Take your next grilled salmon to the next level with this easy-to-make salmon marinade that will give it extra flavor. Plus, it can be used for both basting and serving.
My very simple tips for cooking salmon on the BBQ, so your salmon doesn’t get burned and doesn’t stick to the grill!
I feel like a lot of people are intimidated at the thought of cooking salmon on the BBQ. Fear of it sticking to the grill, of flaking into bits when handling it. Or of the sugar in marinades causing it to burn into a black bitter mess.
Don’t be afraid! It’s easy to cook salmon on the BBQ if you know a few simple tricks. With THIS grilled salmon recipe, your salmon will be:
It’s caramelized on the outside but not burned, won’t stick to the grill, and juicy and cooked to perfection on the inside. Plus, it comes with a marinade in case you cook it too long
You will love that the Salmon Marinade can be used to both baste the salmon and make a sauce to serve it with.
(PS I totally manufactured the flare up you see below. Just cause I thought it looked cool! )
Marinating salmon can infuse it with tons of flavor and help it stay deliciously moist during cooking. But marinating this tender fish requires finesse – go too long and you’ll end up with mushy, over-marinated salmon. Finding the ideal marinating time is key to salmon success. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore how long you should marinate salmon to achieve peak texture and taste.
Factors That Affect Marinating Duration
There are a few key factors that determine exactly how long your salmon should marinate
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Salmon cut size—The marinating time is mostly based on how thick and how big your salmon cuts are. Smaller cuts like fillets only need 30-60 minutes. Full salmon steaks can be marinated for up to two hours before they are cooked.
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Marinade ingredients – Acidic, salty or enzyme-containing marinades work faster to tenderize and “cook” salmon. Limit marinating time to 30-45 minutes for citrus, vinegar, pineapple or soy sauce-based marinades. Milder marinades allow for longer soaking.
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Desired intensity – More marinating time equals more flavor infusion. If you want really bold flavor go for the full recommended time according to salmon size. Quick weeknight marinades can be on the shorter side.
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Type of cooking—Salmon that is grilled, broiled, or baked can handle more marinade than salmon that is poached or pan-seared, which is more delicate. Remove harsh marinades before searing to prevent over-tenderizing during cooking.
Optimal Marinating Times
Keep these general guidelines in mind when timing your salmon’s marinade soak:
- Salmon fillets – 30 minutes to 1 hour
- Salmon steaks – 1 to 2 hours
- Whole salmon sides – 2 to 4 hours
Portion salmon into individual serving sizes before marinating for the most even results. Always marinate in the refrigerator, never at room temperature.
Marinating Don’ts: Avoiding Mushy Pitfalls
While marinating infuses flavor, there is such a thing as too much of a good thing. Pay attention to these don’ts:
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Don’t marinate for longer than the recommended time. Acidity and salt will start to break down salmon’s delicate flesh.
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Don’t reuse a marinade after marinating. The raw salmon juices present a contamination risk.
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Don’t marinate at room temperature. Refrigeration is vital for food safety with raw seafood.
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Don’t marinate pre-cooked salmon. It’s unnecessary and will make the salmon mushy.
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Don’t marinate large cuts longer than smaller pieces – the interior will over-marinate.
Marinating Methods for Moist, Flavorful Salmon
Now that you know how long to marinate your salmon, follow these simple methods:
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Combine marinade ingredients in a zip-top plastic bag, baking dish or container.
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Add salmon cuts and seal or cover. Flip over halfway through marinating.
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Refrigerate for the recommended time based on cut size.
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Remove salmon from marinade. Discard used marinade.
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Pat salmon dry with paper towels. Proceed with your desired cooking method.
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Brush extra marinade over salmon just before the end of cooking for quick flavor infusion (discard remainder).
Cooking Marinated Salmon to Perfection
The right cooking technique prevents overcooking while allowing marinade flavors to shine:
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For grilling or broiling, choose direct, high heat. Cook for 3-4 minutes per side.
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Bake at 400°F for 8-12 minutes until opaque and flakes easily.
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Pan-sear over high heat for 1-2 minutes per side until lightly browned.
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Poach gently in marinade diluted with water or wine for 5-8 minutes.
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Air fry at 390°F for 10-12 minutes until cooked through.
Check for doneness and avoid overcooking. Let salmon rest before serving to allow juices to redistribute.
