woks

"elaine" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:4059f8c7_3@aeinews....

Quoted message said:

Got one years ago for a gift but rarely use as
everything sticks to it. Most of the time my aluminum
pot works ok instead - sometimes awkward though. I'm
considering buying another wok. A friend suggested
getting

an

Quoted message said:

electric one. I did a google search, but reviews weren't
very good. Is there really an advantage to having a wok? I
don't need another kitchen item that's just going to take
up space.

If anyone has recommendations, brands, etc. I'd
appreciate hearing them. Thanks.

Elaine

What I don't like about an electric wok is that the temp is
even. I've had my share of crappy woks...what I have now and
really like is a hammered carbon steel wok, proper heating,
once it's seasoned nothing sticks and the irregularites make
it much easier to keep food out of the center hot spot.
These can be a little on the pricey side, but I have friends
that have $25 models (informercial-I think) and are happy
with them. Honestly mine is a really good one, but found it
at a tag sale for around $10.

I like the wok over the pan method of "stir-frying" but if I
didn't use a wok on a somewhat regular basis I wouldn't see
a reason to have one especially with kitchen storage space
being at a premium.

Jessica

"elaine" <[email hidden]> wrote in message news:4059f8c7_3@aeinews....

Quoted message said:

Got one years ago for a gift but rarely use as
everything sticks to it. Most of the time my aluminum
pot works ok instead - sometimes awkward though. I'm
considering buying another wok. A friend suggested
getting

an

Quoted message said:

electric one. I did a google search, but reviews weren't
very good. Is there really an advantage to having a wok? I
don't need another kitchen item that's just going to take
up space.

If anyone has recommendations, brands, etc. I'd
appreciate hearing them. Thanks.

Elaine

An electric wok is a complete waste of space and money as:

- it cannot be cranked up/down quickly enough
- it does not have the heating capacity required.

A high speed gas burner, a standard wok and the knowledge of
how to use it is the best combination. If you use it
correctly food will not stick to a bog standard cheap mild-
steel wok, the brand is irrelevant. Sadly I cannot assist
very much in the technique remotely but I assure you that it
can be done.

If you don't have a high speed gas burner don't worry about
a wok but use heavy base frying pans of your preference
instead, you will not get the same result but you will
suffer less frustration trying to do the impossible.

David

I don't mind paying (and storing) if it cooks well. Could
you explain how to season - and should I do this every
time I use?

Thanks.

Quoted message said:

What I don't like about an electric wok is that the temp
is even. I've

had

Quoted message said:

my share of crappy woks...what I have now and really
like is a hammered carbon steel wok, proper heating,
once it's seasoned nothing sticks and

the

Quoted message said:

irregularites make it much easier to keep food out of
the center hot

spot.

Quoted message said:

These can be a little on the pricey side, but I have
friends that have

$25

Quoted message said:

models (informercial-I think) and are happy with them.
Honestly mine is

a

Quoted message said:

really good one, but found it at a tag sale for
around $10.

I like the wok over the pan method of "stir-frying" but
if I didn't use

a

Quoted message said:

wok on a somewhat regular basis I wouldn't see a reason
to have one especially with kitchen storage space being
at a premium.

Jessica

Quoted message said:

If you don't have a high speed gas burner don't worry about
a wok but use heavy base frying pans of your preference
instead, you will not get the same result but you will
suffer less frustration trying to do the impossible.

a cast iron chicken fryer works great in this situation.
it will cook pretty hot and hold the heat when you are
cooking meat. I had a chinese cook tell me that's what he
uses at home.

--
Knight-Toolworks & Custom Planes Custom made wooden planes
at reasonable prices See knight-toolworks.comknight-toolworks.comOpen ↗ For
prices and ordering instructions.

I have only seen one in action once! It was a pot luck
staff party, we didn't have any stoves or ovens. My boss
made something that had shrimps in it, (coppiano?). It was
very good.

take care Liz

Hey! Look what "elaine" <[email hidden]> wrote :

Quoted message said:

Got one years ago for a gift but rarely use as everything
sticks to it. Most of the time my aluminum pot works ok
instead - sometimes awkward though. I'm considering
buying another wok. A friend suggested getting an
electric one. I did a google search, but reviews weren't
very good. Is there really an advantage to having a wok?
I don't need another kitchen item that's just going to
take up space.

If anyone has recommendations, brands, etc. I'd
appreciate hearing them. Thanks.

Elaine