Salted Duck Eggs

Salted duck eggs are a unique Chinese delicacy made by marinating fresh duck eggs. Once cooked, the whites firm and delicate, and the yolks golden and rich with savory oil. This dish is widely loved by many.

In China, the tradition of eating salted duck eggs during the Dragon Boat Festival, which falls on the fifth day of the fifth lunar month, dates back centuries and is believed to have originated in the Jiangnan region. Ancient people thought that the heart-shaped salted duck eggs could protect the heart from the harmful effects of summer heat. This custom has been preserved and continues to this day.

8 Reviews
8 Comments
POSTED:31/05/2024
Level:Medium
Yield:30 servings
Total:720 hr 0 min
(includes chilling time)
Active:5 hr 0 min

Every Dragon Boat Festival, my family prepares salted duck eggs in advance to give to friends and relatives as a gesture of good luck, wishing them health and protection from illness. Here are some tips from my experience in making salted duck eggs for your reference:

1.Choosing Duck Eggs

Select Green-Shelled Eggs: Green-shelled eggs are preferred because they are harder and less prone to cracks, reducing the risk of spoilage during the marinating process. They also tend to produce oilier yolks.

Choose Round Eggs: Rounder eggs often have larger yolks, a tip shared by an experienced egg seller.

Check the Quality: Before purchasing, consider buying one egg to crack open and inspect. A good duck egg will have an orange-red yolk and thick, viscous egg white. If the yolk is light yellow, it might not produce the rich red oil, but it can still be delicious when properly marinate.

2. Marinating Methods

There are several methods for marinating duck eggs, each with its own pros and cons:

Mud Method: This method preserves duck eggs for a long time but is challenging due to the difficulty in finding yellow mud and balancing the salt content.

Dry Salt Method: This is quick and convenient but tricky to balance the salt. Too much salt makes the duck eggs overly salty, while too little can cause spoilage.

Salt Water Method: This is the method we'll use. It’s faster and has a high success rate, making it suitable for beginners. The main drawback is that it requires more space and salt, and the duck eggs must be crack-free.

3. Choosing a marinating Container

Best Option: Ceramic jars.

Next Best: Glass jars.

Acceptable: Food-grade plastic containers.

Avoid stainless steel containers as they can corrode, potentially contaminating the eggs. Regardless of the container, ensure it’s clean, dry, and has a good seal.

4. Storing Salted Duck Eggs

Storage methods depend on whether you’re storing raw or cooked eggs, and for how long:

Sealed in a Bag: For cooked eggs, store them in a sealed plastic bag. They last about 10 days below 20°C (68°F) and 5 days at around 30°C (86°F). This method doesn’t require re-boiling, suitable for short-term storage.

Refrigeration: Both raw and cooked salted eggs can be refrigerated. At 0-2°C (32-35°F), they last around 60 days. Avoid freezing as it affects the texture.

Salt Water: Store cooked eggs in saturated salt water in a cool, ventilated place. This prevents bacterial growth and keeps the eggs fresh for a long time. Regularly check and replace the salt water to prevent spoilage.

Vacuum Sealing: If you have the equipment, vacuum sealing cooked eggs extends their shelf life significantly.

5. Enjoying Salted Duck Eggs

Salted duck eggs can be enjoyed in various ways, depending on personal preference:

Direct Consumption: Peel and eat them as they are.

In Porridge or Soup: Chop the salted duck eggs and add them to porridge or soup for added flavor.

Stir-Fried: Dice the salted duck eggs and stir-fry them with vegetables or tofu to enhance the dish’s taste.

Snacks and Appetizers: Use the yolks in snacks like salted egg yolk rice dumplings, salted egg yolk meat floss, or salted egg yolk pastries.

Enjoy experimenting with these delicious and versatile salted duck eggs!

INGREDIENTS

MAIN INGREDIENTS

  • 30 duck eggs

ACCESSORIES

  • 2.1 US quarts (approximately 2 liters) water
  • 0.88 pounds (approximately 400 grams) salt
  • A suitable amount of high-proof liquor

DIRECTIONS

STEP 1

Soak the fresh, green-shelled duck eggs in water for a few minutes, then take them out. Adjust the faucet to a thin stream and use a sponge or brush to clean the eggs thoroughly.

