How to Season a Wok

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Seasoning is a crucial step for any carbon steel or cast iron wok. Here is an easy step-by-step guide on how to season a wok using just a few simple ingredients.

I purchased my very first wok after moving from Malaysia to the US to attend university in the year 2000. After washing my brand new carbon steel wok for the first time, it was covered in rust.

I was so confused because my Mum’s and grandmother’s woks never ever did that!

I went back to the Asian supermarket thinking I had to buy a new wok because I ruined it. The store owner remembered my previous purchase and refused to sell me a new wok! He told me to go home, scrub out the rust, and season the wok.

I had no idea how to season a wok so I called my Mum to ask for her advice. I then learned that her wok never rusted because it was so well seasoned from many years of regular use.

With proper seasoning and care, a wok can last for a very very long time. It is one of the most versatile tools in any kitchen. It is my hope that this step-by-step guide will help you understand how easy it is to season and maintain a wok; thus encouraging you to utilize your wok more.

Why season a wok?

Seasoning a wok introduces a layer of oil to the wok’s surface to prevent the metal from rusting, and also to prevent food from sticking to the wok. The more you use your wok, the more seasoned it becomes.

The color of the wok will become very dark, and the seasoning (also known as “patina”) will eventually create a naturally non-stick surface.

This patina will impart some subtle but awesome flavors (what we call wok hei – “the breath of the wok”) in each dish that you stir-fry.

What you’ll need:

• A carbon steel or cast iron wok (either brand new, or due for re-seasoning)
• Liquid dish soap
• Scouring pad or stainless steel scrubber
• 3 tablespoons of cooking oil (must be high smoke point oil; I recommend peanut oil or grapeseed oil)
• 2-inch piece of ginger (thinly sliced)
• 1 1/2 cups chopped scallions or garlic chives (or a mixture of both; cut into approximately 1-inch pieces)
• 2 – 3 paper towels

Step 1:  Wash the wok thoroughly using a scouring pad or a stainless steel scrubber and a generous amount of dish soap.

All brand new cast iron and carbon steel woks have a layer of chemical or oils to prevent them from rusting before they are purchased.

I recommend scrubbing the wok at least 2 – 3 times to get rid of any factory chemical or oil residue as you would not want any of that in your food!

Step 2: After rinsing all the soap off the wok, let it drip dry for a few seconds, then place it on your stove over medium heat. This will dry the wok and prep it for its first seasoning! After just a few moments, the bottom of the wok will start to turn to a dark color with a blue-ish hue.

Don’t be alarmed – this is totally normal! The more you use it, the darker the wok will become.

Step 3: As soon as you see the wok start to smoke just a little, add about 2 tablespoons of cooking oil. You can use any oil with a high smoke point. I recommend peanut oil or grapeseed oil.

Use your wok spatula to spread the oil around just the bottom part of the wok, then add sliced ginger (2-inch piece, sliced thinly), and about 1 1/2 cups of chopped scallions or garlic chives (or a combination of both).

The purpose of adding these ingredients is two-fold: Not only do they add a wonderful aroma and patina to the wok, they also help to spread the oil evenly over the (inside) surface of the wok.

Step 4: Use your wok spatula to move the scallions or chives and ginger around the entire surface of the wok. You don’t have to stir too vigorously but somewhat continuously to prevent them from burning too quickly.

Step 5: As soon as the vegetables have started to char just a little, remove them from the wok and discard.

Step 6: Rinse the wok under running water. Use a wok brush, or stainless steel scrubber to remove the food residue from the wok. Do NOT use soap!!

Step 7: Allow the wok to drip dry, then return it to the stove over medium heat. As soon as the wok is completely dry, turn off the heat.

Step 8: When the wok has cooled a little, pour about a tablespoon of cooking oil into the wok, then gently and slowly spread the oil all over the inside surface of the wok using 2 – 3 folded paper towels. Please remember to do this very slowly and gently to prevent the hot oil from splashing and burning your fingers!

Here’s a before-and-after comparison of my wok being seasoned for the first time:

That’s it! You’ve seasoned your brand new wok! You’re ready to stir-fry! 🙂

Maintaining Your Wok

Avoid cooking acidic foods (like tomatoes), poaching or steaming foods in your brand new wok until it is more seasoned. This will strip out the patina you worked so hard to develop! If you absolutely have to, you can re-season the wok using the above steps.

Do NOT use soap unless absolutely necessary (for example, if you cooked a spicy dish and want to remove the chili oil). This will also remove the seasoning very quickly.

After each use, simply repeat steps 6 through 8 to clean your wok.

It does take a long time for the wok to develop a nice patina, even with regular use, so don’t be discouraged if you don’t see much change in your wok for a while. Over time and with regular use, your wok will be so seasoned that you will not need to do Step 8 (applying the coat of oil after the wok dries)!

I hope this guide has been helpful to you. Please feel free to reach out to me if you have any questions or if you have any tips you would like to share!

Happy cooking! 🙂

PS – Check out my cookbook (The Healthy Wok) to get some stir-fry recipes to try in your new wok!

UPDATE: Here’s a photo of this same wok exactly 9 months after its first seasoning (2 – 3 times per week usage)

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