What temperature to grill salmon on cedar plank

Soak cedar planks for at least 1 hour in warm water. Soak longer if you have time.
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Stir together soy sauce, vegetable oil, rice vinegar, sesame oil, green onions, ginger, and garlic in a shallow dish.
Place salmon fillets in soy mixture and turn to coat. Cover and marinate for at least 15 minutes, or up to 1 hour refrigerated.
Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat. Place planks on the grill grate. Heat planks until they start to smoke and crackle just a little.
Remove salmon from marinade and place on planks; discard marinade.
Close grill cover. Grill salmon until it flakes easily with a fork, about 20 minutes; salmon will continue to cook after you remove it from the grill.

Editor's Note:

Nutrition data for this recipe includes the full amount of marinade ingredients. The actual amount of marinade consumed will vary.

When cooking Cedar planked salmon on the grill, it generally takes 10 to 15 minutes for the fish to be done. However, you should always consider the thickness of the fish and the preferred degree of doneness.

If you are following a recipe, it will most likely tell you how long it needs to cook. If you have some salmon and just want to cook it on a Cedar plank without following a recipe, then here are some general rules to guide you:

Using a Thermometer is Key

A thermometer to gauge the exact temperature is essential. I recommend digital for an instant reading, which allows for less time with the oven door or grill lid open.

The powers that be recommend you cook your salmon to an internal temperature of 145°F, which we call ‘killing’ or overcooking your fish in the restaurant business.

Pro tip: To get a good medium rare, an internal temp of 120°F and a 5 minute rest time is perfect. For a medium temp, bump it up 5 degrees and so on for medium well and well done.

Let your fish rest

Always rest your fish untouched for at least 5 minutes after cooking on the plank. Resting is a technique used to help food maintain its juices.

Residual heat that is in the food after cooking is allowed to dissipate slowly and continues to bring the temperature up by about 5 more degrees.

Have you ever cut into a hot steak that didn’t get a chance to rest and horrifyingly watched all the delicious meaty juices pour out?

How thick is your piece of salmon?

Now that we know how long we want to cook our salmon, we can drill it down. Let’s go with the middle of the road and shoot for a medium cooked piece of salmon, by removing it from the heat when it reaches 130°F.

If you preheat the grill or oven to 400°F and our fish is about 1” thick at the thickest part, it will be cooked in about 12 minutes. For a thicker salmon portion, add 4 minutes of cooking time for every additional 1/2″ of thickness.

If you invest in a digital thermometer, you really can’t go wrong.

Key takeaways

Here are some factors to consider:

Keep the oven door or grill lid closed as much as possible to maintain consistent temperature.
A 6 oz. piece of salmon will take nearly the same amount of time to cook as a 1 lb. piece as long as the thickness is the same.

Practice makes perfect, and before you know it, you will be able to just look at your fish or maybe give it a poke and you’ll know when it’s ready.

Try our Cedar Planked Salmon with Fruit Salsa, the fresh fruit salsa pairs deliciously with the grilled salmon!

Matt worked his first kitchen job in the country of Malta at the age of 15. He has worked as a restaurant Chef in Arizona, Maine, Spain, the UK, Oregon and finally North Idaho. Now the Executive Chef at Wildwood Grilling, he thoroughly enjoys his day job.

Grilled Cedar Planked Salmon is simple and delicious

It’s perfect when paired with a crisp chilled French Rose!

Cedar plank salmon is one of the easiest ways to infuse a soft smoky flavor. The salmon stays tender on the inside, because you are cooking it over indirect heat, but has a lovely roasted flavor on the outside.

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What do cedar planks do for salmon?

The warm plank allows the inside of the fish to gently steam and the cedar plank actually becomes a type of barrier between the grill and the fish. As the cedar plank heats up and the fish begins to cook, the moisture from the plank rises up and infuses the fish with the flavor of cedar. The result is a gorgeous grilled flavor on the outside of the salmon with a perfectly steamed center.

How to prepare a cedar plank for grilling:

You MUST soak the cedar plank, prior to cooking, in water. Or try soaking in a combination of water and a little white wine, cider, or sake to give your plank an extra infused dash of flavor. This soak will ensure the plank does not catch fire.

Plan your prep time to include soaking the plank for 30-minutes (and up to 2 hours). The easiest way is to submerge it on a baking sheet and then weigh down the plank with a filled ramekin or bowl to keep it fully submerged (see photo below for example)
Pat the plank dry before using for best results

Weigh down the plank while soaking

What can you cook on a cedar plank?

We find the best type of salmon to use is King Salmon, but other types of fish will work, as well. King Salmon has a rich flavor and is high in omega-3. Wild salmon is generally considered to be the best salmon to consume. However, there are five types of Pacific salmon and two types of Atlantic salmon. Atlantic salmon is typically farmed, while Pacific salmon species are primarily wild-caught.

You can substitute with many other types of protein or vegetables. Cedar plank cooking is a great way to cook vegetables without adding much oil. It’s best to cook different foods on separate planks.

