Duck meat stands out from other poultry, with a darker color and more intense, gamey flavor. Finding fresh duck meat at the supermarket can be a challenge, but frozen duck breasts make a great alternative with the same texture, flavor, and appealing crimson color; however, there are things to keep in mind during your shopping trip.

If you don’t have the time to search for fresh duck, make sure you only buy as much frozen duck as you need, because once it’s thawed, it shouldn’t be re-frozen. There’s no safety risk of defrosting and refreezing duck, as long as it’s back in the freezer within a few days of thawing, but the color, aroma, and texture will suffer.

To avoid dried-out duck and/or food waste, the USDA recommends purchasing 1 pound of duck breast meat for every person you plan to serve. As long as you follow proper buying and storage guidelines, you can enjoy tender duck breasts that are roasted, confited, or pan-seared, without any moisture loss, oxidation, or other pitfalls.