Tuesday, August 11, 2009

Woks - Key Facts

By Abby Cardin

Woks are not just for stir frying. Woks are popular in Asian cooking for preparing your meal using various cooking techniques. Chinese cuisine and other Asian cuisines use the wok in everyday meal preparation. Every kitchen has a wok and it is a very prized possession in Chinese homes.

The original round bottom wok was designed to help utilize the small amount of cooking fuel available to cooks. With the rounded bottom, the cook could take advantage of the intense heat produced in the bottom of the wok that radiated up its sloping sides. The idea of wok cooking is using the high, controllable heat to your advantage.

However, with the increase use of electric and glass top stoves, the flat bottom wok was designed to accommodate those appliances. Rounded bottom woks are still the best for gas ranges, but if you have an electric or glass top, your option is the flat bottom wok.

Woks are made from various types of materials and knowing which type you have preference for, will help you to shop for the best one you can afford in the right direction. Decide which wok works best in your kitchen.

Many Asian cooks swear by the old family cast iron wok. Modern glass top stoves work well for the iron enamel wok, but this wok does well on the gas stove too. Typically, a carbon steel wok sets costs about ?50 and the stainless steel sets are about ?70. The stainless steel wok is 5 ply with 3 ply of it inner layers being aluminium. Aluminium is known for its heat conducting qualities. Cast iron woks, 14" in diameter at the top, sell from about ?10 USD. They will need to be seasoned, but they will outlive most of the family.

What is so special about wok cooking? The shorter cooking times seal in juices, save energy and create delicious flavours. The lean Asians are a testimony to the wok cooking with its low cholesterol cuisine. In wok cooking you can steam, stir fry, simmer and deep fry. Even in the deep frying you will be able to avoid the longer cooking times which lead to more oil absorption meaning higher calories. Various accessories can be purchased along with your wok to insure that your new cooking techniques are done properly. For instance, your steamer basket should be 12" in diameter to fit a 14" wok.

A new wok cook book will help you learn how wok cooking is a systematic food preparation and then the cooking process. The importance of each is essential in order to understand the results you desire with woks. Your new wok is a wonderful tool in preparing this new kind of food for you.

Healthy meals, faster overall preparation, and delicious flavours are three advantages to using a wok in your kitchen for making your family's meals. Since this new utensil does so many chores in meal making, you may find that it is time to let go of some of those old pots and pans. Good luck in finding the best wok for you.

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