Step 1: Preheat oven to 400ºF. Tools You’ll Need to Cook Salmon in the Oven. Carefully thawed frozen salmon can be nearly indistinguishable from fresh-caught, but careful thawing takes time. Salmon, rich in omega-3 fatty acids and a lean source of protein, is a worthy addition to a healthy diet. How to Thaw Frozen Fish. ... Additionally, some microwaves are more powerful than others, and you don't want the fish to dry out or to actually cook during defrosting. It’s perfectly safe to cook salmon straight from the freezer without thawing it. I’m not exaggerating when I say I cook this salmon at least once a week. How long are we cooking salmon in the oven? Line pan with foil and spray with cooking spray. Serve it as the main dish for dinner, toss it in a mixed green salad, shred it for picnic-friendly salmon salad, and more! For flaky, crisp fish, thaw your frozen salmon slowly in the fridge for at least 12 hours. Yes, it's perfectly safe – and socially acceptable – to cook fish from a frozen state. Oven-baked salmon sounds — and tastes — fancy, but you won’t believe how easy it is to cook salmon in the oven. However, fatty fish tend to be limp and soggy when they’re not slowly thawed. Then I decided I don't actually want salmon for dinner today. How to Cook Salmon FAQ. For example, stuffed salmon is readily available from supermarkets and seafood retailers. I was going to cook salmon for dinner today, so this morning I took a frozen salmon fillet from the freezer, cut open the packaging and left it in the fridge to thaw. Use a wide spatula to flip the salmon over and cook the other side. They can be either whole fish or boneless fillets tied together to make a roast, and the stuffing can be as simple as fresh herbs or as elaborate as a crab mousse. So what happens if you cook salmon fillets straight from the freezer? Poaching frozen salmon slowly results in tender, succulent fillets and steaks. Available fresh or frozen, whole or filleted, the fish cooks quickly on the stovetop or in the oven. If you aren't prepared ahead of time, thaw the salmon by immersing it in a bowl of cold water, provided it's sealed in a leak-proof package. The only significant differences between preparing frozen salmon and fresh or thawed salmon is that you need to partially defrost it before you can season it, and cooking time is about 50 percent longer when the fish is frozen. If you're wondering how to thaw salmon and other frozen fish fast, this is likely the fastest way, but you can damage the fish if you overcook it. One of the key steps to cooking frozen salmon is to wash the ice glaze off the fish before cooking it. It’s one of the healthiest ways to cook this nutritious fish. To ensure its texture is just as tender and flaky as thawed salmon, you’ll want to follow a specific method: Roast the salmon, covered, at high heat for five minutes to steam it and lock in moisture as it defrosts, then uncover it for the remaining five to eight minutes to evaporate any excess moisture. Salmon MUST be completely thawed before cooking, otherwise the outside will end up dry and the inside will end up raw. This Baked Salmon is my preferred way to cook fresh salmon from the grocery, as it’s easy, delicious, and cleanup is a breeze.