Baked Cod: 7 Secrets for Perfectly Flaky Fish

This simple recipe for Baked Cod produces buttery, perfectly seasoned, flaky cod with minimal prep and easy-to-find ingredients.

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If needed defrost the cod in the refrigerator overnight. To speed up the process of thawing, place the fish in a bowl of cold water and place it in the refrigerator for a couple of hours.
When ready to bake, preheat the oven to 400℉ (200℃) and line a baking dish with parchment paper.
Combine 1 tablespoon extra virgin olive oil, 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard, 1 teaspoon lemon zest, ½ tablespoon lemon juice, 2 large garlic cloves (minced), 1 teaspoon paprika, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt together in a small bowl.
Pat the defrosted cod dry with a paper towel. Then, brush the cod evenly on both sides with the olive oil mixture.
Place the seasoned cod on the baking dish and top each fillet with ½ tablespoon of butter if using.
Bake until the cod reaches an internal temperature of 145℉ (63℃) OR flakes easily with a fork and is opaque in the center, 10-12 minutes.
Remove the cod from the baking sheet and serve immediately with lemon wedges and chopped parsley.