Roasted Peking duck in one of the popular Chinese cuisines and prepared in most special occasions. It is roasted duck glazed with sweet sauce and served with mixed vegetables, potatoes, and other preferred side dish.
Cooking roasted Peking duck typically involves sewing its parts together and allow it to inflate. When the duck’s skin inflates while being cooked and the meat becomes roasted. The skin becomes perfectly crispy. Before roasting the duck, it is soaked or marinated in seasoning with spices and herbs. It is also cured in honey or sherry overnight. Others prefer to cure it for a day or two to make the meat taste more flavorful.
Serving roasted Peking duck is also considered a special delicacy since it is quite expensive compared to beef or chicken. If you will prepare a huge whole duck for three people, then chances are you will deal with the leftovers. It is very expensive to discard it and definitely not practical. You can also buy cooked or ready to eat roasted duck which you can reheat for your meal.
Now, how do you store it safely and reheat it correctly so it will taste as good as newly roasted? Its definite that you can keep it refrigerated or frozen depending on when do plan to serve it again. Roasted Peking duck will still taste flavorful and can be made crispy if you have stored it properly. It is really easy to store and reheat it.
Do not worry about the reheating process because that is what we would like to help you in this article.
Storing and Reheating Peking Duck
Roasted Peking duck is delicious treat to have since it is not like our typical chicken, pork or beef which are oftentimes available and less costly. It is also why storing and reheating it is highly taken into consideration. Whether you will buy it fresh and cook it at home, or buy it cooked to be reheated for your meal, you need to do it properly to enjoy its flavorful meat and crispness.
Preparing roasted duck at home has different methods and if you want to prepare it at home, you can also be creative with the spices and herbs you want to add. It is easy and simple to prepare but it is a bit time consuming due to the curing process.
It is also really costly to buy this meat so you should know how to prepare it correctly. Apart from cooking the roasted Peking duck, you also need to prepare the vegetables and other side dish you like to serve it with.
The Upsides to Reheating Peking Duck
You need not fuss over reheating your roasted Peking duck because it is easy, and you can savor that flavorful meat when you want. Here are the positive sides:
- It is easy to reheat roasted Peking duck and takes only a few minutes
- You can choose to reheat it in the oven or over a stovetop
- It is easy to make the meat crispy when reheated
- You can still add spices and herbs during reheating
- Some flavors are enhanced after reheating and you can opt to soak it again before reheating
The Downsides to Reheating Peking Duck
It is quick and easy to reheat your roasted duck in an oven, a microwave or over a stovetop. In doing any of these, there are always a few cons that you should expect to be unavoidable at times. Here are some downsides to it.
- When reheating duck in hot oil, there could be splatters so you need to be cautious.
- If you did not adhere to the tips on proper reheating of roasted duck, it may turn out dry and taste can be bland.
- You might overcook it while you are reheating, and it could be burnt especially if it was overcooked in the initialsorry cooking.
- You might add a lot of spices and herbs that will make it taste too strong.
If you will follow the tips on reheating roasted Peking duck, then it will be less likely to do it wrong. You can enjoy your roasted duck for all its money’s worth.
It is important to know the pros and cons of reheating your roasted Peking duck, so you know what you can expect from the dish. However, you need not worry if you are meticulous in storing and reheating it the right way.
A Detailed Guide to Reheating Peking Duck
You can choose to refrigerate your roasted duck if you plan on having it again for your next meal. You can also choose to keep it in the freezer if you want to store it for days or more. Be assured that reheating it whether refrigerated or frozen does not involve tedious tasks.
Before reheating frozen roasted duck, you need to thaw it. You may leave it in the fridge overnight to thaw or leave it at room temperature for an hour. Keep in mind that you should not leave it at room temperature for more than two hours because it will be prone to food-borne bacteria. If you just keep it refrigerated, then you can directly reheat it if you like.
How to Store Peking Duck
If you bought roasted duck in advance or have some leftovers to store, remember to store package it properly and store it right away. Do not leave it on your table at room temperature for more than two hours as it can cause food-borne bacteria to grow quickly.
Whether you choose to refrigerate if or to freeze it, here are some helpful tips.
- Package your roasted duck carefully by wrapping it tightly in a plastic food wrap or in a resealable freeze bag. You can also place it in an airtight food container.
- Keep it refrigerated or frozen for about 4 days. Prolonged refrigeration or freezing can dry the meat, so it is better to serve it within 3 to 4 days. However, you can keep it frozen for a week or more if you prefer.
If you plan to store it after cooking, be sure that it has totally cooled before packing it and never leave it at room temperature for two hours or more.
How to (Safely) Reheat Peking Duck
When you are able to package your roasted duck properly before refrigerating or freezing it then you can be confident that it will be preserved until you want to serve it. Reheating will also be easier for you.
Here are the simple steps and tips to reheat your roasted duck.
- Frozen roasted Peking duck should be thawed before reheating it. You can thaw it at room temperature for less than 2 hours or while inside the fridge overnight.
- Place the roasted duck in an oven-safe dish and cover it with foil. The cover will prevent the skin to get burnt and will also seal in the moisture.
- Bake it for not more than 25 minutes at 350 degrees Fahrenheit. You may extend baking time if needed.
- Another option for reheating your roasted duck is to grill it. Be sure to wrap the duck tightly in aluminum foil before grilling to prevent it from getting burnt and to seal in the moisture.
- Reheating by deep-frying or submerged in boiling oil can be another option but be careful with the splatters. It is also the least suggested method since it may overcook the meat.
- You may also opt to reheat your roasted duck using an air fryer or a microwave.
Of course, you can save yourself from reheating roasted Peking duck if you enjoy cold sandwich or simply like the meat cold.
Related Questions
Our goal is to give you the easiest and the best tips to store and reheat your roasted Peking duck, so we hoped this article has been helpful. Also, here are some related information about roasted Peking duck.
Why is reheating roasted duck by frying not highly recommended?
Deed frying or frying is not highly recommended for reheating roasted Peking duck because it can overcook the meat and it can also become oily. When not thawed properly and subjected to oil at boiling point, it can cause fire or huge splatters that are both dangerous. Thus, reheating by oven, air-fryer or microwave is better.
Can you reheat roasted duck without curing or seasoning it?
Seasoning or curing your roasted Peking duck is an option if you want to enhance its taste. The taste of roasted duck will still be the same even after refrigerating or freezing it and adding seasoning or curing it again depends on your preference.