Torch hei

HeavyG

A key element of achieving wok hei is having a heat source that is not too different from an afterburner of a fighter jet. Most of wok hei results from the oil droplets that arise from tossing ingredients basically being ignited by the flame of a wok burner in afterburner mode. That's not something that can be achieved by a wok used on an electric or home gas stove.

However, if you use a torch for lighting your charcoal there is yet another useful purpose for that torch - torch hei! Serious Eats posted an article today about using a gas torch to achieve a close to "real" wok hei absent a proper wok afterburner.

Interesting read and a technique that I thought some folks here might be interested in giving a go since wok-king on an Egg generally does not provide the sort of flame needed to "light up" the food being tossed:

https://www.seriouseats.com/2020/02/hei-now-youre-a-wok-star-a-fiery-hack-for-stir-frying-at-home.html

YukonRon

Very cool article and thank you for sharing. The blow torch will be used while cooking for our children who are elitist snobs when it comes to asiatic fare. (Their mother's influence, not mine.)

Me.....I get my kick at the "Wok and Go"...they also sell red t shirts with yellow print..."I know it's only Wok and Go, but I like it." (A little homage to the upcoming Stones tour June 16 in Louisville)

Again thanks for the link.

paqman

😳

SciAggie

Quote from the article:
"First, let's face it: Who in their right mind is going to fire up a grill just to whip up some beef and broccoli on the fly?"

I'm guilty and feel like I'm being attacked by that statement, lol...
I did that very thing last night. Pork and broccoli on the MM.

Mattman3969

SciAggie said:

Quote from the article:
"First, let's face it: Who in their right mind is going to fire up a grill just to whip up some beef and broccoli on the fly?"

I'm guilty and feel like I'm being attacked by that statement, lol...
I did that very thing last night.

Nobody in their right mind would do such a thing.  

YukonRon

@SciAggie

My only attacks are from envy on the meals you continually produce and share with us on the forum.

Always exceptional, and in a way I feel as though I am constantly under attack.

If what you are doing is not right, sign me up to that bad boy club.

Botch

Very interesting, thanks for posting; I'm anxious to try this.  

OhioEgger

Makes sense to me. If you've ever been in the kitchen of a good Chinese restaurant you've seen the flames coming up under the wok. They have seriously large diameter gas lines going into the kitchen!

caliking

That's a neat hack. I can't get green beans to blister quite like they do at the restaurants, but maybe this will do it.

And  I wonder if a Searzall would work even better because of the wider head on it.

Botch

Wonder if this could be adapted to my gas range; $59 at Amazoid:
 

 
Hmmmm...

Carolina Q

I always thought having one of these would be cool...

Canugghead

Interesting, time for @Tspud1 to fabricate a clamp to hold torch over BS?

smbishop

SciAggie said:

Quote from the article:
"First, let's face it: Who in their right mind is going to fire up a grill just to whip up some beef and broccoli on the fly?"

I'm guilty and feel like I'm being attacked by that statement, lol...
I did that very thing last night. Pork and broccoli on the MM.

At least twice a week!  Last night:  

Legume

When my wife gives me the side eye for bringing my harbor freight pear burner in the kitchen, I’m pointing to this thread.

SciAggie

@smbishop Nice. We’ll share a room in the nut house I guess. 

caliking

Bump. 

This thread came to mind when I was cleaning out the fridge to make some fried rice last week. Picked the lazy mod, and just ran a butane torch over it to get some charred bits. 

Turned out better than expected. Trying to flip and toss the rice would have resulted in a good portion of it being on the floor, so this worked out very well. 

Botch

I just watched a Kenji video yesterday, where he torched while wokking but also torched the noodles that he had spread out on a baking pan before adding them to the wok.  They kinda stuck together, not his best work.  

nolaegghead

caliking said:

Bump. 

This thread came to mind when I was cleaning out the fridge to make some fried rice last week. Picked the lazy mod, and just ran a butane torch over it to get some charred bits. 

Turned out better than expected. Trying to flip and toss the rice would have resulted in a good portion of it being on the floor, so this worked out very well. 

That was probably just the pepper that charred.

caliking

nolaegghead said:

caliking said:

Bump. 

This thread came to mind when I was cleaning out the fridge to make some fried rice last week. Picked the lazy mod, and just ran a butane torch over it to get some charred bits. 

Turned out better than expected. Trying to flip and toss the rice would have resulted in a good portion of it being on the floor, so this worked out very well. 

That was probably just the pepper that charred.

Nope. Don't usually add any, because caliprince isn't a fan.

Legume

I got this.  It was the salt that charred.