Thursday, 30 April 2009
Duck is not frugal food
Normally a medium size chicken can feed all of us and with a little stretching any last minute stragglers that turn up at feeding time... Plus the usual extra meals, possibly a sandwich or two, chicken stock or soup the following day. Duck just doesn't cut it and whilst very tasty I don't think we'll buy another whole duck. It barely fed the 4 of us, maybe it was just a weedy duck.... It also coated the oven in fat despite having 3 layers of tinfoil covering it. How did that happen? Possibly when Hubs took the foil off to crisp the skin... yes, that could have been it. That could also have been when the house had a thin veil of smoke wafting through it too... Good, think I've definitely talked myself out of ever buying a whole duck to roast again.
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18 comments:
I would count on one duck feeding 2 hungry people or 3 not-very-hungry ones. No, it's not frugal! They look large, but there's a lot of bone and fat. It is very nice once in a while though. The carcass makes great stock for duck soup, and if you collect the fat that runs off it while roasting, you can keep it for delicious fried or roast potatoes.
Hi Veronica, We collected the fat. My husband did it saying he'd love some roasties cooked in it. The carcass is in the fridge ready to make stock so I guess it wasn't too extravagant. They just look so big, then you don't get much from them and I'm quite greedy...
Thanks for your comment.
Amanda
I've only cooked a duck once as well. I'm not going back either. I'm quite happy to splurge at my very good local chinese instead. They make sensational duck pancakes. Glad you got something else out of it with the roasties.
We love duck but I agree, it barely strethces. And the bones don't make the best stock either. Non frugal!
x
Funny I just bought duck fat for the first time in my life. Never have cooked duck at home.
I only buy the duck breasts... and only when they're on sale (3 for 10 euros). One feeds two. I also only buy them when mon mari can cook them on the barbecue... We both love them, but the mess to do them indoors is more than I want to deal with.
Definitely not frugal, but did it taste good?
Let me make a suggestion for next time and try to persuade you to have a next time. Start with a Gressingham, because the best produce makes the best results. Simply stuff your duck with a whole orange, rub with garlic, top with herbs, seal tightly in foil and bake at 150-160C for a very long time (until the flavours waft through the kitchen). No smoke, no flames, no need to call the emergency services. Uncover, pour off juices for gravy, add some duck fat or goose fat and cook for a short time at 200-210C, basting regularly until the skin is crispy. Remove, extract the orange and allow to rest for a full 5 minutes. Simply so soft, flavoursome and delicious that one bird with accompanying roast vegetables and gravy will satisfy a hungry family. I cooked this on Sunday and it was the best meal I've eaten in weeks. The secret is SLOW.
My mum raises these ducks that are a little meatier than your average bird, but when we all sit around the table, we barely get a morsel each. I can't convince her we need to roast 2!
I love to eat it - ooh, how I love confit. But I've never cooked it. Hmmm...
I love roasted duck (and roasted potatoes in duck fat, and duck stock) but yes...it's definitely not a frugal food in my book either...and duck is quite pricey here on top of it all!
On one of my early Christmas' alone here in Barbados, I decided that I'd roast a duck instead of the traditional things. I had invited a friend over and thank God I did not follow my mind to invite more than 1 person over. We had enough duck for just the 2 of us and 1 other person. Lesson learnt.
In terms of crisping up the skin. I'd past it dry, let it rest in the fridge overnight to help dry out the skin and then crisp it up in a cast iron skillet and then put it in the oven to roast. Just a suggestion. But then again, you are not buying duck again, right? :)
Definitely not frugal but I bet you enjoyed :0)
Rosie x
Hi Amanda
Duck is like lamb - expensive yet delicious. Don't give up on duck you can pad it out with plumbs and loads of veg and the scrapings and the stock make a wonderfully rich risotto.
We stopped eating out a couple of years ago when our bill was £80.00 for a very mediocre meal. We now treat ourselves to fab ingredients every other week. Perfect. Whatever we chose it always comes in at below twenty quid including a decent bottle of treat wine.
I've never tried ever since duck dish in my whole life.. How does it taste?
ugh! now i don't have a problem with anyone eating whatever they want (provided it's not me, my family or my dog), but to have to cook a duck which THEN meant i had to clean the damn oven...you definitely should never buy a duck again. far too labour intensive, and not big enough to feed you all!!!
where are you by the way?! i'm back, and now i'm worried that your back is bad again...
Pigx
Hello! I've been lurking on your blog for ages without saying anything but I thought I'd add my two cents worth. :) I absolutely love duck. It doesn't stretch that far but one duck did 5 of us as duck pancakes with strips of celery. The trick I think to stop it from totally mucking up the oven is to very thoroughly prick the skin of the duck and go through to the fat underneath. This will let the fat run out instead of spitting so much. Then also drain off the fat half way through cooking. It should spit a lot less and you'll get more lovely duck fat to use for roast spuds. It's delicious enough to go through a little extra trouble. Not an everyday meal by any stretch but definitely a treat.
(I love your blog by the way! :) )
Ha Ha, not frugal but duck meat is good!
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