Air-Fryer Crispy Duck: Can You Make It Work?

Yes, you can cook crispy duck in an air fryer! It's a cost-effective and healthier way to cook duck, and it only takes about 30 minutes. The air fryer crisps up the skin and makes the meat tender and juicy. You can marinate the duck beforehand to add flavour, and then simmer it to make the meat tender before air frying to make the skin crispy. You can also cook duck legs in the air fryer and then use the duck fat to cook potatoes.

Maringating and simmering duck before air frying

To make crispy duck in an air fryer, it is recommended to first marinate the duck and then simmer it to make the meat tender before air-frying it to achieve crispy skin.

For the marinade, you can use a combination of Shaoxing Chinese cooking wine, dark soy sauce, Demerara, star anise, cinnamon sticks, fresh ginger, spring onions, Chinese five-spice seasoning, salt, and ground cloves. Combine these ingredients in a large pot or slow cooker insert. You can also add chicken broth to the marinade. Place the duck legs in the marinade, ensuring that the skin side is not submerged in the liquid. This is because the more moisture the skin absorbs, the less crispy it will be when cooked. Cover the pot or slow cooker, and leave the duck to marinate for two hours or even overnight in the refrigerator.

After marinating, remove the duck from the pot and place it on a wire rack, uncovered, to cool down and dry out. You can then store the duck in the refrigerator for a couple of days until you are ready to serve it.

To simmer the duck, you can use a slow cooker or a pot on the stovetop. If using a slow cooker, cook the duck on a low setting for 3 hours. If using a pot, simmer the duck very gently for 90 minutes, and check occasionally to see if you need to top up the liquid.

Once the duck is simmered, remove it from the slow cooker or pot and place it on a wire rack again to cool down and dry out. At this stage, you can also store the duck in the refrigerator for a couple of days if needed.

Finally, to air-fry the duck, preheat your air fryer to 200°C/400°F for 5 minutes. Place the duck legs skin-side up on a rack or directly in the air fryer basket and cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the skin is crisp and burnished. You can also brush the duck skin with a mixture of honey and olive oil before air-frying for extra flavor and crispness.

By marinating and simmering the duck before air-frying, you can achieve a combination of tender meat and crispy skin, making for a delicious and restaurant-worthy crispy duck dish.

How to get crispy duck skin

You can make a delicious, crispy duck with an air fryer, and it will only take about 30 minutes! Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving that perfect, crispy duck skin.

Firstly, prepare your duck. It is important to ensure your duck is fully defrosted before cooking, as this will ensure even cooking and extra crispy skin. You can also dry out the skin by leaving the duck uncovered in the fridge for a couple of days before cooking. This will help the skin crisp up better in the air fryer. You can also pat the skin with a kitchen towel to remove excess moisture.

Next, preheat your air fryer to 180-200°C. Place the duck in the air fryer basket, breast side up, and fold the wings under the duck. You can also place the duck legs on a rack, skin-side up, if you are cooking duck legs.

Now, it's time to cook! For a whole duck, cook for 25 minutes at 300°C. Then, mix honey with Hoisin sauce and brush the duck. Drain the fat from the bottom of the air fryer basket. Cook for another 20 minutes. Finally, change the temperature to 375°C and cook for another 5-10 minutes to get that skin extra crispy! For duck legs, cook for 8-10 minutes, or until the skin is crisp.

You can also add some extra flavour and moisture to your duck by stuffing the cavity with quartered orange, garlic, and apple. You can also marinate the duck before cooking to add extra flavour.

And there you have it! A delicious, crispy-skinned duck cooked in an air fryer.

Cooking duck legs in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook duck legs in an air fryer! The cooking time varies depending on the size of the duck legs and the air fryer model, but the process is generally the same. Here is a step-by-step guide to cooking delicious, crispy duck legs in an air fryer:

Preparation:

First, prepare a marinade with ingredients like Chinese cooking wine, dark soy sauce, Demerara sugar, star anise, cinnamon sticks, ginger, spring onions, Chinese five-spice seasoning, salt, and ground cloves. Place the duck legs in this marinade, ensuring they are well coated. Cover and leave in the fridge for at least 30 minutes, or even overnight for more intense flavour.

Cooking:

Before placing the duck legs in the air fryer, pat the skin with a kitchen towel to remove excess moisture. Prick the skin with a sharp object to allow the fat to escape during cooking, preventing sogginess. Season the duck legs with salt and black pepper, or other spices like cayenne pepper.

