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"Wok Star"

Tips For Using Wok on a Gas Stove

December 3, 2014 By Eleanor Hoh 8 Comments

You want SIZZLE not FIZZLE! I think I coined a new phrase.

A gas stove is ESSENTIAL for wok cooking because you need HIGH HEAT!
Electric stoves do NOT generate enough heat and because the round bottom cast iron wok shape only gets a small contact area, it won’t work!
However, now there’s an induction wok stove for those who are not able to use gas in their building!

Wok Stars, it’s a no brainer to use your wok on a gas stove, right? Well, I’ve got 3 tips below to help you succeed even more if you’ve got a residential gas stove and not my Iwatani portable butane gas stove which fits PERFECTLY with my 15″ cast iron wok.

Wok Stars, if you’re frustrated with your gas heat output, please take 2 photos like the ones below so I can help you figure it out!
1)  take a photo from the front with your wok sitting on the gas burner you currently use
2)  take a photo of your whole gas stove from above without wok so I can see the sizes of your burners and what kind of grid you have.

So, I asked two Wok Stars, Mary and Carla to take photos of their gas burners to illustrate their specific problems with their heat output and grid situation and below are my findings!  Oh, notice how their cast iron woks have beautiful patina!

Mary's GE gas stove's grate allows her to set wok directly on the grate so heat is closer which is great! However, the bigger burner's flames are again wide apart and the smaller burner doesn't give out enough BTU and she's experiencing some soupiness in the bottom of her wok!  So, Mary and many others  end up buying my Iwatani portable butane gas stove.
Mary’s GE gas stove’s grate allows her to set wok directly on the grate so heat is closer which is great! However, the smaller burner doesn’t give out enough BTU and she’s experiencing some soupiness in the bottom of her wok!
This higher btu burner is wider so heat is not focused at base of Mary's wok where she needs it!
This higher btu burner is wider so heat is not focused at base of Mary’s wok where she needs it!
Viking Gas Stove with horizontal grate. Notice the middle burner is biggest with left burners at 12,000 btu and right burners at
Here’s Carla’s Viking Gas Stove with horizontal grate. Notice the middle burner is biggest with left front burner at 12,000 btu and right front burner at 6.000 btu.
This wok ring is too deep so Carla's wok is further away from the heat. To remedy this, I've suggested getting a shallower ring or a Viking wok attachment.
This wok ring is too deep so Carla’s wok is further away from the heat. To remedy this, I’ve suggested getting a shallower ring or a Viking wok attachment.
Lightweight, thin walled, round bottom cast iron wok sits on wok ring on top of Viking gas stove with horizontal iron grate.
Here’s Carla’s wok which sits on a wok ring on top of Viking gas stove with horizontal iron grate. We tried it without the grate but then the ring is not deep enough to balance the wok!
Viking manual with BTU output for burners. Carla was using the middle biggest burner which everyone automatically assumes bigger is better. However, the flames are leaping up sides of the wok and not focused at base where it's needed most! So, I always suggest using a smaller burner!  However, Carla's right front is only 6,000 till Carla sent me manual and I see left front is 12,000!  Twice as powerful than the left front burner, so that's what Carla should use!
Viking manual with BTU output for burners. Carla was using the middle biggest burner which everyone automatically assumes bigger is better. However, the flames are leaping up sides of the wok and not focused at base where it’s needed most! So, I suggest using a smaller burner! However, Carla’s right front burner is only 6,000 and I see left front is 12,000! Twice as powerful than the left front burner, so that’s what Carla should use!


COOKING TIPS FOR GAS STOVE OWNERS:
Residential gas stoves are typically 7,000 to 10,000 btu which is still a bit low for wok cooking.
If you have an electric flat glass cooktop or coil, you won’t be successful. I’ve laid out all the reasons why here.
1) USE SMALLER BURNER
You may get better results using a smaller (lower btu) burner on your stove because the higher btu burners have the gas jets spaced wider apart so the heat is on the sides of the wok and not focused at the bottom where you need the heat most.
2) SET WOK DIRECTLY ON GRID
You can set your wok directly on the metal grid of your gas stove. Depending on the type of grid, the wok may wobble a bit.  That’s OK because when you stir fry you should be using your left hand in the wok mitt to steady the wok (lefties reverse it).
If the wobble bothers you, check with your stove manufacturer for a “wok attachment” especially designed to handle the wok.
Another alternative is to buy an inexpensive wok ring from your Asian market but it makes your wok further away from the flame. Best is to flip the ring so the wider diameter is at the top and the smaller at the bottom, this allows your wok to sit closer to the heat.
3) HIGH HEAT FOR OPTIMUM RESULTS
Remember, high heat is ESSENTIAL so the closer you are to the heat, the more success you will have with stir frying.

