Epicurious - The Best Way to Clean and Season a Wok | Epicurious 101
Eric, a professional chef, explains the versatility and importance of woks in cooking, particularly in Asian cuisine. He discusses different types of woks, recommending heavier carbon steel or cast iron for home cooks due to their heat retention and non-stick properties. Non-stick woks are also viable for home use due to their ease of maintenance. Eric demonstrates how to season a wok by heating it and applying oil to create a non-stick layer through polymerization. He emphasizes the importance of preparation before cooking with a wok, as most of the work is done beforehand. Eric showcases a quick stir-fry, highlighting the need for constant movement and high heat to achieve the desired results. For cleaning, he advises steaming off residue and avoiding soap, using heat and scrubbing to maintain the wok's surface. He also shows how to restore a poorly maintained wok by reheating and re-seasoning it. Overall, Eric stresses the wok's value as a versatile kitchen tool that, with proper care, can last a long time.
Key Points:
- Choose heavier carbon steel or cast iron woks for better heat retention and non-stick properties.
- Season a wok by heating and applying oil to create a non-stick layer through polymerization.
- Prepare all ingredients before cooking with a wok to ensure quick and efficient cooking.
- Clean a wok by steaming off residue and scrubbing without soap to maintain its surface.
- Restore a poorly maintained wok by reheating and re-seasoning it.
Details:
1. 🌟 Introduction to Woks
- A wok is fundamentally a hot bowl that allows for versatile cooking techniques such as tossing, steaming, braising, stewing, seasoning, and emulsifying.
- Woks are key in Asian cuisine due to their ability to cook quickly with minimal fuel, thanks to their thin metal construction.
- The unique shape of the wok enables different cooking methods that are not possible with a standard frying pan.
2. 🥢 Choosing the Right Wok
2.1. Material and Weight Considerations
2.2. Design and Compatibility Features
2.3. Cost and Purchase Recommendations
3. 🔥 Seasoning Your Wok
3.1. Step-by-Step Seasoning Process
3.2. Practical Tips and Considerations
4. 🍜 Cooking with a Wok
- Preparation is crucial, accounting for 90% of the cooking process. Have all ingredients and seasonings measured and ready before starting.
- Blanch noodles in advance to streamline the cooking process, allowing the dish to be completed in one to two minutes.
- Ensure the wok is hot and the oil is smoking before adding ingredients, indicating readiness for cooking.
- Start with cooking sausage to render fat, then add vegetables like carrots and snow peas, using the hottest part of the wok for initial cooking.
- Maintain constant movement of ingredients to prevent burning, removing from heat if necessary.
- Add noodles and keep them in motion by rocking the wok, while adding additional oil and seasonings such as MSG or salt.
- Introduce liquid seasonings like light soy sauce, wine, and oyster sauce at the pan's edge to cook down slightly while continuing to move ingredients.
- Strive for 'wok hei', or the 'breath of the wok', by maintaining high heat and constant movement for a flavorful stir fry.
- Complete the dish by adding scallions at the end to slightly wilt, finishing the stir fry quickly in one to two minutes.