Foodstruct Nutrition Search | Diet Analysis | Food Comparison | Glycemic Index Chart | Insulin Index Chart | Blog | Subscribe | Sign Up

Chicken meat vs. Duck meat — Health Impact and Nutrition Comparison

Compare
Article author photo Victoria Mazmanyan by Victoria Mazmanyan | Last updated on June 21, 2023
Medically reviewed by Ani Harutyunyan Article author photo Ani Harutyunyan
Chicken meat
vs
Duck meat

Summary

Duck meat is higher in calories, fats, and overall vitamins, while chicken meat contains more protein.

Duck meat is slightly lower in cholesterol and sodium.

Chicken is richer in calcium, magnesium, and selenium. At the same time, duck meat is higher in iron and copper.

Chicken and duck, both being poultry, have similar impacts on health. However, duck meat is darker in color, higher in myoglobin, and has been a part of fewer studies.

Introduction

Chicken is one of the most commonly consumed meats in the world, while the same cannot be said about duck meat. In this article, we will look at what sets these two types of meat apart, focusing on nutrition and health impact, to see which meat is the healthier choice.

Classification

Both chicken and duck meat are classified as poultry and considered to be white meat due to their low myoglobin content. However, duck meat is significantly darker in color and consequently higher in myoglobin and iron content compared to chicken meat. Due to this, duck is often considered to be culinary red meat.

According to the USDA classification, based on the age and the weight of the animal, chickens can be classified into four groups: Cornish game hen, broiler-fryer, roaster, and capon.

Similarly, the four classes of ducks are broiler or fryer duckling, roaster duckling, and mature or old duck (1).

Appearance

Duck meat is noticeably darker in color. A whole raw duck also tends to be more elongated and muscular. Duck’s skin and meat often look fattier.

Taste and Use

Due to a higher level of fats, duck meat is said to have a stronger, denser flavor, closer to red meat than chicken.

The USDA recommends that all poultry, including duck and chicken, are cooked at a minimum internal temperature of 165ºF, equal to 74ºC (2).

While chicken and duck can be cooked in similar ways, duck is often cooked as red meat. Like red meats, duck can be served cooked in medium rare and light pink on the inside.

Varieties

While both chicken and duck meat can be served as fresh meat or as a processed product, chicken is much more often consumed in its processed form.

Based on the cut, the chicken is often divided into three parts: the breast, the wings, and the legs. The breast is the most commonly used part of the chicken, and it is also the whitest. The legs are darker and consist of the drumstick and the thigh. The wing meat falls somewhere in between the leg meat and the breast.

Duck meat varieties depend on the species of the bird. The most commonly consumed duck in the US is the White Pekin. This breed tends to be lower in fats and higher in protein than the other variants. The other, less common breeds include the Mallard, the Muscovy, and the Moulard.

Nutrition

The nutritional values of the meat can differ depending on its variety, cooking method, and serving method.

The values below are presented for roasted broiler chicken with skin and roasted domesticated duck with skin.

Macronutrients and Calories

Duck is nutritionally denser, containing 52% water, while chicken meat consists of 60% water.

The average serving size of both types of meat is equal to one cup of diced or chopped meat, weighing 140g.

Calories

Both types of meat are high-calorie foods; however, duck meat is denser in calories than chicken.

A hundred gram serving of duck contains 337 calories. The same serving size of chicken meat has 239 calories.

Macronutrient Comparison

Macronutrient breakdown side-by-side comparison
Contains more Protein +43.8%
Contains more Water +14.7%
Contains more Fats +108.5%
Equal in Other - 0.82
27% 14% 59%
Protein: 27.3 g
Fats: 13.6 g
Carbs: 0 g
Water: 59.45 g
Other: 0 g
19% 28% 52%
Protein: 18.99 g
Fats: 28.35 g
Carbs: 0 g
Water: 51.84 g
Other: 0.82 g
Contains more Protein +43.8%
Contains more Water +14.7%
Contains more Fats +108.5%
Equal in Other - 0.82

Protein and Fats

While chicken meat is richer in protein, duck meat is considerably higher in fats.

Per every hundred gram serving, chicken contains 8g more protein compared to duck. The quality found in both kinds of meat is very high, as they contain ample amounts of all essential amino acids.

