Stinky Duck

flea72

ive just been given a duck, but to be honest im not sure if its ok to cook. ive never cooked duck before, so dont know what they are like fresh, but this one has a distinct aroma, sort of rancid, but doesnt smell rotton, if you get what i mean. is this just the strong gamey smell?

also, the duck has what i would call stubble rash. is this normal, or has it not been plucked properly. there is still fine down in places around the legs, and all over the breast, there are black short hairs poking out (looks like the end of the quills?)

tbh, if doesnt actually look that pretty, so im in two minds to sling it, but if this is what a duck should look like, then i might try giving it a roast

Flea

arkonite_babe

If you have a reputable butcher nearby, why not as them for some advice? I'm not an expert but I'm sure it shouldn't smell.

Then again as the saying goes "If in doubt, chuck it out." Better that than food poisoning.

carol_a_3

Sounds gross! Don't think I'd chance it.

chrislee765

I myself wouldnt touch it. When it comes to meat afaic if it smells then its off. Same with fish.

Fresh fish barely smells, same with all other meats ive smelt.

(when you said smelly duck, i thought you were having trouble with a live duck that smelt)

innovate

Who gave it to you? Do you trust them? When was the duck slaughtered? If within the last two days and you trust the source, call yourself lucky because you probably have an absolute delicacy for nowt!

The black bits are probably caused by flaming off the feathers - just pull remaining bits out with a pair of tweezers.

Duck smells stronger than chicken, so as long as it doesn't smell 'off', it is perfectly ok.

You should cook it (like a chicken, but needs more time because it is larger & fatter) within a couple of days, don't keep it as a turkey subsidy until Sunday!

Duck meat is gorgeous

[Deleted User]

flea72 wrote:

ive just been given a duck, but to be honest im not sure if its ok to cook. ive never cooked duck before, so dont know what they are like fresh, but this one has a distinct aroma, sort of rancid, but doesnt smell rotton, if you get what i mean. is this just the strong gamey smell?

also, the duck has what i would call stubble rash. is this normal, or has it not been plucked properly. there is still fine down in places around the legs, and all over the breast, there are black short hairs poking out (looks like the end of the quills?)

tbh, if doesnt actually look that pretty, so im in two minds to sling it, but if this is what a duck should look like, then i might try giving it a roast

Flea

I don't know about ducks ,but when I was a little girl when ever my brother or Dad killed a chicken after pulling most of the feathers out my Mum used a lit candle to 'burn' of the stubble of the remaining stalky-like bits. I would be a bit worried if it smelt a bit strong though,I don't think they are like game birds that have to be hung for a couple of days
As said before if in doubt ,bin it.I had food poisoning last Christmas and had a rotten time (boiled egg for Christmas dinner)

halloweenqueen_2

Sorry to be of no help what so ever but the title of your thread just made me giggle!

Bibendum

Duck doesn't normally smell really . It shouldn't be gamey!!!
Do you know how long it has been kept since killed?
If in doubt... leave it.
Duck is lovely but not worth risking food poisoning.

The "rash" I wouldn't worry about.

Pal

The fact that OP has been given a duck suggests to me that it is wild duck that has been shot, rather than a shop bought duck?


If that is true, then wild ducks are a type of game and are supposed to smell "gamey", especially if they have been hung properly for a few days. It may smell fishy given that ducks live in rivers and eat the wildlife living in it.

As long as it doesn't smell like it is rotting then it will be fine. If a duck (or any meat) is going to rot it will do so from the outside rather than from within the meat itself, so if it doesn't have visible mould it should be OK.

As an aside, if you buy a large joint of beef and it goes mouldy, you can just cut the mouldy outside off and then eat it. People are far too fussy about sell-buy dates and the appearance of food these days, which is why the supermarkets get away with selling blood red meat, smell-free meat to people who don't know any better.
Assuming it is not too late I would go ahead and cook the duck. If it still looks dodgy when cooked order a takeaway, but I bet it will be delicious.

squiggles

I might be wrong but is it true that cats can detect bad meat???? ie they will sniff it and walk away if theres something dodgey about it,unlike a dog where they would wolf it down regardless.Please dont take this as gospel though just incase im wrong,its just something ive remembered and dont know how true it is.

kitster_2

is it dead??