do you grill salmon over indirect heat

Do You Grill Salmon Over Indirect Heat? The Expert Guide to Perfectly Cooked Salmon

Salmon is one of the most popular and versatile fish to cook on the grill. When properly prepared grilled salmon can result in a tender, flaky, and delicious entree. However grilling this omega-3 rich fish does require some special considerations. One of the most important decisions when grilling salmon is whether to use direct or indirect heat. So, do you grill salmon over indirect heat?

The simple answer is yes Cooking salmon over indirect heat is the best way to achieve the ideal texture and prevent the fish from drying out, Here is a complete guide to grilling salmon using the indirect method for perfect results every time

What is Indirect Grilling?

Indirect grilling means that the food is not put directly on top of the heat source. Instead, the heat circulates around the food to cook it gently and evenly. This is not the same as direct grilling, where the food cooks right over the hot coals or flames.

For gas grills, indirect grilling is accomplished by only turning on some of the burners. The food is then placed over the unlit burners, and the heat circulates from the lit burners around the grill.

On charcoal grills, the coals are piled on one side of the grill, leaving the other side empty. The food cooks over the empty side, absorbing heat from the burning coals on the other side.

Why Use Indirect Heat for Salmon?

There are a few reasons why indirect grilling is recommended for cooking salmon:

• Prevents Drying Out: Salmon has high fat content. Direct exposure to flames or hot coals can cause the fat to melt quickly before the interior of the fish is cooked. This leads to dry, overcooked salmon. Indirect heat cooks the fish more gently.

• Allows Even Cooking: Indirect heat distributes and circulates around the salmon, preventing hot or cold spots. The fish cooks more evenly throughout.

• Enhances Flavor: The slower cooking over indirect heat allows the salmon to absorb more smoke flavor from the grill.

• Easy Temperature Control: It’s harder to control the exact temperature when grilling over direct heat. Indirect grilling makes it easier to maintain the ideal temperature for perfectly cooked salmon.

Step-By-Step Guide

Follow these simple steps for grilling salmon using the indirect method:

1. Prepare the Grill

For gas grills, turn one burner to high and leave the other burners off. For charcoal, bank all the hot coals to one side of the grill.

1. Season the Salmon

Coat the salmon lightly with oil or melted butter and season as desired. Simple salt and pepper works well. Marinades or rubs can also be used.

1. Preheat

Allow the grill to preheat for 10-15 minutes. You want an overall grill temperature of about 300-350°F.

1. Place on the Grill

Put the salmon skin-side down over the unlit side on a well-oiled grate. Do not place directly over the heat.

1. Grill Indirectly

Grill the salmon over indirect heat with the lid closed for about 10 minutes per inch of thickness. Do not flip more than once.

1. Check for Doneness

Use a meat thermometer to check the internal temp. Salmon is perfectly cooked between 130-140°F.

1. Rest and Serve

Allow the salmon to rest for 5 minutes before serving. The flesh will continue to cook a bit more during this time.

Tips for Indirect Grilling Salmon

• Use a meat thermometer for accuracy. Do not rely solely on appearance.

• Resist the urge to flip the salmon frequently. Only flip once halfway through.

• Add aromatic wood chips or planks for extra smoky flavor. Soak woods chips first.

• Brush with a glaze or sauce during the last 5 minutes only to prevent burning.

• For best results, use center-cut salmon fillets no more than 1-1.5 inches thick.

• If the salmon skin sticks at first, let it sear a bit longer before trying to flip it.

Common Mistakes

Avoid these common mistakes when grilling salmon over indirect heat:

• Placing the fish directly over the heat source. This leads to uneven cooking.

• Grilling over direct high heat. This causes the salmon to dry out quickly.

• Grilling with the lid open. This makes temperature control very difficult.

• Turning the salmon too frequently. Just flip once at the halfway point.

• Serving the salmon immediately. Always let it rest first.

Sample Recipes

Here are two delicious recipes for grilled salmon using the indirect method:

Lemon and Herb Grilled Salmon

Ingredients:

• 4 salmon fillets
• Zest of 1 lemon
• 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice
• 2 tablespoons olive oil
• 2 cloves garlic, minced
• 1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill
• Salt and pepper to taste

Instructions:

1. Combine lemon zest and juice, olive oil, garlic, dill, and salt and pepper in a small bowl. Mix well.

2. Brush salmon fillets generously with lemon-herb mixture. Allow to marinate 15 minutes.

3. Grill salmon over indirect heat as described above, basting occasionally with extra marinade, until cooked through.

4. Serve salmon immediately with extra lemon wedges.

Balsamic and Brown Sugar Salmon

Ingredients:

• 4 salmon fillets
• 3 tablespoons olive oil, divided
• 2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
• 1 tablespoon brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon dried thyme
• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
• 2 cloves garlic, minced

Instructions:

1. Whisk together 2 tablespoons olive oil, balsamic vinegar, brown sugar, thyme, pepper, and garlic. Reserve half the mixture in a separate bowl.

2. Brush salmon fillets with remaining 1 tablespoon olive oil. Grill over indirect heat as described until nearly cooked through.

3. During the last 2-3 minutes of grilling, glaze the salmon with the reserved balsamic mixture. Cook 1-2 minutes more.

4. Serve salmon immediately with extra glaze on the side if desired.

As you can see, grilling salmon over indirect heat helps ensure moist, tender, and delicious results every time. While it requires a little bit more effort than just placing the fish directly over high heat, the gently circulating indirect heat allows you to perfectly cook salmon on the grill. Follow the tips outlined here, and you’ll have restaurant-quality grilled salmon in no time. Let us know how your salmon turns out!