Uploaded April 2019 | Updated September 2026, 6 days ago
Just like with a good cast iron pan, a carbon steel wok's performance will improve the more you use it. With repetitive use, the oil you heat in your wok breaks down into polymers that fill the microscopic pores in the metal's surface, rendering the material completely nonstick. As you break in your wok, the material will gradually change from silver to brownish and finally to a deep black. This is what you are looking for. Here's how to get it to that point... and then keep it that way.
Get our full breakdown on how to buy, season, and care for a wok here: seriouseats.com/2010/06/equipment-how-to-buy-a-wok-which-wok-is-the-best.html
Our favorite wok: amzn.to/2IbZdtL
See More Like This!
How to Make Meatballs: bit.ly/2NK8Y2I
The Best Mortar and Pestles: bit.ly/2tQCACx
How to Finish Pasta the Right Way: bit.ly/2TsVVs6
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Serious Eats is a leading resource for all things food and drink: meticulously tested recipes that really work; in-depth, science-based explanations of cooking techniques; detailed reviews of cooking equipment; and guides to ingredients, dishes, and cuisines. We bring a democratic yet scientific approach to cooking the best dishes, busting food myths, and delivering strong opinions on what you should eat next, where, when, and why.
Just like with a good cast iron pan, a carbon steel wok's performance will improve the more you use it. With repetitive use, the oil you heat in your wok breaks down into polymers that fill the microscopic pores in the metal's surface, rendering the material completely nonstick. As you break in your wok, the material will gradually change from silver to brownish and finally to a deep black. This is what you are looking for. Here's how to get it to that point... and then keep it that way.
Get our full breakdown on how to buy, season, and care for a wok here: seriouseats.com/2010/06/equipment-how-to-buy-a-wok-which-wok-is-the-best.html
Our favorite wok: amzn.to/2IbZdtL
See More Like This!
How to Make Meatballs: bit.ly/2NK8Y2I
The Best Mortar and Pestles: bit.ly/2tQCACx
How to Finish Pasta the Right Way: bit.ly/2TsVVs6
Subscribe to Serious Eats!
bit.ly/2BIlM59
Follow Us Elsewhere:
facebook.com/seriouseats
twitter.com/seriouseats
instagram.com/seriouseats
reddit.com/r/seriouseats
Serious Eats is a leading resource for all things food and drink: meticulously tested recipes that really work; in-depth, science-based explanations of cooking techniques; detailed reviews of cooking equipment; and guides to ingredients, dishes, and cuisines. We bring a democratic yet scientific approach to cooking the best dishes, busting food myths, and delivering strong opinions on what you should eat next, where, when, and why.
