Learn how to cook salmon in 3 distinct ways. No need to be afraid of this beautiful fish with these easy cooking methods: grilling, sauteéing, and broiling.

When I first started cooking, I was afraid of cooking fish. What if I burned, shredded, overcooked, (or some other horror), the delicate meat and it was totally inedible?

Of course, my family wouldn't have cared and it was only me who would have noticed anything was wrong at all. Does this sound like you?

Well, I have good news. Salmon is a heartier fish and can stand up to slightly more handling if necessary.

But, trust me, once you learn how to cook salmon with these super easy cooking methods, you'll be cooking and eating fish every week (like you're supposed to) with ease.

I usually do a section for ingredients but we're just working with basic ingredients here. Fish, salt, pepper, and lemon juice.

How to grill salmon

Let's start with learning how to cook salmon on the grill.

Take the fish out of the wrapping and dry it off with a paper towel. This is important for it to brown nicely. Any moisture will impede this process, which is called the Maillard reaction.

Season the salmon with salt and pepper and lightly rub about 1 tablespoon of olive oil all over.

Heat the grill and spray oil on the grates.

You can probably tell that oil is important. It helps the fish not stick to the surface and allow you to easily flip it when it's ready.

When the grill is nice and hot, place the fish skin side down.

The next part is hard, but important:
DON'T TOUCH it until you can easily lift it away from the grill without it sticking.

Use tongs and a flat metal spatula to gently lift it and flip to the other side.

Fish only needs to be 145° F which is medium. If you want to cook it a little longer, that's fine, just don't go over 165° or it will start to dry out.

How to cook salmon in a pan

Cooking salmon in a pan is basically the same as grilling. Let's go over the steps.

Dry the salmon with paper towels and season with salt and pepper.

Heat a pan on the stove with 2 tablespoons of olive oil until the oil starts to smoke. Place the fish, skin side down in the pan and cook for about 3 minutes.

As the fish cooks, it will come away from the pan so don't worry about it sticking. Flip it over and cook for another 3 minutes or until it's above 145° and below 165°. Pour the lemon juice over the salmon and serve.

How to cook salmon in the oven

This might be the easiest of all three ways to cook salmon. I love this method because it's hands-off and I can continue cooking other things while the fish cooks.

Turn the oven to broil and move the rack to the top. Let the oven heat up while you prep the salmon.

Dry the fish off with paper towels, sprinkle with salt and pepper, and rub with 1 tablespoon olive oil on both sides.

Place the salmon on a baking sheet and put it in the oven for around 8 minutes or until cooked through and the top is nicely browned. Remove from the oven and pour the lemon juice over the top.

How do I store salmon?

This may seem tricky but it's pretty straightforward.

Wrap the fish in aluminum foil or put it in a plastic container fitted with a lid and store it in the fridge for up to 3 days.

You can reheat salmon, but it's great served cold on salads too.

You can also freeze cooked salmon wrapped in plastic wrap and then placed in zip top bags for up to 6 months. Just make sure it's tightly wrapped so it doesn't get freezer burn.

What to serve with your cooked salmon

Now that you know how to cook salmon, you'll want to have a side or two to go along with it. Here are some great options:

• Amazing 5-minute green sauce
• Focaccia
• French potato salad
• Crunchy Cabbage Slaw with Farro, Pecorino, and Dates
• Easy Roasted Carrots With Parsnips and Herbs
• Mexican Street Corn

If you try it out, let me know how it goes in the comments or on Instagram, Facebook, or Pinterest.