Real talk: Salmon is very easy to overcook. The distance between underdone and overdone is short, and if you aren’t careful, you run the risk of a dry, uninteresting supper. Or worse, one fillet out of four will be perfect, while the others are ruined.
Sign up for the Dinner Tonight newsletter!
Weeknight cooking inspiration, curated and written by longtime ATK author and editor (and avid home cook) Jack Bishop.
How to Cook Salmon Consistently
Two things will help. One is an instant-read thermometer, which gives you a read on exactly what’s happening inside the fish. Rather than rely solely on timing, you can rely on the internal temperature, which is a much better gauge of doneness.
The second is to buy a single piece of center-cut salmon and cut it into four equal fillets yourself. This ensures that all the fillets are the same size and shape and have the exact same density. When one is done, they’re all done. Everyone wins.
Sweet Chili Salmon with Cauliflower and Lime
We wanted hot, sweet, sour, and savory all in one simple dish.
Get the RecipeThis recipe shines for the play between the sweet honey flavor and the spicy chili powder. It’s at once comforting and invigorating—just right for a weeknight.