For grilling tasty salmon, you should purchase fresh fillets that are firm, light pink in color, and have smooth cuts. Avoid buying fishy smelling fillets or steaks that indicate old cuts. Also, do not forget to ask the fishmonger to retain skin on the fillets, so that they do not stick to the grill or break apart while cooking. If you are not cooking directly, keep fillets in the refrigerator until you are ready to grill them. Mentioned below are some simple steps on how to grill salmon on a gas grill with foil.
- The first step for grilling salmon on a gas grill is to prepare the grill properly. If you have not used it for a long time, consider cleaning it first with a metal brush, and apply oil to reduce sticking. Then, preheat the gas grill at a high setting.
- As far as wrapping the rack with aluminum foil is concerned, it is optional for grilling salmon. However, if you are using foil, you do not need to oil the grill. Instead spray oil on the aluminum foil before you actually place fillets over it.
- In the meantime, you can prepare salmon fillets by brushing with your favorite dry rub or marinade. For any fish recipe, do not make the mistake of marinating pieces for a long time. Or else, the flesh will lose its firmness and flavor, which you do not want at any cost.
- The next step for how to grill salmon on a gas grill is estimating the correct cooking time according to the thickness of the fillets. A half inch thick fillet requires 4 minutes grilling, i.e. 2 minutes per side. Likewise, determine salmon cooking time, and grill accordingly.
- As soon as the gas grill is ready, adjust it again to low heat setting. With the skin side up, place marinated salmon fillets over the grill, and close the lid for cooking. Retain lid until one side of the fillet is cooked properly.
- When the cut side is cooked for the estimated time (4 minutes for 1 inch thick fillets), open lid and flip the fillet carefully with a thin spatula. You should place the fillet over the grill with the skin side down. If desired, rub the cooked side with olive oil or butter.
- Cover lid and cook the remaining side of the fillet for the predicted time. Once the cooking time is reached, remove cooked salmon from the gas grill, and allow it to cool down slightly. This way, you can grill salmon by turning only once during cooking.
- Your grilled salmon recipe is done, when it flakes easily. To check, insert a metal skewer in the thickest part of the fillets and pull a little. Well cooked fillets appear opaque with a tender and flaky textured meat. Work with the spatula to separate the skin from the meat part.
