Go Back
+ servings
Whole smoked duck surrounded by fresh herbs and orange halves.
Print Recipe
4.93 from 13 votes

Smoked Duck

Smoked Duck is a great way to cook up a festive holiday meal. A dry brine and orange juice and maple glaze basting liquid give this bird tons of flavor.
Prep Time20 minutes
Cook Time2 hours 30 minutes
Brining Time15 hours
Total Time17 hours 50 minutes
Course: Main Dish
Cuisine: American
Keyword: Smoked Duck
Servings: 4 people
Author: Susie Bulloch (heygrillhey.com)

Ingredients

  • 1 5 pound duck neck and giblets removed
  • cup Kosher salt
  • 2 small oranges halved

Basting Liquid

  • ½ cup orange juice
  • ½ cup maple syrup

Instructions

  • Dry brine the duck. Pierce the skin all over the duck (not into the meat) using the sharp end of a skewer or your thermometer probe. Sprinkle the duck with Kosher salt all over the skin. Place the duck in a shallow pan and into the refrigerator for 15 hours.
  • Preheat the smoker. Preheat your smoker to 275 degrees F using maple wood.
  • Smoke and baste the duck. Remove the duck from the refrigerator and brush off excess salt. Pat the skin of the duck completely dry. Fill the cavity of the duck with the orange halves. Place the duck directly on the smoker, close the lid, and smoke for about 2.5 hours, or until the internal temperature of the duck reaches 160 degrees F. Baste the duck with the basting liquid after it comes out of the smoker.
  • Broil the duck. When your duck has reached an internal temperature of 160 degrees F, transfer it to the oven (on broil) and broil for 2-3 minutes to finish rendering the fat and to crisp the skin. Keep a close eye on the duck to prevent burning.
  • Rest. Remove the duck from the oven to a serving platter. Rest for 15 minutes before slicing and serving. Remove the breasts from the carcass and slice before removing the legs and thighs and shredding. Drizzle with additional maple orange glaze, if desired.

Video

Nutrition

Calories: 271kcal | Carbohydrates: 66g | Protein: 1g | Fat: 1g | Saturated Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 1mg | Sodium: 8mg | Potassium: 392mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 58g | Vitamin A: 232IU | Vitamin C: 57mg | Calcium: 114mg | Iron: 1mg