Wok cooking combines the wonderful flavors found in Asian food, without all of the calories. Cooking with a wok allows you to create healthy meals for your family that are not only easy, but incorporates exotic flavors as well. It's important to understand how to choose your wok and other wok cooking equipment. You must also understand how to prepare your ingredients and how to follow basic wok cooking techniques.
Get Cooking with the Perfect Wok
The wok you choose to buy will depend on what type of stove you have. If you have a gas stove, you will want to choose a round-bottom pan. This ensures that the pan heats evenly. Round-bottom woks come with a ring to keep the pan sturdy while resting on the burner during the cooking process. A flat-bottom pan is essential if you're cooking on an electric stove.
A 14-inch wok is the best size to use for basic cooking. This not only allows you to create large meals, but it also lets you use the wok for several different cooking methods. You will be able to steam, boil and even fry foods in a wok of this size.
The material you choose for a wok will depend on whether or not you want to season the pan. While carbon steel does the best job when heating food and retaining the heat, it must be seasoned. Aluminum and stainless steel woks can be purchased with a nonstick coating, but they do not retain heat as well as a carbon steel wok.
Whatever type of wok you choose, it's important to choose one that has a lid. A lid is essential in different types of wok cooking. You may have to purchase a lid separately, but the expense is well worth it.
Additional Supplies Needed for Wok Cooking
Wok cooking requires more than just a wok. You also need tools for cooking certain dishes and utilizing different wok cooking techniques. Some cooking applications will require a steamer, while others require a curved spatula.
Steamers
If you love steamed dumplings or vegetables, a steamer rack is an essential tool for wok cooking. When choosing a steamer, look for a 12-inch model made of bamboo. These steamers have been used in China for thousands of years and fit snugly into a 14-inch pan.
Spatulas
A curved spatula works best for wok cooking because it allows you to move the ingredients around quickly. Wok cooking requires high heat and if you don't keep the ingredients moving, they will burn. Choose a material that can withstand high temperatures. Use a wooden spoon or spatula if you want to avoid ruining your nonstick wok.
How to Prepare the Ingredients
Wok cooking moves quickly. For this reason, you must have all of your ingredients prepared before you start cooking. If your recipe calls for marinated meat, do this at least two hours ahead of time. Mince the aromatics, including ginger and garlic. Once the meat has marinated, cut it into thin slices that will cook quickly. Because wok cooking requires such high heat, you will want to cut the vegetables small, but not miniscule. This ensures that the ingredients cook thoroughly, without being overcooked.
Wok Cooking Techniques
If you choose to do your cooking in a carbon steel wok, the first thing you must do is season the pan. To do this, rub the inside of the wok with vegetable oil and heat over a high flame until the pan turns brown. This will ensure that ingredients don't stick to the pan while cooking.
Stir-frying With a Wok
When cooking with a wok, you should always let the pan heat before adding any ingredients. Once the wok has heated, you can begin cooking. First, add the oil and move the wok around until the oil has coated the surface of the pan. Next, add garlic and ginger. Add the meat quickly after adding the aromatics, and cook until done. Remove the meat before adding your vegetables. This ensures that the ingredients don't lower the heat of the wok. After the vegetables cook, stir in the meat and any thickening agent you may be using. Stir the mixture until it thickens and serve immediately.
Steaming With a Wok
To use a wok for steaming, first place the steamer in the wok about one inch above the water. Allow the water to boil and line the steamer with Napa cabbage. Place the food in a single layer for even cooking. Check the water level often to make sure you don't boil off all of the water during the cooking process.
Wok cooking isn't complicated. You just need to choose the best wok for your cooking needs, understand how to prepare the ingredients and learn the techniques to use while cooking. Before you know it, you'll be able to say goodbye to your favorite Asian restaurant and enjoy the fruits of your wok cooking in the comfort of your own home.
 | If you've recently purchased a wok, you may be looking for ideas for healthy wok cooking recipes. Fortunately, it's easy to cook delicious vegetable recipes in your new wok. The following are simple traditional or electric wok recipes you can use either as main dishes or as side dishes. |
 | It's important to understand how to care for your wok frying pan if you want it to last for many meals. Lucky for you, caring for your wok at home is simple and not time consuming. In fact, a properly seasoned wok will naturally repel stuck food and will be easy to clean. |
A well-seasoned wok makes your stir-fries taste even better. Seasoning a wok can also reduce the amount of oil you use and make cleaning even easier. |
 | If you've just bought a cast iron wok, you may wonder how to use it. It's important to wash a new cast iron wok with a scouring pad, dish soap and very hot water. This is to get rid of any chemicals left over from the factory. |
 | If you're in the market for a wok, there are many different types of woks available. You may be drawn to a gourmet wok with a nonstick finish, but you'll need to make sure it will deliver the results you desire. Understanding some wok basics will steer you in the right direction. |
