Duck wings are one of the exotic food that once you try you never forget and would always want to eat more.

They are rich in nutrients especially omega 3 fatty acids, protein, phosphorus, iron, calcium, B vitamins, and more.

The wings of a duck are probably the best parts to eat as the bird uses these parts to fly therefore they contain more muscles and tight meat.

In this article, we gathered a lot of useful information from trustworthy sources to provide you with everything you need to know about duck wings, what health virtues do they offer, how to cook them, how to buy them alongside the precautions you need to know before consuming duck wings.

However, let’s clear up some misconceptions first…

Do duck wings make you fat?

No matter what type of food you eat, if you eat it often you will mostly gain weight!

Eating duck wings moderately won’t make you gain weight suddenly, in fact, it has very little effect on the weight.

This is because the wings of a duck experience a lot of movement therefore they are subject to physical activity and have little fat content.

You may argue about the skin of duck wings, but the skin offers a good amount of collagen which has a good nutritional effect on the skin. (1)

Therefore, with moderate consumption and good portion control, you will enjoy this delicious meat without gaining weight.

The nutritional virtues of duck wings:

The fat content of duck wings is mainly unsaturated fatty acids and its distribution is very uniform.

Also, the melting point of duck wings fats is very low which means that they are easier to digest.

Duck wings are a good source of protein with more than 16g per 3.5oz (100g) and that is about 20% of the daily need for someone that weighs 160 lbs (72Kg).

The nutrients contained in duck wings are very beneficial as it also comes with a good amount of trace elements such as iron, phosphorus, potassium, and zinc.

By eating duck wings you will supply your body with many essential components that could enhance some physical weaknesses.

China is the top duck meat consumer worldwide and people there believe that duck wings: (2)

• Improves the blood flow for those who often suffer from cold hands and feet or have very pale skin due to poor blood circulation.
• Nourishes the lungs to help maintain their vital functions.
• Treats stomach cold by warming it during cold winters.
• Good remedy for coughing and phlegm as it moisturizes the throat and relieves the itching that leads causes coughs.
• Protects and maintains kidney function by enhancing the urination process.
• Reduces the swelling of the feet and ankles during pregnancy.
• Nourishes the skin and gives it a better resistance against aging.
• Minimizes inflammation throughout the body thanks to the antioxidant properties of its nutrients.
• Enhances the appetite.

Duck wings cooking ideas:

The first tip is that duck meat is different than red meat and more similar to chicken meat which means you should avoid overcooking it.

The best way is to ensure that the meat remains slightly pink and juicy and not brown and dry.

As for the skin, keep it intact and only remove it after cooking as it is the part that ensures the tenderness of the meat.

Duck meat combines very well with sweet sauces as they enhance its flavor.

Here are some ideas you can try with duck wings:

• Braised in an onion sauce.
• Peking duck wings: an easy Chinese dish to make by coating the skin of the duck meat with soy sauce, vinegar, honey, and spices. (3)
• Then, you put the coated duck wings in the oven and cook them on medium heat.
• French Cassoulet. (4)
• Candied duck wings. (5)
• Pan-fried with a sauce of your choice: preferably sweet sauce made of cherry, cranberry, or apple.
• Sauteed with potatoes or any other vegetable of your choice.

Recipes of duck wings:

Duck wings pot:

Ingredients:

• 1 lb of ducks wings (450g or 4 wings).
• 5 ounces of chopped onion (100g).
• 2 ounces of ground chili pepper (50g).
• 1 tbsp of paprika (15g).
• 1 tbsp of sliced ginger (15g).
• 1 tbsp of sugar.
• 2 tsp of salt.
• 1 tsp of sesame oil.
• 2 cups of boiled water.
• 1/4 cup of corn oil.
• 2 tbsp of soy sauce.

Preparation:

• Start by cutting each duck wing in half following the joint.
• Turn of the heat on the boiled water then place the duck wings parts in it to clean them from blood residues.
• Heat corn oil in a pot and add the ginger slices until they are sautéed.
• Now add the chopped onion to the pot and cook them until they become soft.
• Go ahead and add paprika and ground chili pepper while stirring to mix all the ingredients together as they cook.
• You can now add the duck wings to the pot along with sugar and salt and let them cook for 5 minutes.
• Add 1 cup of boiling water to the pan and stir to mix all the ingredients.
• Cover the pot and leave it on a low heat 160°F (70°C) for 20 minutes until the duck wings become crispy, however, stir them every now and then to avoid sticking to the pan.
• Take the pot off the heat and add sesame oil to it then serve it and enjoy the crispiness!

