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Wok Oils Unveiled: A Superb Cooking Guide

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Oils for wok
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“What is the best oils for wok?” is a question that is frequently asked.”..

Let me first state that there is no best oils for wok…

The best oils for  wok depends on: It’s what you’re cooking..

…incorporate what flavor you want into the food you are preparing…

…point at which smoke should appear.

As a starting point…

consider avocado or coconut oils for stir-frying….

Both of these oils for wok have a high smoke point….

Stir-frying in a wok requires high smoke points…

After you have tried these two oils for wok..

try the other oils for wok we have listed below…

Theree would like to tell something…

There are a few I have…

You shouldn’t use a wok larger than 16 inches for stir-frying. With food in it,…

you won’t be able to work very efficiently. Additionally, I have several thin…

flat-bottomed, long-handled carbon steel woks that I use exclusively…

for frying and smoking. If you’re cooking woks, use oils that…

have a high smoke point and are low in polyunsaturated fat.

There are oil from grapeseed, peanut, etc. and olive oil…

and sesame oil have a bitter taste. Soybean oil, for example…

is high in polyunsaturated fats, which can make your food greasy and hard. 

The word “wok” actually means “cooking pot” in Chinese, and they’re as versatile as the name would suggest.

Wikipedia

Here we go…


Highest Smoke Point Oils for Wok

If you will use oil, be sure to use one with a smoking point of 400 F or higher…

..such as: In Asian cooking, stir-frying is one of the most common methods.

Most people believe that wok cooking is primarily done by Chinese…

…however, the Asian community is much larger than just the Chinese.

In the Philippines, Thailand, Singapore, and Malaysia…

…woks are commonly used to prepare food.


An Introduction to Stir-Frying Using a Wok

Using a high cooking temperature and cooking the food quickly…

…is the key to making a good stir-fry. Stir-frying involves cooking food…

…at high temperatures, so it’s important to use a cooking oil

…with a high smoke point.  

Using oil with a low smoke point will cause the oil to burn…

…and the whole dish will be ruined. 

Oil will actually start smoking at its smoke point…

..and may impart an unusual taste to food once it reaches that point.

Choosing an oil that won’t break down under high heat…

…or extended high heat is also important. 

Carcinogens, which are harmful to your health…

…are produced when oil breaks down at a molecular level.

Try to choose an organic oil that doesn’t contain GMO ingredients…

…whatever your choice. A great stir-fry starts with the right oil.

Oils for wok
Credit: selfproclaimedfoodie.com

Here is the list…


Best Oils for Wok

Peanut Oil

First oils for wok is peanut oil…

Most Chinese cooks use soybean, vegetable, or peanut oil,…

…all of which have a high smoke point. Suitable for stir-frying…

…peanut oil has a pleasant nutty flavor.

Deep frying can also be done with peanut oil…

A negative feature of peanut oil is its high omega-6 content…

….which promotes inflammation. Western diets tend to contain…

…too much of these fats, which may increase the risk of certain diseases.

Cooking with it is unsafe since it is unstable…

….and prone to oxidation when heated.


Canola Oil

Next oils for wok is canola oi. As compared to some of the other oils…

…canola oil has a relatively low smoke point of 400 degrees F.

The only reason I mention canola oil is that it has a neutral taste….

Stir-frying canola oil should be done carefully…

…so that the oil doesn’t reach smoke point.


Olive Oil

Next oils for wok is olive oil…

Olive oil is one of the healthiest and most delicious oils available…

The production of olive oil dates back thousands of years….

Olive oil is made by pressing olives to produce a slurry…

…that contains low omega-6 levels. Using olive oil is healthy…

…due to the absence of chemicals used in its extraction.

Today’s facilities use a gentle process to prevent friction…

…from causing the oil slurry to rise above 80 degrees F.

Cold-pressed fruits and vegetables can be labeled “cold-pressed”…

…if kept below this threshold of 80 degrees F.

While you can stir-fry with olive oil…

understand that the smoke point is low and that it can impart…

…a very strong flavor to your food.

Extra virgin olive oil has a smoke point of 374 degrees Fahrenheit…

Make sure you use olive oil that is not “extra-virgin…

… (smoke point of 405 to 410 degrees F).

A healthy oil like olive oil is low in omega-6, making it an excellent vegetable oil..

One of your best options might be this. Despite its relatively low smoke point…


Grapeseed Oil

Next oils for wok is grapeseed oil…

Stir-frying and deep-frying are two other cooking methods…

…in which grapeseed oil is becoming increasingly popular.

The smoke point of grapeseed oil, which is obtained after…

…the grapes have been pressed, is 420 degrees F.

If you are looking for best oil for stir-frying..

…we have recommendations for you.

There is a significant amount of vitamin E in grapeseed oil….

Most people could benefit from more vitamin E…

…because it is an important antioxidant. It contains about twice…

…as much vitamin E as olive oil!

Olive oil contains a high amount of omega-6 fatty acids…

…which produce inflammatory reactions.

Inflammatory reactions are not triggered by omega-3 fatty acids….

Oils should therefore contain fewer omega-6 fatty acids…

…than omega-3 fatty acids.  Between those two fatty acid components…

…there needs to be a happy balance.

Grape seeds are usually extracted by crushing them…

…and using toxic solvents to extract the oils.

Many people are worried that traces of these toxic solvents….

…such as hexane, may adversely affect their health.


Coconut Oil (Refined)

Next oils for wok is coconut oil….

