Make Crispy Duck In An Air Fryer: Quick, Easy, Delicious!

Crispy duck is a delicious dish that can be made in an air fryer with minimal effort and maximum flavour. Duck has a high-fat content, so it's always tender and juicy. The air fryer ensures 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.

This paragraph introduces the topic of making crispy duck in an air fryer, including some of the benefits of cooking duck in this way, as well as a potential challenge to be aware of. It also provides a guideline on the size of duck that can be cooked in an air fryer, which is important for readers to know before attempting the recipe.

How to get the duck ready for the air fryer

To get your duck ready for the air fryer, you'll need to start with a fresh or frozen duck. If your duck is frozen, you'll need to defrost it first. Place the duck in the fridge and allow it to thaw for a day or up to 48 hours, depending on its size.

Once your duck is thawed, remove any giblets stored inside the cavity. Rinse the duck and pat it dry with paper towels. If you have the time, it's recommended to leave the duck uncovered in the fridge overnight to dry out the skin, which will make it crisp up better during cooking.

When you're ready to cook, take the duck out of the fridge and let it come to room temperature for about 30 minutes. Score the duck breast skin with a sharp knife, being careful not to cut into the meat. Prick the skin all over with a fork to allow the fat to render during cooking.

At this point, you can season the duck with your chosen herbs and spices. Some popular options include salt, pepper, garlic, five-spice powder, and honey. You can also marinate the duck in a mixture of your chosen seasonings and leave it in the fridge for a few hours or even overnight for more flavour.

After marinating, if applicable, you're ready to place the duck in the air fryer. Place the duck breast-side down in the basket, tucking the wing tips under if they're sticking out. Your duck is now ready for cooking!

The best temperature and time settings

The temperature and timing settings are crucial to achieving the desired crispiness for your duck in an air fryer. Here are the best practices for optimal results:

Defrosting and Skin Preparation:

Before you begin cooking, it is essential to properly defrost your duck if it is frozen. Place the duck in the refrigerator and allow it to thaw for 24 to 48 hours, depending on its size. This step ensures that the duck is evenly defrosted and ready for cooking.

Once defrosted, remove any packaging, giblets, or neck from the cavity. It is recommended to leave the duck uncovered in the refrigerator overnight to dry out the skin. This step is optional but highly recommended for achieving crispier skin.

Temperature and Timing:

When it comes to temperature and timing, the following settings are ideal for cooking duck in an air fryer:

• Set the air fryer to 300°F (150°C) and cook the duck breast side down for 30 minutes. During this time, you can drain any rendered fat if needed.
• Flip the duck over so that it is breast side up, and continue cooking for another 30 minutes at the same temperature. You can drain the fat again if necessary.
• To make the glaze, combine honey with soy sauce, oyster sauce, or hoisin sauce in a bowl. Brush this glaze all over the duck.
• Increase the temperature to 400°F (200°C) and cook for an additional 10 minutes to crisp up the skin and give it a beautiful shiny glaze.

It is important to note that the cooking time may vary depending on the size of your duck and the specific model of your air fryer. Always refer to the manufacturer's instructions for your air fryer and adjust the timing accordingly.

Checking Doneness and Final Steps:

To ensure your duck is cooked properly, use an instant-read thermometer to check the internal temperature. Insert the probe 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 has not reached this temperature, brush it with the glaze again and continue cooking for another 5-10 minutes or until done.

Once the duck is cooked to the appropriate temperature, remove it from the air fryer and place it on a cutting board or platter. It is recommended to leave the duck uncovered as the steam can soften the crispy skin. Allow the duck to rest for at least 30 minutes to ensure maximum juiciness before carving and serving.

How to get the skin crispy

The key to achieving crispy skin on your duck is to ensure that the skin is as dry as possible before cooking. Here are some essential steps and tips to help you achieve the perfect crispy skin:

Defrosting and Drying the Duck

If your duck is frozen, it's important to defrost it slowly in the refrigerator. This can take up to 48 hours, depending on the size of the duck. Do not cover the duck while defrosting. Leaving it uncovered helps the skin dry out, which is crucial for achieving crispiness.

