Roast duck can be a delicious but expensive meal to enjoy. You won’t want to throw out any of your leftovers, so you’ll have to learn how to reheat them. While it may be hard to get the duck as crispy and tender as it was originally, you can get close.
The best options for reheating roast duck are to use the oven or the air fryer. However, you can also microwave your leftovers or use the stove to reheat them. In some cases, you can even try deep frying the duck to get the skin crispy again.
Due to the variety of methods for reheating duck, you can choose the one that best suits you. They all have benefits and downsides but the important thing is that your duck will be reheated safely.
How to Reheat Roast Duck in the Oven
The oven allows even heat to slowly warm up the leftover duck, helping to prevent dryness. You can also add a splash of broth if you’re worried that the meat has already become too dry. You can do a large portion of roast duck in the oven at once, allowing you to reheat leftovers for your family.
- Preheat your oven (or toaster oven) to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Place your leftover roast duck into a baking dish.
- Heat the duck for 8-12 minutes, depending on the size of the portion.
- Optional: Use the broiler at the end to crisp up the skin for 1-2 minutes.
If you have the time to wait for the oven to preheat, then this is going to be the superior option. The oven does a great job of crisping up the remaining duck skin, making it enjoyable to eat. You’re less likely to experience dry duck meat with this method as well.
How to Reheat Roast Duck in the Microwave
While this is the best option in terms of speed, you’ll sacrifice some of the texture of the roast duck. The skin won’t get crispy and the meat may dry out a bit. You can add a splash of broth with the meat to counteract this, however.
- Place the leftover duck into a microwave-safe dish.
- Microwave the roast duck for 45-60 seconds.
- Repeat step #2 until your portion of duck is adequately reheated.
If you don’t mind removing the soggy and somewhat rubbery duck skin, then this method will work. You can quickly and efficiently reheat your leftovers if you’re in a hurry.
- Pre-programmed buttons for popcorn, potato, pizza, frozen vegetable, beverage and dinner plate
- 700 Watts with 10 power settings, clock and kitchen timer, 30 Seconds Express Cooking
- Large LED digital display, easy-to-read control panel, child safety lock, interior light, removable 10” glass turntable
- Push-button door release for easy access
- Dimensions (W x D x H): 17.3” x 13.0” x 10.2”
How to Reheat Roast Duck on the Stovetop
Reheating roast duck on the stove requires two steps. It is a bit more of an intensive process, but still easy enough to complete. If done properly, your reheated roast duck can turn out moist and with crisp skin.
- Heat a pan over low to medium heat before adding your leftover duck meat.
- Add a splash of broth (or water) to the pan with the meat.
- Cover the skillet and allow the meat to reheat for 3-5 minutes.
- Remove the meat after the liquid has evaporated.
- To the same pan, add a touch of oil and turn the heat up to high.
- Return the roast duck meat to the pan and allow the oil to crisp up the skin.
This method involves more steps than the others, but it can be a great way to reheat roast duck. If you don’t feel like turning on the oven, then this is the second-best method. The stove allows you to keep the duck meat moist and tender, while also giving a crispy exterior.
- Powerful Burner-An effective alternative to traditional stovetops, this 1800-watt double-burner cooktop provides fast, even heat for two pots simultaneously. Works with any type of cookware up to 180mm.
- Portable Design-Save space in your kitchen and enjoy homemade cooking wherever you are, taking this sleek hot plate with you for outings, camping trips, garden dinners, and boat rides.
- Temperature Control-Select from 5 temperature levels to suit your momentary needs. Use burners for keeping food warm, boiling vegetables, stir-frying meals, or deep-frying meats.
- Effortless Maintenance-The nonstick plates prevent sticky messes if pots boil over. The smooth tops make cleaning a painless job—just wipe the surface down with a damp cloth and mild detergent.
- Safe Operation-The nonslip bottom keeps the hot plate steady on flat surfaces, the handles staying cool to the touch so you can move it safely. There will be an automatic shutoff in the event of overheating or if the desired temperature is reached.