Here are some of our favorites:

Jumbo scallops
Jumbo shrimp
Lobster
Cod
Halibut
Steelhead Trout
Pork
Chicken
Tofu
Large cuts of vegetables such as zucchini, cauliflower slices, onions, or halved tomatoes
Large pieces of hearty fruit, such as thick pineapple slices

How to grill salmon on a cedar plank:

This cedar plank salmon recipe method is so simple. Just follow these important steps:

Soak the plank for at least 30-minutes and up to 2 hours
Pat the plank dry
Season the fish with olive oil and place skin side down on the plank
Season the top of the fish with your seasoning of choice. We use our own homemade Potlatch Seasoning
Place the plank in the center of the hot grill and cover the grill
You do not need to flip fish on a cedar plank
Grill for about 20 minutes for a large piece of salmon and 12-15 for a smaller fillet. Aim for an internal temperature of about 135˚F
Serve directly from the plank, if desired

Place salmon skin side down on plank and season

How long to grill Salmon on a cedar plank?

The amount of time your salmon is on the grill depends on the size and thickness of your fillet. We have had the best results with a larger piece, that you cut later, but if you only have smaller fillets on hand just cook for a shorter amount of time. A full large piece of salmon will take about 20-minutes. Single pieces will take about 15-minutes.

The best cedar plank salmon seasoning: Potlatch Seasoning

We sprinkle our amazing homemade Potlatch Seasoning mixture on fish to really amp up the flavor. Potlatch is the perfect cedar plank salmon seasoning because all the flavors seem to marry so well with the fish.

However you can sprinkle this seasoning on any type of chicken or fish for a zesty flavor. The seasoning is super simple to make with just 9 herbs from your pantry.

Where to buy cedar planks:

Cedar planks are available online, at hardware stores, or at some grocery stores. We get our cedar planks on Amazon.

Can you reuse a cedar plank for salmon?

You can, but we don’t recommend it as the planks retain the flavor of the fish (or whatever you are cooking) and generally get fairly warped.

If you are are grilling fruits or vegetables then reusing can be a good idea.

Topping Grilled Fish with Flavored Butters:

Compound butter, also called flavored butter, is one of the easiest ways to upgrade any recipe. You can make a big batch of flavored compound butter and freeze it, so you always have some on hand. For today we made just enough garlic herb butter for this recipe and it’s listed in the recipe card below.

Or top your fish, chicken or vegetables with any variety of our compound butters for delicious results.

Great side dishes to pair with cedar plank salmon:

Tricolore Salad is a light citrusy salad
Grilled Corn with Sweet Chili Sauce can be grilled alongside the salmon
Spicy Asian Cucumber Salad for a zesty kick
Spicy Szechuan Green Beans are big on flavor
Flaky Baking Powder Biscuits also go well with compound butter!
Easy Beer Bread or Beer Bread Rolls are super simple to make with no yeast

Suggested Wine Pairings for Grilled Salmon on a Cedar Plank:

This dish pairs well with a full-bodied white wine like a Chardonnay, or a crisp fruity Rose, and a lively fruity Pinot Noir. Look for any available vintages of the following:

Your weekday wine:

Chateau de Fabregues Costieres de Nimes Rose, France

Your weekend wine:

Rock Angel Rose, France

Testarossa Santa Lucia Highlands Chardonnay, California

A special occasion wine:

Cristom Louise Pinot Noir, Oregon

Cakebread Reserve Chardonnay, Napa Valley

Cedar plank salmon on the grill is an easy way to infuse a soft smoky flavor to any type of fish. Our homemade Potlatch Seasoning pairs well with salmon.

Prep Time30 mins

Cook Time20 mins

Total Time50 mins

Course: Dinner, Main Course

Cuisine: American

Servings: 4 servings

Calories: 264kcal

Cedar plank

20 ounces Salmon fillet, skin on
1 tbsp Olive Oil
2 tbsp Potlatch Seasoning, or herb of your choice
1 tsp Lemon Zest, freshly grated
2 cups water, white wine, sake or cider, for soaking the plank
1 tsp sea salt
1 tbsp black pepper, freshly ground

Compound Garlic Butter

1/2 cup Butter, softened
1 tbsp Garlic, crushed
1 tsp Fresh rosemary or other herbs, finely chopped

Garnish

1 medium Lemon, cut into wedges for the tables

Soak the cedar plank for 30 minutes, and up to 2 hours, by completely submerging plank in water, wine, or cider. You can use a combination of water and wine/cider. Pat dry before using.
Heat a charcoal or gas grill to about 400° F, or medium-high. While the grill is heating up make the compound butter by combining the softened butter with the garlic and herbs. Set aside.
Lightly coat the salmon with a thin layer of olive oil on each side. Place salmon skin-side down on the plank. Rub Potlatch Seasoning or herbs, lemon zest, salt, and pepper into salmon to coat.
Place plank on grill and cover. Start checking for doneness after 13 minutes. Salmon is cooked through when it is uniformly pink in the center. Remove the plank and allow to cool slightly on a cutting board.
Cut the salmon into four equal pieces. Dollop each piece with compound butter and a squeeze of lemon over the top.
Serve with remaining lemon wedges and butter, if desired.

Note: Calorie count does not includes compound butter
Get our Homemade Potlatch Seasoning Recipe here
No grill? No problem! Cook in a preheated 400˚F oven for 13-16 minutes

How long does it take to grill salmon on cedar plank?

Place the cedar plank in the center of the hot grate, away from the heat. Cover the grill and cook until cooked through, around 20 to 30 minutes. The internal temperature should read 135 degrees F. Transfer the salmon and plank to a platter and serve right off the plank.

What temperature do you cook salmon on the grill?

How hot should your grill be to cook salmon? I recommend grilling salmon at a medium-high heat, or 375 to 400 degrees F so that it gives the salmon a nice char while sealing in all of the moisture. This will prevent the salmon from overcooking.