Roast duck (for how many) instead of turkey

[CityDweller]

Like I’m sure a lot of other people I’m rethinking our Christmas dinner plans due to in-laws no longer being able to come. We’ll now be 4 adults (2 with small appetites) plus 2 young kids (who don’t eat much either)

I’m cancelling the ordered turkey and thinking instead of doing roast duck. I love duck but have never cooked a whole one before. Will it be enough for us? Will be doing the usual veg/ sides and probably chippolatas too (as that’s one thing the kids are guaranteed to eat). I’ve read so many recipes and the all give a hugely varying indication of the number of people a duck will feed - anything from 1-2 to 6!

Not bothered about having any left-overs (in fact would prefer not to).

A duck usually does us - 3 adults, 1 dc with some left for Boxing Day.

Personally I wouldn't do a whole duck. Get 4 duck breasts and cook those. Chop a bit off two of them for the children. Much less faff!

Should be OK with plenty of sides, as long as you don't all want breast meat.

Orange sauce is a better accompaniment than gravy.

I do a whole duck at least once a week. It does 3/4 adults if you have enough other bits to go with it...similar to a chicken I think?

I line the roasting tin with chopped potatoes (so yum cooked in duck fat), and set the duck on top. Then I prick the skin with a toothpick, and rub in salt and pepper to the skin.
I roast it at 150 degrees for 3 hours and then put it up to 240degrees for 15 minutes at the end to crisp up the skin.

With it we always have the duck fat potatoes, mashed potato, bread dumplings and red cabbage (it's Czech style). For a gravy I just use the juice from the meat in a gravy boat and it adds so much flavour.

Sorry if I have overstepped writing all this, as I'm sure you know how to cook it!! But honestly, I love this so much more than a roast chicken now!!

We have a whole duck for 2 adults and 2 under 5s. We were planning on buying duck breasts but DH has just come back from the supermarket with a whole duck as it was cheaper than the breasts.

I've already made plum sauce to go with it.

I expect to have leftovers. I'm planning Chinese style with eggf tied rice for boxing day.

Thanks - sounds like it will be fine as we will have plenty of sides. Might mean we actually have space left for Christmas pud for once (we’re usually too stuffed and end up not eating it until Boxing Day)

My grandad used to say ‘2 to a duck - me and the duck’ 🤣

To be fair, that would have been wild ones and he was a bit daft!

Sorry, not helpful.

I love duck - enjoy.

I cook a whole duck for the two of us - don't carve it, just cut into quarters.

Leftover pieces are usually frozen in either sauce or gravy

I would also serve one duck between two, so if you roasted two it should be fine. Leftovers are essential at Christmas!

I usually roast one duck for three adults so this should be fine. Delicious!

I usually do one duck between two adults, with a little left over to be shredded into an orange salad the next day. The advice to buy a duck portion for each adult is sound.

One duck doesn't go much further than 2 adults