Duck meat provides 68% more fats than chicken. Duck is also around three times higher in saturated fats while containing similar amounts of polyunsaturated fatty acids compared to chicken.

At the same time, duck meat is slightly lower in cholesterol.

Fat Type Comparison

Fat type breakdown side-by-side comparison
Contains less Saturated Fat -60.8%
Contains more Monounsaturated Fat +141.6%
Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +22.9%
31% 44% 25%
Saturated Fat: 3.79 g
Monounsaturated Fat: 5.34 g
Polyunsaturated fat: 2.97 g
37% 49% 14%
Saturated Fat: 9.67 g
Monounsaturated Fat: 12.9 g
Polyunsaturated fat: 3.65 g
Contains less Saturated Fat -60.8%
Contains more Monounsaturated Fat +141.6%
Contains more Polyunsaturated fat +22.9%

Carbohydrates

Like most types of meat, duck and chicken contain no notable amount of carbohydrates.

Vitamins

Duck meat is richer in most vitamins compared to chicken meat. Duck provides almost three times more vitamin B1 and over two times more vitamin K. Other vitamins found in higher amounts in duck meat include vitamin B2, vitamin E, vitamin A, and folate.

Duck also contains vitamin D, which is absent in chicken.

At the same time, chicken contains two times more vitamin B6 and over 70% more vitamin B3.

Both types of meat completely lack vitamin C and contain equal amounts of vitamin B5.

Vitamin Comparison

Vitamin comparison score is based on the number of vitamins by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
:
Contains more Vitamin B3 +75.9%
Contains more Vitamin B6 +122.2%
Contains more Vitamin A +30.4%
Contains more Vitamin E +159.3%
Contains more Vitamin D +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1 +176.2%
Contains more Vitamin B2 +60.1%
Contains more Folate +20%
Contains more Vitamin K +112.5%
Equal in Vitamin B5 - 1.098
Equal in Vitamin B12 - 0.3
Vitamin A Vitamin E Vitamin D Vitamin C Vitamin B1 Vitamin B2 Vitamin B3 Vitamin B5 Vitamin B6 Folate Vitamin B12 Vitamin K 10% 6% 0% 0% 16% 39% 160% 62% 93% 4% 38% 6%
Vitamin A Vitamin E Vitamin D Vitamin C Vitamin B1 Vitamin B2 Vitamin B3 Vitamin B5 Vitamin B6 Folate Vitamin B12 Vitamin K 13% 14% 3% 0% 44% 63% 91% 66% 42% 5% 38% 13%
Contains more Vitamin B3 +75.9%
Contains more Vitamin B6 +122.2%
Contains more Vitamin A +30.4%
Contains more Vitamin E +159.3%
Contains more Vitamin D +∞%
Contains more Vitamin B1 +176.2%
Contains more Vitamin B2 +60.1%
Contains more Folate +20%
Contains more Vitamin K +112.5%
Equal in Vitamin B5 - 1.098
Equal in Vitamin B12 - 0.3

Minerals

Chicken and duck are both high in minerals.

Chicken is richer in calcium, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, and choline.

Duck, on the other hand, contains over two times more iron and copper, as well as being lower in sodium.

These two types of meat contain similar amounts of potassium, zinc, and manganese.

Mineral Comparison

Mineral comparison score is based on the number of minerals by which one or the other food is richer. The "coverage" charts below show how much of the daily needs can be covered by 300 grams of the food.
Contains more Calcium +36.4%
Contains more Magnesium +43.8%
Contains more Phosphorus +16.7%
Contains more Selenium +19.5%
Contains more Iron +114.3%
Contains less Sodium -28%
Contains more Copper +243.9%
Equal in Potassium - 204
Equal in Zinc - 1.86
Equal in Manganese - 0.019
Calcium Iron Magnesium Phosphorus Potassium Sodium Zinc Copper Manganese Selenium 5% 48% 17% 78% 20% 11% 53% 22% 3% 131%
Calcium Iron Magnesium Phosphorus Potassium Sodium Zinc Copper Manganese Selenium 4% 102% 12% 67% 18% 8% 51% 76% 3% 110%
Contains more Calcium +36.4%
Contains more Magnesium +43.8%
Contains more Phosphorus +16.7%
Contains more Selenium +19.5%
Contains more Iron +114.3%
Contains less Sodium -28%
Contains more Copper +243.9%
Equal in Potassium - 204
Equal in Zinc - 1.86
Equal in Manganese - 0.019

Glycemic Index

As chicken and duck contain almost no carbohydrates, both of their glycemic index values are considered to be 0.

