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Poultry · Turkey & duck

Duck (pieces)

Rich, dark, fatty poultry; legs suit slow cooking and confit, breasts are seared with crisp skin.

Also called: duck meat, duck legs, duck pieces, haah, hans

3 recipes with it

What it is

Duck has dark red meat and a thick layer of fat under the skin, making it richer and gamier than chicken. This record covers duck pieces: legs (best braised, roasted or confited) and breasts (usually seared skin-side down until crisp). Rendered duck fat is prized for roasting potatoes.

Anas platyrhynchos domesticus

How it’s used

  • Confit duck legs
  • Braised and curried duck (e.g. Kerala and Bengali duck curries)
  • Roast duck and Peking-style dishes
  • Pan-seared duck breast with fruit sauces
  • Duck fat for roasting potatoes

Characteristics

Taste
Rich, savoury and slightly gamey.
Texture
Dense and meaty; legs become meltingly tender with long cooking.
When cooked
Releases a lot of fat; score the skin and cook slowly to render it. Pour off and keep the fat.
Sold as
fresh, frozen, cured, smoked
Cooking uses
Commonly cooked, Suitable for frying, Suitable for grilling

Kinds in our pantry

Storage

Refrigerated. Keep sealed on the bottom shelf of the fridge or freeze. Strained rendered fat keeps for weeks in the fridge.

Diet, allergens and safety

No major allergens in typical versions.

  • Vegetarian
  • Vegan
  • Dairy-free
  • Egg-free
  • Gluten-free
  • Nut-free
  • Soy-free
  • Caffeine-free
  • Official guidance for poultry, including duck, is 74 °C (165 °F); duck breast is often served pink in restaurants, but legs and pieces should be cooked through.
  • Do not rinse raw poultry under the tap, which splashes bacteria around the sink; keep it on the bottom shelf of the fridge and use separate boards and knives from ready-to-eat food.

Nutrition per 100 g

Energy
135 kcal
Protein
18.28 g
Carbohydrate
0.94 g
Fat
5.95 g
Fibre
0 g
Sugars
0 g

USDA FoodData Central: Duck, domesticated, meat only, raw.

Substitutes

Optional — what works if you don’t have it, and how it changes the dish.

Related ingredients

Recipes with duck (pieces)

More turkey & duck