleanest flavor profile.
• How to tell when Salmon is done: Use the “Skewer Test”. If you can push the flat end of a wooden skewer through the thickest part of the salmon with no resistance, it is finished cooking. If you feel resistance, allow to cook for 1 more minute, and test again.
• Be sure to account for carry over cooking. Once removed from the heat, the fish will continue cooking another 10 degrees or so. Be sure to account for this, depending on how you like your salmon cooked (medium rare, medium, well done, etc.)

Skin On or Off? Both Have Their Perks.

Whether you leave the skin on or remove it, salmon can be delicious either way – it all depends on your cooking method and personal preference.

Skin-on Salmon acts like a natural barrier, helping prevent overcooking and keeping the fish juicy. Crisp it up in a hot pan and you’ve got added texture and flavor. Bonus: the skin is full of nutrients! Just make sure that it is properly de-scaled before cooking.

Skinless Salmon is perfect if you want something tender and fuss-free – especially great for poaching or baking. Plus, it seasons evenly and cooks a little faster.

Pan Seared Salmon Recipe

Pan seared salmon reigns supreme as the simplest, quickest, and debatably most delicious way to prepare salmon. In under 10 minutes and with only 3 ingredients (salt, pepper, and salmon), you’ll enjoy a crispy, juicy, tender piece of salmon.

Serve alongside your favorites sautéed vegetables with some parmesan cous- cous, jasmine rice, or even atop a fresh salad. The possibilities are endless! This preparation will not steer you wrong whenever you need a stress-free, healthy lunch or dinner.

How to Pan Sear Salmon

• Use an oil with a high smoke point, like canola oil, sunflower oil, or avocado oil. Using an oil with a low smoke point, such as extra virgin olive oil, will cause that oil to burn in the pan. That will not allow you to get a proper sear on your salmon.
• Your salmon should sizzle when placed in the pan. That is how you will know it is hot enough.
• Once it’s in the pan, try not to move it. Allow a nice layer of caramelization to form on your salmon first. This will reward a beautiful sweetness and satisfying crunch when enjoying the finished dish.

[[ recipeID=recipe-9l1b14dla, title=Pan Seared Salmon ]]

Breaded Salmon

Breaded, pan-fried Salmon is crunchy, flaky, and delicious. This fantastic seafood lunch or dinner will be ready to devour in under 20 minutes.

This breaded salmon follows the same procedure as we covered with pan seared salmon. The difference, of course, is that we will bread one side of this salmon portion and pan-fry it. This is another delightfully simple way to “dress up” your salmon for a bit more impressive, visually pleasing dish.

Panko-crusted salmon still has only 5 ingredients – salt, pepper, flour, egg, and breadcrumbs. We would recommend using seasoned panko breadcrumbs. You can buy them pre-seasoned or season them yourself.

We will follow “standard breading procedure” in this recipe. Be sure to use one hand when dredging in your wet ingredient (egg). Use the other hand for your dry ingredients (flour & breadcrumb). This will avoid any messy “snowman hands!”

Pair this with Chef Andrew's mouthwatering pimento cheese slaw as a scrumptious side. It’s the perfect complement to this crispy Panko Crusted Salmon.

[[ recipeID=recipe-8kvmmi4vt, title=Breaded Salmon with Pimento Cheese slaw ]]

Baked Salmon with Lemon

Baked Salmon with Lemon is a reliable, convenient, stress-free way to prepare a healthy salmon dinner. Your meal will be complete in under 20 minutes. Hit it with some salt, pepper, and a knob of butter. Bake salmon at 400°F for 14-16 minutes with a bit of white wine or water.

The white wine in this recipe helps to maintain the natural moisture and juicy texture of the salmon portion. Don’t have wine? Use water or even broth! No problem.

We like to serve ours with steamed broccoli and fresh lemon wedges.