If you are interested in learning how chicken meat affects blood glucose levels, you can go to our “Chicken meat” page to read more.

Acidity

The average pH value for fresh chicken meat falls in the range of 5.3 to 6.5, making chicken fall into the slightly acidic category (3).

The pH value for duck meat is not far off, falling between 5.4 to 6.3, making duck also slightly acidic (4).

Another way of looking at the acidity of a food is by using the potential renal acid load value. The PRAL value shows how much base or acid the given food produces inside the organism.

The PRAL values for chicken and duck meat are 14.6 and 10.2, respectively - the higher this positive number, the more acid-producing the food.

Weight Loss & Diets

While chicken and duck are both high in calories, duck meat is denser in energy.

Between these two foods, chicken is the better option for low-calorie and low-fat diets. Both chicken and duck fit well into low carb and low glycemic index diets.

Despite the high caloric values, studies have shown that high amounts of duck meat intake did not negatively alter body indices, such as body weight, fat mass, body mass index, body fat, or waist-to-hip ratio (5).

Among children, higher meat consumption, including chicken, has been associated with lower levels of body mass index (6). Poultry meat intake, along with vegetables, has also been correlated with a reduced risk of developing obesity and obesity-related diseases (7).

Chicken and duck can be included as part of a keto diet as they contain very few carbohydrates.

Unprocessed chicken and duck meat can also be consumed in moderation on a paleo and a Mediterranean diet.

Health Impact

We will now discuss how the consumption of chicken and duck meat affects our health using scientific research.

Chicken meat has been studied much more extensively than duck meat.

Health Benefits

Cardiovascular Health

One study found that the consumption of duck meat may have a positive effect in preventing cardiovascular disorders mediated by high cholesterol levels by lowering low-density lipoprotein levels in the blood (5).

The National Heart Foundation of Australia concluded that while poultry, including chicken, may not have a positive effect on cardiovascular health, there is not enough evidence to recommend a limit on its intake level (8).

Diabetes

How you cook your meat can decide how it affects your health. Studies have found that cooking meat at high temperatures, such as grilling and barbecuing, increases the risk of type 2 diabetes when compared to cooking at moderate temperatures, such as boiling, steaming, and stir-frying (9)

The substitution of red meat with poultry, such as chicken or duck, has been demonstrated to decrease the risk of developing type 2 diabetes mellitus during pregnancy and improve glycemic control (7).

Cancer

Unprocessed poultry intake, including chicken and duck, may lead to a decreased risk of colorectal, oesophageal, and lung cancers (10). This beneficial effect may be explained by the lower heme-iron content found in poultry. As we discussed above, chicken contains lower levels of heme iron.

Downsides and Risks

Many studies are inconclusive about how poultry affects cardiovascular health and diabetic condition.

Cardiovascular Health

Eating fish or vegetables instead of poultry has been studied to lead to a lower risk of cardiovascular incidence (11).

Another study has also associated poultry and red meat consumption with a small increased risk of cardiovascular incidence. However, while red meat leads to a small increased risk of all-cause mortality, the same cannot be said about poultry (12).

Diabetes

Contrastingly, a positive association has been found between poultry consumption, including both chicken and duck and incident type 2 diabetes in women (13).

Cancer

Processed meat consumption can increase the risk of certain types of nasopharyngeal, esophageal, lung, stomach, and pancreatic cancers (14).

Article author photo Victoria Mazmanyan
Education: General Medicine at YSMU
Last updated: June 21, 2023
Medically reviewed by Ani Harutyunyan

Infographic

Chicken meat vs Duck meat infographic
Infographic link

Comparison summary table

Pay attention to the rightmost column. It displays the amounts side by side, giving a clearer understanding of the difference.
Chicken meat Duck meat
Lower in Sodium ok
Lower in Cholesterol ok
Rich in vitamins ok
Lower in Saturated Fat ok
Lower in price ok
Rich in minerals ok
Lower in Sugar Equal
Lower in Glycemic Index Equal

