What type of cooking would you typically use a wok for?

Woks are used in a range of Chinese cooking techniques, including stir frying, steaming, pan frying, deep frying, poaching, boiling, braising, searing, stewing, making soup, smoking and roasting nuts.

What is the point of a wok?

A wok is a deep frying pan with a curved profile that is ideal for the quick fry process so necessary in Chinese cooking since the food can be more easily be tossed. Flat bottomed versions are available for domestic use but you may as well use a large frying pan.

Are woks good for cooking?

While woks are best associated with making stir-fries in the U.S., any food that benefits from a centralized heat source and large, consistent cooking area can (and should!) be cooked in a wok. That means woks can be used for braising, making sauces, soups, deep frying, steaming and more.

What are the advantages of wok cooking?

One obvious benefit of cooking in a wok is that its high, sloping walls allow you to easily move food around the surface without spilling it over the sides. I also discovered that a wok’s tall sides create two distinct heat zones that work in tandem to cook food efficiently and evenly.

Are woks versatile?

The wok is versatile: you can stir-fry, deep-fry, even braise in it. Its basic shape has not changed over the centuries. Invented with conservation in mind, the rounded bottom and sides of the wok allow heat from a relatively small source to travel up and out, heating every inch to sizzling hot.

Is a wok worth it?

So woks aren’t only necessary for good stir-frying, but they can take the place of your Dutch oven, skillet, and even saucepan if they are in use. You can easily use less heat and fry up greens and other veggies as well. Think of it as a backup skillet if your main tool is in use.

Does a wok make a difference?

Unlike other utensils, a wok doesn’t overcook the food nor keeps it uncooked. Cooks Quickly: A wok cooks the food quickly and evenly from all sides as it takes less time to heat up. A wok is made up of Carbon steel that has excellent heat retention properties, making it easier and faster to cook food.

Is a wok necessary?

Why are woks good for stir fry?

A wok should be used instead of a frying pan because it is made up of carbon steel, it cooks quickly, and helps to stir-fry the food with less oil. The curved and round shape of a wok ensures that the cooked food is less oily. A wok also has a larger capacity to cook food compared to a frying pan.

Can I use a wok for everything?

Dunlop says: “The wok is not only for stir-frying—it’s used for pretty much everything. It’s very economical. You can also use it for boiling and making stews, or even as a smoker—you cover the base of the wok with several layers of foil, and then you put some sugar and tea leaves and some flour.