Clever Tips to Save Time on Summer Meals

How to make Sweet and Smoky Baked Salmon in three easy steps

From The LifeMinute.TV Team

July 31, 2025

Summer days aren’t meant to be spent over the stove, so we are sharing a couple of clever time-savers from Reynolds Kitchens. Their newly released parchment cooking bags and air fryer cups are both great for cutting down on cooking time and cleanup.

The Reynolds Kitchens Parchment Cooking Bags are perfect for easy, family-sized meals like chicken fajitas, shrimp jambalaya and so much more. Just three simple steps and you’ve got dinner for up to four. Since they are made with unbleached, non-stick parchment paper, there’s no need for added oil or spray, and everything cooks right inside the bag, so clean up is a breeze.

Then the Reynolds Kitchens Air Fryer Cups are 8 fluid oz cups that make it super easy to portion out meals, meal prep for the week, or customize dishes for different tastes and dietary needs, like making gluten or nut free options. You can cook up to four different things at once, which is a huge win when hosting or planning ahead. From mac and cheese to savory egg bites or even muffins for dessert, the versatile cups handle it all with minimal mess.

Here's how to make Sweet and Smoky Baked Salmon with Reynolds Kitchens Parchment Cooking Bags in three easy steps...

For this recipe, you’ll need:
1 Reynolds Kitchens Parchment Cooking Bag
1/4 cup stone-ground mustard
1 ½ tablespoons dark brown sugar
1 ½ tsp kosher salt, divided
1 tsp smoked paprika
4 salmon portions (6 to 7 oz each)
12 ounces French (thin) green beans
2 shallots (2 oz each), peeled and sliced thin
2 tsp olive oil
1/2 tsp black pepper
4 sprigs of fresh thyme
1 medium orange, sliced

Instructions: 
Step one – fill the bag
-Preheat the oven to 425°F. Place a Parchment Cooking Bag on a medium (10x15x1-inch) baking pan with the side and bottom seams facing up.
-Mix together all seasonings and spread evenly over the salmon.
-Mix together green beans, shallots, olive oil, pepper, and 1/2 tsp salt.
-Place the salmon in the bag, arranging two pieces on each side and leaving the center open for the vegetables. Spoon the green bean and shallot mixture evenly in the center of the bag. Place thyme sprigs and orange slices on top.

Step 2 – fold it closed & bake
-Fold or roll open end of bag two times and scrunch tightly to close the bag. Do not lift the bag from the pan when there is food inside.
-Keep the bag on the tray and bake for 30 to 35 minutes until the salmon and vegetables are done.

Step 3 – Open and serve!
-Remove the tray from the oven. Let the bag sit for 5 minutes, then unfold the scrunched end carefully with oven mitts. Use caution as hot steam will escape. Cut or tear the top of the bag to open and serve your meal straight out of the bag. Serve with a side of rice and a small salad to complete the meal.

What’s a meal without dessert? Grab your favorite angel food cake mix and follow these simple directions:

Instructions: 
Pre-heat the air fryer to 350°F on the bake setting.
Add ½ cup batter to each Reynolds Kitchens Air Fryer Cup.
Add a small handful of toppings to each batter filled cup (if adding lemon extract, add 1/4 teaspoon and stir into batter)
Bake until wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 6 minutes.

Reynolds Kitchens Parchment Cooking Bags and Reynolds Kitchens Air Fryer Cups are available in select Walmart stores or online at walmart.com and amazon.com too.

For more information on these and other great recipes, visit reynoldsbrands.com.