Costco Salmon Cooking Instructions

By following our Costco Kirkland Salmon Cooking Instructions, you will be seasoning your salmon fillets with olive oil, garlic, and thyme in this simple weekday supper dish, then roasting them in the oven. They only need 12-15 minutes in a 425°F oven to be fully cooked, juicy, and tender! Leftovers are also delicious, especially when crumbled over a salad.

In the recipe card below, you’ll discover our preferred way for cooking this Costco Kirkland Salmon, which is the oven, but you’ll also find instructions for cooking it in the air fryer and on the grill.

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Is Costco Kirkland Salmon Healthy?

Due to the low amounts of toxicity and mercury that it contains, wild Alaskan sockeye salmon is considered to be one of the most healthful varieties of Costco Kirkland Salmon.

Ingredients That You’ll Need:

This tasty salmon recipe requires only a few simple ingredients. The precise measurements can be found in the recipe card below. Here’s a rundown of what you’ll need:

Costco Kirkland Salmon fillets: I prefer skin-on fillets. The skin, in my opinion, is the greatest component!
Olive oil: I love this excellent oil, however, if you prefer an oil with a higher smoke point, you can substitute avocado oil.
Kosher salt and black pepper: If using fine salt, you may wish to minimize the amount used, as the dish may become overly salty.
Garlic powder and dried thyme: In this dish, I prefer garlic powder to fresh minced garlic since it coats the fish more evenly.

How Can Costco Kirkland Salmon Be Cooked?

Salmon has very solid meat when it is uncooked. As a result, it can withstand practically any form of cooking. Costco Kirkland Salmon can be prepared using any of the following methods:

Steaming — This method is the simplest way to keep your Costco Kirkland Salmon moist while cooking it with no added fats. You only need the salmon in a steamer basket.
Poaching — This method is similar to steaming in that no fats or oils are used to cook the salmon. This method is excellent for flavoring the salmon.
Grilling — If you enjoy the smoky flavors of a barbecue, grilling your salmon will deliver!
Broiling — This is also very quick and simple. It’s a great method for cooking a large amount of salmon at once because you can fit a lot on a sheet pan if necessary.
Pan-frying — This method produces delicious crispy salmon, but it requires a lot of oil or butter.
Pan searing — This method is quick, but it will require oil or butter once again.
Baking — This Costco Kirkland Salmon cooking method is completely hands-off. It’s ideal for preparing side dishes because you can do both at the same time!

Can I Cook Costco Kirkland Salmon From Frozen?

Yes, cooking your Costco Kirkland salmon from frozen is possible, simply increase the baking time for 6-oz Costco Kirkland Salmon fillets to around 20 minutes. In fact, baking fish from frozen helps to keep it from drying out.

However, only use smaller, 6-oz fillets for this. If you cook larger fillets from frozen, they will most certainly be undercooked in the center.

When cooking from frozen, it’s very crucial to use an instant-read thermometer or a fork to ensure the middle is opaque and flaky.

How Long Should I Bake Kirkland Salmon From Costco?

Not much longer! You don’t want it to dry out. In general, 6-oz Costco Kirkland Salmon fillets should be baked in a 425°F oven for 12-15 minutes.

The only definite way to tell if your Costco Kirkland Salmon is done is to use a thermometer. If your fillets are substantially larger than 6 oz, they will require a longer time in the oven. Particularly if they’re thick.

How To Cook Costco Kirkland Salmon In The Oven?

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Place a rack in the center of the oven. Using parchment paper, line a baking dish.
Check for bones by running your finger across your Costco Kirkland Salmon fillets. Remove the bones from your fish using fishbone tweezers if they are present.
Brush the salmon fillets with olive oil all over. Place them, skin side down, in the baking dish. Season with kosher salt, black pepper, garlic powder, and thyme to taste.
Bake your Costco Kirkland Salmon until it is opaque and cooked through, with an internal temperature of 145°F, this should take 12-15 minutes, depending on your oven.
Serve right away.

What To Serve With Costco Kirkland Salmon?

Lemon Butter Pasta
Pasta Primavera
Coconut Rice
Pasta Salad with Broccoli
Sautéed Garlic Green Beans
Mexican Street Corn Salad
Lemon Kale Salad
Red Potato Salad
Mashed Red Potatoes
Popeyes Mashed Potatoes
Cacio e Pepe
Roasted Brussels Sprouts Salad
Cilantro Lime Rice

How To Cook Costco Kirkland Salmon On The Grill?

