Perfectly Crispy Airfryer Duck Recipe at Home

Poultry, particularly duck, is prized for its taste and juicy texture; however, achieving perfect crispy covering at home can be problematic. However, using an air fryer makes preparing this bird with that irresistible crispy crust easy. In this article, you’ll learn our simple method of preparing a well, crispy air fryer duck so you can enjoy a well-done dish every time. This is a home chef and first-timer’s guide to pleasing loved ones with a delicious and satisfying meal.

Why Use an Air Fryer on Duck?

Before diving into the recipe, let’s talk about why an air fryer is ideal for cooking duck:

Healthier Cooking: Air fryers require less oil to cook than deep frying, making your crispy duck healthier and delicious.

Even Cooking: The circulation of hot air in an air fryer helps cook duck evenly and achieves well-done skin without overcooking the duck meat.

Convenience: Air fryers are convenient and can be used to prepare different gourmet meals, such as duck, without taking up much time.

Consistent Results: Cooking with an air fryer is precise because the appliance has features that allow it to always set a uniform temperature for a delicious, juicy duck.

Ingredients You Will Need

To prepare a delicious, crispy air fryer duck, you will need the following ingredients:

One whole duck of about 4-5 pounds

Two teaspoons of sea salt

One teaspoon of black pepper

One teaspoon of garlic powder

One teaspoon of paprika

One teaspoon of ground ginger

One tablespoon of olive oil

Optional: Some raw veggies or greens such as fresh thyme or rosemary

Air Fryer Recipe: How to Get Extra Crispy Skin on Your Duck

1. Prepare the Duck

To begin with, gently rub out the duck with paper towels. This step is important because if the skin is not crispy, it should not be moist; there is nothing as crispy, moist skin.

Trim off any unnecessary fat from the duck’s cavity since ducks among poultry have more fat than other poultry products.

Pierce the skin all over the body with a fork, but do not pierce the flesh of the meat. Doing so will render the fat after pre-cooking, a process crucial for crispy skin.

2. Season the Duck

Combine the sea salt and fine black pepper, garlic flakes, smoked paprika, and ground ginger in a small bowl.

Massage olive oil on the duck skin so that it adheres to the seasonings, giving it that crispy feel.

After wiping the marinade, season the duck nicely with the spice mixture, liberally rubbing it here and there.

To enhance the flavor of your dish, stuff the cavity of the duck with fresh herbs such as thyme or rosemary.

3. Preheat the Air Fryer

Set your air fryer to 350 ℉ (180 ℃). Preheating helps the food cook evenly and makes the skin crispy.

4. Cook the Duck

Put the seasoned duck on the air fryer basket, skin side down, with the breast facing down.

Bake at 350 F for 20 minutes and fry in the air for 25 minutes.

After 45 minutes, it should be turned to a flat side, skin side up, and cooked for another 30-35 minutes or until the internal temperature of the thickest part of the duck reaches 165°F (75°C).

5. Rest the Duck

After cooking, transfer the duck from the air fryer and let it stand for 10-15 minutes. This resting time allows the juices to circulate well within the meat, resulting in tender, well-seasoned pieces.

6. Serve and Enjoy

Slice the duck and accompany it with the preferred style of vegetables, potatoes, or salad.

Say goodbye to plain, dry, or overcooked chicken found in other preparation methods, and revel in the air fryer’s ability to cook the dish for you while it remains crispy, moist, and with perfectly seared, juicy meat!

Little Tricks About How to Cook Duck in the Air Fryer

Size Matters: Make sure that your duck fits the basket of your air fryer so that it does not come out too big. If you are using a small air fryer, it will be important to chop the duck into pieces before cooking.

Check Doneness: Use a meat thermometer to ensure the duck’s inside temperature is 165 °F (75 °C) when ready.

Crispier Skin: If you want your skin to be even crispier, you can set the air fryer to 400°F / 200°C for the last 5 minutes of cooking.

Basting: Again, while air frying, it is possible to splash the duck occasionally with the rendered fat for additional moisture and flavor.

Nutritional Information

A 3.5-ounce (100g) serving of air fryer duck provides the following:

Calories: 337

Protein: 19 grams

Fat: 28 grams

Carbohydrates: 0 grams

Fiber: 0 grams

Duck meat is a highly protein-rich food that also contains vitamins like B vitamins, Iron, and Selenium. By removing the need for extra oils in the process, this dish is much healthier if prepared in an air fryer than, let’s say, deep-fried.

Why is Air Fryer Duck a dish you should consider giving a try?

There you have it—air-fried duck is not a festive dish that you prepare on festive days alone but rather a dinner that you can prepare during weekdays and any other day for that matter. This recipe is best for weeknight dinners because of the air fryer, though it would be very suitable for dinner parties or holiday meals because it tastes so great with crisp skin.

Gourmet Quality: Most people may feel uncomfortable cooking duck at home, but air frying makes it easy and yields professional outcomes.

Time-Saving: Depending on how it is prepared, cooking duck can sometimes be a long process, but with an air fryer, more cooking time is needed while still getting great taste and texture.

Health Benefits: Air-frying eliminates the need for so much oil, making it a healthier way to have crisp ducks.

Common questions, also called frequently asked questions (F.A.Q.s).

Q1: Air fryer duck breasts: is it possible?

Absolutely! You can prepare air fryer duck breasts for a quicker meal. Grill the breasts for 10-15 minutes at 375°F (190°C), turning halfway through.

Q2: How do I store leftover duck?

Any remaining duck should be kept in an airtight container in the refrigerator and will keep for up to 3 days. This duck can also be frozen for up to 2 months. Heat it in the Air Fryer until crispy again if it has gone cold.

Q3: Can I marinate the duck to be fried in an air fryer?

Yes! For more flavor, you can marinate the duck for hours or overnight in soy sauce, honey, garlic, and herbs. Just make sure you can still moisten the skin before air frying for optimal crispy skin texture.

Conclusion

Many people have usually troubled themselves with the thought of preparing the right air fryer duck at home, but it is easy. This is a straightforward dish but full of taste, and if you decide to use an air fryer, the chicken skin will be crispy and the meat tender. When using the following recipe, you can make a proper meal to be served to your guests or your family. Well, gather your air fryer and defrost the duck, and you will get dinner in the style of a reputable restaurant!