|
Author: Helen Fan Article source: http://www.onlinecooking.net/. Used with author's permission.
Non-stick woks do not require seasoning, and come with simple cleaning instructions from the manufacturers, while steel carbon and iron woks require seasoning. Cleaning a seasoned wok is a lot different than a non-stick wok, and this is what we will cover here.
We will start with an important reminder: Do NOT use a steel wool scouring pad (or any abrasive product) on a seasoned wok, EVER! It will waste all the effort you put forth in seasoning your wok, and will require you to re-season it again.
A freshly seasoned wok will need some extra tender-loving-care. Immediately after cooking each dish, rinse the wok with plain hot water only. It is important to not use any other cleaning product to avoid damaging the seasoning. Often, there will be some bits and pieces of food particles stuck on the surface of a freshly seasoned wok. To remove them, gently lift them off with a bamboo brush (highly recommended), or a non-metallic scrubber. Then rinse the wok once more with plain hot water. To dry the wok, instead of wiping it dry, put the wet wok on the stove and set it on high heat. Heat the wok until a faint smoke arises from the bottom, then either let it cool and store it away, or continue to cook another dish. It is a common practice for chefs in Chinese restaurants to immediately put the wok back on the stove, pour hot water into the wok, scrub it quickly with a bamboo brush, dump out the water, and then place the wok back on the hot stove while he/she prepares another dish. By the time he/she is ready to cook the next dish, the wok is already hot, dry, and primed to go. It takes literally seconds to go through the drill once you get some practice. This process allows the traces of grease from the last dish to settle into the carbon steel's pores, further seasoning the wok.
After you are finished cooking a meal, cleaning the wok, and ready to put the wok away, it is always a good practice to apply another thin coat of cooking oil. Store it in a dry, airy spot until you use it again (hopefully, very soon). Once the wok is well-seasoned, it becomes self-sufficient, and will not require re-coating again. As mentioned before, It takes time, care, and regular use before a wok develops a patina, where the wok becomes virtually non-stick, and the dishes impart that elusive "wok hay". In addition, clean-up and care will be easy, requiring little time and effort, often only involves rinsing it with plain hot water and little scrubbing, as none of the food should stick to the wok.
As the black patina develops from frequent repeated use, it will also appear on the bottom exterior. It is also a layer of carbon from cooking at a high heat. In a household kitchen, where the stove does not reach as high a temperature as it does in a restaurant, this is actually a good thing. It helps conduct the heat faster, concentrates the heat to the bottom of the wok, and brings the wok to an even higher temperature. A nice bonus is that it also enhances the flavor of the dish. So, there is no need to scrub the exterior of the wok, either. Just a simple hot water rinse after cooking should be enough.
In Part 5, we'll talk about all the nice little friends that you can get along with your wok, the accessories. Helen Fan grew up in a family that has owned various Asian restaurants all over North America, from Vancouver (Canada), Houston (Texas), Decatur (Illinois), to Chicago (Illinois). She, and the rest of the Fan family are now sharing their decades of knowledge on the art of Chinese cuisine at http://www.ChineseHomeCooking.Com
You can read more of our articles at http://www.ChineseHomeCooking.Com/resources/resources.htm
Giving Yourself the Right to Write
"But I've only been on the Internet 3 months! How can I
write an article?" That was my reaction back in 1999 when I
began my online career and heard that writin...
The Benefits Of Having Good Credit When Purchasing An Auto Loan
What are the benefits of having good credit when purchasing an auto loan? A credit report has an assigned score that is determined by an individual's financial ...
Meta Tags - An Important Part of Every Web Page
Meta tags are key to search engine optimisation and are usually overlooked by new webmasters, don't miss out on their worth to you.
Changing Negatives to Positives
Advice on how to overcome negative feelings and events and develop an optimistic and positive outlook on life.
Glycemic Index: A Magic Weight Loss Solution or a Soap Bubble Ready to Burst?
Glycemic index ranks different carbohydrate foods depending on their potential to raise blood glucose levels.
Managing People for Performance
Getting the consistent performance from your people is key requirement for all managers - and one many struggle with. It does not have to be difficult, we just...
Mountain Climbing Over Molehills
Someone has said that the greatest cause of ulcers is mountain-climbing over mole-hills! Is that the way you get your exercise? Many folks allow themselves to ...
Talk Yourself Out of Stress
Techniques to relieve stress in your life.
Get Thousands Of Clicks To Your Website For Free
Do you want to advertise about your website? Wait and have a look here. Don't just start spending money on advertising because there is a very effective way to...
Essays Made Easy with Software
There are many intelligent people in the world that simply do not write well. They may have trouble organizing their thoughts or they may not understand the bas...
Some Business Coaches are in Error
Many business coaches deny the power of suggestion while using it. For instance a corporate inner circle will be told that they have inner conflicts with ethica...
Great Wall of China – The Chinese Dragon
When seen from above, the Great Wall of China looks like a dragon zigzagging over mountain tops. The Chinese call it "Wan Li Chang Cheng" which means "Wall of 1...
Financial Aid Options
Before entering college, you may find yourself pondering exactly how you will be able to pay for college. Many public colleges and universities cost thousands o...
Dog Health Can Be Improved With a Natural Diet
Find out why commercial petfood is the worst nutrition source you can feed your dog. But what should you feed instead? Your dog's health will benefit from a m...
Are Your Keywords Making Money for You?
How are you describing your website to the search engines? Or are you? If not...this article is a good place to begin...
Unleash the Power of Post Cards
Unleash the power of image markeing in your direct mail campaign. Increase sales and referrals. Watch your business skyrocket with image postcards.
Getting Articles Published - Eight Steps for Trade Publications
A step-by-step guide to having your articles published, includes tips on media relations, editing and market research.
Old Time Banana Cake
As a child this was and still is my favorite cake, it is a really moist and tasty cake as well.....
The Ant Philosophy
Over the years I've been teaching kids about a simple but powerful concept - the ant philosophy. I think everybody should study ants. They have an amazing four-...
The Origins of Check Writing
In ancient times most people exchanged money through trade. However check writing has always been popular. Many believe the first check came about in Ancient Ro...
Crave Sweets? On the Weight & Mood Roller Coaster? Perhaps Its More Than You Think!
The sugar industry and the food manufacturers are capitalizing BIG TIME on the addictive nature of carbohydrates (sweets, breads, deserts) in the human body. B...
Full Body Awareness
This exercise should help you to feel rejuvenated and refreshed as you're drawing energy from an infinite pool. Do this exercise whenever you're depressed or do...
Virtual Casino Gambling
Your one stop virtual casino information source.
Anxiety and Depression - Why Depression Drugs May Not Be Necessary - Fight Depression Naturally
Depression, anxiety and stress are rampant in today's go-go-go mentality, and quality of life for many people is drastically reduced by these symptoms of deeper...
|
Print this page