I like to use a foil packet to keep the cooking foolproof. The foil locks in moisture and ensures that your beautiful piece of salmon turns out flakey, moist, and tender every single time. You don't need to have ever cooked a piece of fish in your life to make this recipe with success. Foil acts as a flavor incubator.

Place the fish on top of the parchment, skin side down. Press down on the top of the fish with a spatula until the skin stops curling. Cook over medium heat for a gentle, steady sizzle—if there's smoke, the parchment may burn—until the skin is crispy and the fish is almost cooked through, 5–7 minutes.

What is the best temperature to bake salmon? 400°F (205°C) is ideal as it allows the fish to gain colour and the skin to become crispy. If you prefer a milder method, you can bake it at 350°F (175°C) for 20-25 minutes or until done. The salmon baked at 425°F (215°C) produces tender, creamy fillets that cook quickly.

Baking fish in parchment paper or tin foil—known in France and gourmet cooking circles as en papillote—steams the fish with a minimum of fuss and equipment. Delicate fish—sole (as pictured) and other thin white fish—is particularly delicious cooked in parchment packets since it cooks gently and stays moist.