The temperature during cook of duck makes big difference between juicy meat and dry, overdone bird Duck is not like chicken. Its meat is similar to beef in texture. So it dries out when well cooked.
Best enjoy it as medium-rare until internal temperature of 135°F.
How to Cook Duck: Keep It Juicy and Crispy
Chart for duck says 135; 140°F (57, 60°C) for medium-rare breasts, 145°F (63°C) for medium and 165°F (74°C) for well-done or whole duck. Medium-rare gives pink red and tender meat. Medium is pink and a bit more firm.
For crisp skin at medium-well grade, reach 135°F inside by medium-high heat.
USDA advises to cook whole duck or goose until safe minimum internal temperature of 165°F, measured by a food thermometre. Measure in the most inside part of thigh and wing, and the thickest breasts. At 165°F (74°C) cooked duck breasts are safe to eat.
Ground duck also requires 165°F (74°C), which matches well-done for many meats.
At 160°F (71°C) meat is safe, if duck breast temperature stays steady during 26.9 seconds. Fresh duck at 165°F minimum inside are safe, even if center stays pink. Many meats have faint pink at that temperature, which is not rare.
Remove duck 5°F under target temperature because of carryover cooking. Internal heat climb 3, 5 after removal of heat. Leave the meat rest in its juices for 5 minutes before cutting.
After at least 7 minutes rest, duck breast temperature should be between 130 and 140°F.
For whole duck, preheat the oven to 375°F (190°C). Mix paprika, salt and pepper in small bowl, then rub the spices on skin. Cook on rack at around 375°F well. Pour the fat and keep going until leg bones move easily.
Help bird reach room temperature first for even cook. Then pat dry and move to 500°F oven for crisp skin until breasts reach 135, 140°F.
For duck breast on stove, score the fat, season and lay skin side down in cold pan. Heat over medium-high flame and wait 6, 7 minutes until skin looks great. Flip for 2 minutes, then cut and serve.
Do not dump duck fat, almost every vegetable tastes great fried in it with only some grains of salt.