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Author Topic: Wok Hay - "The Breath of a Wok"  (read 11,136 times)

AI Summary
The discussion revolves around the use of high-output gas burners for cooking with woks and karahis, emphasizing the importance of using cast iron or carbon steel over non-stick options. Participants share links to outdoor burners and discuss the feasibility and safety of using such equipment indoors, with a consensus that a good extractor fan is necessary to manage smoke. One user decides to hold off on purchasing a burner after achieving satisfactory results with their electric hob, indicating a preference for refining their technique before investing in new equipment.

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Offline Cory Ander

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Wok Hay - "The Breath of a Wok"
« on: February 23, 2007, 10:27 AM »
Hi All,

This is a really good article on woks, what to look for and how to season them: http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4759306

Listen to the commentary at the top of the page under "listen"....really interesting! 

Although its about Chinese Cooking, I think it equally applies to "karahis" for Indian cooking.  It explains that a cast iron or carbon steel wok (NOT "non-stick") is best. 

It also explains that you need to heat the oil to JUST BELOW smoking point.

I've recently bought a 3 ring gas burner that consumes about 30 MJ of gas per hour.  A typical domestic gas stove burner consumes about 10 MJ per hour.  However, these people talk about Chinese restaurants using gas burners that consume 80 to 150 MJ per hour!  :o 

Listen to those babies burn!  Sounds more like a Tornado taking off!  :o  ;D

Regards,
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Offline JerryM

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Re: Wok Hay - "The Breath of a Wok"
« Reply #1 on: March 20, 2008, 08:30 PM »
there are a few threads related to this subject. i am really tempted to get an outdoor burner to run off my existing bbq propane bottle.

can anyone point to where they can be got or a link to the most relevant post.
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Offline Rai

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Re: Wok Hay - "The Breath of a Wok"
« Reply #2 on: March 22, 2008, 12:22 AM »
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Offline JerryM

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Re: Wok Hay - "The Breath of a Wok"
« Reply #3 on: March 22, 2008, 09:41 AM »
Rai,

thanks, i've emailed seller to find spec.
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Offline Bobby Bhuna

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Re: Wok Hay - "The Breath of a Wok"
« Reply #4 on: March 22, 2008, 10:06 AM »
I assume it would be fairly bad practise to use this in the house? I don't have a garden you see.
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Offline Secret Santa

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Re: Wok Hay - "The Breath of a Wok"
« Reply #5 on: March 22, 2008, 11:07 AM »
Quote from: Bobby Bhuna on March 22, 2008, 10:06 AM
I assume it would be fairly bad practise to use this in the house? I don't have a garden you see.

Why's that Bobby? The only thing you will definitely need is a good extractor fan above the wok because it will produce a ton of smoke, otherwise I don't see any problem.
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Offline Rai

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Re: Wok Hay - "The Breath of a Wok"
« Reply #6 on: March 22, 2008, 12:28 PM »
Some of them arent designed to be used indoors santa (safety reasons).  This may be an outdoor version so its worth checking bobby
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Offline Secret Santa

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Re: Wok Hay - "The Breath of a Wok"
« Reply #7 on: March 22, 2008, 01:18 PM »
Quote from: Rai on March 22, 2008, 12:28 PM
Some of them arent designed to be used indoors santa (safety reasons).

Good point.
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Offline JerryM

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Re: Wok Hay - "The Breath of a Wok"
« Reply #8 on: March 27, 2008, 07:21 PM »
i got a good response from the ebay supplier Rai identified above (link below)

https://curry-recipes.co.uk/curry/index.php/topic,1664.msg22339.html#msg22339

the response: "The Nominal input is 7.5 Kw and the Gas consumption is 540 g/hr unfortunately the spec sheet does not tell me an output rating." from peter @ gasproducts.co.uk

i've decided at the mo to put on hold following the info/advice received in the How hot spices post (i've now managed to get very good technique from the post for frying the spices and got really good toffee smell using my electric 1.5Kw hob, i need to make my std madras now just to confirm it's a step improvement in taste). if not then i may be back on the burner trail.

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