Avoid A Salmon Cedar Plank Grilling Mistake By Paying Attention

Burgers and steaks steal the show all too often during barbecue season, but grilled fish is a delicacy that shouldn't be overlooked. Unfortunately, some folks opt for red meat when they really want a beautifully colored salmon filet because beef tends to be more forgiving if mistakes arise. There are definitely some nuances to consider when grilling fish, but one expert says that simply paying attention to what you are doing goes a long way toward a tasty outcome.

We reached out to Executive Chef Kory Foltz of Sunseeker Resort to find out how to help folks avoid ruining a delicate piece of fish on the grill. He pointed out that one of the most common missteps when barbecuing salmon comes down to getting distracted. "Biggest mistake is not monitoring it," he said, referencing people "walking away from the grill for too long and there is a flare-up which overcooks your salmon and imparts bad taste/smell." Instead, you ought to put in the time and attention to "be there to handle any flare-ups that happen." So, swap your phone for a fish spatula and let others know you are working on an important task that requires your full attention. Not only can being distracted while grilling lead to overcooked seafood, but considering the fish is cooking on a wood plank it also poses a potential safety hazard that could result in worse than burnt salmon.

While you could just oil your grates and toss the salmon on, you really shouldn't. You need the right tools for the job, and if you want to grill salmon so it doesn't stick to the grates, it's probably time to place it on top of a cedar plank. These thin slabs of wood also come in maple and hickory varieties, all of which can be found at your local supermarket or home improvement stores.

Yet, simply tossing a piece of wood on a flaming grill will end up exactly how you think. Entertaining? Sure, but you won't walk away with anything appetizing. According to Foltz, "Always soak your plank in water to ensure it is fully saturated, otherwise it's just a cool salmon campfire." Let cedar planks soak for at least an hour so they don't become tinder.

Even a well-soaked board will eventually burn, but there is a way to extend the life of your wood plank that — once again — comes down to paying close attention to the task at hand. "Don't ever grill planks over high heat, said Foltz. "[I]t needs to be medium heat and then move it to indirect heat if the plank starts to really char." It is all too easy to think your heat is set perfectly, walk away, and return to a flaming fish. Avoid the salmon cooking mistake of getting distracted while monitoring the grill, and you should end up with a glistening fish that makes the steak eaters jealous.