Duck Meat Vs Chicken Meat: What’s The Difference?
What is your favorite poultry meat to cook with?
Duck or chicken?
We all know that chicken is a staple for most households, but duck meat turns out healthier and tastier than we thought.
We will go into detail in this article so that you can understand more about what exactly duck meat and chicken meat are and how they differ from each other.
What is duck meat?
Duck meat is a type of poultry meat that is consumed in some parts of the world, such as China, Vietnam, some other Asian countries like Bangladesh or Indonesia, and France.
Duck meat might be strange for many people, but it is actually nutritious and delicious to eat.
It is a rich source of protein and many other nutrients that are essential for our health.
It is also lower in cholesterol and sodium compared to chicken, making it sometimes a better choice for consumption.
Duck meat can be roasted, grilled, or braised like other types of poultry, but it has a distinct flavor and texture.
Duck skin is a lot thicker than chicken skin with a lot of fat underneath.
However, the flesh is leaner and there is almost no difference between the duck breast or duck thighs like in chicken.
Duck has an intense flavor and often needs to be completely washed with wine or a sour agent like vinegar or lime juice to remove the strong odor and get rid of the smelly resulting dish.
What is chicken meat?
Chicken meat is also a type of poultry.
It is the meat that is typically from domestically raised birds after being slaughtered.
Chicken includes white meat (like chicken breasts) and dark meat (like chicken legs) that vary in price, taste, and texture.
Specifically, white meat chicken is the leanest part with lower fat content, therefore, it is healthier and more expensive.
However, chicken breast tastes bland, making it not favored by many people.
On the other hand, dark meat chicken is cheaper and more flavorful because it is fattier, so it might be harmful to your health if consumed too much.
Chicken can be cooked in numerous ways depending on personal or traditional preference.
You can either batter and deep-fry, grill, roast, bake, broil, or stew chicken to serve it with plenty of side dishes, used as a cooking ingredient for other dishes, or as snacks.
What are the differences between duck meat vs chicken meat?
Duck meat and chicken meat, despite being taken from birds (different species), have many differences from their appearances, tastes, to their nutrient values.
The comparison table below will point out specifically how they differ from each other:
| DuckChickenAppearanceRed and darker in color when raw, turn brown when cookedLighter, bright pink when raw, turn white when cookedSizeUsually a bit larger (five to six pounds) Duck wings are longer but thinner and have very little meatA bit smaller (four to five pounds) Chicken wings are bigger and have more meatTextureThicker and fattier skin and leaner fleshThinner skin with less fat, lean meatTasteStronger, more flavorful, closer to red meat than chickenMilder, slightly sweetNutritional contentHigher in fat, calories, iron, copper, vitamins, lower in cholesterol and sodiumHigher in protein, calcium, magnesium, seleniumPriceMore expensiveLowerPopularityLess popular, typically found in Chinese, Vietnamese, Indonesian, or French cuisineMore popular, can be found in any part of the world |
What are the similarities between duck meat vs chicken meat?
Since duck meat and chicken meat are both poultry meat, therefore, they definitely share some similarities:
1. Duck meat and chicken meat are white meat that is healthier than red meat
Despite the dark red color of duck, duck meat is still considered white meat, just like chicken.
And white meat has long been known as a healthier option and alternative to red meat like pork and beef because it is lower in fat and cholesterol while still maintaining a rich source of protein and essential nutrients.
2. Duck meat and chicken meat can be cooked in different ways
Another similarity between duck meat and chicken meat is their versatility.
Both can be cooked in numerous ways, from simply boiling, deep-frying, to baking, roasting, rotisseried, grilling, or braising.
You can serve the resulting dish as the main course with other accompaniments like salads, rice, French fries, or soups on the side, as snacks like chicken nuggets, or as a cooking ingredient like shredded grilled or stewed chicken/duck for other dishes.
Which one is better?
| Product Comparison | MeatCrafters Sliced Duck Breast Prosciutto, Dry Cured, Antibiotic... | Just Bare Natural Fresh Chicken Tenders | No Antibiotics Ever |... |
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| Latest Price | Check Current Price | Check Current Price |
If you’ve been on the fence about trying duck meat, now is your chance.
Our article has given you a detailed understanding of how chicken and duck meat differ from each other in plenty of criteria.
In general, they are both nutritious, healthy, delicious, and versatile.
Which do you think is better for you? Chicken or Duck? Let us know below!