I just got a gas stove and I eagerly purchased a steel wok. I last cooked with a wok on occasion 16 years ago, when I last had a gas stove. At the recommendation of a coworker, I went to a specific local Chinese market to get a wok. This market's customers were mostly of Asian appearance. I wanted a round bottom steel one, not a coated non-stick product.
I eventually found one there, wow, they had a lot of non-stick stuff. Every one of the available steel ones which I inspected had a shiny, non-tacky material on them, in some areas, this material had such a buildup that one could easily feel it. they were kind of a dull dark gray, they seemed otherwise normal. I figured this must have been some material used to prevent it from rusting during shipment.
At home, I simply could not wash it off this unknown material with any degree of elbow-grease or dish soap. I had placed it on the oven to see if I could warm it up and disturb the material. It started smoking, a lot, and smelled of foul chemical burn. As I have this "Bayou Classic SP10 High-Pressure Outdoor Gas Cooker, Propane" I resumed outside. It continued to smoke, a lot. I figured I'd burn off the crap on this steel wok.
At first burn (of the foul chemical) the wok would become shiny black. After heating another area which I thought had already been 'cleansed', I learned that the shiny black would then turn to a dull gray. This I thought was the final step in cleansing this wok. However, I noticed a red haze in it. I took it in to wash it, the dobbie pads became incredibly pink, the water was pink, the pink remained on the wok in most areas, trying with paper towel left pink on that. Rewashing could not fully remove the pink haze. This pink stuff still remains on the wok.
Unless someone can convince me otherwise, I believe this is not a natural occurrence and I should not trust this wok.
Any guidance?
Thanks.
I eventually found one there, wow, they had a lot of non-stick stuff. Every one of the available steel ones which I inspected had a shiny, non-tacky material on them, in some areas, this material had such a buildup that one could easily feel it. they were kind of a dull dark gray, they seemed otherwise normal. I figured this must have been some material used to prevent it from rusting during shipment.
At home, I simply could not wash it off this unknown material with any degree of elbow-grease or dish soap. I had placed it on the oven to see if I could warm it up and disturb the material. It started smoking, a lot, and smelled of foul chemical burn. As I have this "Bayou Classic SP10 High-Pressure Outdoor Gas Cooker, Propane" I resumed outside. It continued to smoke, a lot. I figured I'd burn off the crap on this steel wok.
At first burn (of the foul chemical) the wok would become shiny black. After heating another area which I thought had already been 'cleansed', I learned that the shiny black would then turn to a dull gray. This I thought was the final step in cleansing this wok. However, I noticed a red haze in it. I took it in to wash it, the dobbie pads became incredibly pink, the water was pink, the pink remained on the wok in most areas, trying with paper towel left pink on that. Rewashing could not fully remove the pink haze. This pink stuff still remains on the wok.
Unless someone can convince me otherwise, I believe this is not a natural occurrence and I should not trust this wok.
Any guidance?
Thanks.