How to Reheat Roast Duck in the Air Fryer
While not everybody has access to an air fryer in their home, it can be a great way to reheat leftovers. You may find that if the duck is left in for too long, the meat dries out. Keep the air frying time to a minimum and the duck will stay tender.
- Heat your air fryer to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Lightly add some broth or water to the meat, before wrapping the duck in aluminum foil.
- Add the foil-wrapped duck into the air fryer and allow it to heat for 4-5 minutes.
- Remove the duck and unwrap the foil, before placing it back into the air fryer.
- Air fry for an additional 1-2 minutes to allow the skin to crisp up.
Wrapping the duck in foil for the first part of the heating time prevents the meat from drying out. In the end, you should have a tender and juicy piece of duck meat with crispy skin on top. Keep a close eye on the duck so the skin doesn’t burn.
- LESS FAT: Now enjoy guilt-free food. Air fry with up to 75% less fat than traditional frying methods.* *Tested against hand-cut, deep-fried French fries.
- WIDE TEMPERATURE RANGE: 105°F-400°F allows you to gently remove moisture from foods or quickly cook and crisp foods with convection heat.
- FAMILY-SIZED CAPACITY: 4-quart ceramic-coated nonstick basket and crisper plate fit 2 lbs of French fries.
- 4-IN-1 VERSATILITY: Includes 4 versatile cooking programs: Air Fry, Roast, Reheat, and Dehydrate.
- DEHYDRATE: Create flat, chip-like dehydrated foods for fun, homemade snacks. The combination of low fan speed and low temperature enables thorough dehydration.
How to Reheat Roast Duck by Frying
This may not be the easiest of the methods, but it will provide a very crispy piece of duck. If that’s what you want, then you can attempt to fry your remaining roasted duck.
- Fill a medium-sized pot with oil and allow the oil to heat to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.
- Slice your leftover roast duck into smaller portions, to make frying easier.
- Carefully place the slices into the hot oil for 1-2 minutes, depending on the thickness.
- Place the fried duck onto a paper towel to allow the excess oil to drain off.
If you want to put in the extra effort to fry your leftover roast duck, then this can be a delicious option. However, if you don’t want to put in the time and clean up the mess, the other options are great too.
The Best Way to Store Leftover Roast Duck
Before you go to reheat your duck, it’s important to understand how to properly store it in the fridge. This will allow you to preserve the quality of the meat, which eventually aids in the reheating process.
- Allow the roast duck to cool completely to room temperature.
- Either wrap the pieces of duck in plastic wrap or place them into a tightly sealed container.
- Place the duck into the fridge for up to 3-4 days.
If the duck is left in the fridge longer than 3-4 days, you may find that the meat has spoiled. If you’re worried that you won’t eat it in time, you can freeze the duck for later.
How to Freeze Leftover Roast Duck
Duck freezes as well as any other meat. You can keep the frozen roast duck for up to 3-6 months if it has been stored properly.
It’s a good tip to portion out individual pieces of duck before freezing. This way, you can simply remove and thaw what you want to eat at one time. This prevents unnecessary waste and makes the defrosting process quicker.
If you have access to a vacuum sealer, then this would be a great way to put it to use. Simply seal your portions of roast duck and then freeze them. Remember to write the date down as well, so you’ll remember when you originally froze the duck.
Unfortunately, the skin will be harder to crisp up after the duck has been frozen. You can still reheat it according to the methods above, though.
In Conclusion
If you’ve found yourself with leftover roast duck from a restaurant or your home kitchen, no need to worry. You have a wide array of options when it comes to reheating your duck. There are a total of five methods above to help you find one that works for you.
You can reheat roast duck in the oven, the microwave, the air fryer, and even on the stove. If you’re feeling daring, you can also deep fry some sliced duck to get that to die for crispy skin.
Duck is a delicacy to many people and much too expensive to waste. You can prevent dried-out meat by following some simple tips, such as adding broth or water to the duck meat. You can also freeze your leftover duck if you want to save it for later.
