Stir-Fry Success

April 1, 2018

Stir-frying is one of the techniques that I rely on most when it comes to making a fast meal and using up odds and ends in the refrigerator. It’s the ultimate kitchen sink meal.

Here are some ways to make your stir-fry easy and delicious:

  • Call me crazy, but I actually prefer working with a large nonstick skillet instead of a wok when I’m cooking at home. I find that the flat surface area of the skillet browns the food better rather than the sloped surface of a wok, meaning you need one less pan to own and store.
  • It will be even more important than usual to have all of your ingredients prepped and ready to go because a stir-fry goes fast. Make sure your vegetables and meats or seafood are all cut into small, equal-sized pieces for even cooking.
  • The secret to a great stir-fry is high heat. Too many home cooks are afraid to work with such intense heat, but it’s essential for this cooking method. Make sure your pan is preheated and smoking hot before beginning.
  • Cook in stages. Rather than trying to cook everything perfectly at once, add small groups of ingredients at a time (hard veggies separately from soft veggies), stir-fry until tender, and remove from the pan and reserve. In fact, stir-fry your meat or seafood a minute or two shy of being cooked through. After everything has been cooked, toss it all in the pan together with your sauce ingredients to finish cooking and to bring the whole dish together. This avoids overcooking and helps maintain tenderness.
  • Stir-frying is a great technique to use up leftovers or odds and ends in the fridge. Also, if you are short on protein, tossing in an egg and scrambling it quickly adds great flavor and texture.

 

Looking for more simple weeknight recipes? Check out Recipe Club.

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