As salmon tends to dry out when cooked at high heat, it’s best to use barriers to help seal in moisture while it bakes, and there might be none more effective than aluminum foil.

Fish is lean with short muscle fibers that dry out easily. Salmon’s above-average fat content inside its muscle fibers keeps it moist and adds flavor when cooked correctly.

Beyond being a mess-free method, baking salmon in aluminum foil allows the fish to be cooked gently, and a perfectly cooked salmon flakes easily and is semi-translucent.

To start, line a tray with foil, coat it with cooking oil, and place the salmon skin-side-down. Cover with more foil and bake it at 350 degrees F for 20 minutes.