Tips:

1)Duck eggs are usually quite dirty on the surface, so using a sponge or brush makes them easier to clean.

2)Soaking the eggs in water softens the dirt on the surface, making it easier to wash off. However, do not soak them in water for too long.

3)Be sure to wash the eggs under running water to avoid contamination.

Soak and clean duck eggs with water, sponge, brush. Tips on cleaning process. Wash under running water to avoid contamination.

STEP 2

Quickly dry the cleaned duck eggs with paper towels or a clean cotton cloth.

Tips:

While drying, carefully inspect each egg for cracks. Do not use cracked eggs for marinating.

Dry cleaned duck eggs, check for cracks, avoid marinating with cracked eggs.

STEP 3

Place the dried duck eggs in a cool, ventilated area to air out. This helps evaporate any remaining moisture on the shell.

Tips:

If it's sunny, you can place the eggs in a sunny, ventilated spot to dry completely, which usually takes about half a day. This will help the salted duck eggs to become oily. However, do not expose them to high temperatures to avoid cracking.

Dry duck eggs in a cool, well-ventilated place or sunny area without high temperatures.

STEP 4

While the duck eggs are drying, prepare a pot of saltwater: Add 2 liters (2.1 quarts) of water and 400 grams (0.88 pounds) of salt to a pot. Bring it to a boil, then simmer for an additional 3 minutes, stirring occasionally to ensure the salt dissolves completely.

Tips:

1)The amount of water and salt can be adjusted to your needs. This is the quantity I use to marinate 30 duck eggs, which results in a brine that's not too salty for the egg whites. You can increase the salt content, but do not decrease it, especially in hot weather, as lower salt levels can lead to spoilage.

2)If you're unsure how much water you need, place the duck eggs in the container you plan to use for marinating, then fill it with water until the eggs are fully submerged. Remove the eggs and measure the water to determine the required amount. Perform this step between "cleaning the duck eggs" and "drying the duck eggs."

Prepare saltwater brine for duck eggs: boil 2 liters water+400g salt for 3 mins; adjust quantity as needed.

STEP 5

Set the boiled saltwater aside and let it cool to room temperature.

Cool boiled saltwater before using.

STEP 6

While the saltwater is cooling, place the duck eggs into a clean container. Spray a suitable amount of high-proof liquor on each layer of eggs.

Tips:

1)Make sure the container is thoroughly cleaned and free of water and oil. You can clean the container and scald it with boiling water while waiting for the saltwater to cool, then let it dry completely.

2)The alcohol content of the liquor affects the taste of the salted duck eggs. It's best to use liquor with an alcohol content between 55% and 65%.

3)Spraying high-proof liquor serves two purposes: it sterilizes the eggs and helps them release oil faster, resulting in a better texture. Be careful not to use too much.

4)If you don't have a spray bottle, pour some liquor into a bowl and roll each duck egg in the liquor before placing it in the container.

Instructions for preparing salted duck eggs with high-proof liquor; tips for best results.

STEP 7

Place a weight on top of the duck eggs, then pour in the cooled saltwater.

Tips:

Use a weight to keep the top eggs submerged in the brine. You can use a clean stone, but be careful not to crack the eggs. If you prefer not to use a weight, the top duck eggs may develop small black spots from exposure to air.

Use a weight to keep duck eggs submerged in saltwater to avoid black spots.

STEP 8

Seal the container, label it with the date, and store it in a cool, dark place to marinate.

Tips:

In spring and autumn, the marinating process takes about 45 days. In summer, it takes about 30 days, and in winter, it can take 2 to 3 months. To monitor the progress, you can test the eggs a few days early. For example, in summer, check one or two eggs around the 25-day mark by boiling and cutting them open. If they haven't released enough oil, continue marinating.

Tips for marinating eggs: Seal, label, store in cool, dark place; adjust marination time based on seasons.

