Differences between cooking a whole duck vs chicken or turkey?
I've cooked whole turkeys and chickens many times, but never a whole duck or any other "gamey" meat. Is there a difference in what should be done or technique in general? I've been told by others that duck is "more difficult", but never how or why.
Best Answer
With chicken and turkey, the most important "trick" to cooking it is to make sure the dark meat gets done before the white meat dries out, and to make sure the skin crisps up somewhat.
Duck is all dark meat, and has a thick layer of fat that must be rendered out. There is not a lot of danger in drying out the breast meat like with a chicken.
Like Martha said, it's best to make a few shallow cuts in the skin over the breast (don't go all the way through to the meat) to help the fat render out. A simple (western) roasted bird would be cooked at 350°F for about 1 hour 45 min, with the oven turned up to 500°F for another 15 minutes to crisp up the skin. There is a LOT of fat rendered out, so it's best to roast in a sturdy roasting pan, on a rack (so it doesn't sit in the fat), and drain the fat about an hour into cooking (save the fat, though; it's delicious).
Personally, I think duck is easier to cook, but it's definitely different from roasting a chicken.
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Does duck take longer to cook than turkey?
While it may take five hours to cook a turkey, a duck is done in less than two-a boon for cooks whose idea of a holiday isn`t watching the oven. One unstuffed duck will serve two people, making it an ideal meal for small families and singles. Stuffed, a duck may serve four or five.Is cooking a duck like cooking a turkey?
Though ducks are considered poultry, you don't cook them the same way as other birds. Duck breasts are usually served medium-rare which you would never do with a chicken or turkey. They also take a bit more time to cook than a chicken mainly because you need to render the fat on the bird.Does duck cook quicker than chicken?
Duck takes a long time to cook, like turkey but longer. You would cook chicken for a shorter time, maybe an hour. This difference is only because of the size of the bird, not because of something special about the meat. It is of no concern when you cook by thermometer instead of timer.What is the difference between duck and chicken meat when you cook it?
Summary. Duck meat is higher in calories, fats, and overall vitamins, while chicken meat contains more protein. Duck meat is slightly lower in cholesterol and sodium. Chicken is richer in calcium, magnesium, and selenium.What's better: Ducks or chickens? (for meat and eggs) - CHICKENS VS DUCKS
More answers regarding differences between cooking a whole duck vs chicken or turkey?
Answer 2
Duck is much fattier than either chicken or turkey, so it is particularly important to include steps such as placing the bird on a rack and scoring the skin to allow the fat to escape.
Answer 3
Duck takes a long time to cook, like turkey but longer. You would cook chicken for a shorter time, maybe an hour.
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