All nutrients comparison - raw data values

Nutrient Chicken meat Duck meat Opinion
Protein 27.3g 18.99g Chicken meat
Fats 13.6g 28.35g Duck meat
Calories 239kcal 337kcal Duck meat
Calcium 15mg 11mg Chicken meat
Iron 1.26mg 2.7mg Duck meat
Magnesium 23mg 16mg Chicken meat
Phosphorus 182mg 156mg Chicken meat
Potassium 223mg 204mg Chicken meat
Sodium 82mg 59mg Duck meat
Zinc 1.94mg 1.86mg Chicken meat
Copper 0.066mg 0.227mg Duck meat
Manganese 0.02mg 0.019mg Chicken meat
Selenium 23.9µg 20µg Chicken meat
Vitamin A 161IU 210IU Duck meat
Vitamin A RAE 48µg 63µg Duck meat
Vitamin E 0.27mg 0.7mg Duck meat
Vitamin D 2IU 3IU Duck meat
Vitamin D 0µg 0.1µg Duck meat
Vitamin B1 0.063mg 0.174mg Duck meat
Vitamin B2 0.168mg 0.269mg Duck meat
Vitamin B3 8.487mg 4.825mg Chicken meat
Vitamin B5 1.03mg 1.098mg Duck meat
Vitamin B6 0.4mg 0.18mg Chicken meat
Folate 5µg 6µg Duck meat
Vitamin B12 0.3µg 0.3µg
Vitamin K 2.4µg 5.1µg Duck meat
Tryptophan 0.305mg 0.232mg Chicken meat
Threonine 1.128mg 0.773mg Chicken meat
Isoleucine 1.362mg 0.872mg Chicken meat
Leucine 1.986mg 1.465mg Chicken meat
Lysine 2.223mg 1.486mg Chicken meat
Methionine 0.726mg 0.475mg Chicken meat
Phenylalanine 1.061mg 0.752mg Chicken meat
Valine 1.325mg 0.938mg Chicken meat
Histidine 0.802mg 0.462mg Chicken meat
Cholesterol 88mg 84mg Duck meat
Saturated Fat 3.79g 9.67g Chicken meat
Omega-3 - DHA 0.04g 0g Chicken meat
Omega-3 - EPA 0.01g 0g Chicken meat
Omega-3 - DPA 0.02g 0g Chicken meat
Monounsaturated Fat 5.34g 12.9g Duck meat
Polyunsaturated fat 2.97g 3.65g Duck meat

Which food is preferable for your diet?

ok
ok
is better in case of low diet
Chicken meat Duck meat
Low Fats diet ok
Low Carbs diet Equal
Low Calories diet ok
Low Glycemic Index diet Equal

People also compare

Vitamins & Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score

The summary scores indicate the extent to which this food can fulfill your daily vitamin and mineral requirements if you consume 3 servings, consisting of 100 grams of each (an approximation of 3 serving sizes).
Vitamins Daily Need Coverage Score
36%
Chicken meat
32%
Duck meat
Minerals Daily Need Coverage Score
38%
Chicken meat
45%
Duck meat

Comparison summary

Which food contains less Sodium?
Duck meat
Duck meat contains less Sodium (difference - 23mg)
Which food is lower in Cholesterol?
Duck meat
Duck meat is lower in Cholesterol (difference - 4mg)
Which food is richer in vitamins?
Duck meat
Duck meat is relatively richer in vitamins
Which food is lower in Saturated Fat?
Chicken meat
Chicken meat is lower in Saturated Fat (difference - 5.88g)
Which food is cheaper?
Chicken meat
Chicken meat is cheaper (difference - $1)
Which food is richer in minerals?
Chicken meat
Chicken meat is relatively richer in minerals
Which food contains less Sugar?
?
The foods are relatively equal in Sugar (0 g)
Which food is lower in glycemic index?
?
The foods have equal glycemic indexes (0)

References

All the values for which the sources are not specified explicitly are taken from FDA’s Food Central. The exact link to the food presented on this page can be found below.

  1. Chicken meat - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/171450/nutrients
  2. Duck meat - https://fdc.nal.usda.gov/fdc-app.html#/food-details/172409/nutrients

All the Daily Values are presented for males aged 31-50, for 2000-calorie diets.

Data provided by FoodStruct.com should be considered and used as information only. Please consult your physician before beginning any diet.