how long to bake salmon

For typical fillets, bake salmon for about 10–15 minutes, but the exact time depends on oven temperature and thickness.

Quick Scoop

• At 450°F (232°C): about 14–18 minutes for average fillets, until the center flakes easily or reaches about 135–145°F internally.

• At 400°F (204°C): about 4 minutes per ½ inch of thickness (so a 1‑inch fillet takes around 8 minutes). The fish should be opaque and just starting to flake.

• At 375°F (191°C): about 4–5 minutes per ½ inch of thickness; many home recipes suggest roughly 10 minutes for a moderately thick fillet.

Simple rule of thumb

• Measure the thickest part of the fillet.
• Bake for about 4–5 minutes per ½ inch at 375–400°F, or 14–18 minutes total at 450°F, then check doneness by flaking with a fork or using a thermometer (aim for around 135–145°F).

If you’re unsure, start checking a couple of minutes early; salmon goes from perfectly juicy to dry very quickly once overbaked.

TL;DR: For most weeknight dinners, baking salmon at 400–450°F for 8–18 minutes (depending on thickness) will get you moist, flaky fish without much guesswork.