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    Home » Eggs » Salted Duck Egg

    Salted Duck Egg

    Published: Apr 30, 2022 Modified: Oct 13, 2022 by Tracy O.This post may contain affiliate links

    Jump to Recipe Jump to Video Print Recipe

    Salted duck eggs are a classic and traditional Asian preserved food product. This homemade salted duck egg recipe shows you how to make Chinese salted duck eggs. And, salty eggs are great to go with rice, congee, make glutinous rice dumplings, lo mai gai, mooncakes and much more. 

    Love Asian food? Check out these authentic recipes: pickled snow cabbage, Chinese pickled cucumber, hairy gourd vermicelli, pickled mustard greens, cured pork belly, steamed pork patty, beef & bitten melon, braised mushrooms and lotus root soup.

    Salted duck eggs in the jar and one cracked in a glass container.

    What are salted duck eggs?

    Salted duck eggs are Asian preserved food. It is a way to soak and brine the duck eggs or pack each duck egg in damp and salted charcoal. 

    In Asia, these salted duck eggs are often sold covered in a thick layer of salted charcoal paste. However, in the United States of America, the salted duck eggs are sold with the salted paste removed, wrapped in plastic, and vacuum packed.

    The salty eggs have a briny aroma from the curing process. The egg white is gelatin-like and has a firm texture. Also, the yolk is round and bright orange red.

    How do you use salted duck eggs?

    Normally, salted duck eggs are boiled or steamed before peeling or eating as a condiment to congee. Or, it cooks with other foods as a flavoring. For example, hairy gourd and pork soup.

    The salted duck egg white has a sharp, salty taste. However, the yolk is orange red, rich, fatty, and less salty. Besides, the salted duck yolk is often used in Chinese mooncakes because it symbolizes the moon. Also, people like to use the salted duck yolk for sticky rice dumplings and lo mai gai. 

    My parents like to steam the salted duck eggs and go with rice. My mom told me when she was young, they didn’t have a lot of money for food. Steamed salted duck egg with rice was a way to fill her stomach. 

    What are the ingredients to make salted duck eggs?

    To brine salted duck eggs, the ingredients can be as simple as fresh duck eggs, water and kosher salt. 

    However, I like to add some aroma to the eggs. Therefore, I used bay leaves, cloves and star anise in this homemade salted duck egg recipe. You don’t have to add these herbs. Also, some people like to add some cooking alcohol as well. 

    salted duck eggs ingredients

    Cooking tips for how to make homemade Chinese salted duck eggs:

    • Use kosher salt (sea salt). 
    • Pour water, salt, cloves, star anise and bay leaves into a pot. Let it boil and simmer for 5 minutes. 
    • Wait until the liquid completely cools off before pouring into the jar with the eggs. 
    • Place a small cup or sauce dish on top of the eggs and slightly press down to make sure all the eggs are immersed into the liquid. Then, close the lid. 
    • Put the eggs in the shaded area at room temperature and wait for 28 days. 
    • If you use chicken eggs, brine the eggs for 21 days instead of 28 days. (It is because the fresh duck egg shells are thicker and harder than the chicken eggs.)
    • You can boil the salty eggs for 15 minutes using the stove top method. Or, cook the salty eggs in the instant pot pressure cooker for 5 minutes at high pressure and natural release pressure. Then, soak them into the ice bath. 
    • Sterilize the glass jar. You can put it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

    FAQs:

    Can I use chicken eggs instead? 

    Salted eggs can also be made from chicken eggs. But, the taste and texture will be different, especially the texture of the egg yolk will be less rich. If you use chicken eggs, brine the eggs for 21 days instead of 28 days. (It is because the fresh duck egg shells are thicker and harder than the chicken eggs.) In the salted egg recipe, I still like to use duck eggs.

    Where can I buy fresh duck eggs?


