Barbecues are the perfect way to make the most of long summer days. If you’re looking to jazz up your menu, you may be wondering: “Can you grill salmon?”
The answer is absolutely yes! The best gas grills are ideal for cooking salmon. A grilled fillet of salmon is a fantastic, flavorful choice of fish for a barbecue.
Why salmon for a bbq?
Salmon is an oily fish, and therefore, it's more suitable for grilling on a barbecue than white fish fillets like cod or haddock because salmon fillets are more substantial and hold their shape well. The fats in the salmon also caramelize beautifully on a grill, enhancing the delicious natural flavors.
Salmon is also packed with nutrients, especially wild salmon, which makes it a great choice for non-meat-eaters, pescatarians, or those following a keto, paleo, or Mediterranean diet.
Salmon is packed with omega-3 fatty acids and protein for heart health, brain function, and muscle development; vitamin B12 for cell growth; selenium, which serves as an antioxidant protecting the body from stress damage; vitamin D for bone health and immunity function, and moderate amounts of potassium, iron, calcium, and vitamin B6.
Why grilling?
Grilling salmon is a great way to bring out its flavor whilst preserving the vitamins and nutrients.
But if you're feeling nervous or unsure about barbecuing fish, don't worry; we’ve got you covered! We’ve asked the experts for their top tips so you can serve up salmon like a pro and avoid beginner mistakes.
Want to take your barbecue to the next level? Check out our guide to the best gas grills and the best-infrared grills to help you cook up a storm. For now, let’s dig into all you need to know about grilling salmon.
Can you grill salmon?
So, can you grill salmon? “Grilling salmon is a quick and easy way to add flavor and get a meal on the table with less fuss,” says Tracy Justynski, professional chef and expert on SKILLR.
Preparing your salmon correctly makes grilling a cinch. “My top tip for grilling salmon on a gas grill would be to make sure the salmon is oiled up and seasoned well so that it doesn't stick.”
Tracy advises leaving the skin on to further reduce the chance of the salmon sticking to the grill.
If it's your first time grilling salmon, remember that less is more when it comes to grilling. The trick is to allow the fish to cook sufficiently and resist the temptation to interfere.
Tracy adds: “Don’t flip the salmon until it's ready. I think that's the most common mistake for grilling salmon. The protein will release on its own when it's ready to. You have to let it be and have patience.”
The salmon will start to turn opaque, and that's the point when you can remove it from the grill.
Tracy also explains that grilling salmon on a barbecue is a great way to save on cleaning time.
Tracy says: “Not only does the char and caramelization add complex savory, smoky elements, it also requires no pan to clean. You just burn off the remnants and brush, and you're done. It eliminates scrubbing oily burnt pans when grilling salmon on a gas grill."
How to grill salmon?
What the expert says…
We agree with the experts that whilst salmon has enough flavor and texture to hold up to the smokiness of the grill, salmon nonetheless has a very delicate flavor, so from our own experience and from the advice from our chef experts, we advise to keep it simple and your guests are sure to come back for more.
A delicious recipe from Tregaye Fraser, Celebrity Chef at HUNGRY Virtual Xperience, includes a simple seasoning and herb butter, with a fresh zing of lemon for that summer vibe.
Tregaye recommends the following recipe: "Season with simple ingredients as salmon can be overpowered easily. Lemon, dill, and butter is a perfect combo.”
Discover more guides for the garden…
In addition to firing up the grill for your salmon, if you're also looking to upgrade your garden or yard this summer, you may also enjoy perusing some of our guides to the best yard tools and more, from the best riding lawn mower to the best robot lawn mower, as well as the best pool heaters, and the best patio heaters.
