Salmon is one of my favorite fish! It has a flakey and buttery texture when cooked. You cook salmon by baking, pan searing, poaching, or grilling it. For me, the best way to cook salmon is to pan sear it. This will give a flavorful crust on the outside with a tender and flakey inside.
To pan sear salmon you need some supplies: - Stainless steel skillet - heats evenly and will help get the best sear. - Fish spatula - makes it easier to flip the fish. - Instant read thermometer - optional, but highly recommended. This is the best way not to overcook your fish. - Fish bone tweezers - also optional, but makes removing bones much easier.
First check the salmon for any bones, and remove them with fish bone tweezers. Choose to remove the skin or not. Keeping the skin on helps to not overcook the fish.
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Pat down the salmon fillets with a paper towel to dry the flesh. This will help get a better sear, which makes a more flavorful piece of salmon. Then season salmon to your liking.
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Get your stainless steel pan very hot before you add the fish. This is also a crucial step in getting a great sear. Add a few drops of water to the pan. If they skitter around before disappearing, the pan is ready.
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Brush salmon with oil, then add to the pan. Once you put the salmon down, don't move it around. The fish will naturally release from the pan when it is ready. Cook 2-3 minutes on each side.
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The FDA recommends to cook salmon to an internal temperature of 145°F at the thickest part of the fillet to be completely safe to eat. Unfortunately this means the salmon will be cooked well done, and most likely dry and tough. If you buy sushi grade salmon from a reputable source, you can cook it to a lower temperature.