    Some small poultry farmers sell fresh duck eggs. However, I got mine at the Asian store where I live. 
    fresh raw duck eggs in a plastic tray

    How long should I cook the salted duck eggs?


    Simply place salted duck eggs into a pot with water and turn on medium heat. Let it boil for about 15 minutes. Or, cook the salted duck eggs in the instant pot pressure cooker for 5 minutes at high pressure and natural release pressure. Then, soak them into the ice bath. 

    If you use the raw salted yolks for mooncake, you will need to bake them before wrapping them into a mooncake. Preheat the oven to 325 F, place the salted duck yolk on the tray with a parchment paper. Sprinkle some cooking rice wine and bake it for 8 minutes. Then, let it completely cool off before using it. 

    How long can I store the salted duck eggs?


    You can store them in a sealed container in the refrigerator for up to 2 months. 

    Instructions for how to make Chinese salted duck eggs: 

    washed and dried fresh raw duck eggs on the plate

    Preparation:

    1. Wash and dry a dozen fresh raw duck eggs.

    water in the pot top view

    Cooking:

    2. Pour 5 cups of water into a pot.

    salt and water in the pot top view

    3. Put 1 cup of kosher salt into the pot.

    bay leaves salt water in the pot top view

    4. After that, put 3 pieces of bay leaves into the pot.

    herbs salt water in the pot top view

    5. Then, add 5 pieces of star anise and 10 pieces of cloves into the pot. Turn on the fire to medium small. Keep stirring until the salt dissolves. 

    simmering salt water in the pot top view

    6. When the water starts boiling, turn the fire to small and simmer for 5 minutes. Let it completely cool off before pouring into the jar.

    fresh duck eggs in a glass jar

    7. Meanwhile, sterilize the glass jar. You can put it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. When it's cool off, place the washed and dried fresh raw duck eggs into the jar.

    sauce dish put on the eggs in a jar top view

    Brining:

    8. Later, pour the salted water into the jar. (Remember the liquid has to be completely cooled off before pouring into the jar.) Then, put a small sauce dish over the eggs and slightly press down to make sure all the eggs are immersed in the salted water. 

    duck eggs soaking into a salt water in a glass jar

    9. Next, cover the lid and place it under the shade area at room temperature for 28 days or 4 weeks.

    salted duck eggs in a jar after 28 days

    10. After 28 days, open the lid and remove the small sauce dish.

    cracked salted duck egg in a glass container top view

    11. Take one salted duck egg and crack it into a container.

    salted duck yolk on hand close up

    12. Use a hand to separate the salted egg yolk. You can use the salted egg yolk to make glutinous rice dumplings, lo mai gai or mooncakes. 

    salted duck eggs on the rack in the instant pot pressure cooker top view

    13. Also, you can boil the salty eggs for 15 minutes using the stove top method. Or, cook the salty eggs in the instant pot pressure cooker. Pour a cup of water into the instant pot. Then, put a rack in the pot. Close the lid and vent. Push the manual button and adjust time for 5 minutes at high pressure and natural release pressure.

    salty duck eggs in the ice bath top view

    14. When the salty eggs are cooked, soak them into the ice bath. 

    cooked salted duck eggs cut open half

    15. Cut it in half and peel off the shell. It's great to go with rice, congee or stir fry with some vegetables and meat.

    Enjoy this simple homemade Chinese salted duck eggs recipe! Also, check out these taro buns, dim sum siu mai, steamed shrimp, gai lan and sweet mung bean soup recipes. 

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    salted duck yolk on hand close up

    Salted Duck Eggs

    Salted duck eggs are a classic and traditional Asian preserved food product. This salted duck egg recipe shows you how to make Chinese salted duck eggs at home. Salted duck eggs are great to go with rice, congee make glutinous rice dumplings, lo mai gai, mooncakes and much more. 
    5 from 5 votes
    Print Pin Rate
    Course: Side Dish
    Cuisine: Asian, Chinese
    Prep Time: 10 minutes
    Cook Time: 10 minutes
    Waiting time: 28 days
    Total Time: 28 days 20 minutes
    Servings: 12
    Calories: 134kcal
    Author: Tracy O.

