Choosing the Right Duck Foie Gras Block: 7 Tips from the Pros

How do you choose the right Duck Foie Gras Block for Christmas or a special occasion? Where can you find a top-quality product to make the right purchase? How can you ensure a selection that suits your recipes, considering the origin, the quality of raw materials, the conditions of duck farming, and the production method? Follow these 7 recommendations by Édouard Artzner and indulge in the subtle taste of exceptional Foie Gras.

1. Alsace or Southwest: determining the origin of the duck

To make the right choice for your Duck Foie Gras, you need to consider the differences in origin. This will help you find the one that best matches your taste and expectations.

Alsace Foie Gras

Refined culinary identity, enhanced by subtle seasoning of the Foie Gras, contributing to the French gastronomic heritage.
Fine and melting texture, offering a delicate sensation in the mouth.
Secret recipe with 11 spices passed down within the Maison Édouard Artzner since 1803.

Southwest Foie Gras

Minimalist seasoning with salt and pepper that reveals the pronounced taste of duck liver.
Traditional preparation methods developed to highlight the authentic flavors of duck.

Selection tips

Alsace Duck Foie Gras Block: perfect if you enjoy a more complex and spicy flavor, along with a fine and melting texture.

Southwest Duck Foie Gras Block: ideal if you seek an intense and rustic flavor with simple seasoning.

🥄 To become an expert on the subject, read our Foie Gras guide.

2. Understanding the quality of raw materials to choose your Duck Foie Gras Block

No delicious Duck Foie Gras Block without high-quality raw materials. This is the basic principle of Maison Édouard Artzner.

Rigorous selection of lobes

Double sorting: an initial selection is made at the slaughterhouse, followed by a second sorting by our Chefs to retain only the best Duck Foie Gras.
Strict standards: each Foie Gras must meet rigorous criteria to ensure its quality, making it a product of excellence. Each lobe is then deveined before being processed.

Foie Gras classification

Foie Gras is classified into three categories, each with its own characteristics and uses:

Extra: this superior quality is reserved for raw and fresh Foie Gras, for refined preparations such as terrines.
First choice: good products, but with variations in weight, color, and consistency compared to the extra.
Common: minor visual and texture defects are hidden after processing. Recommended for hot recipes or festive appetizers.

🥄 These criteria apply to both goose and duck. Discover the differences between Goose and Duck Foie Gras in our article.

3. Checking farming conditions and animal welfare to ensure Foie Gras quality

High-quality products with exceptional textures and flavors start with good farming conditions that respect animal welfare. These are the principles that Maison Édouard Artzner guarantees to its customers through the Euro Foie Gras charter implemented on each farm.

Selected feed: ducks receive appropriate feed in both quantity and quality, without GMOs.
Access to water: the waterfowl have free access to drinking water.
Space: the animals have enough space to move freely.
Thermal comfort: ducks benefit from living conditions sheltered from heat and cold.

4. Prefer artisanal Foie Gras over industrial production

Duck Foie Gras Block is a processed product. It is a preparation made from an emulsion of Foie Gras and water, seasoned and then molded. Buying an artisanal Foie Gras Block means enjoying the true taste, while also respecting ethical values, animal welfare, and the transmission of traditions.

Quality Criteria	Industrial Foie Gras	Artisanal Foie Gras
Duck feeding	Industrial feed (ground corn, water, sometimes flour).	Whole-grain cooked corn, carefully selected.
Animal welfare	Automated feeding, less natural and attentive.	Individual monitoring of ducks for their health and welfare, hand-feeding.
Product quality	Often standardized texture and flavor.	Intense and refined flavor, orange color, impeccable texture.
Production	Industrial process, less quality control.	Rigorous craftsmanship, meticulous control at every stage.
Environmental impact	Intensive farming, less respectful of the ecosystem.	More sustainable and environmentally friendly practices.
Transmission of know-how	Low appreciation of traditional knowledge.	Transmission and preservation of ancestral know-how.

5. Choosing the right weight for the occasion and number of guests

To ensure the success of your tasting, it is essential to determine the right weight for your Duck Foie Gras Block. The quantity should be adjusted according to the recipe you have chosen, as well as the number of guests.

Foie Gras on toast: Allow about 20 grams per person.
Appetizer: Plan for 40 to 50 grams per guest.
Starter: 60 to 70 grams per person are recommended.
As a side dish: for fresh pasta, for example, 30 grams per guest are sufficient.
Shavings: on a soup or a verrine, allow 15 grams each.
Foie Gras for pan-searing: this use is not suitable for a Foie Gras Block.

🥄 Try the Foie Gras Block with pieces for even more indulgence.

6. Selecting the appropriate packaging for your use

Unlike fresh or semi-cooked Foie Gras, Foie Gras Block undergoes high-temperature cooking. Once sterilized , it is then canned. Choosing the right cooked Foie Gras Block allows you to store it for several years at room temperature.

Jar, tin, or loaf, each option offers a benefit depending on the preparation you plan.

For making appetizer toasts, tins or small glass jars are very practical.
For slicing into portions, prefer rectangular tins or loaves.
For cutting into servings, round tins or cylindrical glass jars offer a neat presentation.

🥄 Whatever packaging you choose, place the Duck Foie Gras in the refrigerator at least 12 hours before consuming. Take it out for preparation 10 minutes before tasting.

7. Finding the right place to buy Duck Foie Gras

Supermarket, producer shops, online sales? You may be wondering where to buy quality Foie Gras Blocks. As you've understood, to ensure you delight your guests, it's better to opt for local and artisanal productions. All the pleasure of Foie Gras will be there, which is not guaranteed with large industrial brands.

Buying Foie Gras online allows you to choose from a wide range of recipes and access high-end brands that adhere to strict quality standards. And this even if there is no artisanal shop near you. On the Édouard Artzner website, you will find all the detailed information about the origin and processing of the product. To choose the perfect Foie Gras for Christmas or a special occasion, with full transparency.

Choosing the right Duck Foie Gras Block means opting for excellence in taste with every bite. Following these 7 steps recommended by Édouard Artzner is the first step towards a successful tasting. Bon appétit!

The 7-Step Guide to Choosing Your Block of Duck Foie Gras Without Making a Mistake