WOK Instructions?

[buzz_42]

Does anyone know of a site or how to properly use a WOK?

I heard there is a certain way to heat it up and a certain time to add the food and so on.



thx

[awd]

Depends what it is made of?

non-stick? cast iron? carbon steel? aluminum?

Always start by heating a wok before adding anything to it. Wait until the surface literally begins to let off smoke. Then dribble in the oil to coat its surface and wait a short while longer to allow the oil to get hot. Now you may begin your stir-fry. The rule of thumb is: always add cold oil to a hot wok and never cold oil to a cold wok. Pre-heating before adding oil will prevent food from sticking. It will also ensure that the oil does not burn and smoke up your kitchen before the upper surface of the wok is heated. You may also avoid the risk of burning in overheated oil the garlic and onions, which should be added early on to flavor the oil, and in turn for the oil to flavor the meats, seafoods or vegetables to be stir-fried in it.

[thich]

u wanna have a real wok (cast-iron), not those cheap pos teflon coated walmart brands.

there are a bunch of good resources at ur local library if u have the time to look. other than that, try google. i'm sure it's real easy to find the info for it.
cooking with a wok is awesome.
wok cooking is also very fast, so you need to pay attention while cooking.

[buzz_42]

yeah i know that from experience! must pay attention!

do you guys know of any brands of good WOKs
?

like expensive great quality ones?

[awd]

Originally posted by buzz_42
yeah i know that from experience! must pay attention!

do you guys know of any brands of good WOKs
?

like expensive great quality ones?

Don't be fooled -- the best wok money can buy can be found in any chinese grocery store for $12.

[buzz_42]

are there any places in calgary? do you recomend any?

im from the hat so its a short drive.

but when im done school ill be able to go

[GTS Jeff]

if u have anything but a gas range stove, dont even bother. nothing but gas range will get the wok hot enough to work properly.

[buzz_42]

damnit.

[awd]

Originally posted by buzz_42
damnit.

You will be fine with a normal stove, I have a gas stove now but I used a wok for many years with a normal stove.

[B17a]

Originally posted by awd


Don't be fooled -- the best wok money can buy can be found in any chinese grocery store for $12.

True, but in 20 years you'll have Alzheimers from the aluminum coming off into your food!

[lam-boy]

Originally posted by B17a


True, but in 20 years you'll have Alzheimers from the aluminum coming off into your food!

ahh, thats why when we buy woks and shit my parents throw some asian labour action on me and make me clean the thing out so well before we even use it.

[blinkme_210]

Originally posted by B17a


True, but in 20 years you'll have Alzheimers from the aluminum coming off into your food!

Really? Whoa shit, I guess both sides of my family and pratically everyone I know and their families must be REALLY REALLY lucky then, cause I don't know of any Chinese people who have Alzheimers. Hell, I bet like 99% of my Grandparent's generation don't even know Alzheimers exist.

[awd]

Originally posted by B17a


True, but in 20 years you'll have Alzheimers from the aluminum coming off into your food!

psst, they aren't aluminum

[B17a]

Originally posted by awd


psst, they aren't aluminum

What are they? All the old ass ones my folks ever had were aluminum.

[awd]

Originally posted by B17a


What are they? All the old ass ones my folks ever had were aluminum.

Carbon steel.

[thich]

Originally posted by B17a


True, but in 20 years you'll have Alzheimers from the aluminum coming off into your food!

this made me rofl

the cast-iron woks technically can "clean themselves" when you super heat them; other than that, you need to scrub them down every so often with a special brush.
although i remember my mom cleaning it with baking soda or something like that.
plus, i recall when you first buy the wok, you need to heat it and run some oil on the wok first... can anyone verify this?

the best ones to buy are the $12 ones just like awd said; make sure you buy one with the handle welded/molded on and not screwed on - the handles tend to break easy :P


wok cooking is easy on a normal stove - just make sure you have one of those "wok holders" (dunno wut its called) that holds the wok in position above the stove
we dun have a gas stove at home but that's wut we use when we cook on our normal stove.

[B17a]

Originally posted by awd


Carbon steel.

I better find a new supplier then!

[dj_rice]

Yeah,

If u bought a real cast-iron wok, u gotta cure it meaning u gotta heat it up really hot...add oil....and heat up the oil til like its really hot...almost to the point of smoking...and then let it cool down...and then take a towel and just rub all the oil off...when u heat the oil to smoking point it almost absorbs into the wok.

I think u have to do this every few months or so...

And to wash a wok...U can just use water and soap

[abyss]

Originally posted by dj_rice
Yeah,

If u bought a real cast-iron wok, u gotta cure it meaning u gotta heat it up really hot...add oil....and heat up the oil til like its really hot...almost to the point of smoking...and then let it cool down...and then take a towel and just rub all the oil off...when u heat the oil to smoking point it almost absorbs into the wok.

I think u have to do this every few months or so...

And to wash a wok...U can just use water and soap

Martha Stewart says you're not supposed to use soap on cast iron

[sputnik]

Originally posted by abyss


Martha Stewart says you're not supposed to use soap on cast iron

Thats true. Cast iron get "seasoned" as you cook with it. So you just heat it up and clean it with hot water and baking soda.

You also need to oil your wok occasionally (frequency depends on use). The best way to do this is to use peanut oil and lightly coat then entire wok. Then wipe off the excess and heat up the wok to a regular cooking temperature and let it cool naturally.