Preheat your air fryer to a temperature between 150°C and 180°C. Place the duck legs skin-side up in the air fryer basket, ensuring they are not crowded to allow even cooking. Air fry for 10-30 minutes, depending on the size of the duck legs and your desired level of doneness. For a nice presentation, it is recommended to cook the duck legs with the skin side down for most of the cooking time, then flip them for the last few minutes to get an even golden colour.

Serving:

After air frying, remove the duck legs from the air fryer and let them rest for 5-10 minutes before serving. This allows the juices to redistribute and ensures a juicy, tender bite. Serve the duck legs with your choice of sides, such as pancakes, steamed or microwaved vegetables, rice, or roasted vegetables. Don't forget to drizzle any leftover duck fat over your sides for extra flavour!

Storage and Reheating:

Leftover duck legs can be stored in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 5 days. For longer storage, duck legs can be frozen for up to 3 months. To reheat, sprinkle the duck legs with a touch of broth or water, wrap them in foil, and place them in a preheated air fryer at 175°C for 3-5 minutes.

Cooking whole duck in an air fryer

Yes, you can cook a whole duck in an air fryer! It's a great way to ensure your duck has crisp skin and moist, tender meat. It's also less messy and quicker than roasting in the oven. The only challenge is fitting a whole duck in the air fryer, but as long as you have a large-capacity model, you can cook a 2kg (4.4-pound) bird. This will serve four people.

If you're using a frozen whole duck, you'll need to defrost it first. Place it in the fridge and allow it to thaw uncovered for a day or up to 48 hours, depending on its size. You can then season the duck with your chosen spices and flavours. Some recipes suggest marinating the duck in a mixture of Shaoxing Chinese cooking wine, dark soy sauce, Demerara, star anise, cinnamon sticks, ginger, spring onions, Chinese Five Spice seasoning, salt, and ground cloves.

When you're ready to cook the duck, place it breast side down in the air fryer basket, tucking in the wings and any legs that stick out. Cook for 30 minutes at 300°F (150°C). You can then flip the duck over and cook for another 30 minutes at the same temperature. Drain any fat that has been rendered, and then cook for a final 10 minutes at 400°F (200°C) to crisp up the skin. Check the temperature of the duck by inserting a meat thermometer into the thickest part of the breast, avoiding the bone. The recommended safe cooking temperature for duck is a minimum of 165°F (74-75°C). If the duck is not quite done, brush with a glaze and cook for another 5-10 minutes.

Once cooked, remove the duck from the air fryer and place it on a cutting board. Leave it uncovered as the steam can soften the skin. Allow the duck to rest for a minimum of 30 minutes to ensure maximum juiciness, and then carve and serve.

Air fryer duck cooking times and temperatures

You can cook duck in an air fryer in about 30 minutes, though cooking times may vary depending on the duck parts being cooked and the desired level of crispiness. Here is a guide to the different cooking times and temperatures for cooking duck in an air fryer:

Whole Duck

For a whole duck, it is recommended to cook it in the air fryer for about an hour. The duck should be placed in the air fryer basket breast or skin side up, with the wings folded under. The temperature should be set to 300 degrees Fahrenheit, and the duck should be cooked for 25 minutes. After draining the fat from the basket, the duck should be brushed with a mixture of honey and Hoisin sauce and cooked for another 20 minutes. The temperature should then be changed to 375 degrees Fahrenheit, and the duck should be cooked for an additional 5 to 10 minutes to make the skin crispier. It is important to ensure that the duck is fully defrosted before air frying, and to drain the fat during the cooking process to prevent burning.

Duck Legs

For duck legs, the air fryer should be preheated to 200 degrees Celsius or 400 degrees Fahrenheit. The duck legs are then placed in the air fryer, skin side up, and cooked for 8 to 10 minutes, or until the skin is crisp and golden brown. This method can also be used to crisp up the duck skin after first cooking it in a slow cooker or pot.

Alternatively, the air fryer can be preheated to 180 degrees Celsius, and the duck legs can be cooked for 20 to 30 minutes. This method involves parboiling potatoes and placing them in the air fryer drawer underneath the duck legs to catch the duck fat.

Duck Breast

For duck breast, the air fryer should be preheated to 180 degrees Celsius. The skin of the duck breast should be patted with a kitchen towel to remove excess moisture, and the skin should be scored and seasoned with salt and black pepper. A frying pan should be heated over medium to high heat without oil, and the duck breast should be placed skin side down in the pan for 5 minutes until the skin turns golden brown. The duck breast should then be turned over and sealed for 1 minute before being placed in the air fryer. The total cooking time in the air fryer is about 25 minutes.

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