Aids HIV FAQ

Cleaning ducks

Question:

During the 4th year of the reign of William the Lecherous,  D > Organization: Hewlett-Packard, Corvallis Site  D > >  I was wondering what the best way is to clean ducks.  D > >  D >            ( Skin them )  D >                Latter  D >                      Dennis  Dennis,  I’ve never had much luck skinning them.  How do you do it?  Thanks,  Jeff … I didn’t claw my way to the top of the food chain just to eat vegetables. — |Fidonet:  Jeff Trowbridge 1:215/705.6 | | Standard disclaimer: The views of this user are strictly his own.

Response:

>Eviscerate them as soon as possible, in any event as soon as you get home from >the water.  PLUCK them, don’t "breast them out," and leave the skin on. >Plucking is a PITA, but most ducks–especially woodies and puddle ducks in >general–deserve better than to be "breasted out."

I agree completely!  To take the easy route and just ‘breast’ out ducks is a ’sacrilege’ when it comes to comparing the flavor of the two methods. >I’ve never bothered to dip the bird in hot water, but some people say it >helps.  Nor have I ever used "picking wax," but if anyone can comment on this >method, I’d like to know how it works.

I always dip the mostly plucked bird (most of the larger feathers) into a pot of boiling water for about 5 seconds.  Then just lightly rubbing the skin with my fingers removes all the remaining feathers and down. The result rivals anythig you see in the supermarket!

Response:

>Has anyone ever used the nifty-looking gadgets that employ >an electric motor, the shaft of which spins a small drum with >rubber "fingers" extended?  I saw an advertisement for one >in the Orvis hunting catalog, it was ridiculously expensive, >but I could make one myself for a reasonable price.  One can >even rig a shop vac to a catch basin underneath the spinning >rubber finger drum, to suck in the down and feathers as they >fall.  This looks like it might be a handy tool for a serious >waterfowler — just bring the birds home, flip on the switch, >and hold the bird up to the automatic plucker.  I wonder how >effective such a gadget is at getting the feathers and down >off the bird.  If I ended up having to hand-pluck the remaining >30% of the plumage, I’m not sure it would be worth it.

Chris, My friends have one of those "pluckers" at a club I hunt at.  If you kill a lot of ducks or hunt a lot, you need one.  We get an assembly line going after each hunt.  One guy running the plucker, one guy with shears (the plucker holds up the plucked duck and the snipper takes care of the head, feet, & wings), two or more guys gutting and washing and bagging.  In just minutes, the ducks are bagged like they where bought at the supermarket.  I think it may be faster than breasting. As for down removal ect., when they come from the plucker, they are bald…..  just goose bumps.  They are as featherless as a chicken from Krogers.  I think they use these type things in commercial chicken production.  The club even got some rubber finger plucker wheels from a guy who works at Tyson….  what they called worn out worked fine for us.

Response:

- Hide quoted text — Show quoted text –  "MXZ > 583" writes: > I was wondering what the best way is to clean ducks. >Eviscerate them as soon as possible, in any event as soon as you get home from >the water.  PLUCK them, don’t "breast them out," and leave the skin on. >Plucking is a PITA, but most ducks–especially woodies and puddle ducks in >general–deserve better than to be "breasted out." >After you’ve removed all the main feathers and down you can get off by >pulling, get one of those round rubber doodads that they sell in kitchen >gadget stores as jar opening aids.  These are flexible rubber discs about 4" >in diameter. >Wrap it around your forefinger and "wipe" the remaining down feathers off. >When you’ve got all the down off, there will be a few hairlike feathers left; >if you’re going to eat the duck right away singe these off with a low flame >from a propsane torch, then wash the carcass thoroughly in cold water, dry, >and roast.  If you plan to freeze it you can save this last step until you’ve >thawed out the bird, but wash it before you freeze it. >I’ve never bothered to dip the bird in hot water, but some people say it >helps.  Nor have I ever used "picking wax," but if anyone can comment on this >method, I’d like to know how it works. >The Elitist

Has anyone ever used the nifty-looking gadgets that employ an electric motor, the shaft of which spins a small drum with rubber "fingers" extended?  I saw an advertisement for one in the Orvis hunting catalog, it was ridiculously expensive, but I could make one myself for a reasonable price.  One can even rig a shop vac to a catch basin underneath the spinning rubber finger drum, to suck in the down and feathers as they fall.  This looks like it might be a handy tool for a serious waterfowler — just bring the birds home, flip on the switch, and hold the bird up to the automatic plucker.  I wonder how effective such a gadget is at getting the feathers and down off the bird.  If I ended up having to hand-pluck the remaining 30% of the plumage, I’m not sure it would be worth it. Chris Fulton

Response:

 583" writes: > I was wondering what the best way is to clean ducks.

Eviscerate them as soon as possible, in any event as soon as you get home from the water.  PLUCK them, don’t "breast them out," and leave the skin on. Plucking is a PITA, but most ducks–especially woodies and puddle ducks in general–deserve better than to be "breasted out." After you’ve removed all the main feathers and down you can get off by pulling, get one of those round rubber doodads that they sell in kitchen gadget stores as jar opening aids.  These are flexible rubber discs about 4" in diameter. Wrap it around your forefinger and "wipe" the remaining down feathers off. When you’ve got all the down off, there will be a few hairlike feathers left; if you’re going to eat the duck right away singe these off with a low flame from a propsane torch, then wash the carcass thoroughly in cold water, dry, and roast.  If you plan to freeze it you can save this last step until you’ve thawed out the bird, but wash it before you freeze it. I’ve never bothered to dip the bird in hot water, but some people say it helps.  Nor have I ever used "picking wax," but if anyone can comment on this method, I’d like to know how it works. The Elitist

Response:

> Hey, >  I was wondering what the best way is to clean ducks. >                          Thanks in advance, >                                          Jim

           ( Skin them )                Latter                      Dennis

Response:

6088 "MXZ > 583" writes: > I was wondering what the best way is to clean ducks. >PLUCK them, don’t "breast them out," and leave the skin on. >Plucking is a PITA, >The Elitist

I do pluck ducks most of the time, but it is a pain.  One club I hunted at had a "picker" or plucking machine.  It had a spinning drum with rubber fingers that made quick work of a pile of ducks. An alternative to plucking is skinning, or removing the skin with the feathers attached.  This is quick and easy.  I use this method on geese.  The flesh can (well, needs to be) covered with bacon when roasting to prevent drying. Mark

Response:

Hey,  I was wondering what the best way is to clean ducks.                          Thanks in advance,                                          Jim

Response:

> Hey, >  I was wondering what the best way is to clean ducks. >                          Thanks in advance, >                                          JimBased on my experience I would say

 the following: 1) get the right tools, A. a meta cleaver, B. A very sharp hunting knife 2)  pluck, in order to get the best out of your duck. 3)  take the meat cleaver and hack the feet, wings and neck. 4)  slice into the cavity on the back side, starting at the nech all the way down 5)  from this the entrails will fall out cleanly and provide an open space for touch ups. 6)  go to the hose and clean inside and out 7)  soak the bird in vinegar and salt overnight. now your ready for the pot..  Note the traditional way of entering the cavity from the front is ok, but can be messing in gettting to those hard to grab spots. — M. J. Reinsager —– Never Assume the Obvious —–

Response:

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