Pantry & condiments
Vegan alternative to duck fat: the best substitutes
Everything you need to replace duck fat with a plant-based substitute — which one to use, the exact ratio, and the mistakes that ruin the result.
Short answer
Key takeaways
- Best all-round swap: Refined rapeseed oil + rosemary (roast potatoes).
- Ratio: 1:1.
- Pro tip: The crunch in roast potatoes comes from par-boiling and roughing them up, not from the fat's source.
- 2 tested vegan alternatives to duck fat in total.
Why duck fat isn't vegan
Rendered from ducks.
Best vegan substitutes
| Substitute | Best for |
|---|---|
| Refined rapeseed oil + rosemary | Roast potatoes |
| Vegan goose fat (Nutcessity, Trex) | Direct swap |
How to substitute duck fat, step by step
- 1
Pick the right substitute for the job
For most recipes use Refined rapeseed oil + rosemary — roast potatoes. If you need a different texture, Vegan goose fat (Nutcessity, Trex) works for direct swap.
- 2
Measure using the correct ratio
1:1. Weigh rather than eyeball it — small errors show up much faster when replacing duck fat.
- 3
Adjust the method
The crunch in roast potatoes comes from par-boiling and roughing them up, not from the fat's source.
- 4
Taste and correct
Plant swaps are usually a little less salty and less rich than duck fat. Season at the end and add acid (lemon, vinegar) or umami (miso, nutritional yeast) if the dish tastes flat.
Mistakes to avoid
- Swapping by volume when the recipe measures duck fat by weight — check the ratio above first.
- Using a sweetened or flavoured version in a savoury recipe.
- Ignoring the method change: The crunch in roast potatoes comes from par-boiling and roughing them up, not from the fat's source.
- Assuming every packaged product labelled "plant-based" is vegan — some still contain milk powder, honey or egg. Scan the barcode to be sure.
Conversion ratio
1:1.
Pro tip
The crunch in roast potatoes comes from par-boiling and roughing them up, not from the fat's source.
Frequently asked questions
- What is the best vegan alternative to duck fat?
- Refined rapeseed oil + rosemary is the closest all-round swap — roast potatoes. 1:1.
- Why isn't duck fat vegan?
- Rendered from ducks.
- How much do I use instead of duck fat?
- 1:1.
- Any tips for getting it right?
- The crunch in roast potatoes comes from par-boiling and roughing them up, not from the fat's source.
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