Last Updated on June 23, 2023 by Shari Mason
Cooking salmon on a Pit Boss pellet grill is one of the most delicious and flavorful ways to enjoy this popular fish.
Whether you are an experienced griller or just getting started with outdoor cooking, using a pellet grill for cooking salmon can be easy and rewarding. Read on.
5 Steps In Cooking Salmon On A Pit Boss Pellet Grill
1. Prepare Necessary Ingredients & Equipment
Before you even plan or start your salmon-smoking adventure, ensure everything you need is in place. This includes the pellets, the fresh salmon fillet, and other ingredients for marinating or brining your salmon.
It’s recommended to brine your salmon first if you plan to cook or smoke it on a pellet grill, as this will make the salmon absorb a smoky flavor, which is the very essence of why you want it to be cooked in a pellet grill. [1]
Read:
- Can You Reuse Cedar Planks For Salmon?
- What Temperature Do You Cook Steaks On A Pellet Grill?
- What Temperature Do You Cook Chicken On Pit Boss?
2. Start Up Your Pit Boss Pellet Grill
The start-up process on the Boss Pit pellet grill takes 10-30 minutes before it totally heats up. But before doing that, make sure you clean it first. Remove ashes in the fire pot from previous cooking and clean the grates.
To start it up, ensure it has enough pellets on the hopper before plugging it in and hitting that power button. Next is to set its temperature or controller to ‘smoke’ while leaving the lid open until the white ash it emits becomes bluer.
However, if there are no pellets yet in the auger or in the fire pot, you can press and hold the ‘prime’ button to quickly accelerate the auger until you hear pellets drop to the fire pot.
Read: How To Cook Salmon In A Toaster Oven?
3. Prepare Your Salmon
By the time you start heating your pellet grill, make sure your salmon is prepared too.
After brining your salmon for at least 4 hours or preferably overnight, rinse it well, then pat it dry and let it sit in the open air for at least an hour until some pellicle forms on the surface of the salmon.
For the best result, add some barbeque rub or other seasoning to your salmon after pat drying before the pellicle forms.
4. Grill In One Side
After preheating your Boss Pit pellet grill at 215-225 degrees Fahrenheit and it’s ready, start by grilling one side first. You can also add a little oil to your seasoned salmon fillet so it doesn’t stick on the grates.
For the best experience, you can also use a grill basket, grill mat, or cedar planks so it doesn’t stick on the grates or fall into the fire pot.
However, if you’re using cedar planks, make sure to soak it first in water for about an hour before using it, so it doesn’t burn or char.
5. Flip And Wait For It To Cook
In about 20-30 minutes, you can check your salmon fillet and flip it to ensure it cooks evenly. After you flip all the salmon fillets, you just have to wait until the internal temperature hits 145 degrees Fahrenheit.
“But all that being said about modulation, if you’re serving people delicious food, they won’t complain.”
-Sally Schneider, Chef
You can use meat thermometers to measure the internal temperature of the salmon. Once the desired temperature is met, you can remove the salmon and let it sit for about ten minutes before serving.
What Is The Best Wood Pellet To Use For Cooking Salmon?
Based on most people’s opinion and our experiences, fruit trees like apple, cherry, and maple works best for salmon.
There are many different brands and types of woods used in wood pellets, so we encourage you to try and experiment with several types.
Why Use A Pit Boss Pellet Grill For Cooking Salmon?
Pit Boss pellet grill makes your cooking experience on salmon easy and convenient. You can just set the temperature and leave it aside until your salmon cooks without babysitting it.
Also, pellet grills make your salmon absorb more smoky flavor when smoking than the traditional charcoal grill, plus without the hassle.
FAQs
How long do you cook salmon on a pit boss pellet grill?
The cooking time on the pit boss pellet grill depends on the temperature you set on the controller.
If you cook it at 180°F, it will take about two hours; if you set it at a higher temperature, like 215°F, it will only take around 50 minutes.
Should you use foil when cooking salmon on a pellet grill?
Using foils when cooking salmon at pellet grills is unnecessary, especially if you use cedar planks or basket grills.
But if you’re concerned that it will fall while cooking it directly on the grates or lose some of its moisture, you can wrap it with heavy-duty aluminum foil.
In Conclusion
Cooking salmon on a Pit Boss pellet grill is really easy. After setting the temperature on the controller, you can leave it until it reaches 145°F- the desired temperature for a safely cooked salmon. [2]
When cooking in a pellet grill, the lower the temperature, the slower it consumes hardwood pellets and vice versa.
No matter what temperature you set (low and slow or hot and fast), the key is reaching the salmon’s internal temperature of around 145°F.
References:
- https://www.tasteofhome.com/article/advantages-of-brining/
- https://www.fsis.usda.gov/food-safety/safe-food-handling-and-preparation/food-safety-basics/safe-temperature-chart
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