building up surface on stell wok

jw 1111 said:

Hi, i have a thin steel wok (not a nonstick one or stainless one, i.e. it
easily rusts) and i cannot get that non stick type surface built up on it.
for some time i have just fried onions in it with olive oil, to get it
started; but it just does not build up that black shiny type coat that i
have seen some woks have built up over time.

any suggestions on what i am doing wrong please, or need to be doing please?

I've been cooking in a wok for over 30 years, and after trying the
fancy ones, I prefer the old steel one like yours. You need to season
the wok. You can season it the same as a cast iron frying pan.
Coat the inside with any high smoke point cooking oil. I use the
cheapest that I have in my kitchen, Canola. thoroughly coat the inside
of the wok with oil and leave a tablespoon or so in the bottom. You can
heat it on the stove top or in the oven. If it has a wood handle, you
need to do it on the stove top. Otherwise, either will do. The
advantage of doing it on the stovetop is that you can watch it more
easily. You want to heat it until the oil just starts to smoke, then
back of the heat just enough do it doesn't smoke. The advantage of
doing it in the oven is you don't have to worry about overheating it so
much. But it's harder to watch and get the temp set right. If you do it
on the stovetop, you need to keep a close eye on it so you don't burn
off the oil and ruin the wok.
Either way, when you get it to the right heat, keep it there for an
hour or a little more. If the oil cooks off, just tip the wok and swish
the oil in the bottom around to recoat it. BE CAREFUL! Don't burn
yourself.
Let it cool and rinse it thoroughly. It's ready to use.
There is a second part to this, that's keeping it seasoned. Of course,
everytime you cook with it, you reseason it. NEVER wash it with any
kind of soap. Instead, clean it with salt and paper towel. I prefer
Kosher salt, it's coarser and more abrasive (available at any grocery
store), but regular salt will do.
I also keep a special ScotchBrite around that I use only on my cast
iron and my wok. It only sees soap when it gets dirty. Then it gets
washed and thoroughly rinsed before being used again. Or just gets put
through the dishwasher.
After you scrub out the wok with salt and/or the Scotchbrite, rinse it
and dry it thoroughly. If I don't dry it well enough, I still get rust,
which I just scrub out.
It seems, at first, like a lot of work, but after it becomes part of
your routine, it's nothing. I love cooking in the wok, and when I have
friends over, it usually gets a comment. Ok, so I'm shallow and like to
impress!
Hope this helps in your world.

salgud said:

jw 1111 said:

Hi, i have a thin steel wok (not a nonstick one or stainless one, i.e. it
easily rusts) and i cannot get that non stick type surface built up on it.
for some time i have just fried onions in it with olive oil, to get it
started; but it just does not build up that black shiny type coat that i
have seen some woks have built up over time.

any suggestions on what i am doing wrong please, or need to be doing please?

I've been cooking in a wok for over 30 years, and after trying the
fancy ones, I prefer the old steel one like yours. You need to season
the wok. You can season it the same as a cast iron frying pan.
Coat the inside with any high smoke point cooking oil. I use the
cheapest that I have in my kitchen, Canola. thoroughly coat the inside
of the wok with oil and leave a tablespoon or so in the bottom. You can
heat it on the stove top or in the oven. If it has a wood handle, you
need to do it on the stove top. Otherwise, either will do. The
advantage of doing it on the stovetop is that you can watch it more
easily. You want to heat it until the oil just starts to smoke, then
back of the heat just enough do it doesn't smoke. The advantage of
doing it in the oven is you don't have to worry about overheating it so
much. But it's harder to watch and get the temp set right. If you do it
on the stovetop, you need to keep a close eye on it so you don't burn
off the oil and ruin the wok.
Either way, when you get it to the right heat, keep it there for an
hour or a little more. If the oil cooks off, just tip the wok and swish
the oil in the bottom around to recoat it. BE CAREFUL! Don't burn
yourself.
Let it cool and rinse it thoroughly. It's ready to use.
There is a second part to this, that's keeping it seasoned. Of course,
everytime you cook with it, you reseason it. NEVER wash it with any
kind of soap. Instead, clean it with salt and paper towel. I prefer
Kosher salt, it's coarser and more abrasive (available at any grocery
store), but regular salt will do.
I also keep a special ScotchBrite around that I use only on my cast
iron and my wok. It only sees soap when it gets dirty. Then it gets
washed and thoroughly rinsed before being used again. Or just gets put
through the dishwasher.
After you scrub out the wok with salt and/or the Scotchbrite, rinse it
and dry it thoroughly. If I don't dry it well enough, I still get rust,
which I just scrub out.
It seems, at first, like a lot of work, but after it becomes part of
your routine, it's nothing. I love cooking in the wok, and when I have
friends over, it usually gets a comment. Ok, so I'm shallow and like to
impress!
Hope this helps in your world.

