Air Fryer Duck

Air Fryer Roast Duck – easy to prepare, deliciously moist air fryer duck with crispy skin and fantastic flavor. This golden whole roast duck is perfect for special occasions!

If you love the taste of roast duck but feel intimidated cooking it then you have come to the right place. Air Fryer Duck is a total game-changer – minimum fuss and maximum flavor guaranteed!

What Does Duck Taste Like?

Unlike chicken and turkey, duck only has dark meat which is closer to the taste of red meat than poultry. Because of its high fat content the meat is juicy, tender and full of flavor.

Duck can be served medium rare and still slightly pink – much like beef or venison – although the USDA recommends cooking duck to a safe minimum internal temperature of 165° F (74° C).

Golden Roast Duck in the Air Fryer

Cooking a whole ruck in the air fryer is a great way to ensure crisp skin and moist, tender meat. I actually prefer cooking duck in the air fryer – less messy and quicker than roasting in the oven and more economical too.

The only minor challenge is fitting a whole duck in the air fryer, but as long as you have a large capacity model then you can easily cook a 4 pound bird.  This might sound like a lot but it will only feed four – there’s not a huge amount of meat on a duck!

Here’s What You’ll Need

I used my Cosori Air Fryer for this recipe and my trusty Thermapen. Apart from these essential tools, you literally need just five ingredients to make this roast duck. It’s so easy!

• Whole duck about 4+ pounds / 2kg
• Salt and pepper
• Honey and soy sauce

There’s no need to use any oil in this recipe as duck is very high in fat. The fat will render while you cook it and it will keep the meat nice and juicy. If you are using a frozen whole duck then you will need to defrost it completely. Place in the fridge and allow it to thaw for a day or up to 48 hours depending on the size.

How to Roast Duck in the Air Fryer

Prepare the Duck

1. Place the duck, uncovered and away from any other food stuff, in the fridge and leave overnight to dry out the skin. This step is optional but recommended for crisper skin.
2. Take the duck out of the fridge and remove all the packaging, including any giblets which sometimes are stored in a bag inside the cavity. Leave it to come to room temperature for 30 minutes.
3. Score the duck breast with a sharp knife on the diagonal, making sure to pierce the skin but not cut all the way into the breast meat. Prick the skin all over with a fork to allow for the fat to render while cooking. Season liberally with salt and pepper.

Roast the Duck

1. Place the duck breast side down into the basket of the air fryer, tucking the tips of the wings under if they are sticking out. Cook for 30 minutes at 300°F (150°C). At this point you can drain any fat that has been rendered.

1. Carefully flip the duck over so that it sits breast side up in the air fryer. Continue to cook for a further 30 minutes. Drain any fat as needed.
2. Combine the honey and soy sauce in a bowl and brush all over the duck. Cook for 10 minutes at 400°F (200°C) to crisp up the skin and get a beautiful shiny glaze on the duck.

CHECK THE TEMPERATURE

1. Check the temperature of the duck by sticking the probe of an instant read thermometer in the breast, avoiding the bone.
2. The recommended safe cooking temperature for duck is a minimum of 165°F (75°C). If the duck is not quite done yet then brush with the glaze once more then continue to cook for a further 5-10 minutes or until it is done.

REST THE DUCK

1. Remove the duck from the air fryer and place on a cutting board. I prefer to leave the duck uncovered as the steam can soften the skin. Allow it to rest for a minimum of 30 minutes to ensure maximum juiciness!

Serving Suggestions

Use a sharp knife to remove the legs from the duck and cut the breast meat. Present on a platter with your favorite sides. Here are some suggestions:

• Goose Fat Roast Potatoes (where you can also use the duck fat!)
• Whipped Sweet Potatoes or Slow Cooker Mashed Potatoes
• Braised Red Cabbage, Air Fryer Carrots, Air Fryer Carrots
• Crunchy Rainbow Thai salad