Traditionally used in Chinese cooking, the wok is becoming an essential piece of equipment for the modern cook. Highly versatile, it allows you to produce a wide range of healthy dishes in next to no time.
A wok is a deep pan with a curved bottom. It is made of thin metal so that when it is heated only the base gets hot. When used on a stove it is supported over the heat source on a ringed base.
A wok is a vital piece of equipment when making authentic stir-fried dishes, although it can also be used for shallow or deep frying.
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TYPES OF WOK
There are several types of wok ranging from steel to Teflon coated aluminium.
Electric woks can be used in the same way as those designed for conventional stoves but have the advantage of allowing you too cook at the table, rather than in the kitchen. Make sure to check that it heats to right temperature before cooking.
An electric wok can also be used as a multi cooker for casseroles and stews, or, for steaming and poaching.
Non-stick woks ensure that food doesn't stick, although they have disadvantages:
Care must be taken to not scratch the surface
And;
The high levels of heat required for stir frying are not ideal for this type of metal/material.
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USING A WOK
For stir frying the food must be cut into small, uniformly sized pieces so that they cook evenly.
Only very small amounts of oil are needed to fry the food - much less than conventional frying. Just add sufficient oil to stop the food from sticking to the pan, but make sure that all the surface is covered with a thin layer of oil.
Heat the wok well, then, add the food a little at a time, to the centre of the wok. Most ingredients only need to be cooked for around 2-3 minutes. Thin strips of meat will be cooked through almost as soon as it touches the pan.
As soon as the food is cooked move it up the sides of the wok, where it will stay warm but not cook further. This also allows the next ingredient to be added to the hot centre.
It is important to prepare all the ingredients first, as there is no time to chop up extras once cooking has begun.
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