Cooking ducks?

[hornhunterallen]

I just started duck hunting and have been doing real well. I was just wondering if anybody has any secrets to making them taste decent when I cook them. I have yet to taste a good one? Please help!

[shoreman]

hornhunterallen,

Let me ask you a few questions:

What ducks have you been taking and cooking? Dabblers or divers?

What have they been eating? (examine the crop and gizzard).

Where have you been taking them?

How have you been cooking them?

The duck's diet greatly influences what it'll taste like. Mergansers, which eat fish, will be downright dreadful, while teal and woodies feeding on wild rice, acorns and sago pondweed will be a gourmet meal. Skinning and removing all the fat of questionable ducks (divers, etc) will reduce the chance of ruining a great meal.

Overcooking any wild game will also affect the taste of the game. Wild game, being short on fat, should be cooked until just done, and then taken off the heat. I've had ducks over friends homes that were akin to shoe leather because of overcooking.

Keep the meat moist, use spices sparingly and don't overcook; all good guidelines for coking wild waterfowl!

[Texas Dave]

I'll be danged! Never thought about that. Thanks Shore.

[Hammer]

Ducks that are breasted then wrapped in bacon and grilled are in my opinion the best. Don't shoot the mergansers and shovelers, they are NASTY.

[hornhunterallen]

Thanks guys! I shoot pretty much mallard drakes. They usually feed in near by barley fields.

[Arkhunter]

Ducks are my least favorite game animal to eat.

About the only way I can eat em other than in gumbo is to take Hammer's recipe a step farther.

Breast the ducks then butterfly em (cut em almost in half).

Soak em in Italian Dressing overnight.

Put slices of jalapenos and onions inside the breast and sprinkle with Cavender's and/or your favorite spices.

Wrap bacon around the breast and secure it with a toothpick then throw em on the grill.

Just before they get done cover em in bbq sauce.

I think what all that does is put enough flavoring on em that you cant taste the duck. :D

[ARMallardSlayer]

Take the breast and thin them into about 3 layers. Next cut the breast into strips about an inch wide. Next mix you up some evaporated milk and eggs. Add the strips to the m/e. You can let it sit overnight in the frig if you like. Next warm up the frydaddy. Place the strips in some flour, and then put a batch into the grease. When they float, they are done.

Delicious!!!!!!!!!!!! :D

[longhonker]

I have cooked them on the grill and deep fat fry them I enjoy both ways. When I deep fat fry them I use eggs and milk and crushed crackers and a few spices. I will usually slice up the duck and soak in salt water to pull as much of the blood out of them overnight. Everybody has some good ideas that should taste great if done right. Might take a few times to get the right touch. Good luck.

[AR hunter]

i was cooking some for the first time this weekend and had heard a few recipes. apparently i got them mixed up and used the goose recipe but it turned out pretty good. easy too.

remove the skin and filet the breast off the bone. wash it well, remove any shot and place in a baking dish. crack fresh pepper on both sides of meat. completely cover with bacon and add some white cooking wine over the top of it all. bake on 450 until you think the meat is done enough to eat. almost tastes like filet mignon!

[blinton]

If you want to try something different with the grilling recipe marinate them in 1/2 "Dale's" marinade (most grocery store chains) and 1/2 Jalapeno juice for 2 hrs or even over night if you really dont care for duck and ten grill. With the deep frying recipe soak breasts in Picante sauce and mustard before you flour them and then fry. Probably not the best two ways but I like em.

[ncboman]

Ducks are some of the best AND worst eating I've ever had. My limited experiences place wood ducks and mallards as good tablefare. Others are suspect for me.

I'll dig up my old outdoor life receipe and put it up. It's the best I have tried and really makes wood ducks taste supreme. smile.gif

[muskrat]

The best way I've had duck is canned - in mason jars, with a pressure cooker. Not sure what he threw in the bottles with them, but tasted great.