Delicious Marinade Inspiration
Salmon boasts a rich, fatty texture that pairs deliciously with a world of flavors. Marinate for the optimum time to bring out salmon’s best qualities without overpowering its flavor. Try out these tasty marinade ideas:
- Soy sauce, sesame oil, ginger and garlic
- Lemon, herbs and olive oil
- Chili powder, cumin, oregano and orange juice
- Teriyaki sauce and toasted sesame seeds
- Garlic, maple syrup and Dijon mustard
- Balsamic vinegar, basil and cracked pepper
Get creative with your marinades and follow proper marinating guidelines for tender, succulent salmon every time. Master the simple art of marinating and enjoy flavorful, foolproof salmon dishes.
How you know the salmon is cooked
- It changes color on one side from see-through to opaque; or
- For medium-rare salmon, the temperature inside is 50C/120°F, and for medium, it is 55C/130°F. I cannot endorse cooking salmon beyond medium!.
And here’s what goes in the Salmon Marinade. It adds a savoury-sweet-garlic flavour to the salmon and makes it beautifully caramelised.
Soy sauce is the key ingredient here. Because it’s salty, it acts as the brine, injecting flavour and juiciness into the salmon flesh. It does not make the Salmon taste Asiany!.
Plenty of subs available, I’ve listed them in the recipe card.
What to serve with Grilled Salmon
If I’m cooking something that isn’t Asian on the BBQ, grilled corn will almost always be there too.
For a great BBQ dinner in the summer, serve some crusty bread rolls with a garden salad tossed with French Vinaigrette, Italian Dressing, or a cool German Cucumber Salad.
Or, make a big batch of one of these sides that stays good for days (and bring some to work with you!):
Please try to ignore the top left corner of the salmon in the photo below. You already know that I ate the salmon before I was done taking all the pictures I needed.
I suppose my limited Photoshop skills are sufficient enough to have patched that up.
But then I chose to leave it out so I could end with this image: that split second when I realized I forgot to take the picture below, my mouth wide open and the fork about to go in.
Angry, I put down the fork, pushed the salmon piece back into place, climbed a small ladder, and took this picture. Two seconds later, that piece was gone. (And minutes later, so was that whole piece of salmon) ~ Nagi x.
How to Marinate Salmon
FAQ
How long can you marinate salmon for?
How long should you marinate fish for?
How long to soak salmon before cooking?
How long can salmon be seasoned before cooking?
How long do you marinate salmon?
Make sure the whole piece is covered in marinade. Marinate the salmon anywhere between 30 minutes to 6 hours in the refrigerator. Because you are working with fish, you cannot keep it outside at room temperature. Once you have finished marinating your salmon piece, you can choose to rinse it or cook it with its marinade.
How long can you keep marinated salmon in the fridge?
You can keep your marinated fish in the refrigerator for up to 24 hours, but remember that you shouldn’t marinate your fish that long, especially if it is a small piece and a marinade with tons of salt and acid. After all that marinating, your salmon is finally ready to be cooked!
Can You marinate Salmon too long?
You can definitely marinate salmon for too long. If you refer back to the above section on marinating times, we briefly mentioned that marinating salmon in an acid or salt-based marinade too long will result in a dry and tough piece of meat.
Can You marinate salmon at room temperature?
Add a splash of liquid smoke to the marinade for a smoked flavor. Do not marinate the salmon at room temperature, except for the first few hours of a gravlax marination. This article was co-authored by Ollie George Cigliano. Ollie George Cigliano is a Private Chef, Food Educator, and Owner of Ollie George Cooks, based in Long Beach, California.
How long do you marinate salmon in a crock pot?
Grilled Salmon, Baked Salmon, Air Fryer Salmon, Instant Pot Salmon, Broiled Salmon, and Grilled Salmon in Foil are all possible ways to use this tasty marinade. Marinate Salmon for 30 Minutes or Up to 1 Hour. If you marinate it for longer, the fish can start to cure, which means it will actually cook itself in the marinade. Room Temperature.
How long do you marinate fish?
A good rule of thumb is that no tenderizing ingredients means you can extend marinating time by 50%: a 30 minute marinade can now be 45 minutes. If your marinade does have a lot of these ingredients, it can draw out the moisture from the fish, drying it out.