Duck legs aren’t served as often as they once were, but they’re ripe for a comeback. A finely braised or roasted duck leg is a juicy, flavorful treat that adds elegance to any dinner party. They’re also a lot easier to cook than you might think.
If you have at least a little experience with cooking chicken without drying it out, you’re ready to tackle the challenge of duck. Our guide will give you the confidence you need to make the most of this type of poultry for your next anniversary or holiday dinner.
Buying Duck Legs
The process all starts with the selection of fresh, quality duck legs. Duck meat looks a little different than chicken when it’s fresh, so you’ll need to know what to look for. The meat will be darker than chicken even freshly butchered, with a reddish to purple color.
If you notice any gray, yellow, or green on the meat, it is not as fresh as possible. The meat should be firm and moist on the surface, with a mild “wild game” odor.
Preparing Duck Legs
Duck has a somewhat strong flavor that can be too much for the tastes of some diners, especially if you’re using wild game. Brining the meat is recommended to balance out this flavor and make it more appealing to a wide range of guests. Soak the duck legs overnight in a brine made of ½ gallon of water, ½ cup of Kosher salt, ½ cup of brown sugar, and ¼ cup of pickling spices or any other spices you prefer for a brine. This will result in a flavorful but mild cook duck leg with plenty of moisture, as long as you don’t overcook the meat.
Keys to Success
Duck is very sensitive to overcooking. Duck legs start out on the tough side and need a slow and low cooking period to soften the meat without cooking out all of the moisture. Using a method like braising that cooks the meat in liquid can help with that. Yet duck legs are too delicate to go into a slow cooker for hours on end. The key is checking the internal temperature often no matter which cooking method you choose so that you can remove the legs from the heat at the right time.
Methods of Cooking Duck Legs
There are four recommended methods for cooking duck legs that ensure tender results. Braising is perhaps the easiest because the liquid you use keeps the meat moist and ensures even heating. Oven roasting is also fairly easy. Cooking the duck legs on the stove top is a relatively quick method, but it requires some skill and attention. Finally, cooking the legs in an air fryer is the best way to get a crispy texture.
Oven Roasted
For the simplest roasted duck legs, you simply sear the legs until they’re lightly browned and cook them for around 1.5 hours in a 300 degrees F oven. You can go up to 2 hours without leading to dry or tough results. Add a little more flavor by glazing the duck legs halfway through with a mix of red wine, balsamic vinegar, garlic powder, and black pepper.
Braised
Braising is a cooking method that involves surrounding the meat with flavorful liquids to keep it moist. Chinese duck legs are braised in beef stock and soy sauce with aromatic spices like star anise thrown in. French recipes call for braising the legs in red wine and stock instead. You can experiment with all sorts of liquids that go with the flavor of the duck meat and use a 2 to 2.5 hour cooking time at 300 degrees F for good results.
Stove Top
You can braise the duck legs on the stove top for faster results if you have a cast iron Dutch oven with a tight-fitting lid. You load up your meat, flavorful liquids, and other ingredients like quartered vegetables and simmer everything on low heat.
Keeping the lid on ensures the meat cooks evenly and stays moist. Depending on the size of the duck legs, you can expect them to get done within around 1 hour to 1.5 hours. Sear the legs first to add some color to the skin.
Air Fryer
For crispy duck legs that cook the quickest of all, you’ll need an air fryer with enough space to hold the legs. First, pat the skin dry and carefully prick it all over with a sharp knife.
Avoid pricking deeply into the meat, which affects the texture. Use about ½ teaspoon of Kosher salt and pepper to season each leg, then place them in the air fryer with space between them. Cook for 12 minutes at 300 degrees F, then another 8 minutes at 400 degrees F for crispy skin.
What to Serve With Duck Legs
Duck legs go great with risotto, mashed potatoes, or roasted potatoes if you choose a braised recipe that produces a lot of tasty sauce. For crispy duck legs, try a green salad with ginger dressing or roasted green beans.
Conclusion
Swap those same-old chicken drumsticks for some duck legs that offer a lot of flavor and delicious juiciness in a similar package. With a little practice, you’ll learn how to cook duck legs and find your favorite cooking method. Soon you will be able to whip up a special dinner in as little as 20 minutes.