Mastering Oven-Baked Frozen Salmon

In this recipe and guide, I will show you the best technique for how to cook frozen salmon in the oven. You will be left with uber-juicy, tender, flavor-packed salmon fillet while saving much time thawing the meat first.

The recipe is super easy, extremely customizable, and makes an effortless pairing with many side dishes on my website. Don’t forget to go and have a look!

If you love salmon as much as I do, check out the Best Spices for Salmon or this guide on how long does Salmon last in the Fridge?

close up Salmon after bakingin the Oven

Is It Safe To Bake Frozen Salmon?

Cooking frozen salmon in the oven is perfectly safe and can make quite a tasty fish. However, the key here is using the correct preparation and cooking techniques.

Even more importantly, you have to ensure that the internal temperature of the salmon reaches AT LEAST 120⁰F (49⁰C) for wild salmon and 125⁰F (52⁰C) for farmed salmon.

Now, the real issue with cooking salmon from frozen is the texture. More often than not (but only because of bad cooking techniques), the piece of fish will come out dry, bland, and rubbery.

The solution is simple though: use my two-step cooking technique!

baked salmon on white plate

Ingredients

Frozen salmon fillets: The main attraction of our dish. Even from frozen, these salmon fillets will thaw to reveal a tender, flaky texture with a subtly rich flavor. When cooked properly, they will beautifully complement our aromatic glaze.

Dijon mustard: A French classic, Dijon mustard offers a smooth, sharp taste that adds depth and zing to our sauce, pairing beautifully with the salmon.

Honey or golden syrup: Either of these will add a touch of sweetness to balance out the spicy and savory flavors. Honey offers a natural floral undertone, while golden syrup brings a buttery richness.

Garlic cloves: Garlic, with its pungent and earthy aroma, infuses the dish with a deep, aromatic flavor. While fresh garlic gives a more potent taste, garlic powder is a convenient alternative that still delivers.

Pepper flakes, optional: For those who enjoy a bit of heat, these flakes can pack a punch. It contrasts nicely with the sweetness of the honey or golden syrup.

Sea salt flakes: More than just a seasoning, sea salt flakes enhance the natural flavors of the salmon and other ingredients. Their larger size and crunchier texture provide a contrasting touch when biting into the dish.

Ingredients for Frozen Salmon In The Oven

How To Cook Frozen Salmon In The Oven 

  1. Preheat the oven to 425⁰F (220⁰C) with the fan setting, if available, for even cooking.
  2. Line a baking dish with non-stick paper, silicone mat, or aluminum foil for ease of cleanup.
baking dish with non-stick paper and the salmon

3. Whisk mustard, honey, garlic, pepper flakes, salt, and pepper to create sauce.

in a bowl mustard, honey, garlic, pepper flakes, salt, and pepper

4. Lay frozen salmon in the dish, skin-side down, and generously coat with the sauce.

coat frozen salmon with the sauce.

5. Wrap in foil and cook in the oven for 15 minutes. Ensure the fish’s readiness with a knife—it should glide through without hitting ice.

Cover salmon with foil

6. Uncover and continue roasting for 8-10 minutes.

Uncover and continue roasting.

7. Check the internal temperature: 120⁰F (49⁰C) for wild salmon and 125⁰F (52⁰C) for farmed.

8. Allow to rest for 5 minutes, then serve with your desired sides and beverage.

oven baked Salmon on white plate

So, check out my recipe on how to cook frozen salmon in the oven below to learn more! Also, have a look at my delicious grilled salmon skewers recipe. It’s a super easy and flavor-packed meal that can easily be paired with my famous Crispy Potato Wedges or a simple Cucumber And Onion Salad

Five Oven Techniques for Perfect Frozen Salmon

I’ve come across several impeccable techniques to perfect the art of cooking frozen salmon in the oven. Let me share these secrets with you, and I promise your kitchen will be filled with the luscious aroma of perfectly cooked salmon.

The Direct Baking Approach: Dive straight into it! With your oven roaring at 450°F, you’ll introduce your frozen salmon fillet to those hot temperatures. Season it to perfection, let it bake, and watch as it turns into a moist masterpiece in about 20-25 minutes. Here you can also check an exciting recipe on how long to bake salmon at 400 degrees making perfect fish.

The Foil-Wrapped Steaming Extravaganza: Think of this as a spa treatment for your salmon. By wrapping your fish in aluminum foil, it gets to steam in its own juices. The result is a succulent piece of salmon, deeply flavored and incredibly moist, after a good 25-30 minutes in an oven set to 375°F.

The Two-Step Bake & Broil Dance: This method offers a tantalizing two-part performance. First, the salmon basks in a 400°F oven, soaking up all that warmth. And then, just as the curtain is about to drop, it’s given a broiling encore to get that top golden and slightly crispy. Magnifique!

The Low-and-Slow Serenade: Patience is a virtue, especially in the culinary world. Cooking your salmon at a leisurely 275°F ensures the fish remains tender and is enveloped in a delicate dance of flavors. You’ll find your salmon just opaque and singing with flavors by the end of it.

