If you’re wondering how to cook king salmon, you’re in luck – it’s pretty hard to mess up. Salmon is a great fish to cook with and is very easy to purchase, both in grocery stores and from high-quality online sellers. That said, king salmon is the most expensive variety, so you’ll want to cook it properly. The below guide provides convenient resources for how to cook king salmon. King salmon is notably fatty and oily, compared to other varieties of salmon. So, knowing how to correctly prepare the fish is key to a successful meal.

 

About King Salmon

King, also known as Chinook, is a popular type of salmon. This species lives in Alaska and areas of the west coast of the United States. King salmon fillets have a bold taste and are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, making the fish a nutritious option. Many consider king to be the best type of salmon to eat.

King salmon has a fresh fish flavor. The fillets are very meaty and succulent. While it has a distinctive flavor on its own, king salmon does well with marinades and sauces as well.

Given the fattiness and oil content of king salmon, the fish can withstand high-heat cooking methods, like grilling. With other types of salmon, the direct high heat might cause the fish to break apart, but that is not the case with king salmon.

 

Different Methods of Cooking King Salmon

Grilling

Grilling king salmon gives the fish a smoky taste as the fat renders with the heat. King salmon with the skin on, or using a grill basket, is the best way to keep the fish from sticking to the grill. Here’s how to cook king salmon on the grill.

  1. Preheat your grill until very hot.
  2. Brush the salmon with olive oil and season with salt and pepper and any other spices.
  3. Grill the salmon skin side down until the fillet releases from the grill, about 5 minutes.
  4. Flip the salmon and cook for 4-6 minutes, depending on your preferred doneness.
  5. Take the salmon off the grill and top with a garnish or sauce or enjoy as is.

 

Sautéing 

Sautéing king salmon on a hot pan allows for a nice crust to form on the fish. Even though king salmon is oily, you will need some fat in the pan to prevent it from sticking. Below is how to cook king salmon by sautéing.

  1. Melt 1 tablespoon of butter in a nonstick skillet over medium high heat.
  2. Season the salmon with salt and pepper.
  3. Add salmon to the skillet skin side up and sauté for 5 to 6 minutes.
  4. Flip and cook the salmon for 3 to 4 minutes, or until desired doneness.
  5. Remove salmon from pan and serve with lemon wedges or additional sauce.

 

Roasting

To roast king salmon, follow these steps.

  1. Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
  2. Place salmon on a sheet pan and add seasonings or a glaze of choice.
  3. Roast the salmon for about 12 minutes.
  4. Remove from the oven and serve the salmon.

 

How to Cook King Salmon

We know that many home cooks like to watch cooking videos before attempting recipes themselves. We’ve included one of our favorites below.

YouTube video

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