Thaw
Overnight in the fridge
Take it out of the vacuum pack, set it on a plate, cover it and leave it in the fridge overnight.
Let's cook your
Shop Arctic Char Portion
Arctic char
Delicate and clean, somewhere between salmon and trout, with a fine flake and thin skin that crisps beautifully.
- Raised
- Crisp-skin pan-sear
- 5 to 6 min for a 6 oz portion
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$13.95
★ 4.9 · 37 reviews
How to cook it
Best way
Crisp-skin pan-sear
Most of the cooking happens skin side down.
Time
5 to 6 min for a 6 oz portion
Done when
63°C/145°F
Flesh turns opaque pink almost to the top before you flip. Thickest part.
Step one
How to thaw arctic char
● Best
Overnight in the fridge
Take it out of the vacuum pack, set it on a plate, cover it and leave it in the fridge overnight.
● Faster
Cold water, sealed bag
Seal it in a leakproof bag and sink it in cold water, 20 to 30 minutes. Change the water if it warms. Cook it as soon as it is thawed.
✕ Skip
The counter and the microwave
Never on the counter. No microwave, no hot water.
Step two
How to cook arctic char
Crisp-skin pan-sear
Medium-high, 4 to 5 min skin side, 30 to 60 sec flesh side.
Roast
220°C/425°F, 8 to 10 min, skin side down.
Arctic Char and Quinoa Salad Recipe →Broil
Top rack, 5 to 7 min, no flipping.
Crispy Skin Artic Char, on French Lentils, Apple Cider Vinaigrette and Pomegranate Seeds →Poach
Gently poach it in miso broth and serve it with soba noodles.
Get it right
17 things that make the difference
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Longer salmon dry-brine: 30–60 minutes
Sprinkle salmon with kosher salt; refrigerate 30–60 minutes, then remove excess salt and pat dry before cooking.
From Chef Julian Bond
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Crispy salmon skin: patience
Pat skin very dry, place skin-side down in a lightly oiled hot pan, and leave undisturbed until crisp (often around 4–5 minutes, depending on thickness). Finish briefly on the other side.
From Chef Julian Bond
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One-side-mostly salmon method
Cook salmon approximately 90% of the way skin-side down, then flip briefly for 15–30 seconds to finish.
From Steven Courtney
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Skip the Cedar Plank: direct-grilled salmon
Preheat the grill to approximately 200°C/400°F and oil the grates. Place salmon skin-side down, then turn once when it releases readily. Cooking time varies with thickness; check the thickest part with a food thermometer rather than relying on fixed minutes. For a conservative consumer-facing target, cook to 63°C/145°F. Avoid serving undercooked salmon to higher-risk individuals.
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Cedar-planked salmon
A cedar plank imparts mild smoke and helps keep salmon off the grates. Original concept paired Gitanyow sockeye with Amy Cho compound butters.
From Chef Robert Clark and Chef Amy Cho
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A simple customer’s salmon supper
Thaw salmon in refrigerator; season with salt and pepper; pan-sear and serve with vegetables. Customer shared a preparation video and story of convenient weeknight meals.
From customer Michael
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Leftover salmon rice bowl
Flake chilled, properly stored cooked salmon into freshly cooked rice; season with soy sauce and sesame oil and add green vegetables. Canned salmon or tuna also works.
From Chef Robert Clark
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Quick dry-brine: 10–15 minutes
Lightly salt fish 10–15 minutes before cooking; leave uncovered in refrigerator and pat dry before searing. Intended to improve seasoning, structure and surface browning.
From Steven Courtney
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Quick wet brine
Mix 1 tablespoon salt into 4 cups cold water; submerge fish for 10–15 minutes, remove and pat dry.
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Zest before; juice after
Add lemon zest before cooking for aromatic citrus oils; finish with fresh lemon juice after cooking.
From Steven Courtney
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Rice flour for a crisp crust
Lightly dust fish with rice flour instead of wheat flour before pan-frying for a delicate, crisp coating.
From Steven Courtney
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Finish with butter
Add a small knob of butter near the end of pan-searing to enrich the flavour and baste the fish.
From Chef Julian Bond
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Three pantry flavour boosters
Worcestershire sauce for savoury depth; pomegranate molasses for tang; miso paste for sweet-salty umami.
From Chef Julian Bond
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Don’t Be Afraid of the Heat!
Chef Julian Bond recommends a very hot pan to sear and caramelize fish, developing a beautifully browned exterior and deeper flavour. Avoid overcrowding: too much fish at once lowers the pan temperature, causing the fish to steam instead of sear. Cook in batches and adjust the heat to the fish and cookware.
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Keep it simple; flip once
Pat fish dry, use controlled heat, cook most of the way on one side and flip once. Avoid excessive handling.
From Chef Vibber
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Parchment to prevent sticking
Chef Bond suggests cooking fish over a piece of cooking parchment in a stainless-steel pan to reduce sticking.
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Let residual heat finish the fish
Remove delicate fish from heat shortly before it would otherwise be fully cooked, allowing carryover heat to finish it without drying it out.
From Chef Robert Clark
Make tonight
Arctic char recipes
Where it came from
From the water to your kitchen
- Wild or raised
- Raised
- Where it comes from
- "Responsibly raised in the Yukon, Canada".
Did you know?
Our arctic char is raised in spring water drawn from a deep, cold aquifer just outside Whitehorse.
Questions
Arctic char, answered
What does arctic char taste like?
Milder than salmon and a little richer than trout, with a fine, delicate flake.
Why does the skin curl in the pan?
It tightens in the heat. Press it flat with a spatula for the first 30 seconds.
Do I eat the skin?
Yes. It's thin and crisps up like a chip.
In this guide
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