What is the point of a wok?
A wok is ideal for stir-frying; as the food is cooked, it’s pushed up to the sides of the wok while the remaining food is cooked on the bottom. A wok uses less oil than a conventional large skillet, and its high, sloping sides contain most of the splatter.
Does cooking in a wok make a difference?
Cooking in a wok definitely makes a difference in the time needed to prepare a dish. Due to high heat retention, it’s much quicker to fry food in a wok compared to a frying pan. Woks also allow for a very even and cooking of the ingredients.
Why do people cook with woks?
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.
Why use a wok instead of a frying pan?
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 you 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.
Do I need a wok to stir-fry?
If you have a wok, use it, but don’t let the lack of a wok discourage you from making a stir-fry at home. … A sauté pan (which most of us already have at home) makes a good substitute for a wok; just heat a few tablespoons of vegetable oil in the pan and stir-fry as usual.
Can you cook steak in a wok?
When it comes to steak, there are numerous ways to cook the beef to create different flavors and even textures. When you’re in a hurry, or when you want an Asian flare to your steak cut, a wok can be used to both cook the meat quickly, as well as to impart flavors for a stir-fry or multiple other dishes.
What oil do you use in a wok?
For wok cooking, use oils with a high smoke point and low polyunsaturated fat content. Grapeseed oil, peanut oil, etc… Sesame oil and olive oil will burn and taste bitter. Oils with high polyunsaturated fat contents like soybean oil will also turn your food texturally unpleasant.