Katie Chin

Here’s How to Season Your Wok

Appears in
Katie Chin's Everyday Chinese Cookbook: 101 Delicious Recipes from My Mother's Kitchen
Katie Chin's Everyday Chinese Cookbook

By Katie Chin

Published 2016

  • About
  1. If your wok is new, it will have a thin factory coating that must be removed before the first use. To do this, wash the wok inside and out with a stainless-steel scrubber, dish soap, and hot water. Rinse and dry it over low heat.
  2. To begin the seasoning process, place the wok over high heat. Tilt and turn the wok as it heats until it becomes a yellowish-blueish color. Remove from heat.
  3. Using a paper towel, wipe the inside of the wok with a small amount of vegetable oil.
  4. Turn heat to medium-low. Place wok on burner for 10 minutes.
  5. Wipe with a fresh paper towel. There will be black residue on the paper towel. Repeat steps 3 and 4 about three times, adding small amounts of oil, until there is no longer black residue on the paper towel when wiped.
  6. Ta-da! You have seasoned your wok and are now ready to stir-fry.