Slow Cooker Whole Duck

Slow Cooker Whole Duck

Adapted from an internet recipe.
Sounds good, and easy. Key thing is to elevate the duck above the bottom of the slow cooker and the Low temp setting on the cooker. On my to cook list.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 6 hours
Total Time 6 hours 10 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 4 servings

Equipment

  • Slow Cooker
  • Cheesecloth

Ingredients
  

  • 1 whole duck
  • oranges, as needed, quartered
  • fresh carrots, as needed
  • onions, as needed

Instructions
 

  • Prep the duck by removing the giblets from the inside (if a local bought duck from an open market, remove the head, neck, and feet if they are still attached). Trim off any fat around the cavity open but do not discard, just set that aside, you will need that in a few minutes.
  • Rinse the duck inside and out. pat dry with paper towels. Place quartered oranges inside the duck, plus the fat you trimmed off. Close the cavity opening best you can with toothpicks.
  • Place several carrots cut in half lengthwise and/or onions that are peeled and cut in half on the bottom of your slow cooker, this is to keep the duck elevated above the bottom where the fat will collect.
  • Heat a large non stick pan and place the duck, breast side down in the pan, cook until the breast is lightly browned. Remove the duck from the pan and place breast side up on 2 layers of cheesecloth that is large enough to wrap around the duck, pick the duck up with the cheesecloth and set on top of the vegetable in the slow cooker, loosely push down the cheesecloth around the duck. Prick the skin, not the meat on the breast in several places, this helps allow the fat to render out but results in juicy meat.
    Reason for the cheesecloth is so you can lift the duck out without it falling apart when it is done cooking. This is a fall off the bone duck.
  • Cook on Low setting for 6 to 7 hours. Check the fat level at the 3 hour mark, remove excess fat if the duck is resting in the fat. Reserve the fat, great for cooking fried potatoes.
  • At 6 to 7 hours, check the duck for tenderness, should be fall off the bone tender, when ready, lift the duck out with the cheesecloth to a platter, serve.

Notes

I have to buy another duck, last time I bought one, I think it was 250 Baht, but I will verify this when I buy a duck. I will say fair value for now until I confirm the cost.
Slow Cooker Duck Legs

Slow Cooker Duck Legs

Adapted from an internet recipe.
I found this great recipe for cooking duck legs (leg and thigh) for tender and juicy duck legs on the internet. A number of months ago I picked up a package of 2 duck legs at the store in town, cost was actually comparable to chicken. Got home and put them in the freezer. Found this recipe so I decided to try it out. The meat nearly falls off the bone and is tender and juicy. My wife loved this, she even stated, most tender duck she ever had cooked in a house. This recipe is a keeper.
Prep Time 10 minutes
Cook Time 5 hours
Total Time 5 hours 10 minutes
Course Main Dish
Cuisine American
Servings 2 people

Ingredients
  

  • 2 duck legs with thighs, skin on
  • 1 cup chicken stock
  • 1 cup red vermouth, OR use an additional cup of chicken stock
  • 1 bay leaf
  • 1 onion, chopped

Instructions
 

  • I added 2 cups of hot water to my slow cooker pot and used powdered stock to make the 2 cups of chicken stock. Turn on slow cooker to Low setting.
  • In a low heat, dry, no oil added, non-stick pan, add the duck legs/thighs, skin side down until the fat runs out and the skin is golden brown. Remove the legs/thighs and add to the slow cooker skin side up.
  • Add the chopped onion to the duck fat in the pan and cook until clear and softened, add the onions to the slow cooker.
  • Cover the slow cooker and cook on Low for 5-6 hours.
  • Serve with some buttered pasta and a green vegetable.

Notes

Two duck legs cost me 90 baht in Tesco. That is 45 Baht per person, or about $1.35 per person, add pasta, still reasonable. I served this with pasta and fresh, local grown, corn on the cob, puts the cost to about $1.50 per person. This is a great treat for family members or visiting friends.