This Iwatani, 12,000 BTU portable gas burner is PERFECT for the 15 1/2 " cast iron wok. The heat is focused at the base where it's needed most.  I leave it sitting on top of my electric coil burner all the time so it's convenient so I end up using it for cooking most everything. This helps to build patina faster.
This Iwatani, 12,000 BTU portable gas burner is PERFECT for the 15 1/2 ” cast iron wok. The heat is focused at the base where it’s needed most. I leave it sitting on top of my electric coil burner all the time so it’s convenient and I end up using it for cooking most everything. This helps to build patina faster.


If you’re like Mary and tried all the above and still getting soupy veggies and not enough sear with your meats, a simple solution is to purchase my Iwatani portable gas stove which is 12,000 btu!  Yes, Mary is treating herself to one, once you get spoiled with this high heat, you cannot go back to using mediocre heat!
The stove comes in a handy briefcase so you’re completely mobile and can cook outdoors or take it camping, boating or visit friends to show off your wok skills! Click here for more details or to order your Iwatani Stove!
 

Filed Under: blog, gas stove, stir fry stove, Tips Tagged With: "cooking tips", "high heat", "Wok Star", cast iron wok, gas stove, Iwatani, stir fry stove, tips, wok cooking

Cooking with Wok Star Video, Sid's Lobster Stir Fry

June 9, 2014 By Eleanor Hoh 7 Comments

CALLING ALL WOK STARS!

We’re so excited to share our first video showcasing Wok Stars! Yes, YOU!

For our premier Wok Star video launch, we’re featuring Sid, a famous photographer with 12 Addy’s, wow!   He’s wokking up fresh lobster with Chinese broccoli and noodle stir fry. 

WokStarSid-Zara
Sid goofing around with Zara setting up for the shoot.

We didn’t know how famous till we started digging into his story. And I’ve slept under one his shell photography on RCL’s cruise ships!  It was so much fun shooting in his Wynwood studio!  I took some “behind the scenes’ photos of Sid’s beautiful photography (doesn’t do it justice of course) and his amazing studio and of course, the oh so juicy lobster stir fry. Sid specially caught fresh lobster for this shoot, how sweet, it was so fresh and tasty!

If you’re interested in having Sid make your product beautiful, visit his website or his blog and you’ll discover he’s a huge foodie and loves a good tipple! At his BBQs, he grills gourmet sausages and surprise treats and his annual Crawfish Parties are legendary.  What a swell guy to hang with.

Thanks Wok Star Sid! 


So if you’re up for it, email me wokstar at eleanorhoh dot com.  You’ll get a nice surprise swag bag full of goodies for being in our Wok Star video!

You must own my Wok Star Kit and portable gas stove setup to be featured.

  Check back for more Wok Stars!  Next up OBGYN, Dr. Eric then interior designer, Carolina.

Zara Castany, a film grad and a Wok Star is my producer/director and editor.  We’re trying to figure out how to feature her in one of these! Guess, we’ll have to switch positions.

 
 

Filed Under: blog, Cooking with Wok Stars Video, video, wok cooking, Wok Star Tagged With: "Cooking with Wok Stars", "Sid Hoeltzell", "Wok Star Kit", "Wok Star", lobster, noodle, stir fry, video, wok cooking

How blogs can help you be a Wok Star!

June 3, 2014 By Eleanor Hoh 47 Comments

BelleLive-Blogtour
One of the things I’ve always struggled with is providing content to support my customers who are new Wok Stars and reach potential Wok Stars!  For some reason, I always thought I should be blogging about just food and provide my customers with lots of meal ideas because I don’t teach ‘recipes’.

How to make cheese omelets in your wok!
How to make curry quinoa in your wok!
How to make soup with little clean up!

