Cooking salmon in the oven is a popular and convenient method of preparing this healthy and versatile fish. The key to perfectly cooked salmon is understanding how long to cook it for, as overcooking can result in dry and flaky fish. The cooking time will vary depending on the thickness of the salmon fillet and the desired level of doneness.
For a 1-inch thick salmon fillet, the general rule is to cook it for 10-12 minutes per side at 400F (200C) for medium-rare, 12-15 minutes per side for medium, and 15-18 minutes per side for well-done. Thinner fillets will cook more quickly, while thicker fillets will take longer. It is always advisable to use a meat thermometer to ensure the salmon is cooked to your desired internal temperature, which is 125F (52C) for medium-rare, 130F (54C) for medium, and 135F (57C) for well-done.