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I like to call this Simple Cedar Plank Salmon recipe “Snodgrass Salmon” because when I married my husband, one of the best things I inherited from becoming a part of the Snodgrass family (aside from a wonderful new family) is this Salmon recipe. It is simple and completely foolproof! When I say that this is a regular at our household, that is an understatement. And I mean it when I say we have it at least once a week. I honestly do not like to eat salmon out because I know it will never, ever taste as good as this classic salmon recipe. Never.
I didn’t grow up eating anything that was cooked on a Cedar Plank… and wow was I missing out! Because of this salmon recipe, my parents are now cedar plank lovers, too! If you’ve never cooked on a Cedar Plank before, you likely will be intimidated by it. Don’t be! It’s super simple and easy to do. Here are a few FAQs answered and a few tips for cooking on a Cedar Plank:
Where can I buy a Cedar Plank:
You can find them at most grocery stores! Check by the seafood counter or sometimes in the aisle by the grilling supplies depending on which store you are shopping. You can always find them online, too!
Can I reuse my Cedar Plank?
No, it’s a one time use. After you’ve used it, toss it.
Can I use a Cedar Plank in the oven?
Yes, you can. You can use a cedar plank in the oven, on a gas grill, on a charcoal grill (my preference), or in a smoker!
Do I have to soak the Cedar Plank before use?
yep! most of the cedar planks have the suggested soak time engraved right on them. If you don’t soak them, they definitely catch on fire 😉
Why cook on a Cedar Plank?
As the fish cooks and the plank heats up, this moisture rises out of the plank and pulls the characteristic flavors of Cedar with it. This infuses the salmon with a fresh wood flavor and allows the fish to gently steam as the plank acts as a barrier between it and the heat source!
Can I cook anything on a Cedar Plank?
Essentially, yes! I personally use it for seafood all the time, but you can grill steaks, chicken, and all the things. Try this Cedar Plank Lobster and Shrimp with Garlic-Herb Butter.
What if my Cedar Plank catches on fire while I am grilling?
When I cook my salmon on my gas grill, this rarely happens. But it happens with the charcoal grill sometimes, and don’t panic. Two tips here: you want an indirect flame when cooking with a Cedar Plank— so if you’re charcoal fire got a little larger than you anticipated, put the Cedar plank on the side of the big flame, not in the center of the grill. Also, if you’re new to cooking on a cedar plank– keep a little spray bottle of water with you in case this happens so you can extinguish the flame! If it happens, it’s OK. Just keep an eye on it and remember… indirect heat is key.
So yeah, that’s it!! You can obviously marinade your salmon or dress it up with salsa on top [like I did here with this Avocado Salsa on top]. That’s your business 😉 But this is just the straight-forward Cedar Plank Salmon recipe to get started if you’ve never done it before. Once you make Cedar Plank Salmon– you’ll be a pro!
Don’t know how to start a Charcoal Grill? It’s easy– How to Start a Charcoal Grill
Cedar Plank Salmon
Ingredients
- 1 [8x12] Cedar Plank
- 1 [1.5 to 2 lb] filet of Salmon
- 2 tbsp extra virgin olive oil
- 1 tbsp Montreal Steak Seasoning
- lemon wedges, for serving
Instructions
- Presoak the cedar plank in water for 1-2 hours.
- Coat the salmon with the olive oil and season generously with the Montreal steak seasoning (or seasoning of your choice! Salt and pepper works just fine). Note: do not drizzle the oil while the fish is on top of the cedar plank.
- Drain the cedar plank. Transfer the seasoning salmon filet to on top of the plank.
- Preheat a charcoal or gas grill to medium heat, about 350 degrees F.
- Grill, covered, until the salmon is just cooked through. This will depend on the thickness/type of Salmon you chose. With a thin, wild-caught coho salmon filet, it's about 12-15 minutes. For a thicker type of salmon, it will be closer to 20 minutes. Salmon is done when it flakes easily with a fork and is uniformly pink throughout the filet.
- Carefully remove the cedar plank from the grill. Drizzle with lemon and serve immediately!
Nutrition information is automatically calculated, so should only be used as an approximation.
This was so easy and so good! We serve with grilled okra and absolutely love it.
Sorry I meant “How to Start a Charcoal Grill”
Love this recipe! Note that the link to “How to Light a Gas Grill” is broken.
Hey Alex, silly question… do we leave the skin on for this salmon recipe or remove? If we don’t remove is it skin side down on the cedar plank?
Thanks Alex!
We keep the skin on! but it usually sticks to the cedar plank so when you go to cut the salmon into portions, the skin will just stay put and you’ll have skinless salmon 🙂
Would this work on an open charcoal grill? There’s a place I like to camp that has charcoal grills without a cover. This would be a delicious camp meal!
What I do in that case is tent the food using aluminum foil just over the top tio help keep the heat circulating…if that makes any sense…