Chinese Crispy Ducks.

[Caran]

I have to cook two of these tomorrow. When I bought them the cashier told me they would be much more tender if I boiled them first then roast them. I've never heard of this method before, anyone any tips on this? Like is it worth a try, how long to boil them for? I don't want to mess it up as it's for a big family dinner Saturday night an dim responsible for the starter.

[snags]

http://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/gallery/2012/jan/17/how-cook-peking-duck-pictures

[BlackadderV]

What a palaver! I'd just nip down to the local takeaway and ask them to do a couple for you.

[Caran]

Snags that looks really interesting but I don't have the time to do all that. I am still trying to defrost the ducks and keeping fingers crossed they will be doable in the morning. I have to have them cooked and shredded for tomorrow (sat) evening. But thanks for the suggestion, will save that for another time.

[Caran]

Blackadder have you costed that out? You can pay £6.95 for a quarter duck as a starter for one. There are 12 of us tomorrow night so that would cost £84 so I think my 2 ducks costing £7 each is a much better alternative. But thank you for your response.

[237SJ]

I can`t help you regarding cooking times but the cashier was right. In Hong Kong, they hang chickens in the butchers` windows which have been boiled. They are whole (with the head, legs, feet etc) and then they roast them. The end result is very good.

[237SJ]

Sorry I didn`t read the question properly. They do the same with ducks.

[BlackadderV]

Sorry, Caran I didn't do the costing. I can't afford duck anyway, 4 oz of scrag end is at the top scale of luxury for me.

[-Talbot-]

£6.95 for a quarter duck

Wouldn't that be £55.60 for two ducks not £84?

[sandyRoe]

12 people at nearly £7 a portion is close to £84

[BlackadderV]

How the other half live! I've got a stale crust and a scraping of beef dripping for my dinner tomorrow.

[Caran]

Aw blackadder do you want to join us?

[sandyRoe]

You have dripping? You don't know how lucky you are. I live in a vegetarian house where the staple is lentils. Gets very tedious after a while.

[BlackadderV]

Oh dear, Sandy, my sympathies. Actually I quite like lentils, but only in a soup made with meat stock. I couldn't live the veggie lifestyle, the thought of never having a bacon sarnie again as long as I live terrifies me.

[snags]

How did the ducks turn out... did your cooking kill anyone?

[DaisyNonna]

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