What is the difference between a wok and a frying pan? Both a wok and frying pan are designed for use on top of the stove. A traditional frying pan has a flat bottom with slightly sloped walls. ... A wok has more of a round bottom, allowing the liquids to sit in one spot in the centre.

Can a frying pan be used as a wok?

You do lose some of the high-sided cooking area you get with a wok, but even stir-fry expert, Grace Young agrees that a skillet makes a suitable substitute.

How is a wok different from a traditional frying pan?

The typical frying pan has a flat bottom and moderately sloped walls, which allows for oil, sauce or other liquids to rest evenly across the bottom of the vessel. On the other hand, a wok boasts a rounded bottom, so liquids concentrate in one spot at the center.

Is stir-fry and pan fry the same?

Sautéing, or pan frying, starts with cooking in butter or oil and ends with crispy vegetables. Stir-frying is another cooking method that yields flavorful vegetables and juicy meats from fresh foods or leftovers.

Is frying pan healthy?

Overall, pan-frying is considered healthier than deep-frying due to the smaller amounts of oil it uses. Additionally, it's best to choose an oil that's stable at high heat and will add healthier fats to your fish. Olive oil is one healthy option.

Woks vs. Skillets: Do You Need Both? | Gear Heads

28 related questions found

What foods can you pan fry?

You can pan fry just about anything, including vegetables, meat, and fish. There are a few methods of pan frying. The basic pan fry uses medium heat and a little bit of oil to cook whole pieces of meat and un-chopped vegetables.

What is wok used for?

While most commonly used for stir fry, a wok has an array of different potential uses because of its unique design. Since it is so deep it can be filled with water and used to boil foods or filled with oil for deep frying. When paired with wood chips and a rack, a wok can also be used as a smoker for meats and cheeses.

Does using a wok make a difference?

Cooking in a wok definitely makes a difference in the time needed to prepare a dish. Due to high heat retention, it's much quicker to fry food in a wok compared to a frying pan. Woks also allow for a very even and cooking of the ingredients.

What is the difference between a saucepan and a frying pan?

By contrast, frying pans are shallower, with sides that are set at a slight angle. They're usually smaller than saucepans, and their low sides make them appear even smaller. However, they may be much broader in circumference, meaning that more surface area is exposed to the heat.

Can you use a wok for everything?

Dunlop says: “The wok is not only for stir-frying—it's used for pretty much everything. It's very economical. ... You can also use it for boiling and making stews, or even as a smoker—you cover the base of the wok with several layers of foil, and then you put some sugar and tea leaves and some flour.

What pan is best for stir fry?

Carbon steel pan vs nonstick pan

Chinese stir fry requires heating up the pan very hot most of the time, which makes a carbon steel pan a safer choice since it's made from just metal. Carbon steel pans also hold heat better and thus sear food better than nonstick.

Why is a wok better than a frying pan?

A wok should be used instead of a frying pan because it is made up of carbon steel, it cooks quickly, and helps to stir-fry the food with less oil. The curved and round shape of a wok ensures that the cooked food is less oily. A wok also has a larger capacity to cook food compared to a frying pan.

Do I need a wok?

So woks aren't only necessary for good stir-frying, but they can take the place of your Dutch oven, skillet, and even saucepan if they are in use. ... You can easily use less heat and fry up greens and other veggies as well. Think of it as a backup skillet if your main tool is in use.

What's so special about a wok?

So, what is it that makes a wok so special? Primarily, the wok is handy because you have a section of it that is directly applied to heat, and a bunch of extra surface that can still hold food but isn't going to cook the food it's holding. ... At the other end of the spectrum, you can deep-fry in a wok as well.

Is a wok non stick?

Traditional woks are made from carbon steel, which require regular seasoning with oil to stop them from rusting. Modern woks sometimes come with a non-stick coating, plus you can choose between a round- or flat-bottomed wok, depending on your preference and hob type.

Why is it called a wok?

The wok is believed to have first been invented in China, over 2000 years ago during the Han dynasty. Derived from the Cantonese word meaning 'Cooking Pot', the early models of the wok were made of cast iron metals, allowing them to be more durable and long lasting.

What pan can I use if I don't have a wok?

A sauté pan (which most of us already have at home) makes a good substitute for a wok; just heat a few tablespoons of vegetable oil in the pan and stir-fry as usual.

Can you stir-fry in a regular pan?

“Anytime you're thinking about stir-frying, you should be reaching for a wok,” says Young. “But a 12-inch straight-sided skillet will work, too. You'll need more oil to keep the chicken and vegetables from sticking. Whatever you do, though, don't reach for nonstick.

What is a saute frying pan?

A sauté pan has straight sides (the pan on the left in the photo above). It has a larger surface area, which makes it ideal for tasks like searing meat or reducing a pan sauce. ... The slanted sides make this pan perfect for stir-frying and quick cooking techniques where you're moving ingredients around a lot in the pan.

Why is it called a frying pan?

Copper frying pans were used in ancient Mesopotamia. ... The word pan derives from the Old English panna. Before the introduction of the kitchen stove in the mid-19th century, a commonly used cast-iron cooking pan called a 'spider' had a handle and three legs used to stand up in the coals and ashes of the fire.

Is Stir fry fried?

Stir frying (Chinese: 炒; pinyin: chǎo) is a Chinese cooking technique in which ingredients are fried in a small amount of very hot oil while being stirred or tossed in a wok. ... It is similar to sautéing in Western cooking technique.

How do you use a frying pan?

Here we go!

1. Heat the pan slowly. If you want to give your pans a long and happy life, avoid heating them too quickly. ...
2. Fry with or without fat. You can choose to fry with or without fat - all depending on your pan. ...
3. Fry at 2/3 of the heat. You don't need to fry on the hob's highest heat. ...
4. Clean thoroughly.