Baked Salmon Temperature Guide

Think salmon is dry? Stop overcooking it! This Baked Salmon Temperature Guide has everything you need to know to cook moist, succulent salmon every time.

Perfectly cooked salmon is a thing of beauty.

It’s moist, tender, flaky, and almost melts in your mouth.

Overcooked salmon is a chore. It’s dry, chewy, and will make you want to swear off fish.

Follow these tips to determine the correct salmon internal temperature, as well as approximate bake times at various oven temperatures for both a whole side of salmon and individual portions (fillets) of salmon.

What Is the Proper Temperature for Salmon?

What temperature salmon is done cooking depends on who you ask and your personal preference.

• According to the FDA, salmon is considered cooked when the thickest part reaches 145 degrees F. This will give you very, very firm (some would say dry) salmon.
• According to Cook’s Illustrated, 125 degrees F is the preferred temperature for farmed salmon if you like your salmon to be mostly firm with a fair amount of silkiness. Wild salmon should be cooked to just 120 degrees F, as it is leaner and more prone to drying out.
• According to my mother-in-law, you should cook salmon until it is so dry, the only way to cut it is with a steak knife.

After trial and error, I have consistently found that the best temperature for salmon is 135 degrees F.*

• As soon as the salmon registers 135 degrees F on an instant read thermometer inserted at the thickest part of the fillet, remove it from the heat source, then let it rest.
• As the salmon rests, its temperature continues to rise. Resting allows any juices to incorporate back into the fish.
• Salmon cooked to 135 degrees F and allowed to rest will be medium, moist, and safe to eat.*

How to Know When Salmon is Done

Best Way: Use an Instant Read Thermometer

The best, most reliable way to know your salmon is done is to use an instant read digital thermometer.

An instant read thermometer is a critical tool in the kitchen.

It will save you from overcooking fish and meat. I even use it to determine when banana bread is done.

• This one is less than $15 and is quick and accurate.
• This one is lightening fast and dead accurate. It is an excellent investment if you cook often.

To use your instant read thermometer to check the salmon for doneness, insert the tip into the thickest part of the fish. Make sure you are in the fillet’s center and not touching the pan.

Back Up Method: The Poke Test

If you don’t have an instant read thermometer, you can see if salmon is done by gently pressing down on the top of the fillet.

• Its flesh should easily separate when gently pressed with a fork or your finger (called flaking).
• Further, if you peek inside the salmon, the center should no longer appear raw.

But really—please buy an instant read thermometer.

Salmon Cook Temperatures and Times

How long to cook salmon will depend upon the size and thickness of your fillet, if it is wild-caught or farm-raised salmon, and if you are cooking a single large portion of salmon or individual fillets.

• As you might expect smaller, thinner fillets cook more quickly than thicker ones.
• Wild salmon cooks more quickly than farmed salmon since it has less fat.

Please use the below as a high-level guide for baking salmon in the oven, on either a sheet pan or in a baking dish.

I’ve included temperatures ranging from 350 degrees F to 450 degrees F. Note that the time will vary based on the size and thickness of your salmon. Check early! Better safe than sorry.

More Tips to Avoid Overcooking Salmon

While the best way to avoid cooking salmon is to remove it from the heat when it reaches 135 degrees F on an instant read thermometer, there are a few other tips that can help keep it moist.

• Use a Foil or Parchment Packet. Cooking the salmon inside a foil or parchment paper packet insulates the salmon as it cooks, giving you moist results. See this Baked Salmon in Foil for a stellar recipe; this Fish En Papillote works well for individual fillets.
• Choose Thicker Fillets. Thicker fillets are harder to overcook than thinner fillets (though they can still absolutely overcook, so keep an eye on them).
• Use a Fattier Variety of Salmon. While I prefer wild caught salmon for its benefits such as less calories and more vitamins, farmed salmon has the advantage of more fat to keep it moist.
• Stuff It. The filling in this Stuffed Salmon helps insulate the fish; further, if you do overcook it, the filling will cover up some of the dryness.
• Wrap in Puff Pastry. This Salmon Wellington is surrounded by buttery puff pastry, which makes the fillet irresistibly moist.
• Add a Sauce. If you’ve overcooked your fish, try adding a sauce. Browned butter with a squeeze of lemon and herbs is always a good option. See this Salmon Meuniere for a salmon recipe that yields its own pan sauce, or this Miso Salmon for a sweet and salty glaze.

Favorite Salmon Recipes

You can find dozens of salmon recipes here. There’s a method and flavor profile for everyone!

Here are a few of our most popular baked salmon recipes. These are also excellent ideas if you are looking for ways to season salmon:

• Honey Glazed Salmon (pictured above)
• Pesto Salmon (pictured earlier in the post)
• Instant Pot Salmon (for when you’re in a time-crunch)
• Teriyaki Salmon
• Salmon Pasta
• Salmon Salad
• Buffalo Salmon
• Balsamic Glazed Salmon
• Bourbon Glazed Salmon
• Honey Garlic Salmon
• My personal favorite Salmon Seasoning
• The best-ever Salmon Marinade

I hope this post is helpful in answering your questions regarding salmon cook times and temps.

If you have further questions, let me know in the comments below. I will do my best to answer them. Go forth and cook great salmon!

**Consuming raw or undercooked salmon or other seafood or shellfish may increase your risk of foodborne illness, especially if you have certain medical conditions.**

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