[[ recipeID=recipe-9l1b1bs39, title=Simple Baked Salmon ]]

Poached Salmon Recipe

Poached Salmon is the healthiest way to cook salmon! It’s also one of the quickest! Your meal will be ready in just 10 minutes! 

Although it seems fancy, this poached salmon recipe is crazy simple. It ultimately rewards a tender, delicate, flaky piece of salmon that is light and refreshing. That’s one of the reasons it’s a popular addition to a brunch spread!

How to Poach Salmon

• Season your pot of water with salt and white vinegar. This adds just a bit of acidity to your poaching liquid.
• Bring poaching liquid to a simmer.
• Carefully add salmon portions and ensure your poaching liquid remains at a GENTLE simmer.
• Be careful not to overcook. After 5 minutes, carefully remove the salmon from the pot. Test for doneness by gently pushing the flat side of a wooden skewer through the thickest part of the fish. If it goes through with no resistance, it is done. If there is resistance, cook for another minute or so and test again.

Serve with fresh roasted asparagus, potatoes, and fresh lemon wedges.

[[ recipeID=recipe-9l1b0xppc, title=Poached Salmon ]]

How to Tell When Salmon is Done

Here’s a trick that Chef Andrew has used for over 30 years! All you need is a small wooden skewer.

Gently push the flat side of the skewer through the thickest part of the fish. If it goes through the fish with no resistance, it is done cooking! If there is resistance, cook for another minute or so and test again.

And remember – your fish will keep cooking for a couple of minutes after you remove it from cooking. This is referred to as “carry over cooking”. Be mindful of this to get your seafood to exactly the right doneness you desire.

Frequently Asked Questions about How to Cook Salmon

What is the best way to cook salmon for beginners?

Honestly, all four methods above are easy ways for beginners to start working with this all-star protein! Ask yourself which cooking method you find the least intimidating.

For some, the frying pan is the most comfortable, familiar option. For others, sticking a sheet pan in the oven seems as stress-free as it gets! Even poaching, which sounds complicated, is quick, simple, and very hard to mess up!

As long as you’re not trying to master an over-the-top, complicated preparation, you’ll be just fine. Follow basic food safety rules and you’ll cook a delicious salmon meal!

What seasonings go well with salmon?

Once you’ve mastered the cooking methods above, you can experiment with seasoning!

Consider a few of these pantry staples:

• Onion powder
• Garlic powder
• Parsley
• Lemon salt
• Chili powder
• Paprika
• Thyme
• Dill
• Chives
• Salt and black pepper
• Dried oregano
• Brown sugar

Additionally, many flavors go best with salmon. You’ll often see salmon served with citrus fruit (like lemon in the baked recipe above). However, lime also adds a refreshing acidity to seafood!

On the other hand, you can consider experimenting with umami flavors, too. Asian flavors like soy sauce, ginger, and sesame add a depth and complexity many salmon fans love. For a spicy preparation, try chili flakes or cayenne. For something more classic, honey mustard does the trick!

The bottom line? Salmon is one of the most versatile proteins out there. Anything bright and fresh will balance the natural oily tenderness of the fish! Happy experimenting!

How can you prevent salmon from drying out while cooking?

If you follow the recipes above, you shouldn’t have this issue. However, if you’re starting to experiment, there are a few ways to address this problem.

Try one of the following:

• Lower the temperature
• Cook for a shorter time
• Add moisture with marinade, butter, or oil
• Keep the skin on while cooking (unless poaching)

If your salmon dries out while grilling, consider grilling in a foil packet. That method traps the steam in with the fish, adding moisture as it cooks. Plus, it keeps flaky fish from falling through the grates!

About North Coast Seafoods

North Coast Seafood is a family-owned, Boston-based, quality-obsessed Seafood company founded in 1957. We are a direct-importer and first receiver of the highest quality, sustainable seafood.

We cut out the middleman by processing in our own state-of-the-art facilities. We even distribute directly to retailers, restaurants, institutions, and consumers. Our mission is "to share the joy of extraordinary seafood."