Heating a wok on an induction cooktop

[Marleyan_Wine]

My stove is a POS so I purchased a Salton induction cooktop. Prior to purchasing, I did a LOT of research as to whether stir frying was possible on an induction cooktop. Many said that it was, namely, Kenji Lopez. So I got the thing. But the instructions for the cooktop read as follows --

Place the cookware within the circular guide indicated on the Induction cooktop.
IMPORTANT NOTE:
NEVER heat empty cookware. This will cause the unit to overheat, damage the cookware and/or cause the unit to shut off.

If you're supposed to get a pan piping hot before adding oil, how is it possible to stir fry on an induction cooktop? Is this cooktop just not very good or something?

 

[dragnlaw]

About the only pan I ever heat empty is a cast iron pan. There are several reasons but the main one is almost all cookware say not to heat empty and as I've had problems with warping... well, I just don't! So go ahead and add your oil and heat your pan.

Interested to hear how you get along with stir frying on the induction. Please let us know.

 

[thymeless]

Rub your wok with oil before starting. When it smokes you know it's hot but not too hot. Add the oil for cooking and just have everything else ready to go right then.