#Grilling salmon how to#
#Grilling salmon skin#

As the fish cooks, it undergoes the Maillard reaction, a chemical reaction between amino acids (like protein) and reducing sugars that results in browned color and that classic caramelized taste. In other words, have patience, and don’t dare fuss with the fish once you lay it down. If it’s sticking, keep it on a little longer,” Padilla says. So, how can you tell when the fish is ready for flipping, aka the most stressful part? “You’ll know it’s ready to turn if it lifts off the grill easily. Additionally, Padilla recommends cleaning the grill with a brush before cooking the fish to prevent sticking. Plus, individual fillets will cook more evenly. Grilling a large piece of salmon is tough unless you are putting it on something, as it’s nearly impossible to flip and you risk it breaking apart. “The trick is to preheat the grates and the grill so it’s nice and hot-above 550✯, or it will stick,” Padilla says. Individual-sized salmon fillets are best for grilling 5 or 6 ounces is a good size. Since the flavors of this dish are a little bigger with the sauce, go with a nice pinot noir.Cooking on salmon on the grill without it falling apart completelyĪccording to Matthew Padilla, the culinary innovation chef of True Food Kitchen, there are two main factors that will make or break (pun intended) salmon on the grill: Heat and patience.

Wine pairing : With salmon, you can go white or red.

You can bake the BBQ salmon in the oven if grilling isn't convenient.

Want it a little smoky? You can add some water-soaked wood chips to your grill's fire.

You’ll have glowing embers in 15 to 20 minutes, no oily lighter fluid required.

Salmon is best cooked to an internal temp of 125° to 130° F (140° F for well done). When using a charcoal grill, light the coals in a chimney starter.

Wild salmon cooks more quickly than farmed salmon because of its lower fat content.

This isn't an issue if you grill with the skin-side down and don't flip the salmon.

Watch out for the burn - BBQ sauce has sugar and can burn on the grill.

Grill with the skin-side down, and there's no need to turn it if you cook with the lid closed.

A little oil required - Brushing some oil on the fish before grilling helps keep it from sticking to the grill.

Instant-read thermometer - the best way to precisely tell when the salmon is finished cooking.

BBQ sauce - Making your own is awesome, but your favorite store-bought version will work great too.

High-temp silicone basting brush for brushing on the sauce.

#Grilling salmon skin#

Fish spatula - Great for getting under the skin to remove the filets in one piece.Fish tweezers for removing the pin bones.Quality Salmon - I recommend wild salmon from Alaska.If you are eager to get started early, you can season it with some kosher salt a few hours before cooking, which will act as a dry brine, seasoning the salmon all the way through and enhancing the natural flavors. Marinating in BBQ sauce will add a little flavor, but it will also burn pretty easily, so I will usually skip marinating with BBQ sauce. Using just a little of your favorite dry spice rub will add some extra flavors and help form a crust on the fish. Marinating the salmon before it hits the grill is totally optional. Just be sure to make extra, as it's delicious served cold for lunch the next day with a salad and some BBQ vinaigrette.

#Grilling salmon how to#

Now let's fire up the grill and scroll on down to the recipe for how to make BBQ grilled salmon. The sugars in the sauce start to caramelize and create a fantastic glaze. Grilling the fresh salmon and brushing on some sweet and tangy BBQ sauce results in a flavor explosion that is going to make your taste buds super happy. And this one turned out to be a definite win. But after eating salmon all season long, it was time to do a little experimenting with some variations. Normally, keeping salmon minimally seasoned with basic flavors is the way to go, as it allows the flavor of the beautiful salmon to shine through. It's ready in about 20 minutes, so it's perfect for a quick weeknight dinner or a fancier Sunday supper. There's the oh-so-popular BBQ chicken (and for good reason), so why not use the same technique and make BBQ salmon, too? Turns out that grilling salmon with some BBQ sauce is super delicious, quick and oh so easy.