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Singeing poultry

Erken's basic technique for singeing poultry: salt in a pan, 1–2 tbsp denatured alcohol lit, and the plucked bird kept moving over the flame until down and pinfeathers can be removed. Small birds are singed several at a time on a long stick.

Source: Henriette Schønberg Erken, Stor kokebok, 1914-utg. s. 259 (falt i det fri)

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About the dish

The introductory section of the chapter on poultry and game, where Erken describes how a bird should be handled after slaughter: poultry should hang for 1–6 days but be plucked immediately while still warm. After plucking, the bird is singed free of down and pinfeathers.

How to make it

  1. 1

    Prepare the flame

    Place a little salt in a pan (preferably a frying pan you can clean afterward). Pour 1–2 tablespoons of denatured alcohol over the salt and light it. A gas torch can be used instead.

  2. 2

    Singe the bird

    Hold the bird by the wings and legs and keep it constantly moving over the flame, so that the flame only touches the bird lightly and does not burn it.

  3. 3

    Continue until the down is gone

    Continue singeing until all the down is gone and the pinfeathers have crept out, so they can easily be removed with a pointed knife or, best, a strawberry huller.

  4. 4

    Remember the plucking

    Feathers left behind after careless plucking must be pulled out, not singed off – otherwise the bird gets an unpleasant smell of burnt feathers.

  5. 5

    Small birds

    To singe small birds, set 4–5 of them on a long stick with a little space between each one. Hold each end of the stick, pass it over the flame, and turn it now and then.

  6. 6

    Finishing

    Rub the bird with a cloth. Cut off the head – on wild ducks and some small birds the head is often left on – and push the skin at the neck aside. Clean the pan well and grease it with fat after use.

Changes from the original

The technique is set out as a step-by-step recipe. "Denatureret spiritus" is kept as denatured alcohol (methylated spirits), but a modern alternative (gas torch) is mentioned in the steps. Quantities given in tablespoons.

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Frequently asked questions

What is the purpose of singeing poultry?
Singeing removes the fine down and makes the pinfeathers creep out, so they can easily be removed with a pointed knife or, best, a strawberry huller. It does not remove feathers left behind after poor plucking.
How is it done in practice?
Place a little salt in a pan, pour 1–2 tablespoons of denatured alcohol over it, and light it. Hold the bird by the wings and legs and keep it moving constantly over the flame, so the flame only touches and does not burn the bird. Continue until all the down is gone.
Why should leftover feathers not be singed off?
Feathers left behind after careless plucking must be pulled out, not singed off – singed feathers can give the bird an unpleasant smell of burnt feathers.
Can I use an ordinary frying pan for the salt?
Yes, but the pan must be cleaned well and greased with fat after use. The recipe is from Henriette Schønberg Erken's "Stor kokebok" (1914), p. 259.

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