Need help Stir Frying Veggies!

[srm]

Hey all. About a year ago i ventured on a diet. This caused me to start cooking, A LOT! i'm enjoying it thus far.

My question today (first of many) is regarding cooking vegetabls, more specifically stir fry.

the way i've been doing it is with a generic non stick pan, some extra virgin olive oil, then my veggies. usually this consists of hot peppers, green peppers, onions, mushrooms.

Whats the best way to do them, and is there certain pan's that are better than others? Also, what is the best heat? I have been setting the pan at about medium, and cooking that way. i find my veggies turn out kind of soggy, i'd like them a bit more firm, but cooked (does that make sence?)

Thanks in advance

[Alix]

Crank up the heat. When stirfrying the key is very hot (maybe change your oil as olive oil has a lower flashpoint than some others) pan and hot oil and short cooking time.

If you can find a good wok you will be much happier with the results I think. Hope this helps, welcome to DC.

[kitchenelf]

I will have to reiterate what Alix said. A good wok can be found inexpensively at any Asian market. Look up the correct procedures to begin using your wok first.

Let your wok heat up until you see smoke coming from it. A little drizzle of peanut oil (if you can't use peanut use a safflower or canola oil), swirl around the best you can. Toss in veggies and constantly "stir fry" them. If you have to add a bit more oil that's fine - you can even add a bit of water or a mixture of stock/soy sauce, Hoisin, sesame oil for more flavor. Just keep tossing.

Also, be sure to cut up your veggies in a fairly skinny julienne style. This will help them cook much faster and not turn out mushy.

You had to much surface space and were cooking them too low for them to ever turn out crispy. If you can't get your hands on a wok right away just crank up the heat to almost high. Oh, and another thing. Don't salt your vegetables while they are cooking. That tends to make them produce a lot of water, which will also cause soggy vegetables. The object is VERY little liquid, whether it's in the form of oil or the above mixture, high heat, and stirring, stirring, stirring.

[Robo410]

ditto what they said. And canola like olive oil is a mono saturated oil (good for you)

[srm]

WEll i took your advice, i dont have a wok yet, but i cranked the heat. Veggies definatly turned out much better, however i think i burnt my pan :(.. it's got black spots all over it that i cant wash off. i guess i got a few more tricks to learn! ha

-S

[jennyema]

Dont use a nonstick pan. Use a stainless or cast iron pan that's smoking hot.

[srm]

The one i used was stainless, not non stick. it's not burnb ad, i just have a bunch of littel black spots on it i cant scrub off. not too worried about it. :)

[mish]

Originally Posted by srm

Hey all. About a year ago i ventured on a diet. This caused me to start cooking, A LOT! i'm enjoying it thus far.

My question today (first of many) is regarding cooking vegetabls, more specifically stir fry.

the way i've been doing it is with a generic non stick pan, some extra virgin olive oil, then my veggies. usually this consists of hot peppers, green peppers, onions, mushrooms.

Whats the best way to do them, and is there certain pan's that are better than others? Also, what is the best heat? I have been setting the pan at about medium, and cooking that way. i find my veggies turn out kind of soggy, i'd like them a bit more firm, but cooked (does that make sence?)

Thanks in advance

Welcome to DC, srm.

Stir-frying is a healthy lo fat way to cook, imo, because (for one) you use very little oil, and food is cooked quickly & retains the nutrients. But, you need the right cookware. A wok is preferrable, but I found a very deep, very large heavy skillet-like piece of cookware that has a non-stick surface & a long handle. I also steam food using a large lid cover - dumplings etc.

Use only a few drops of oil (not evoo) veg oil or canola, until the oil gets hot - not smoking, on med-hi heat. If you want to do a lot of stir-fry cooking, I suggest buying a cookbook for Oriental/wok cooking. I started out with a book from Kikkoman, but there are lots of recipes on their site.

[Uncle Bob]

My oil of choice when Stir-frying is Peanut oil....

[BreezyCooking]

As others have posted, high heat is your best friend when it comes to stir-frying anything.

Another tip is to pre-blanch tougher, thicker vegetables first. I normally blanch broccoli, cauliflower, & thick-cut carrots in boiling water for about 2 minutes before draining & stir-frying them.