How Long to Bake Salmon?
Get a size-aware oven estimate below, then verify doneness before serving. How we calculate times.
Calculator
Adjust exact weight, thickness or quantity when you need to.
Estimated cooking time
11–14 min
- Oven temp
- 400°F / 200°C
- Rest
- 2 min
Evidence-informed estimate · Cooking times vary — follow the food-specific completion and food-safety guidance.
- Assuming a typical thickness — enter the exact thickness for a better estimate.
- Times assume the food starts refrigerated, not room temperature.
- Official food-safety guidance recommends 63°C (145°F). Raw or undercooked fish carries additional risk. Parasite-control freezing may reduce parasite risk, but it does not eliminate all harmful germs.
Salmon by method
At typical settings. Pan is fastest at 8–10 min.
| Method | Typical time | Temp |
|---|---|---|
| Oven | 11–14 min | |
| Air fryer | 10–12 min | |
| Pan | 8–10 min | |
| Grill | 10–12 min | |
| Poach | 10–12 min |
How to bake salmon
Start checking at the early end of the 11–14 min estimate. Appliance output, size and starting state vary, so use the settings above and follow the food-specific completion and safety guidance.
Oven salmon time by size
| Size | Approximate | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Thin fillet | ≈140 g, 2 cm | 10–11 min |
| Typical fillet | ≈180 g, 2.5 cm | 11–14 min |
| Thick fillet / center cut | ≈250 g, 3.5 cm | 15–18 min |
Fresh vs frozen
Cooking from frozen takes roughly 50% longer and cooks less evenly. These estimates are for a typical fillet.
Fresh / refrigerated
11–14 min
From frozen
17–20 min
For frozen fish, follow package directions where available. Cook until the centre is no longer icy, then use the fish-specific flaking and safety guidance above.
How to know when it's done
Time is an estimate — temperature is the truth. Check the thickest part with an instant-read thermometer: salmon is safely done at 145°F / 63°C. Official food-safety guidance recommends 63°C (145°F). Raw or undercooked fish carries additional risk. Parasite-control freezing may reduce parasite risk, but it does not eliminate all harmful germs.
Food-level cooking reference: BBC Good Food — How to cook salmon (checked 2026-08-01). CookCue applies deterministic adjustments; food-safety guidance is sourced separately.
Frequently asked questions
What temperature should salmon be cooked to?
Official food-safety guidance recommends 63°C (145°F). Some people prefer salmon at 55–60°C for a medium, silky texture, but that is below the official recommendation and carries additional risk. Previously frozen fish may have lower parasite risk, but freezing does not eliminate all harmful germs.
How long do I bake salmon at 200°C?
A typical 2.5 cm fillet takes 12–14 minutes at 200°C (400°F). Thinner fillets are done in about 10.