Have you ever grilled using cedar planks? Cedar plank salmon has earned notoriety for a reason!

Cooking the fish on a smoldering plank gives it a robust burst of flavor. Factor in our lemon herb dressing and you’ve got a dish that draws compliment after compliment.

Our cedar plank salmon recipe is keto-friendly, but you definitely don’t need to be on keto to enjoy it!

Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon is the best fish recipe of summer.

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What is Grilled Cedar Plank Salmon?

The name of this dish is taken from the method used to cook the fish. Fresh salmon is placed on a cedar plank of wood, then grilled. The planks are soaked in water for up to 24 hours prior to cooking.

When placed on a grill, the heat causes the moisture in the wood to rise into the fish. This steams the salmon and gives it a robust, smoky flavor.

According to Wildwood Grilling, this concept is not new. Native American tribes in the Pacific Northwest traditionally used cedar wood to cook fish and game over fires for hundreds of years.

And in Scandinavian countries, fish was traditionally attached to wood and placed upright on the edge of a fire. This process was known as loimulohi. It is still practiced today among people who are camping or cooking over open fires.

While grilling with a cedar plank gives a wonderfully smoky element to the meat from the smoldering wood, cedar planks can also be used in the over. Just lay the soaked plank on a baking sheet, place the fish skin side down on it, and bake in a preheated 350F oven for 20 to 30 minutes, or until the fish flakes with a fork.

Want the plank to slowly smoulder, creating smoke to give the meat flavor. You can reuse thick cedar planks– wash in hot water with NO SOAP and freeze to store. Resoak when you’re ready to use it.

This easy grilled salmon recipe tastes delicious!

Where Can I Get Cedar Planks?

During the late spring and summer months, you can find cedar planks that have been specially made for grilling at grocery or household stores. They can be found near grills, grilling tools, or at meat counters.

You can also use untreated cedar wood from lumberyards or home improvement stores. The planks should be at least 1/2″ thick. Some people enjoy reusing thicker planks.

After using, wash the plank in hot water (no soap) and store in the freezer until the next use. Soak the plank as usual for the second use.

You can also order cedar planks on Amazon. I like to do this because you can often get packs of 8 or 10 planks in a package, so I order enough to last the whole grilling season. And if you’re an Amazon Prime member, you can often have them delivered within two days (and I’ve been lucky enough to get same-day delivery) for free!

There is a great promotion right now that allows you to try Amazon Prime free for 30 days. After 30 days, it’s just $99 per year. We love it for the free deliveries, of course, but we also enjoy being able to stream movies and listen to audio books for free, too. This is one membership that’s worth its weight in gold!

Grill the fish until it flakes easily with a fork.

Do You Have Any Tips or Tricks?

Yes! The first time I made cedar plank salmon, I ran into a few issues. Live and learn, right? Here are my tips, based on my own experiences of grilling with cedar planks.

When you soak the planks, you’ll discover that they like to float. It’s important that the planks are fully immersed to prevent fires. I found that filling drinking glasses with water and resting them on top of the planks does the job wonderfully.
You don’t have to stick to cedar planks. Try cherry wood, maple, or hickory planks–all of them give the salmon different flavors. Just be sure to use untreated wood. Treated planks may have dangerous chemicals that can be harmful if ingested.
Have a water-filled plastic spray bottle on hand at the grill. Even if the plank has been soaked in water, it may still catch fire. Giving the errant flame a little squirt will extinguish the fire without ruining the salmon.

Directions

Soak the cedar planks in water for at least an hour. It’s best to allow them to soak overnight, if possible.
Preheat grill to medium.

In a small bowl, combine melted butter, lemon juice, and herbs.
Rub olive oil over soaked plank. Then, lay the salmon skin side down on the plank. Brush with melted herb butter.
Grill over medium heat 15 minutes, or until fish flakes with a fork. You do not have to turn the fish over when you use this grilling method.
If desired, place lemon slices and additional herb butter on salmon after 10 minutes of grilling.

What Should I Serve with Cedar Plank Salmon?

For a taste of summer, try Creamy Dill Cucumber Salad
Keto Friendly Overnight Salad is a delicious make-ahead side salad
If you’re looking for a hot side, 3 Cheese Keto Zucchini Bake is just what you need