Reread my message. I might not have been clear when I said:
Of course,

Quoted message said:

everytime you cook with it, you reseason it.

I didn't mean you had to go through this whole procedure, I meant that
you automatically reseason it when you cook in it.

Are you washing it each time in soap and water?

"jw 1111" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

Hi, i have a thin steel wok (not a nonstick one or stainless one, i.e. it
easily rusts) and i cannot get that non stick type surface built up on it.
for some time i have just fried onions in it with olive oil, to get it
started; but it just does not build up that black shiny type coat that i
have seen some woks have built up over time.

any suggestions on what i am doing wrong please, or need to be doing
please?

"salgud" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

salgud said:

jw 1111 said:

Hi, i have a thin steel wok (not a nonstick one or stainless one, i.e.
it
easily rusts) and i cannot get that non stick type surface built up on
it.
for some time i have just fried onions in it with olive oil, to get it
started; but it just does not build up that black shiny type coat that
i
have seen some woks have built up over time.

any suggestions on what i am doing wrong please, or need to be doing
please?

I've been cooking in a wok for over 30 years, and after trying the
fancy ones, I prefer the old steel one like yours. You need to season
the wok. You can season it the same as a cast iron frying pan.
Coat the inside with any high smoke point cooking oil. I use the
cheapest that I have in my kitchen, Canola. thoroughly coat the inside
of the wok with oil and leave a tablespoon or so in the bottom. You can
heat it on the stove top or in the oven. If it has a wood handle, you
need to do it on the stove top. Otherwise, either will do. The
advantage of doing it on the stovetop is that you can watch it more
easily. You want to heat it until the oil just starts to smoke, then
back of the heat just enough do it doesn't smoke. The advantage of
doing it in the oven is you don't have to worry about overheating it so
much. But it's harder to watch and get the temp set right. If you do it
on the stovetop, you need to keep a close eye on it so you don't burn
off the oil and ruin the wok.
Either way, when you get it to the right heat, keep it there for an
hour or a little more. If the oil cooks off, just tip the wok and swish
the oil in the bottom around to recoat it. BE CAREFUL! Don't burn
yourself.
Let it cool and rinse it thoroughly. It's ready to use.
There is a second part to this, that's keeping it seasoned. Of course,
everytime you cook with it, you reseason it. NEVER wash it with any
kind of soap. Instead, clean it with salt and paper towel. I prefer
Kosher salt, it's coarser and more abrasive (available at any grocery
store), but regular salt will do.
I also keep a special ScotchBrite around that I use only on my cast
iron and my wok. It only sees soap when it gets dirty. Then it gets
washed and thoroughly rinsed before being used again. Or just gets put
through the dishwasher.
After you scrub out the wok with salt and/or the Scotchbrite, rinse it
and dry it thoroughly. If I don't dry it well enough, I still get rust,
which I just scrub out.
It seems, at first, like a lot of work, but after it becomes part of
your routine, it's nothing. I love cooking in the wok, and when I have
friends over, it usually gets a comment. Ok, so I'm shallow and like to
impress!
Hope this helps in your world.

Reread my message. I might not have been clear when I said:
Of course,

Quoted message said:

everytime you cook with it, you reseason it.

I didn't mean you had to go through this whole procedure, I meant that
you automatically reseason it when you cook in it.

many thanks to all. if you are impressing your friends you must be doing
something right ! any tips you can give a novice for a simple but good
stir fry please?

Quoted message said:

jw 1111 said:

"salgud" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

salgud said:

jw 1111 wrote:
> Hi, i have a thin steel wok (not a nonstick one or stainless one, i.e.
> it
> easily rusts) and i cannot get that non stick type surface built up on
> it.
> for some time i have just fried onions in it with olive oil, to get it
> started; but it just does not build up that black shiny type coat that
> i
> have seen some woks have built up over time.
>
> any suggestions on what i am doing wrong please, or need to be doing
> please?