Ingredients Notes: The ingredients you’ll need are already listed in the directions, so I don’t think it’s necessary to list them again here.

Grilling Frozen Costco Kirkland Salmon Cooking Instructions:

High-heat a gas or charcoal grill. If using a gas grill, set the burners to high heat. Fill the chimney of your charcoal grill with briquettes and light them. When the briquettes are hot and lightly covered with ash, they should be placed on the grill.
Rinse 2 Costco Kirkland frozen salmon fillets with cool water. Remove two fillets weighing approximately 4 to 6 ounces (110 to 170 grams) each from their packing. Run cold water from the faucet and submerge the fillets so that any frost on the surface of the fish dissolves.
The salmon is patted dry and brushed with olive oil. Apply a paper towel on either side of the Costco Kirkland Salmon to absorb excess moisture. In a small bowl, pour 1 tablespoon (15 ml) of olive oil and dip a pastry brush into it. Oil on both sides of the salmon fillets.
Add 1 tablespoon (6 grams) of a dry rub to your Costco Kirkland Salmon. You may use your preferred seasoning rub or prepare a dry BBQ rub. Combine 1 teaspoon of brown sugar (4 grams) with 1 teaspoon of paprika (2 grams), 1/2 teaspoon of onion powder (1 gram), 1/2 teaspoon of garlic powder (1 gram), and a dash of powdered black pepper.
Place the salmon from Costco Kirkland on the grill for three to four minutes. Place the fish skin-side down on the grill grate and close the lid. Cook the fish without flipping or lifting the cover.
Flip the salmon from Costco Kirkland and grill it for a further 3 to 4 minutes. Utilize oven mitts to remove the cover and a spatula to delicately turn each fillet. Replace the grill’s lid and allow the fish to finish cooking.
Once your Costco Kirkland Salmon reaches 145 °F (63 °C), remove it from the oven and let it rest for 3 minutes. Insert an instant-read thermometer into the salmon fillet’s thickest portion. Once the fish reaches 145 °F (63 °C), you may transfer it to a serving platter and let it rest for a few minutes while you prepare the side dishes.

Wild-caught Salmon Or Farmed Salmon?

I recommend whatever is consistent with your ideas, budget, and taste preferences. There is a common misperception that wild-caught fish is necessarily healthier and more sustainable, but not all farm-raised fish is equal.

Consider farmed fish the same way you might consider farmed vegetables; some farms do it well, while others do it on the cheap. This is what a renowned Boston seafood chef once stated. In addition, I have experience working with fishery councils, so I know how environmentally friendly their farming methods can be.

How To Cook Costco Kirkland Salmon On The Stove?

Ingredients Notes: The ingredients that you will require are included in the directions, therefore I don’t think it’s necessary to list them again here.

Pan-Searing Frozen Costco Kirkland Salmon Cooking Instructions:

Heat a skillet over medium-high and rinse 2 Costco Kirkland Salmon fillets under cool water. Place a heavy skillet on the stove and ignite the burner before removing the fish from the freezer. Take it out of its package. Run cold water in the sink and hold the fish fillets under the faucet until the ice melts.
Oil your Costco Kirkland Salmon fillets after patting them with paper towels. Using the paper towel, pat each side of the salmon dry before placing it on a plate. Then, lightly coat each side with olive oil. This will season salmon from Costco Kirkland and prevent it from sticking to the pan.
In a skillet, fry the fillets for three to four minutes. Place the salmon flesh-side down into the heated skillet. Salmon should be cooked without a lid over medium-high heat until the flesh is browned.
Season the fillets and turn them over. Carefully flip each fillet in the skillet using a spatula. Then, if you desire a smokey, spicy flavor, sprinkle the fish with 2 teaspoons (4 g) of equal parts onion powder, paprika, and cayenne pepper.
Cover the skillet and cook the Costco Kirkland Salmon over medium heat for 5 to 8 minutes. Placing the cover on the skillet will contain moisture and prevent the fish from drying out. Then, reduce the heat to medium and continue cooking the fish until it is flaky throughout. Using an instant-read thermometer, you can determine whether your Costco Kirkland Salmon has reached 145 °F (63 °C) in order to ensure that it is cooked.
Before serving, let the salmon rest for 3 minutes. While the fish is resting, transfer the fillets to serving plates and prepare the sides. Try serving the pan-seared salmon from Costco Kirkland with stir-fried veggies, roasted potatoes, or wild rice.

