Thanksgiving Trends 2022: Whole Roast Duck For The Holidays
POSTED: 11/04/2022
If you are looking for an alternative to a Thanksgiving turkey, try Maple Leaf Farms duck! With delicious flavor and versatile appeal, duck is a great choice for your Thanksgiving bird.
Whole Duck Preparation
Everyone wants easy-to-prepare options that will also impress your guests during the hectic holiday season. Although you may not believe that whole duck fits in this category, think again. Maple Leaf Farms Roasted Whole Duck with Crispy Skin is perfect for anyone looking for a traditional dish that is also easy to make.
If you are running tight on time, try cooking your duck by spatchcocking or butterflying the duck and cooking it under a brick. This will weigh the duck down and cause the skin to crisp faster and the duck cooks faster.
Other simple ways of preparing whole duck include deep frying it or cooking it in an Instant Pot. Since these options utilize other appliances, you can free up your oven for your favorite side dishes.
Whole Duck Sides & Sauces
One of the best things about preparing a whole duck is that you can use the whole duck throughout your entire meal by using the fat or stock to enhance your side dishes!
Make sure to keep the carcass to make duck stock that can be used in mashed potatoes, Savory Sage Cornbread Stuffing or frozen for later use. You can also save and use the excess rendered duck fat to prepare Duck Fat Brussels Sprouts or Garlic Duck Fat Mashed Potatoes.
To add more flavor to your menu, you can also create a sauce that complements the exquisite taste of duck. Orange sauce is popular for the zesty citrus flavor it lends to the duck, while a green peppercorn sauce complements the duck with a spicy flare. For a sweeter flavor, try pairing the duck with a cherry sauce!
Serving Whole Duck
Be sure to let your whole duck rest for 10-15 minutes before carving it. To carve a whole roast duck, be sure to use a sharp knife and cut off the wings before removing the leg and thighs. Finally, you will want to remove the duck breast.
Whole Duck Alternatives
If you are in a last-minute rush to prepare dinner for the holiday season, try one of our premade products such as our Roast Half Duck or All Natural Duck Leg Confit. If you are looking for something extremely last-minute and simple to make, try our All Natural Boneless Duck Breast.
The holidays are a time of celebration with friends and family, and it is our hope we can help make your celebrations go smoothly with meals your loved ones will enjoy. Whether you are searching for recipes, product recommendations or helpful cooking tips and tricks, our family is here to help you with all your duck preparation needs!
