Stir Fry | Cook Well

Tossing ingredients in a wok or pan over high heat.

What are the fundamentals of stir frying?

Stir frying is the act of tossing ingredients in a wok or pan over high heat. It is almost a combination of and , but with more motion:

The vigorous tossing prevents steaming and clumping, especially in the case of fried rice or noodle dishes.
The high heat easily moisture off the airborne ingredient to brown or even their edges.

Do you need a wok to stir fry? Not necessarily. A large, deep frying pan or skillet can work just as well on high heat.

Note: When on a home range, it is best practice to cook in batches and combine everything at the end. This will let you get browning on each ingredient without crowding the pan and overwhelming the heat source.