    Video

    Ingredients

    • 12 Duck eggs (Fresh raw)
    • 5 cups Water
    • 1 cup Kosher salt (Sea salt)
    • 3 pieces Bay leaves
    • 5 pieces Star anise
    • 10 pieces cloves
    US Customary - Metric

    Instructions

    • Wash and dry a dozen fresh raw duck eggs.
    • Pour 5 cups of water into a pot.
    • Put 1 cup of kosher salt into the pot.
    • After that, put 3 pieces of bay leaves into the pot.
    • Then, add 5 pieces of star anise and 10 pieces of cloves into the pot. Turn on the fire to medium small. Keep stirring until the salt dissolves. 
    • When the water starts boiling, turn the fire to small and simmer for 5 minutes. Let it completely cool off before pouring into the jar.
    • Meanwhile, sterilize the glass jar. You can put it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes. When it's cool off, place the washed and dried fresh raw duck eggs into the jar.
    • Later, pour the salted water into the jar. (Remember the liquid has to be completely cooled off before pouring into the jar.) Then, put a small sauce dish over the eggs and slightly press down to make sure all the eggs are immersed in the salted water. 
    • Next, cover the lid and place it under the shade area at room temperature for 28 days or 4 weeks.
    • After 28 days, open the lid and remove the small sauce dish.
    • Take one salted duck egg and crack it into a container.
    • Use a hand to separate the salted egg yolk. You can use the salted egg yolk to make glutinous rice dumplings, lo mai gai or mooncakes. 
    • Also, you can boil the salted duck eggs for 15 minutes using the stove top method. Or, cook the salted duck eggs in the instant pot pressure cooker. Pour a cup of water into the instant pot. Then, put a rack in the pot. Close the lid and vent. Push the manual button and adjust time for 5 minutes at high pressure and natural release pressure.
    • When the salted duck eggs are cooked, soak them into the ice bath. 
    • Cut it in half and peel off the shell. It's great to go with rice, congee or stir fry with some vegetables and meat.

    Notes

    Cooking tips for how to make Chinese salted duck eggs:

    • Use kosher salt (sea salt). 
    • Pour water, salt, cloves, star anise and bay leaves into a pot. Let it boil and simmer for 5 minutes. 
    • Wait until the liquid completely cools off before pouring into the jar with the eggs. 
    • Place a small cup or sauce dish on top of the eggs and slightly press down to make sure all the eggs are immersed into the liquid. Then, close the lid. 
    • Put the eggs in the shaded area at room temperature and wait for 28 days. 
    • If you use chicken eggs, brine the eggs for 21 days instead of 28 days. (It is because the fresh duck egg shells are thicker and harder than the chicken eggs.)
    • You can boil the salted duck eggs for 15 minutes using the stove top method. Or, cook the salted duck eggs in the instant pot pressure cooker for 5 minutes at high pressure and natural release pressure. Then, soak them into the ice bath. 
    • Sterilize the glass jar. You can put it in the microwave for 1-2 minutes.

    Nutrition

    Calories: 134kcal | Carbohydrates: 2g | Protein: 9g | Fat: 10g | Saturated Fat: 3g | Polyunsaturated Fat: 1g | Monounsaturated Fat: 5g | Trans Fat: 1g | Cholesterol: 619mg | Sodium: 9541mg | Potassium: 173mg | Fiber: 1g | Sugar: 1g | Vitamin A: 490IU | Vitamin C: 1mg | Calcium: 64mg | Iron: 3mg
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    Tracy O.
    About Me

    Welcome to Oh My Food Recipes, where you can find inspiration for meals or dinner ideas specialty Asian cuisines. Oh My Food Recipes is tried and tested recipes with step by step photo tutorials.... Read more!

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