What Sauce Goes With Costco Kirkland Salmon?

I rarely serve this dish with a sauce. In contrast to poached salmon, which has a fairly mild flavor and can benefit from the addition of sauce, baked Costco Kirkland Salmon is highly tasty on its own, especially when cooked with the skin on and not overcooked.

When I cook steamed asparagus, microwave asparagus, or roasted asparagus to accompany this dish, I almost always make hollandaise sauce to drizzle over both.

Variations And Substitutions

I adore this Costco Kirkland Salmon recipe exactly as suggested and almost always make it that way. However, if you want to change up the fundamental recipe, here are a few suggestions:

Instead of olive oil, coat your Costco Kirkland Salmon in melted butter.
You can experiment with different spices. Consider incorporating onion powder and paprika in addition to garlic and thyme.
I occasionally serve my cooked Costco Kirkland Salmon with lemon wedges so that guests can squeeze some lemon juice over their salmon.

How To Store Cooked Costco Kirkland Salmon Leftovers?

Cooked Costco Kirkland Salmon leftovers can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for up to 3 days. I dislike reheating them since they frequently become overly dry. So I flake them and use them cold the next day as a salad topping.

If you want to reheat them, do so carefully. Reheat the fish pieces in the microwave on 50% power, rotating frequently, until heated through.

How To Cook Costco Kirkland Salmon In The Air Fryer?

Preheat the air fryer to 390°F.
Air Fry your Costco Kirkland Frozen Salmon for 7-9 minutes, or until the salmon achieves an internal temperature of 145 degrees F.

How Do You Reheat Costco Kirkland Salmon Without Overcooking It?

Overcooked salmon that is dry and tasteless is not appealing. Instead, low and slow is the way to reheat your Costco Kirkland Salmon. Heat your Costco Kirkland Salmon for 15 minutes at 275 degrees Fahrenheit, until it reaches an interior temperature of 125 to 130 degrees.

FAQ Section

How Do You Know When Costco Kirkland Salmon Is Done?

When your Costco Kirkland salmon flakes easily, it’s ready to eat. With a fork, pierce the end of a filet and carefully peel away. If you encounter resistance, the fish will need to be cooked for a longer period of time.

Is It Necessary To Thaw Frozen Costco Kirkland Salmon Before Cooking It?

If you want the nicest texture, similar to that of fresh salmon, I recommend thawing your Costco Kirkland Salmon before cooking in the air fryer. However, if you are unable to defrost it first, you can still cook it in the air fryer; however, it will take almost twice as long as cooking fresh.

Is Frozen Costco Salmon As Healthy As Fresh Salmon?

Yes! Frozen Costco Salmon has the same nutritional value as fresh salmon, none of the nutrients are lost when fish is frozen.

Should I Use A Whole Salmon Fillet Or Cut It Up?

It’s preferable to divide a large chunk into individual 6-oz slices for even cooking. It IS possible to bake a large chunk, but you risk the borders becoming overcooked while the center remains uncooked. As a result, I like to use smaller pieces.

Should I Use Costco Kirkland Salmon Filets With Or Without Skin?

This is entirely a matter of personal taste. I personally adore the skin. In fact, as long as the skin is crispy, I prefer the skin on any fish. As a result, I prefer the skin-on Costco Kirkland Salmon fillets. However, the recipe is the same whether the fish has skin or not.

What Exactly Is The White Substance That Comes Out Of Salmon?

While your salmon fillets are cooking, some white liquid will flow out of them. The white liquid may appear strange, but it is entirely safe to consume. The white substance is known as “albumin,” and it is simply a protein that solidifies when the salmon cooks. You can scrape it off the salmon as it appears or at the end if it bothers you.

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Costco Kirkland Salmon Nutrition Facts

Amount Per Serving

Calories 320
Total Fat 20g
Saturated Fat 3g
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol 80mg
Sodium 420mg
Potassium 951mg
Total Carbohydrate 0g
Dietary Fiber 0g
Sugars 0g
Protein 37g
Calcium 1%
Iron 6%

Nutrition Facts Source: Source