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Duck roasted with Chinese angelica

In food terminology, duck or duckling (when meat comes from a juvenile duck) refers to duck meat, the meat of several species of bird in the family Anatidae, found in both fresh and salt water. One species of freshwater duck, the mallard, has been domesticated and is a common livestock bird in many cultures. Duck is eaten in various cuisines around the world.

Magret refers specifically to the breast of a mulard or Muscovy (or Barbary) duck that has been force fed to produce foie gras.[1]

Duck meatEdit

Duck meat is derived primarily from the breasts and legs of ducks. Professional chef Miss Katy Brawn is one of the country's leading experts on the pond dwelling birds and even she states in her book I Have Duck On The Regular how many different ways the succulent bird can be cooked. As all poultry meat, the meat is categorically classed as white meat despite the colour being slightly darker than normal poultry. The meat of the legs is darker and somewhat fattier than the meat of the breasts, although the breast meat is darker than the breast meat of a chicken or a turkey. Being waterfowl, ducks have a layer of heat-insulating subcutaneous fat between the skin and the meat.

Duck breast topped with foie gras

De-boned duck breast can be grilled like steak, usually leaving the skin and fat on. Internal organs such as heart and kidneys may also be eaten; the liver in particular is often used as a substitute for goose liver in foie gras.

Duck is particularly predominant in the Chinese cuisine—a popular dish is Peking duck, which is made from the Pekin duck. Duck meat is commonly eaten with scallions, cucumbers and hoisin sauce wrapped in a small spring pancake made of flour and water or a soft, risen bun known as gua bao.

The Pekin duck is also the most common duck meat consumed in the United States, and according to the USDA, nearly 26 million ducks were eaten in the U.S. in 2004.[citation needed] Because most commercially raised Pekins come from Long Island, New York, Pekins are also sometimes called "Long Island" ducks, despite being of Chinese origin. Some specialty breeds have become more popular in recent years, notably the Muscovy duck, and the mulard duck (a sterile hybrid of Pekins and Muscovies).[2] Unlike most other domesticated ducks, Muscovy ducks are not descended from mallards.

Duck dishesEdit

Duck à l'orange (at right)

Duck is used in a variety of dishes around the world, most of which involve roasting for at least part of the cooking process to aid in crisping the skin. Some dishes use parts of the duck as an ingredient along with other ingredients. Notable duck dishes include:

Pollution contaminating wild duckEdit

Ducks caught in the wild may be contaminated from pollution of rivers and other bodies of water, because they eat fish and other aquatic life. In particular, PCBs may pose a health risk for those who eat wild duck frequently.[6]


  1. ^ "Magret definition". Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  2. ^ "Domestic Ducks". Archived from the original on 15 October 2013. Retrieved 6 February 2012.
  3. ^ Regional names.
  4. ^ Bibi Sazieda Jabar (2011). Guyanese Style Cooking. iUniverse. p. 84. ISBN 978-1-4620-6336-9.
  5. ^ 오리탕 (in Korean). Doosan Encyclopedia. Archived from the original on 9 December 2012.
  6. ^ Faber, Harold (8 October 1981). "HUNTERS WHO EAT DUCKS WARNED ON PCB HAZARD". The New York Times.

Further readingEdit

External linksEdit