Coconut oil comes in different types. The best form of coconut oil to use…

…is virgin coconut oil, which is gently processed…

…as well as cold-processed coconut oil. Pure coconut oil…

…may not have the same harmful effects as highly processed oil.

Coconut oils that have been heated and treated with solvents…

…raise cholesterol levels. A harsh processing process may destroy…

…some of the good essential fatty acids and antioxidants, such as lauric acid.

It is believed that lauric acid raises HDL (High-Density Lipoproteins)…

…and LDL (Low-Density Lipoproteins) cholesterol.

A recent study found that lauric acid did not appear to increase the risk…

…of heart disease as much as other types of saturated fatty acids…

…like palmitic acid, which is found in butter.

Oil from coconuts may be a better choice than some other saturated fats…

…especially animal fats.

Cold-processed coconut oil is the best to use..

…followed by virgin or extra virgin coconut oil.

My egg dishes, such as scrambled eggs and omelets…

…are made with coconut oil. During the process of frying..

…the eggs acquire a wonderful taste, as well as a wonderful aroma.

For my eggs, I use about 1/2 a teaspoon of coconut oil…

My diet contains about 6-7 grams of saturated fat from this…

As long as you remember “everything in moderation”, you should be okay….

As a general rule, the American Heart Association recommends…

…that you limit your intake of saturated fat to about 13 grams per day.


Avocado Oil

The las oil for woks is Avocado oils…

My favorite oil to use in my cooking is avocado…

Avocado oil has a high smoke point and…

…it is a healthy oil compared to other oils. 

Oils for wok
Credit: fairprice.com.sg

Tips for Cooking with a Wok

Cooking on a wok is intimidating, but it is the most versatile…

…and handy tool in your kitchen. Besides braising, frying, and sautéing…

…it can even be used as a smoker. (I use one of my woks with an inset grate…

…to tea smoke duck and squab all the time.) The unique shape of the wok..

…requires some special cooking techniques and ideas.

Many professional chefs who work with woks are very dramatic…

,,,using open flames and tossing ingredients around the pan.

In a more relaxed home kitchen cooking environment…

..woks can also be highly beneficial.

Tossing the food into a wok reduces the need for constant stirring…

…and the material is designed to transfer the heat up the sides…

…speeding up the cooking process.

As a result, the temperature is usually very high…

…and the cooking happens very quickly.


Oils to Avoid for Stir-Fry

Due to their low smoke points, other oils should be avoided…

…besides extra-virgin olive oil. The smoke point of sesame oil, for example…

…is extremely low. There are some Chinese dishes that use toasted…

…sesame oil to fry the ingredients, such as three cup chicken…

…but it should not be used for high-heat cooking.

When heating sesame oil in a wok, be very careful not to burn it…

Be careful not to overheat it, otherwise, it will burn and you will taste bitter food…

Typically, sesame oil is only used for seasoning or adding to stir-fry dishes…

…at the end of cooking in Chinese cooking.

You should also avoid flax-seed oil and shortening when stir-frying….


More About Sesame Oil for Stir Frying

Other oils with low smoke points should be avoided…

…in addition to extra-virgin olive oil. For example…

…sesame oil has a very low smoke point. Although toasted sesame oil…

…is used to fry the components in several Chinese recipes…

…such as three cup chicken, it is not advised for high-heat cooking.

When heating sesame oil in a wok, use extreme caution….

Don’t overcook it; else, it will burn and turn your food bitter….

Sesame oil is mostly used for seasoning or adding to stir-fry…

…meals at the end of the cooking process in Chinese cookery.

Also, avoid flaxseed oil and don’t stir-fry with butter or shortening…


Cleaning Your Wok for the First Time

Oils for wok
Credit: mashed.com

Before you do anything else, it is important to clean your wok…

…after purchasing it. To protect new works from humidity during shipping…

…manufacturers apply factory oil to them. By doing so, rust is prevented…

…and the wok arrives in pristine condition.

Before seasoning your wok, you need to scrub it well with a sponge…

…and soap to remove all the factory oil and any dust that accumulated…

…during shipping. This will be the only time you will need to use soap…

…and an abrasive sponge to clean your pan.

To remove all residue, follow these steps:

  • Fill sink with hot, soapy water.
  • Scrub the inside and outside of wok with a scouring pad.
  • Rinse the wok completely.
  • Dry wok with a clean, dry towel.
  • Place on stovetop over medium-high heat to completely dry the wok and evaporate any leftover water.
  • After you’ve removed all the manufacturer’s oil and exposed the bare metal, it’s time to choose your seasoning oil or lard.

Those made to be used with a wok have a high smoking point…

…so they can be used at high temperatures without burning.

It is also important that they have a neutral flavor and be refined…

Unrefined oils with low smoking points like olive oil…

…and sesame oil should be avoided. For seasoning your wok…

..try one of the following oils:

  • Canola oil
  • Grape seed oil
  • Sunflower oil
  • Lard or pork fat Shortening

How to Season a Wok

Chefs season their pans in their own way according to their preferences….

We will cover three of the most popular methods, stovetop seasoning…

…oven seasoning, and salt seasoning.

No matter what method you use to season the wok…

…the first step is always to wash it so the bare metal is exposed.


https://milkwoodrestaurant.com/the-best-oils-for-fried-rice-you-must-know/
https://milkwoodrestaurant.com/guide-to-choosing-the-best-stir-frying-oils/embed/
https://milkwoodrestaurant.com/coconut-oil-can-be-used-for-stir-frying/

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