The use of duck fat is practiced in many areas of life. He is popular in cooking, takes a well-deserved place in alternative medicine and home cosmetology. All thanks to the positive effect of the product on the human body. However, it is only possible to get the benefit from the birdish lard when properly used. If you have no idea what to do with fat and skin after cutting the carcass - this article will tell you about the methods of melting this raw material and the nuances of further application of the resulting mass.
Chemical composition
No one will be surprised by the fact that bird fat is a high-calorie product. The energy value of duck fat is 882 kilocalories. The amount of fat here is 99.8 g, cholesterol - 100 mg, and water - 0.2 g. Proteins, carbohydrates and dietary fibers in the composition of duck lard is completely absent. 
Unsaturated fatty acids:
- Omega-3 - 1 g;
- Omega-6 - 12 g.
Total number saturated fatty acids is 33.2 g (myristic cyst - 0.7 g, palmitic - 24.7 g, stearic - 7.8 g).
Monounsaturated fatty acids - 49.3 g (palmitoleic acid - 4 g, Omega-9, or oleic acid - 44.2 g, gadoleic acid - 1.1 g).
Polyunsaturated fatty acids - 12.9 g (linoleic - 12 g, linolenic - 1 g).
Organic matter The raw materials are as follows:
- Vitamin B4 - 122.4 mg;
- vitamin D - 4.8 mcg;
- Vitamin D3 - 4.8 mcg;
- Vitamin E - 2.7 mg.
Minerals, irreplaceable for an organism, are presented by selenium (0,2 mkg).
Did you know? An amazing discovery by absolute chance managed to make scientists at the University of California at Los Angeles. After an unforeseen incident in the laboratory, the apparatus failed and almost all stem cells died. Survived only material taken from the layer of subcutaneous tissue. These cells not only remained alive, but also activated (in other words, they were able to transform into any other body cells). Thus, humanity has learned that fat is a source of stem cells. This has opened up new opportunities for the development of transplant medicine and medical cosmetology.
How useful duck fat
Due to the rich vitamin and mineral composition duck fat has a lot of useful properties:
- produces a powerful antioxidant effect;
- is a member of the cellular renewal of the body;
- stabilizes hormones;
- positive effect on the cardiovascular sphere;
- acts as a natural antidepressant - cures nervous disorders, eliminates the effects of emotional distress, relieves stress and chronic fatigue, improves mood, normalizes sleep, and returns to work.
Read also about the benefits and culinary use of duck eggs and meat.
Doctors advise to introduce this product into the diet when weakened immunity or for the rehabilitation of the body after a serious illness. Protein, which is rich in duck fat, helps athletes to quickly build muscle. Choline improves mental activity and the functioning of the nervous system, normalizes the insulin index. Selenium is involved in the synthesis of endocrine gland hormones. 
How to choose when buying
Find duck lard can be on the market or in the store. The main goal is to get fresh, properly melted fat. Before buying, pay attention to the shade, flavor and texture of the product. High-quality fat has a yellowish (closer to cream shade), sometimes even white. Good fat should not smell like burnt cracklings. The mass structure should be homogeneous, without noticeable impurities. The opposite indicates the unsuitability of the product (its use will not bring you any good).
Read also about the use in the spheres of human life of goose fat.
Where to store
Raw materials (fat and skins) can stand in the freezer for about 3-4 months, without losing their usefulness. After heating, useful properties are not only not lost, but even multiplied at times. Baked fat should be kept in the refrigerator (at a temperature of +3 to +8 ° C). In such conditions, he will retain his useful qualities for a long time. In addition, it is allowed to store the goods in the freezer (at temperatures from -6 to -20 ° C). In the baked form, the product can be stored for 6 to 8 months.
How to melt at home
Having melted duck fat in your own kitchen, you will not doubt its quality and benefits. Make it easy enough. To begin with, thoroughly wash the carcass from the outside and from the inside. The next preparatory stage is the removal of feathers and the cutting of poultry.
Important! In the process of processing ducks, the most important thing is not to hurt the digestive system, otherwise the fat will get a bitter taste.
Cut the fat and skin off the raw carcass, finely chop it. 
It is possible to melt raw materials in three ways:
- In the pan. Fold the raw in the pan and send to drown on the lowest fire. After cooling, pour the mass into jars and close the lids.
- In the water bath. Place a suitable deep dish under the colander. Fix the resulting construction above the pot of boiling water. Place crushed fats in a colander and heat them from 5 to 7 hours.
- In the oven. Place the fat in a thick-walled form and straighten it in a preheated to 100 ° C oven. After 3-4 hours, drain the resulting mass into a new form and return to the oven for another 50-60 minutes. Strain the hot mass through cheesecloth, pour into glass jars, close tightly with lids. Fat is easily extracted and when baking the whole carcass in the oven. To this end, simply drain from the mold all that is drowned in the process of baking duck.
For melting in a pan and a water bath, it is preferable to choose a large duck. As for trampling in the oven, a young semi-annual bird will be most suitable here. 
Upon subsequent heating of the harvested lard, the carcinogens will no longer stand out. If the mass turned out to be a dark yellow color, this suggests that you did not adhere to the correct melting technology (during cooking, the fat burned).
We advise you to read about cooking pork lard: salting of lard, smoking, cooking in onion peel.
How to use duck fat in cooking
For culinary purposes, duck lard is used mainly for roasting meat, mushrooms and vegetables. Natural lard is very much appreciated in Western Europe and the USA - it is on this basis that it is customary to cook potatoes here. Fried tuber is more nourishing, tasty and fragrant. Avian fat is also in perfect harmony with cabbage - to do this, add lard instead of sunflower oil for stewing vegetables. 