STEP 9

Steaming the Salted Duck Eggs: Clean the marinated duck eggs and steam them for 15 minutes.

Tips:

Marinated duck eggs need to be steamed before eating. Steaming is preferable to boiling because sometimes marinated eggs develop small cracks,boiling may affect the release of oil.

Steaming salted duck eggs enhances flavor and prevents oil release caused by boiling.

STEP 10

After steaming, cool the eggs in cold water to make peeling easier.

Cool steamed eggs in cold water to ease peeling.

STEP 11

These salted duck eggs were marinated for 32 days in the summer. The egg whites are tender, the yolks are oily, and the saltiness is just right.

Tips:

Salt-brined duck eggs are ready to eat after about 25 days in the summer. They taste best at around 30 days, and by 40 days, they are especially rich and oily.

Salted duck eggs marinated for 32 days in summer are tender with oily yolks. Best tasted after around 30 days.

Recipe analyzer

  • Recipes: Salted Duck Eggs
  • Main Ingredients:4
  • Servings per recipe:1
  • Servings size:4.6 kg
Nutritional Summary of Recipe
Amount per 4619 g= 1 serving(s)
  • Energy (calories):3931 kcal
    180%
  • Protein:269.01 g
    493%
  • Fat:289.17 g Why gray?
    596%
  • Carbohydrates:30.45 g
    12%
Calorie breakdown
  • Protein: 30%
    1173 kcal
  • Fat: 67%
    2608 kcal
  • Carbohydrates: 3%
    112 kcal
The chart shows the percentage of calories intake (energy) coming from the respective macronutrients (fats, protein and carbohydrates).
Omega 6 : Omega 3
1:1
20:1
13:1
Both fatty acids are essential, but nowadays the majority of western diets include excessive amounts of Omega 6 acid.

The ratio shows whether the proportion of both fatty acids in your diet is optimal. Red color means too much of Omega 6 or too little of Omega 3. The data are rounded off and approximate.

8 REVIEWS

Review
Your rating:
ZacharyNovember 01, 2024

Salted duck eggs are one of my favorite snacks, each egg contains a wealth of flavors and memories, it is simply a delightful and tasty treat to get you in the mood!
YaraOctober 21, 2024

Tasting authentic salted duck eggs in the U.S. makes me feel like I'm back to the taste of my hometown, every bite is a nostalgia and satisfaction, this kind of food is really precious!
YannickOctober 10, 2024

The aroma of salted duck eggs is overwhelming, the taste is thick and mellow, each salted duck egg is a taste that brings back memories, simply a delicious choice that I love!
reply:
October 13, 2024
Salted duck eggs are made with a blend of skill and tradition. We are glad you enjoyed this delicious dish and hope it continues to bring you pleasure and satisfaction.
XantheSeptember 25, 2024

Homemade salted duck eggs are salty and thick, the egg white is smooth, the yolk is mellow and delicate, and every salted duck egg is a delicious treat, simply a delicacy to die for!
reply:
September 28, 2024
Thank you for your compliments! Making salted duck eggs requires experience and patience, I hope you keep enjoying this delicacy.
XavierSeptember 15, 2024

I try to make homemade salted duck eggs, but the yolks sometimes become too hard, is there any way to keep the yolks delicate and moist in texture?
reply:
September 18, 2024
When pickling salted duck eggs, you can increase the pickling time appropriately, or add the right amount of water to the pickling liquid, which will help keep the yolk moist in texture.
CharlesJuly 31, 2024

Super yummy, this was the first time I made my own salted duck eggs and didn't step on any toes, my family said I did a great job.
thomasJuly 18, 2024

This recipe tutorial is for enthusiasts and beginners alike, making it easy to enjoy the savory and delicious flavors of Salted Duck Eggs.
jiesiiMay 31, 2024

我是一名华裔,在中国的时候每年端午节我妈妈都会做咸鸭蛋吃,今天看到了这个食谱,感觉很简单,按照上面的步骤做了,感觉比较成功,等30天再吃,希望做出来的味道和家里一样。
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