The Glazed & Roasted Rhapsody: Imagine painting your canvas, but here, the canvas is your frozen salmon, and the paint is a rich, sticky glaze of your choice. As the salmon roasts in a 400°F oven, the glaze caramelizes, creating a symphony of flavors and textures that’ll leave your taste buds begging for an encore.

So why not embark on this flavorful journey, experimenting with each method, and finding which resonates most with your palate? And as always, ensure that internal temperature to keep both taste and safety on point.

Tips And Tricks

  • NEVER rinse frozen salmon before you cook it in the oven. Many people claim it removes excess ice crystals. And while this may be true, it also makes the fish mushy and waterlogged after it has been cooked. It’s not a needed step and it doesn’t benefit the meat in any way.
  • Always choose fillets that are more or less the same size. This will ensure even cooking and cooking times.
  • Furthermore, this technique only really works for smaller pieces. If you have fillets larger than 6 ounces, it’s best to use proper thawing and cooking techniques.
  • A general rule of thumb for 6-ounce fillets is as follows: at 425⁰F (220⁰C), cook them for 15 minutes covered with foil, and finish them off for 8-10 minutes uncovered. And remember, check out the minimum internal temperature before serving the fish.
  • Always use heavy-duty foil, not the cheap “light” alternative. The heavy-duty kind traps heat a lot better and will help cook the frozen salmon more evenly in the oven.
  • If your fish still came out a little bit dry or flavorless, serve it with a delicious sauce. You can also make a simple garlic butter or lemon-herb sauce.
  • It is extremely important to rest your salmon before serving it. This helps the juices be re-absorbed and trapped in the muscle fibers of the meat. If you don’t rest it, the juices (and flavor) will leech out immediately.

FAQs

How long to cook frozen salmon in the oven at 180?

The cooking temperature is a lot lower, so the cooking time will be a lot higher. On average, you would need to cook the frozen fillets covered for 20-25 minutes, then uncovered for 10-15 minutes. Always test the internal temperature before serving.

Is it better to bake salmon frozen or thawed?

It really depends on the method you use and both have their pros and cons. If you use the method I’ve laid out above, cooking salmon from frozen will yield wonderful results. But, if you simply roasted it, it would’ve ended in a disaster. And, just because you thaw it before cooking it, doesn’t mean the results will be better. It is, however, without a doubt, safer to cook frozen salmon after it has been thawed.

Cooked Frozen Salmon In The Oven

How To Cook Frozen Salmon In The Oven – Juicy, Tender Recipe

Keesha
Today's recipe is made from frozen salmon baked in an oven. It's super easy to make and will save you a ton of time defrosting the fillets. The flavors in this recipe are super easy to adjust and you can serve these delicious sweet and tangy cuts with your favorite side.
5 from 1 vote
Prep Time 10 minutes
25 minutes
Total Time 35 minutes
Course Lunch
Cuisine International
Servings 4
Calories 325 kcal

Ingredients
  

  • 4 6-ounce salmon fillets
  • 1/3 cup Dijon mustard
  • 1/4 cup honey or golden syrup
  • 4 garlic cloves, minced (or 3 tsp garlic powder)
  • 1 tsp red pepper flakes, optional
  • 1 tsp sea salt flakes

Instructions
 

  • Preheat your oven to 425⁰F (220⁰C). If you have a fan setting, use it. It will help the fish heat and cook more evenly.
  • Next, line a baking dish with non-stick baking paper, a silicone mat, or a layer of aluminum foil. This makes clean-up A LOT easier. Set it aside.
  • Make the basting sauce by combining the mustard, honey, minced garlic, pepper flakes, salt, and pepper. Whisk them together well so the flavors are evenly distributed.
  • Place the frozen salmon fillets into the baking dish, skin-side down. Then, brush the top of the fillet (flesh side) with your homemade sweet and tangy basting sauce. Make sure you add it evenly and that it covers the entire surface.
  • Cover the baking dish with foil. Place the fillets inside the oven and leave them to bake (steam) for 25-30 minutes. To test the fish's doneness at this point, a sharp tip of a knife should easily pierce the flesh. It shouldn't feel any resistance from ice crystals.
  • Next, remove the foil and place the tray back in the oven. Leave the fillets to roast for 8-10 minutes, possibly longer.
  • Test the internal temperature of the salmon. Wild salmon should be at least 120⁰F (49⁰C) and 125⁰F (52⁰C) for farmed salmon.
  • Remove the beautifully cooked fillets from the oven and let the salmon rest for 5 minutes.
  • Serve the fish immediately with your favorite accompaniment and drink.

Nutrition

Calories: 325kcalCarbohydrates: 20gProtein: 35gFat: 12gSaturated Fat: 2gPolyunsaturated Fat: 5gMonounsaturated Fat: 4gTrans Fat: 0.003gCholesterol: 94mgSodium: 906mgPotassium: 898mgFiber: 1gSugar: 18gVitamin A: 234IUVitamin C: 1mgCalcium: 42mgIron: 2mg
Tried this recipe?Let me know how it was!

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One Comment

  1. Just made this recipe and it was very delicious! I would highly recommend!