In addition, the product can be used during cooking. hot soups either add it to homemade stew. And, finally, you can create original sandwiches from ghee.
Piquant sandwich pate Prepared as follows: duck lard is boiled along with lard, and garlic and French herbs are added to it.
In a mixture of French (Provencal) herbs include rosemary, basil, thyme, savory, tarragon, oregano, marjoram, mint.
The finished paste is salted and transferred to the refrigerator for solidification. Frozen pate spread toast and serve.
Duck confit - a classic French dish: duck stewed in duck fat with spices
Did you know? People during the diet miss the fat more than the sweets.
Use in traditional medicine
In alternative medicine, duck fat is used quite often, sometimes mixed with other medicinal raw materials. The product helps to generally strengthen the body's defenses. Folk healers often use it in their practice for the treatment of cough and bronchitis. For these purposes, the baked fat is used both externally and internally.
For outdoor use fat can be made compress: mix duck and lard, then add a few drops of essential oil of any coniferous tree. Rub the chest and back with the mixture. Pound sites surely wrap a woolen scarf and leave for the night. A person feels better after 3 days of applying such a compress.
A mixture of fat and chopped onion (in a ratio of 1 to 2) has a similar heating effect. The resulting mass is used to rubbing chest and back.
For internal use, fat is added to a variety of drug formulations and beverages. For example, duck lard, honey and cocoa powder are mixed in equal quantities, followed by adding 15 g of fresh aloe juice. All this is heated to room temperature. 1 large spoonful of the composition is dissolved in a glass of warm milk. The healing drink is taken twice a day (one glass each) until complete recovery. 
Here are some more simple recipes for unconventional medicine:
- Eczema remedy. 3-4 Art. spoons of goose fat mix with 1 tbsp. a spoon of fir oil, mix, put on a sore spot, covered with parchment paper on top and tied with a bandage. The duration of therapy is 2-3 weeks.
- An ancient recipe for a hangover. Take 1 tsp. fat immediately after drinking alcohol. In the morning you will not feel unwell (headaches or heavy stomachs).
Important! Before using the described product for medicinal purposes, it is desirable to coordinate therapy with your doctor.
How to use in home cosmetology
On the basis of melted and cooled duck fat, you can create nourishing creams, softening ointments, various masks, balms and much more. Below are simple but effective recipes for home cosmetology.
Nourishing mask for dry and fading skin
To prepare a nourishing face mask, take 1 tbsp. l camphor oil and the same amount of melted duck fat. Mix the ingredients until smooth and leave to infuse for 5 minutes.
Apply the mask to the skin with light circular movements and hold on the face for about 20 minutes. After this time, you need to remove the fat with a cloth, then wash with warm water. 
Mask for dry and brittle hair
Rub baked duck fat into the scalp for 5-7 minutes. Sit in this state for about 30 minutes, then wash your hair with a shampoo that suits you according to your hair type. It is advisable to rinse your hair with useful herbal decoction (of your choice) or warm water with the addition of lemon juice.
Lip Crack Balm
To prepare a balm that will help soften the lips, take 20 petals rosehip or garden rose (pink or red). Pound the petals in the mush and mix with 1 tbsp. l duck fat. Lubricating lips with this tool at least 3-4 times a week, you will achieve smooth and elastic lips without cracks.
Learn more about the beneficial properties and the wild rose hips.
Cream for Weathered Hands
To prepare the cream to help chapped and hardened skin of the hands, you must first prepare a eucalyptus tincture. For this purpose, take 50 ml of eucalyptus oil and 30 g of crushed aloe leaves. Place the ingredients in one common container and infuse for two weeks. After this time, remove the grass cake, and combine the resulting liquid with 40 g of duck lard. Pour 40 g of melted honey here and mix everything well.
Read also about the healing properties and the use of aloe vera and aloe tree, as well as the treatment of stomach aloe and honey.
Apply the cream to the skin and hold for at least 20 minutes. Remove the product from the skin with a napkin, then hold your hands under cool water and then dry with a towel. 
Ointment to soften heels and feet
To prepare an ointment that can soften rough skin on the legs, take duck lard and Kalanchoe juice (in a ratio of 3 to 1.5). Mix the ingredients and place in a glass jar.
Periodically apply this balm to moisturize the heels and feet (for other parts of the body cream is not suitable). Lubricate the affected areas with ointment (for example, cracks on the heels), cover the legs with a regular plastic bag and leave overnight. In the morning, wash off the remnants of the cream under warm water.
How can harm
It would be erroneous to say that duck fat is a complete benefit for a person. This raw material has disadvantages that can harm health. Duck fat - not a diet product at allIn addition, a large amount of cholesterol is concentrated in it. Therefore, know the measure in its use, especially if you are prone to weight gain or intend to lose weight.
Important! Duck fat is strictly forbidden for internal use by people with serious metabolic disorders, as well as diabetics.
Please note that this product is difficult to digest. It is not indicated for diseases of the digestive system, pancreas, or liver.
Allergic reactions and side effects may also occur. If, after consuming any dish with the addition of duck fat, you find yourself having stomach problems, skin rashes, or feel weakness in the body, all these are manifestations of individual sensitivity to the product being described.
Duck Fat Video Recipes
Duck confit
Baked potatoes with duck fat
Duck fat: reviews
Do not forget about precautions and use duck fat only for its intended purpose - then you will be able to avoid undesirable consequences for your health.