I've been cooking in a wok for over 30 years, and after trying the
fancy ones, I prefer the old steel one like yours. You need to season
the wok. You can season it the same as a cast iron frying pan.
Coat the inside with any high smoke point cooking oil. I use the
cheapest that I have in my kitchen, Canola. thoroughly coat the inside
of the wok with oil and leave a tablespoon or so in the bottom. You can
heat it on the stove top or in the oven. If it has a wood handle, you
need to do it on the stove top. Otherwise, either will do. The
advantage of doing it on the stovetop is that you can watch it more
easily. You want to heat it until the oil just starts to smoke, then
back of the heat just enough do it doesn't smoke. The advantage of
doing it in the oven is you don't have to worry about overheating it so
much. But it's harder to watch and get the temp set right. If you do it
on the stovetop, you need to keep a close eye on it so you don't burn
off the oil and ruin the wok.
Either way, when you get it to the right heat, keep it there for an
hour or a little more. If the oil cooks off, just tip the wok and swish
the oil in the bottom around to recoat it. BE CAREFUL! Don't burn
yourself.
Let it cool and rinse it thoroughly. It's ready to use.
There is a second part to this, that's keeping it seasoned. Of course,
everytime you cook with it, you reseason it. NEVER wash it with any
kind of soap. Instead, clean it with salt and paper towel. I prefer
Kosher salt, it's coarser and more abrasive (available at any grocery
store), but regular salt will do.
I also keep a special ScotchBrite around that I use only on my cast
iron and my wok. It only sees soap when it gets dirty. Then it gets
washed and thoroughly rinsed before being used again. Or just gets put
through the dishwasher.
After you scrub out the wok with salt and/or the Scotchbrite, rinse it
and dry it thoroughly. If I don't dry it well enough, I still get rust,
which I just scrub out.
It seems, at first, like a lot of work, but after it becomes part of
your routine, it's nothing. I love cooking in the wok, and when I have
friends over, it usually gets a comment. Ok, so I'm shallow and like to
impress!
Hope this helps in your world.

Reread my message. I might not have been clear when I said:
Of course,

Quoted message said:

everytime you cook with it, you reseason it.

I didn't mean you had to go through this whole procedure, I meant that
you automatically reseason it when you cook in it.

many thanks to all. if you are impressing your friends you must be doing
something right ! any tips you can give a novice for a simple but good
stir fry please?

Quoted message said:

The possibilities are endless. I usually cook pork or chicken, beef
occasionally, most any cut will do. Cut it up into long, thin,
bite-size pieces. Cut up some pepper(s), any color works, but
red/yellow/orange give a nice color, some snow peas and throw in a can
of waterchestnuts or bean sprouts if you have some. Really, almost any
veggie will work.
Start the rice if you want it over rice. Any good rice will do.
Get it all cut up, along with chopping a couple of cloves of garlic.
Make a simple sauce of soy sauce, sherry and brown sugar, proportioned
to taste. (Americans usually like it much sweeter than Asians) If you
like your sauces thick, put a tablespoon of cornstarch in a 2-3
tablespoons of water, mix it up, set aside.
Start heating the wok on high heat (all the way up on most gas stoves,
med hi on electric). When the oil just barely starts to smoke, turn it
down just a bit, then throw in the meat. Stirfry until about 3/4's
done.
Start putting in the veggies. Put in the ones that cook slowest first.
Carrots are dense, cook slower than peppers or snow peas. You have to
move quickly, you want the meat done just right, and the veggies nice
and crisp. (Once you've done it like this, you'll never, never want to
go to a "Chinese Buffet" place again. Veggies have been on a steam
table for hours, cooked to death, no flavor). Keep adding veggies until
they're all in. The last veggie should only take a minute or so,
something like snow peas or mushrooms. Just long enough to be hot. Add
the sauce right after you add the last veggie. Cook another minute or
so. If you want it thick, add the corn starch/water, stir it for a few
seconds to thicken, then turn off the heat. Should only take about 5
min from start of cooking until it's done. Dig in!
Oh, I've found that a little chopped cilantro (Chinese parsley) is
delicious on most of my Asian dinners. Especially my home made sweet &
sour. I make my own from a Chinese recipe I got out of a genuine (ok,
in-English genuine) cookbook I bought in San Fran years ago. It's not
nearly as sweet as the syrup they serve in most Asian restaurants in
the US. I like it tangy, as I'm told, do many Asians. The recipe is
simple. Let me know if you're interested.
If you like stirfry, you ought to go to an Asian market. If you live in
even a small city, there'll be one around. I love to go and get
authentic Asian veggies, sauces, noodles, etc. Occasionally I see an
interesting sauce, buy it, take it home and give it a try. Be careful
though, if you don't like hot food, some of these sauces put anything
I've had in Mexico (the real Mexico, not the American-Mexico like
Cancun or Mazatlan or the tourist places). They can scorch you!
Hope this helps in your world.