Sauteed duck wings:

Ingredients:

• 1 lbs of duck wings (450g or 4 duck wings)
• 4 cups of water.
• 1 bunch of scallions (green onion).
• 2 ounces of chopped ginger (50g).
• 1 chopped onion.
• 2 tbsp of cinnamon powder.
• 3 sprigs of rosemary o thyme.
• ¼ cup of corn oil.
• 1 tbsp of Paprika.
• 2 tbsp of soy sauce.
• 1 tbsp of sugar.
• 1 tbsp of salt.

Preparation:

• Start by rinsing the duck wings in water then let them dry aside.
• Heat a pan on medium heat for 1 minute then add corn oil and let it heat for 2 minutes.
• Now add onion, ginger, scallion, cinnamon powder, chopped rosemary, paprika, and let them fry until the onion and scallion become soft.
• Add salt and sugar to the pan and mix the ingredients.
• When the mixture becomes sautéed, add the duck wings and the soy sauce and let them fry for 10 minutes on each side on a medium heat 160°F (70°C).
• During that time, stir the wings to avoid sticking to the pan while collecting the sautéed sauce with a spoon and covering the top of the wings as they cook.
• Turn off the heat and add a few chopped herbs of your choice such as parsley.
• You should obtain braised duck wings full of flavor to enjoy with your friends and family!

Brining duck wings:

Ingredients:

• 16 duck wings (4.5 lbs or 2Kg).
• Marinade juice of your choice (classical: vinegar + olive oil + rosemary or any of the spices you like).
• 4 cups of water.
• 1 tbsp of lemon zest.
• 1 tbsp of dried fennel.
• 1 tbsp of cinnamon powder.
• 1 tbsp of ginger slices.
• 2 tbsp of soy sauce.
• 1 tbsp of paprika.
• 1 tbsp of salt.
• 1 tbsp of sugar.

Preparation:

• Heat water in a pot then cooks the duck wings for 10 minutes until they are blanched then dry them and leave them aside.
• In another pan, stir-fry the marinade juice with ginger, paprika, fennel, cinnamon, lemon zest, sugar, salt, and soy sauce.
• Add 4 cups of water, cover the pot and let it cook slowly on a low heat 160°F (70°C) for 10 minutes until it starts boiling.
• Now add the blanched duck wings to the pot and turn the heat to a medium 300°F (150°C) and cook the wings for 20 minutes.
• Turn off the heat and let the duck wings cool inside the mixture to allow them to aroma to fuse in the meat.
• You can serve this dish on its own or with slices of bread for dumping as the brine sauce is so tasteful and full of flavors, enjoy it!

Buying duck wings:

With more people demanding duck wings, the supply is always short in the market and that led to some bad practices in the poultry industry.

Some of the duck farms follow unethical methods to grow the birds faster and that results in bad quality meat. (6)

When you are buying duck wings the first thing to notice is the skin color which should be a shiny white or slightly beige.

Some remaining feather or feather roots could also be a good indicator of freshness as poor-quality wings won’t have them.

As for the flesh or actual meat, it should be elastic with no strong odor or unpleasant smell. (7)

Once you purchase fresh duck wings, make sure you place them in the fridge and consume them within 24 hours.

In case you want to store them for a longer time you can place them in a freezing bag and put them in the freezer for a couple of weeks.

Precautions before you consume duck wings:

Bad combination:

There are some ingredients that you should not consume duck wings with such as garlic or chestnuts as those combinations may be poisonous.

Avoid consuming ducks wings with other game meat such as bison, venison, or rabbit meat.

Even though any type of meat is a complete food on its own, some meat combinations could lead to diarrhea and over time weaken the body.

Do not use mushrooms in your duck wings recipes since both ingredients are strong and may cause discomfort in the stomach.

Finally, do not consume duck wings with eggs since there are reports of people suffering serious health damage after they consume them together.

Some people at risk:

Since some groups of people have more or less weak immune systems, it is best to stay away from duck wings.

Those groups of people include: (8)

• Patients with encephalitis, arteriosclerosis, or cardiovascular diseases.
• People with high cholesterol levels or high blood pressure.
• Young children should not eat duck wings because it leads to premature puberty.

 

 

References:

(1): DUCK WINGS – Mad Butcher Meat Co.
(2): Beijing Duck: History, Recipe, and How to Eat It (chinahighlights.com)
(3): Peking Duck, An Easy Home Version (北京烤鸭) – Red House Spice
(4): Classic French Cassoulet – Jo Cooks
(5): Confit Duck Wings Recipe | Food Network
(6): Duck farming: 9 ways duck farms are failing animals | Animals Australia
(7): Maple Leaf Farms | Shopping for Duck Breast? These are Tips You Need…
(8): Duck meat is good for health but who should not eat? (scienceinfo.net)