Is Duck Halal?

The short answer

Duck is a permitted bird, so duck meat is halal, as long as the duck was slaughtered the halal way or hunted lawfully. The type of animal is not in question. Only the slaughter and the recipe are. Avoid duck dishes cooked with wine or served with pork.

Why is duck a permitted bird?

Islam allows birds in general. It forbids only certain kinds, mainly birds of prey that catch food with their talons, such as eagles, hawks, falcons and owls. Ducks are not birds of prey, so they belong to the permitted group, along with chicken, turkey and goose. There is no dispute about the duck itself.

Does duck need to be slaughtered the halal way?

Yes. Unlike fish, birds must be slaughtered the Islamic way to be halal. That means a quick cut to the throat, with the name of Allah said, which is called the tasmiyah. So halal duck means one of two things:

• Farmed duck that was slaughtered the zabiha way, ideally with halal certification; or
• Wild duck caught in a lawful hunt, where the hunter says the name of Allah and follows the rules for hunting.

Duck that was not slaughtered the Islamic way, or that died in some other way, is not halal. This is exactly the same rule as for chicken.

What should you watch for in duck dishes?

Duck is often cooked in ways that add non-halal ingredients:

• Cooking wine, sake or mirin in glazes and sauces, for example in some Peking duck or orange duck recipes.
• Flambé or sauces made with alcohol.
• Pork in side dishes or roasted in the same pan.

Our cooking wine page explains why a glaze made with alcohol is a problem, even on halal meat.

Common questions

Is duck halal like chicken?

Yes. Duck is a permitted bird, and it is halal on the same terms as chicken. It must be slaughtered the halal way, or hunted lawfully, with the name of Allah said.

Does duck need to be slaughtered Islamically?

Yes. As a bird, a duck must be slaughtered the zabiha way, or hunted lawfully, to be halal. Fish, by contrast, need no slaughter.

Is Peking duck or restaurant duck halal?

The duck is halal if it was slaughtered the halal way, but check the recipe. Some duck dishes use cooking wine, sake or glazes made with alcohol, which would make the dish not halal.

Is wild duck halal?

Yes, if it is caught in a lawful hunt, with the name of Allah said and the rules for hunting followed.

The bottom line

Duck is halal. It is a permitted bird that simply needs Islamic slaughter or a lawful hunt. The type of animal is never the problem. Just make sure it was slaughtered the halal way and is not cooked with wine, alcohol glazes or pork.