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Perfect Stir-frying Techniques

ByRasa Malaysia

5 from 7 votes

Published May 24, 2018

Updated Sep 30, 2024

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Learn the secret techniques for perfect Chinese stir-frying, from selecting the right tools and utensils to ingredients prepping, stir-fry sauce and so much more!

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Stir-frying is one of the fundamental techniques of successful Chinese cooking, one that you ought to master if you wish to make Chinese recipes at home. Here are my quick techniques and tips for perfect everyday stir-frying.

1. The wok or skillet must be fully heated before stir-frying. You’ll know if the wok or skillet has reached the optimum heat when a swirl of white smoke starts appearing on its surface.

2. Add the oil after the wok or skillet is fully heated. Make sure that the oil completely coats the bottom surface of the wok or skillet.

3. Cut the ingredients, such as chicken, beef, pork, or seafood, into uniform pieces. Also, it’s very important to have all the ingredients prepared, measured, and placed close to the wok or skillet. Once in the wok or skillet, spread the ingredients in one layer to ensure even cooking.

4. Stir-fries are generally prepared with a light sauce. Mix the sauce in advance in a small bowl by combining all the ingredients in the sauce. If cornstarch is used, make sure that it’s completely dissolved. Before adding the sauce into the stir-fry, quickly stir the sauce one last time to ensure that nothing settled at the bottom of the bowl. An authentic Chinese stir-fry dishes shouldn’t be doused in too much sauce; the sauce should barely cling to the ingredients.

5. The spatula should play an active role in stir-frying. Use it to continuously stir and toss the ingredients in a back and forth, circular, turning, and/or flipping motions

Classic Stir-Frying Recipes

Mongolian Beef

Beef and Broccoli

Cashew Shrimp

Szechuan Beef

Print Recipe

5 from 7 votes

Perfect Stir-Frying Techniques

Learn the secret techniques for perfect Chinese stir-frying, from selecting the right tools and utensils to ingredients prepping, stir-fry sauce and so much more!

Prep Time10 minutes mins

Cook Time20 minutes mins

Total Time30 minutes mins

Keyword: Perfect Stir-Frying Techniques

Servings: 8 servings

Author: Bee Yinn Low

Cost: $20.00

Equipment

• Wok
• Spatula

Ingredients

• Veggies
• Protein
• Sauce

Instructions

• The wok or skillet must be fully heated before stir-frying. You’ll know it has reached optimal heat when a swirl of white smoke begins to appear on its surface.
  
• Add the oil once the wok or skillet is fully heated. Make sure the oil completely coats the bottom surface.
  
• Cut the ingredients, such as chicken, beef, pork, or seafood, into uniform pieces. It’s also important to have all the ingredients prepared, measured, and placed close to the wok or skillet. Once added, spread the ingredients in a single layer to ensure even cooking.
  
• Stir-fries are generally prepared with a light sauce. Mix the sauce in advance in a small bowl by combining all the ingredients. If using cornstarch, ensure it is completely dissolved. Before adding the sauce to the stir-fry, give it a quick stir to make sure nothing has settled at the bottom of the bowl. Authentic Chinese stir-fry dishes shouldn’t be doused in too much sauce; the sauce should barely cling to the ingredients.
  
• The spatula should play an active role in stir-frying. Use it to continuously stir and toss the ingredients in a back and forth, circular, turning, and/or flipping motions.