Who doesn’t love the flavor of baked salmon? There’s nothing like it! With its distinct taste and versatility for various recipes, baked salmon is always a crowd-pleaser. If you’ve ever wondered how long to bake salmon at 400 degrees, then look no further – I have all the information you need right here.
How long to cook salmon in the oven
Cooking salmon in the oven is possibly the best way to make it. You don’t need to worry about the fish sticking to the pan or anything like that. But what temperature should you bake salmon at, and for how long?
How long to bake salmon at 400 in foil
When in the oven, salmon in foil can be baked for 18 to 20 minutes. That will be enough time to totally cook it without it losing moisture from the package.
Wrapping the salmon you’re working with in foil will allow you to trap seasonings and marinades in the fish really well, leading to a flavorful meal with minimal effort! So I’d recommend wrapping the salmon in foil loosely to create a packet, and then placing it in a 400˚ oven.
How long to bake salmon at 400 without foil
If you’d like to avoid using foil for any reason, you definitely can. It may take a little longer to cook, though, as the foil traps steam with the fish. With the steam gone, the fish will cook at a slightly lower temperature.
When baking salmon without foil, place the fillet into a 400˚F oven for 20 to 25 minutes. That is a good ballpark figure for a 1-inch thick salmon fillet, though the fish may need a little more or less time depending upon the thickness and size of the fillet.
How long to bake salmon at 400 for medium rare
For perfectly medium rare salmon every single time, you can bake the fish at 400˚F for 11 to 14 minutes (for fillets) or 15 to 18 minutes (for a side of fish). The trick to ensuring the fish is medium-rare is that a thermometer inserted into the thickest part of the fish should read 135˚F.
How long to bake salmon at 350
Salmon fillets can vary in thickness depending on different factors. But as a general thumb, when baking salmon at 350˚F, cook it for 10 minutes per inch of thickness. So if the salmon fillet is 2 inches, then cook it for at least 20 minutes.
How long to bake salmon at 375
To cook a piece of salmon at 375˚F, make sure to bake it a little longer than at 400. You can leave it in the oven for around 15 to 20 minutes, or until totally cooked through.
How long to bake salmon at 425
At 425˚F, try to bake the salmon for at least 10 to 12 minutes per inch of thickness. That will ensure that the fish is cooked through without being dried out at all.
The best baked salmon recipe
Ready to make some delicious baked salmon? Here’s an amazingly delicious recipe I’m sure you’ll love : )
Ingredients
- Salmon fillet
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tsp each of:
- Garlic powder
- Onion powder
- Paprika (sweet or smoked)
Step-by-step instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400˚F. While the oven is heating up, line a sheet pan with baking paper.
- Place the salmon onto the baking paper, and season it with the seasonings evenly.
- Bake the salmon for 12 to 15 minutes, or until it’s cooked through. The exact cooking time will change depending on the thickness of your salmon fillets, as I’ve mentioned in this article.
- Once cooked, serve immediately.
What to serve with baked salmon
- Herby roast potatoes
- Creamy mashed potatoes
- Sweet potatoes mashed with yogurt and smoked paprika
- Roasted asparagus
- Sauteed broccoli with lemon juice and parmesan
Tips and tricks for making the best baked salmon
The best tip that I could offer you is that you should approach salmon with the general rule that for each inch of thickness, the salmon will need to be cooked for ten minutes in a 400˚F oven. Using a ruler and a calculator, you can figure out a rough estimate for the total cooking time.
I would also recommend that you wrap the salmon in a foil parcel, tightly bunched up to avoid the steam escaping. This will allow the salmon to absorb the herbs and spices as much as possible!
FAQ
Is it better to bake salmon at 350 or 400?
This is really up to you. I prefer to cook salmon at 400, as it ensures that both the outside and inside have great texture to them, rather than either one being overcooked.
How long do you grill salmon at 400?
You will need to grill salmon for a little less time than you would bake it. Generally speaking, grill salmon for 8 minutes per inch of thickness, turning regularly on the grill.
What is the best temperature to bake salmon?
Personally, I recommend baking salmon at 400˚F. It’s neither too hot nor too cold, so the final texture of the salmon will be totally cooked, but not tough and overcooked.
Is it better to bake salmon at 375 or 400?
I find that baking salmon at 400 is better. The reason for this is that salmon is lean meat, so baking it at a lower temperature for a long time has a chance of making the fish tougher, and overcooked.
Is it better to cook salmon in foil or not?
This is up to you. I prefer to cook salmon in foil because it leads to a herby, succulent fish. However, you don’t have to: salmon can be cooked out of foil, leading to a more straightforward final flavor.
How Long To Bake Salmon At 400 (Super Simple Recipe!)
Ingredients
- Salmon fillet
- Salt and pepper
- 1 tsp garlic powder, onion powder, and paprika
Instructions
- Preheat your oven to 400˚F. While the oven is heating up, line a sheet pan with baking paper.
- Place the salmon onto the baking paper, and season it with the seasonings evenly.
- Bake the salmon for 12 to 15 minutes, or until it’s cooked through. The exact cooking time will change depending on the thickness of your salmon fillets, as I’ve mentioned in this article.
- Once cooked, serve immediately.
Wrapping it up!
I hope that this article has given you a little guidance on baking salmon in your home. It’s a truly delicious fish, so make sure to pick some up for baking in your home soon! Bon appetite : )