Once the duck is fully defrosted, remove it from the refrigerator and pat the skin dry with paper towels. This step is crucial, as duck skin contains a lot of fat, which can burn quickly during cooking.

Scoring and Pricking the Skin

Using a very sharp knife, carefully score the skin of the duck breast. Create a diamond pattern or diagonal lines, being careful only to cut the skin and not the meat underneath. This technique helps the fat render out during cooking, resulting in crispier skin.

After scoring, use a fork to prick the skin all over. This step also aids in allowing the fat to escape while cooking, ensuring that the skin becomes nice and crispy.

Marinating

While marinating is not necessary for achieving crispy skin, it can enhance the flavour of your duck. If you choose to marinate, make sure the skin of the duck is not submerged in the marinade. You can also wrap the bowl with plastic wrap and poke holes to allow air circulation, which will help keep the skin dry.

Cooking

When placing the duck in the air fryer, ensure that the wings are tucked under, and the duck is breast side up. This positioning allows the fat to drip off and prevents the wings from burning.

Cook the duck at a temperature between 300°F and 400°F. The exact temperature and cooking time will depend on your air fryer and the size of the duck. Regularly drain the excess fat from the air fryer basket to prevent smoking.

During the cooking process, use a brush to apply a glaze or marinade to the duck. This step not only enhances the flavour but also helps achieve a crispy, golden-brown skin.

Finally, after removing the duck from the air fryer, let it rest uncovered. Covering the duck with foil or a lid can cause the skin to steam and lose its crispiness.

How to make a sauce or glaze

To make a sauce or glaze for your crispy duck, you can use a combination of honey and soy sauce, honey and hoisin sauce, or honey, oyster sauce, soy sauce, five-spice powder, and garlic.

For the honey and soy sauce glaze, simply combine the two ingredients in a bowl and brush the mixture all over the duck during the last 10 minutes of cooking at 400°F (200°C). This will give your duck a beautiful shiny glaze and help to crisp up the skin.

For the honey and hoisin sauce glaze, mix honey with hoisin sauce and brush it onto the duck during the last 20 minutes of cooking. This will give your duck a sweet and savory flavor and a nice golden-brown color.

If you want to make the honey, oyster sauce, soy sauce, five-spice powder, and garlic glaze, start by mixing the oyster sauce, soy sauce, five-spice powder, minced garlic, and honey together. Place the duck breast in the sauce, ensuring that the skin isn't touching it, and let it rest in the fridge overnight. After air-frying the duck, add a mixture of honey, warm water, and five-spice powder all over the duck breast and fry at 400°F for 10 minutes or until crispy and golden brown.

You can also make a marinade for your duck by combining rice wine, dark soy sauce, demerara or soft brown sugar, star anise, cinnamon sticks, spring onions, Chinese five-spice, and ground cloves. Marinate the duck in this mixture for two hours or overnight, then cook it in a slow cooker or pot before crisping it up in the air fryer.

What to serve with crispy duck

There are many options for what to serve alongside crispy duck. Here are some ideas:

Vegetables

• Roasted root vegetables, such as Brussels sprouts, carrots, or potatoes
• Steamed asparagus, seasoned with salt, pepper, and a squeeze of lemon juice
• Chinese broccoli or bok choy with oyster sauce
• White asparagus sautéed and then flambéed with orange liqueur
• Red cabbage with cranberries
• Cavolo nero
• Rocket (arugula), mint, and pomegranate salad

Starch

• Goose fat roast potatoes (or duck fat roast potatoes)
• Whipped sweet potatoes
• Japanese sweet potato cubes roasted and then fried in duck fat, and sprinkled with flaky salt
• White or brown rice
• Fried rice
• Cauliflower rice
• Scallion pancakes
• Bao buns

Other

• Miso-glazed roasted eggplant
• Mushrooms and onions with garlic and fresh herbs
• Mushroom pilaf
• Grated apple slaw
• Crispy duck rolls with hoisin and pickled onion

Frequently asked questions