How Long Do You Cook A Side Of Salmon

After years of making unsatisfactory, overcooked salmon, I finally figured out the best way to cook salmon and am sharing the foolproof recipe that yields restaurant quality "medium", melt-in-your mouth salmon. slow cooked salmon with lemon slice As someone who was pescetarian for 18 of her (almost) 32 years, seafood has always been one of the staple protein sources in my diet. I've also always really enjoyed the taste of seafood too. I remember when I decided to give up meat at the ripe age of 12, I asked my Mom if being a vegetarian meant I had to give up seafood too as the words "clam chowder" stared me dead in the face on a restaurant menu. I was relieved when she said of course, not (and I believe she too was relieved as a concerned mom of a vegetarian teen would be). And go figure now I live in New England – one of the best areas in the country for fresh seafood and clam chowdAH.

salmon on sheet pan

My Mom really did an awesome job cooking for our divided family growing up considering I was the only pescetarian in the household. This basically meant she had to cook a separate piece of fish for me every time she cooked meat for the rest of the gang (rockstar Mom status). And that piece of fish 90% of the time was salmon. slow cooked salmon with lemon slice

And I continue to eat salmon regularly today. The only difference being now I make it for myself ;). Salmon has become our welcome home meal. Whenever I come back home after being away on a trip somewhere, I always want the same meal – salmon, brown rice, and kale. It's easy, simple, tastes good, and feels good in my body. He doesn't even bother asking anymore, he just knows to stock the fridge appropriately upon my return. Bonus points for salmon being a nutritional powerhouse too: it's packed with healthy omega-3 fats, protein, vitamin D, B-vitamins, and antioxidants.

slow cooked salmon with lemon slice

But my problem with salmon, up until a few years ago, was that I ALWAYS overcooked it, without fail. It didn't matter if I pan seared it, baked it, or poached it. It never had that texture and consistency that I could only find at a good restaurant. Until, one day, all hail Chef Jeremy Sewall and the folks at Stop & Shop for hosting a cooking class where he taught us his preferred slow cooking method for salmon. By cooking salmon at a higher heat for a shorter amount of time, the proteins coil up and are constricted, causing the oils to secrete, making the fish dry, chewy, and chalky. When you cook salmon at a lower temperature, it coils the proteins more slowly, allowing the fish to retain its moisture and oils, giving it that melt-in-your-mouth texture.

slow cooked salmon with lemon slice

Ever since I started cooking salmon this way, Steve now requests it weekly. Seriously, once you try slow cooking salmon, I can guarantee you won't be cooking it any other way.

1 lb fresh salmon
Salt
Freshly ground cracked black pepper
Lemon
Herb of choice (thyme, parsley, rosemary)

Preheat the oven to 300 degrees F and line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Pat salmon dry with a paper towel and place on baking sheet.
Sprinkle salt and pepper over salmon.
Sprinkle 1/4 teaspoon dried herb or place a couple sprigs of fresh herb over top.
Bake salmon until salmon flakes easily with a fork and is slightly opaque, about 20-25 minutes.

Prep Time: 2 minutes
Cook Time: 20 minutes
Category: Seafood
Method: Bake

Keywords: salmon, slow cook

This recipe was retested, reshot and revamped to bring you the most delicious (and most beautiful) dish! The original post was published in February 2015.

Last Updated: September 2019