How Long to Grill Sockeye Salmon for Perfectly Cooked Fish

Sockeye salmon, with its deep red flesh and rich flavor, takes well to the intense heat of the grill. When cooked properly, the fatty salmon emerges juicy, smoky, and tender. But grill it too long and you end up with disappointing dry, rubbery fish. So how long should sockeye salmon be grilled to achieve the ideal texture and moisture? Follow this guide for times and tips to master grilling profound, delicious sockeye salmon.

Optimal Internal Temperature for Grilled Salmon

• 125°F – Rare
• 135°F – Medium rare
• 145°F – Medium

At a final internal temperature of 135 to 145°F, salmon has the best mix of juicy and flaky texture. Shooting for medium rare doneness avoids overcooking.

Use an instant read thermometer to check for doneness, inserting into the thickest portion of the fillet. Temperature continues rising off heat so don’t overshoot the final target.

Recommended Grill Times for Sockeye Fillets

• 0.5 inch thick – 3-4 minutes per side
• 1 inch thick – 6-8 minutes per side
• 1.5 inch thick – 8-10 minutes per side

These times are for fillets grilled directly over medium high heat. Adjust times slightly lower for a cooler grill or thicker fillets

Turn fillets gently with a spatula just once during grilling to prevent breaking Use a medium high grill temperature of about 400°F.

How Long to Grill Sockeye Salmon Portions

Salmon portions including tails may take a little longer to cook than evenly thick fillets, Add approximately 1-3 extra minutes to the grill times

• 0.5 inch thick portions – 4-5 minutes per side
• 1 inch thick portions – 7-9 minutes per side
• 1.5 inch thick portions – 9-11 minutes per side

Pay attention to the thickest part and make sure it’s done before taking pieces off the grill.

Angle thinner tails to the hot edges of the grill if needed to prevent overcooking.

Grilling Tips for Large Whole Salmon

For grilling a large 3-5 pound whole salmon:

• Preheat grill to medium.

• Cook over indirect heat, avoiding direct high heat under the belly.

• Grill skin side down for about 12-18 minutes until skin gets crisp.

• Flip and grill flesh side about 8-12 minutes more.

• Check for 135°F at thickest area and move to cooler grill zone if needed to finish cooking without burning.

• Total grill time is typically 20-30 minutes for a 3 pound whole salmon.

Rotating the fish and managing grill zones prevents undercooked or dried out areas.

How Long Does Planked Salmon Take to Grill?

Cooking salmon on a cedar plank protects the delicate flesh and provides a subtle wood smoke flavor. Because the plank disperses heat, increase grill times about 5 minutes compared to direct grilling.

For 1 inch planked fillets allow about:

• 12-15 minutes skin side down
• 5 minutes flesh side down after flipping

Monitor for doneness temperature and because planks can burn.

Tips for Grilling Salmon Kebabs and Skewers

Cut salmon in 1-2 inch chunks for quick cooking kebabs:

• Soak bamboo skewers before using to prevent burning.

• Thread salmon cubes tightly together, alternating with vegetables.

• Grill kabobs over direct high heat for just 2-4 minutes per side.

• Turn the skewers gently to avoid salmon pieces slipping through.

The small pieces cook fast so watch closely to avoid overcooking.

How Long Does Salmon Stay Good After Grilling?

Like any cooked protein, grilled salmon is perishable and needs proper storage for lasting freshness:

• Refrigerate grilled salmon within 1 hour after cooking.

• Consume refrigerated grilled salmon within 3-4 days for maximum quality.

• Freeze grilled salmon in an airtight container for 2-3 months.

Proper chilling stops bacteria growth and safeguards the grill flavors. Handle leftovers quickly.

Mistakes to Avoid When Grilling Sockeye Salmon

• Overcrowding fillets, which steams instead of sears.

• Grilling too hot, which chars the outside before the center cooks.

• Grilling too long past 145°F internal temperature.

• Basting fillets too early, which washes away flavor.

• Turning salmon more than once, which breaks up the flesh.

• Serving grilled salmon at room temperature, which allows bacteria growth.

By avoiding these pitfalls, you can achieve professional restaurant quality salmon off your own grill.

Best Wood Types for Planked Salmon Grilling

Cedar, alder, and oak work well for enhancing salmon without overpowering it:

• Cedar – Most traditional, provides delicate flavor
• Alder – Hotter and lighter flavor, common for Northwest salmon
• Oak – More intense smoke bouquet
• Maple – Stronger, sweeter tone
• Mesquite – Hearty smoke, better for red meats than salmon

Soak planks 1-2 hours before use. Avoid soft woods like pine that contain resin which can impart an unpleasant taste.

Health Benefits of Sockeye Salmon

Wild sockeye salmon provides an amazing nutritional package:

• High quality complete protein – strengthening muscles and tissues
• Abundant omega-3 fatty acids – reducing inflammation and heart disease risk
• Rich antioxidants – neutralizing DNA-damaging free radicals
• Vitamin B12, selenium – supporting brain and thyroid function
• Vitamin D – building strong bones and immunity

The bright red hue comes from astaxanthin, a potent antioxidant. So you get both stellar flavor and nutrition in one fish.

Tastiest Sauces and Rubs for Grilled Salmon

• Lemon dill butter – fresh and tangy
• Pesto – herbaceous with nutty parmesan
• Teriyaki – sweet and sticky with Asian flavors
• Honey mustard – sweet and savory
• Cajun blackening spice – smoky with a kick of heat
• Jerk seasoning – Caribbean spices like allspice, thyme and Scotch bonnet peppers

Brush glazes on during last few minutes to allow salmon flavor to develop first.

The Takeaway on Grilling Sockeye Salmon

The foolproof method for grilling sockeye salmon is a hot grill, medium doneness, gently turning once, and removing at 135°F. Let the salmon’s natural richness shine through by avoiding heavy rubs. In just 10 minutes you can enjoy incredible grill-kissed salmon. Master these simple techniques for salmon grilling success.