Well, these thoughts were banished when I watched Creative Live’s Build a Successful Creative Blog with April Bowles-Olin!  
The biggest takeaway from April’s course was…
Blog about the topic you are an expert in, that’s what your audience want and expect from you.
April helped me open my eyes to blogging more than just about cooking in a wok but to focus on solutions why folks have not succeeded in wok cooking or offering tips how to succeed in wok cooking through reading my blogs!
Crafting titles to attract the right audience is the most important element to blogging, and this is something I must learn and fast!

OBGYN, Dr. Eric woks on top of his electric stove
Film grad, Zara on kitchen counter
Zeke loves cooking with his mom!

I love helping people solve problems, so after April’s course, I posted a blog describing how folks who’ve used the wrong wok and stove were never successful until they bought my Kit and Stove and are now Cast Iron Wok Converts!
Providing tips for Easy Wok Dinner and eating healthier is also a popular topic!
Sharing tips about woks
Dispelling misinformation by so called ‘experts’, a subject that irks me something rotten and itching to blog about!
and the list goes on and on.
My problem has always been how to manage all this because it’s overwhelming.  April provided us with a clear procedure. It’s what I teach people about wok cooking and should apply to myself!  Thank you so much April.
And when I flounder with blogging topics, I have to keep reminding myself that when I provide content that helps people make decisions, they become your avid fans!
Buyers always tell me that the content and solutions I provide were what helped them decide to buy from me.  Now, if I can entice more folks to visit my blog, I believe they will understand a little more that what I provide in my Wok Star Kit Bundle will help them be successful Wok Stars!

Click this tweet!

My Wok Star Kit Bundle with everything to help you succeed: right wok, gas stove, good knife and seasonings!

I’ll leave you with some very touching comments from Wok Stars!…
“Wonderful website…Brilliant business plan, instructional approach (Zen easy-style)…my dear EH…I am profoundly impressed by your digital entrepreneurship and the intelligence of your website!!! I am SO happy to have found you…” Ralph A.
“I like your style of wok cooking because it has a healthy fresh spin on cooking.
Also you make it fun and easy! I will also join your newsletter and be one of your Wok Stars! Thanks,” Billy
“Wok so much…can’t tell you enough how much you have changed my eating habits and inspired so much enjoyment for cooking. :)” Dr. Eric, busy OBGYN
“I picked you as your site was the most informed and you actually know what you’re talking about.  I found your site personalized and friendly as well as smart. Most sites I’ve visited I found were rubbish, no idea what they were talking about and obviously don’t use woks and or don’t believe in what they are selling.” Kind regards, Julia
“Without the knowledge you’ve shared on your site, I would’ve spent a lot of money just to get poor results because my existing equipment is inadequate.”  Brian
“I felt that when I saw your Youtube clips and reading your website.  I can see your passion in what you’re doing as that was very obvious…you are the only one that took the time and effort to put everything together and at it’s most simplest and easiest form of understanding.  So–TO ME—that is GOLD, my dear!!…YOU stand out and sets YOU far above the others when someone is really serious about eating healthy and looking at wok cooking to assist them in their journey.  So–Don’t Stop What You’re Doing!!  You are the WOK STAR in my book!!” Holly
“With your kit and the butane stove, we’ve got the perfect setup now.  I just wish I hadn’t wasted all that money before finding your kit and stove!”  Thanks so much!”  Joe & Cristina
“Your kit is thoughtfully put together, with the selling points for me being the organization and ease. I am looking to eat healthier and have fun, I think you made that happen for me.” Daniel
“I love that you take the time to explain why you are so insistent about recommending a very specific product. In general, I respond to real people who are passionate about what they do.  When I saw your website, I knew I wanted to support you.”  Nathan
 
This post is a part of the “What ‪#‎BelleLive‬ Taught Me” blog tour. In order to continue your journey, visit Kris Windley’s, Blogging is a Team Sport: How to Build Community Online – and Why You Have to
and Laura Kuenzig’s, Done is better than perfect
or for a full list of participants please visit Jo Cavagnis, It’s All About You

Filed Under: blog, blogging, Wok Star, Wok Star Kit Tagged With: "April Bowles-Olin", "Wok Star", blogging, wok, wok cooking

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