Basic Cooking Skills Using the Wok
A wok is one of the most versatile tools you can have when it comes to fast, flavorful food. There are some basic wok skills that you will need though in order to turn a great stir-fried meal. Otherwise, you could end up with a mushy, pale mess that isn’t very appetizing.
It’s All in the Heat!
If you don’t have the heat high enough, the food won’t cook quickly. The fast cooking allows the vegetables to retain their bright colors and some crunch, while proteins will have that “quick-flashed” taste. However, you don’t just have to watch the heat at the beginning. Before you add a new ingredient, you’ll need to let the wok return to its high temperature.
How Does Wok Works
Wok should be properly used to be able to come up with a delightful stir-fried meal. The technique of the wok is that you would have to allow the wok to be in high heat before you start to cook with it. The fast cooking will allow your vegetable to stay in its bright color and maintain its crisp and crunch. Always remember that before adding a new ingredient, you would have to let the wok to be in high heat again.
Types of Woks
There are different kinds of woks according to your needs. There are electric wok, round bottomed wok and carbon steel wok. Round bottomed wok is best use for gas stoves. You may want t buy wok support ring to allow the wok to stay on the gas burner as usual wok is not fitted to the actual gas burner it self. Carbon Steel wok is inexpensive and can be bought below $20.
How to Cook with the Wok
Cooking with a Wok
Before you are ready to get your wok hot, you will want to prepare the ingredients. You can use a variety of vegetables, proteins, sauces, and aromatics. Your veggies can be the highlight of your dish or the proteins can be. It’s all up to you. Peppers, onions, corn, squash, green beans, peas all add a great splash of flavor and color. Chicken, pork, beef, shrimp, crab and other small bits of protein cook quickly and thoroughly, so be careful not to overcook the proteins too much. You will end up with a rubbery texture.
Add a small bit of oil, such as sesame oil and let it get smoking hot. Add in your meats and cook just until almost done. You’ll want to remove the meat, allow the wok to heat up again, and then add the vegetables. Once the vegetables are cooked but still crisp, add in your meat and continue cooking for a couple more minutes. Add in your favorite sauce and give a stir. Viola! Your stir-fry dinner is ready to go!
For those who want to start using wok for their stir-fried meal, it would be much better if you will consider a rice cooker or a crock pot as most stir-fried meals are best served with rice. If you prefer to put it along with your meal while cooking with your wok, you must use a day old rice to prevent it from getting sticky and mushy. Crock pot can also be used for other dishes like stews. You may start to look for other crock pots recipes online for added twist with your stir-fried meals.
An expert author on the matter of cooking, Michelle’s content articles include helpful techniques and concepts concerning slow cooker recipes and also slow cooker chicken recipes.
