How to Boil Duck Eggs (Soft & Hard Boiled)

Name: How to Boil Duck Eggs (Soft & Hard Boiled)
Cook time: 7 min
Total time: 7 min
Ingredients: 5 duck eggs. You may use more or less. Make sure your pot is large enough and place the eggs in a single layer.; Water

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This easy and quick method for soft and hard boiled duck eggs results in a perfectly creamy yolk and tender white. They are easy to peel, too!

If you are wondering how long to boil duck eggs, the image below shows you the results at different boiling times.

Boiled duck eggs are sliced in half at various stages.

Boiled duck eggs contain protein and are an excellent source of nutrients Read more of the Health benefits of duck eggs (source). They are ideal for breakfast, lunch, dinner, or snack. You may use them in place of chicken eggs in any recipe, such as this sourdough starter breakfast recipe.

Duck dggs on a black marble counter top.

Table of Contents

Ingredients

Eggs: Use one-week-old duck eggs. This way, the shell will peel off easily compared to fresh duck eggs. You can find them in most supermarkets and some grocery stores.
Water. Use cold tap water. If you add hot water to any cold unboiled eggs, the shells will crack, and the content will ooze out into the water.

How to Peel?

To peel them, gently tap the bottom of the egg on a hard surface, then crack the shell all over. Let them soak in cold water. Start peeling from the bottom, and the rest of the shells will come off easily as chunks. Peel under running cold water will help.

How Long to Boil Duck Eggs?

The following boiling times will help you cook to your desired requirements.

For firm soft-boiled duck eggs, 7 minutes.
For medium, slightly soft-boiled duck eggs, 10 minutes.
For hard-boiled duck eggs with a light yolk and firm white, but not overcooked, 13 minutes.

How to Cook Duck Eggs

Duck eggs layered at the bottom of a pan.

Step 1. Place the duck eggs in a single layer on the bottom of a stainless steel saucepan. They should fit easily.

Step 2. Fill the pan, 1 inch above the eggs, with cold tap water. Do not add hot water or the shells will crack and the contents will seep out.

Step 3. Place the pan over high heat and bring it to a rolling boil. Cover the pot with a lid or a plate and turn off the stove. This will also help you save energy. Let the eggs steam. Do not lift the lid. Do not move the pot. Set the timer for the type of eggs you like. See the above image with the timings.

Step 4: To cool the eggs, drain the hot water and fill the pan with cold running tap water. Let the eggs sit in the cold running tap water until cool enough to touch and peel easily. Tip: Do not skip the cold water process, or you will overcook the eggs.

Step 5. To peel duck eggs, gently tap the bottom onto a hard surface, then crack the eggs all over. Start peeling from the bottom, and the rest of the shells come off easily as chunks. Peel under running cold water. Serve and Enjoy!

Substitutions and Variations

How long to boil a duck eggs.
- Firm soft boiled duck eggs: 7 minutes.
- Medium, slightly soft boiled duck eggs: 10 minutes.
- Hard boiled duck eggs with a light yolk and firm white, but not overcooked: 13 minutes.
For any other type of desired consistency, cook them for 3 minutes less or more. For example, for runny duck eggs, you may let them cook for only 4 minutes.
Taste test one. You can always try one of the duck eggs and see if you like its consistency. If not, You can let the rest of the duck eggs cook for an additional 3 minutes.
Alter the time. The size of the duck eggs, amount of water, and type of pot alter the timing.
Use ice water instead. You may cool them down in a bowl of ice water instead of running cold tap water.

Equipment

To boil duck eggs, you will need;

A large stainless steel saucepan and lid for accurate results. This also depends on how many eggs you want to cook in one go.
A large bowl that you will fill with ice cold water to cool them down before peeling them.

Storage and Reheat

Store them with shells in an airtight container or ziplock in the fridge for up to 3 days for maximum freshness. If you peel your duck eggs, store them in water in the fridge to prevent them from drying out. To reheat them, pour boiling water over them and cover them. Let them sit for 10 minutes. Then break and peel them.

How to Eat Boiled Duck Eggs

Eat them as they are with a sprinkle of salt and pepper. Or add them to your egg salad or sandwich.

Tips and FAQs

Tip 1: Do not overcook them, or it will result in a green ring around the egg yolk, with a rubbery white and sulphuric taste.
Tip 2: Boil them in a stainless steel saucepan for accurate timing.
Tip 3: These tips will help you peel duck eggs more easily.
- Add 1/2 tsp. Salt to boiling water.
- Add 1 tbsp. Vinegar to boiling water.
- Add 1/2 tsp. Baking soda to boiling water.
- Use one-week-old duck eggs.
- Crack them all around and let them soak in cold water.
- Peel them starting from the fat bottom.
Tip 4: Do not skip cold running water, or you will overcook your duck eggs. Eggs continue cooking as they cool down.

What Do Boiled Duck Eggs Taste Like?

They have a more intense flavour than chicken eggs. They are fattier and creamier too due to the larger yolk compared to chicken eggs.

Do Duck Eggs Boil the Same as Chicken Eggs?

Yes, But they require additional time to cook since they have a larger yolks-to-white ratio compared to chicken eggs, and white has more protein.

How long to boil/cook duck eggs?

For firm soft-boiled duck eggs: 7 minutes.
For medium slightly soft-boiled duck eggs: 10 minutes.
For hard-boiled duck eggs with a light yolk and firm white, but not overcooked: 13 minutes.

How do you peel boiled duck eggs easily?

To peel them, gently tap the bottom of the eggs to a hard surface, then crack the eggs all over. Let them soak in cold water. Start peeling from the bottom and the rest of the shells comes off easily as chunks. Peel under running cold water

If you tried making this recipe or any other recipe on this website, please leave a star rating and let me know how you go in the comments below. I love hearing from you!