Emilie Meyer
Cooking a whole duck in an air fryer is a great way to ensure the skin is crispy and the meat is moist and tender. It is also less messy and quicker than roasting in the oven. The cooking time will depend on the size of the duck and the wattage of the air fryer, but generally, a whole duck will take around 45-55 minutes to cook in an air fryer at 300°F. Duck legs will take less time, around 8-10 minutes at 400°F.
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What You'll Learn
Defrosting and seasoning the duck
To cook crispy duck in an air fryer, you'll first need to defrost the duck if it's frozen. Place the duck in a bowl deep enough to cover it and fill it with cool water. After 5 minutes, change the water again. Check the duck cavity for any packets of giblets and remove them. Repeat this process until the duck is fully defrosted. You can also run the duck under a faucet of cold water or soak it in a tub of cold water if you don't want to use so much water. Make sure to keep the water cold for food safety reasons.
Once the duck is defrosted, you can start seasoning it. Remove the duck from the fridge and let it come to room temperature for 30 minutes. Score the duck breast with a sharp knife, making diagonal cuts or a diamond pattern and ensuring you pierce the skin without cutting into the breast meat. Prick the skin all over with a fork to allow the fat to render while cooking. Then, season the duck liberally with salt and pepper, or a spice rub of smoked paprika, garlic powder, cumin, chili powder, five-spice powder, dry mustard, salt, and pepper.
For a Chinese crispy duck, you can marinate the duck legs 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. Leave the duck to marinate for 2 hours or overnight in the fridge. Then, slowly simmer the duck until tender before crisping it up in the air fryer.
Another option for seasoning is to brush the duck with a mixture of honey and soy sauce. This will give the duck a shiny glaze and a crispy skin.
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Air fryer temperature and duration
The temperature and duration for cooking crispy duck in an air fryer depend on the cut of the duck and the specific recipe followed.
Duck Legs
To make Chinese crispy duck legs, it is recommended to first marinate the duck and then slowly simmer it until tender before crisping it up in the air fryer. The air fryer should be preheated to 200°C/400°F for 5 minutes. Then, place the duck legs, skin side up, on a rack or directly in the basket and cook for 8–10 minutes, or until the skin is crisp and burnished.
Whole Duck
When cooking a whole duck in an air fryer, it is important to ensure that the duck fits in the air fryer. A large-capacity model can typically fit a 2kg (4.4-pound) bird. The duck should be placed breast side up in the air fryer basket, with the wings folded under. The cooking time and temperature vary across recipes, with some recommending cooking at 300°F (150°C) for 30 minutes, and others suggesting 300°F for 45–55 minutes. It is important to note that the duck should be fully defrosted before cooking and that the skin should be scored to help achieve a crispy texture.
Duck Breast
For duck breast, the air fryer temperature should be set to 400°F for 15–20 minutes. It is recommended to slice the skin in a diamond pattern and season the duck with salt and pepper before cooking. The duck breast should be cooked until the internal temperature reaches 165°F.
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Crispy skin techniques
To achieve crispy skin on your duck, there are several techniques you can employ. Firstly, ensure that the duck skin is dry before cooking. This can be done by leaving the duck uncovered in the fridge for a few days to dry out the skin. Alternatively, you can place it in the fridge overnight to dry out the skin, which is an optional but recommended step for a crispier skin.
Another technique is to score the duck skin in a diamond pattern or simply make slits in the skin. Be careful not to cut into the meat, as you only want to pierce the skin. This process helps the skin crisp up and allows the fat to render out during cooking. Pricking the skin with a fork or poking it with toothpicks can also help achieve the same effect.
Brushing the duck with a mixture of honey and soy sauce or honey and hoisin sauce can also contribute to achieving a crispy skin. This step is typically done towards the end of the cooking process and adds a nice golden brown colour and a sweet flavour to the duck. Additionally, make sure to season the duck liberally with salt and pepper before cooking, as this can enhance the crispiness of the skin.
Finally, it is important to note that the cooking process itself plays a significant role in achieving crispy skin. Cooking the duck at a higher temperature, such as 400 degrees Fahrenheit, for about 15 to 20 minutes can help crisp up the skin. Additionally, ensuring that the duck is fully defrosted before air frying can also contribute to crispier skin, as it ensures even cooking.
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Carving and serving the duck
Cooking a whole duck in the air fryer is a great way to ensure crisp skin and moist, tender meat. The only challenge is fitting a whole duck in the air fryer, but as long as you have a large-capacity model, you can easily cook a 2kg (4.4-pound) bird.
Once your duck is cooked, place it breast side down on a large cutting board, cover it in tin foil, and let it rest for 15 minutes. This step is crucial, as it allows the juices to circulate, resulting in more tender cuts of meat. While the duck is resting, gather your carving tools: a large carving knife and a meat fork.
Start by removing the legs, as they will stay hot the longest due to their high fat and bone content. Use a sharp knife to carefully separate the legs from the duck. Then, place the duck on its back, with the breast facing forward. Cut on one side of the breastbone, moving from front to back and alongside the wishbone, ensuring minimal space between the carcass and the meat. Repeat this process on the other side to remove both breasts.
Next, you can cut the breasts into halves or thirds. Arrange the breast pieces and legs on a serving platter, presenting them alongside your chosen sides and sauces.
Duck meat has a rich flavour, so it pairs well with acidic or sweet sauces that complement the 'fatty' meat. Traditional roast dinner sides like roast potatoes cooked in duck fat, carrots, greens, and gravy are excellent options. For a fresher take, try Asian flavours such as spicy Szechuan black bean sauce or fruity passion fruit and star anise sauce, which beautifully accentuate the gamey flavours of the duck.
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Side dishes
Now that you know how long to cook crispy duck in an air fryer, it's time to choose some side dishes to complete your meal. Here are some ideas:
Chinese-style
If you're serving crispy duck pancakes, why not lean into the Chinese-style flavours and serve the duck with a side of stir-fried vegetables? Simply stir-fry some broccoli, bell peppers, onions, and carrots, and add some soy sauce and garlic for extra flavour. You could also serve the duck meat in tortillas with guacamole, salsa, and other taco toppings for a Mexican-inspired feast.
Rice
Rice is a great, low-effort side dish that goes well with almost anything. It will soak up the juices from the cooked duck beautifully. For a healthier alternative, try cauliflower rice. This is made by grating or processing cauliflower into rice-like granules and sautéing them with your choice of seasoning.
Salad
A simple green salad is always a good option to provide a fresh and healthy balance to your meal. Choose your favourite vegetables and add a light dressing.
Vegetables
If you want to keep things simple, just serve the duck with some steamed or roasted vegetables. Spring onions (scallions) and cucumber are classic choices to accompany Chinese crispy duck.
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Frequently asked questions
It takes about 30 minutes to cook crispy duck legs in an air fryer. If you are cooking a whole duck, it will take about an hour.
To get the duck skin crispy, it is important to ensure that it is dry before cooking. You can do this by leaving the duck uncovered in the fridge overnight. You should also score the skin with a sharp knife, being careful not to cut into the meat.
The temperature will depend on the size of your duck and the air fryer. For duck legs, cook at 400°F (200°C) for 8-10 minutes. For a whole duck, cook at 300°F (150°C) for 45-55 minutes.
The duck is cooked when it reaches an internal temperature of 165°F (75°C) in the thickest part of the thigh or breast.
