How to Season a Wok | Wok Maintenance at Home

Properly seasoning a cast iron or carbon steel wok will make it completely non-stick and protect it. A well-maintained wok should last you 10+ years.

Season your wok as soon as you buy it, and repeat the process only when you feel the wok has stopped being non-stick.

With proper use and maintenance (brush it out as soon as you're finished cooking, don't wash the wok with soap, and make sure it's dry when you store it) you should only need to season your wok once when you buy it, and perhaps again every couple of years after that just if something goes wrong.

[peco]

Thanks for the quick and easy tip. I'm fed up with those 10 minute videos that explains things for far longer than needed

[biggee]

Thank you for explaining polymerization. You are the first source that took the time to talk about the layers of heated oil creating a non-stick surface.

[billist]

Second video I've watched of yours that gets straight to the point, and also explains the science behind it. Thank you!

[garychong]

Brilliant! Always heard about it from the older folks but this is the first time i have seen such a technical video - kudos!

[ThatBXSweetheart]

Simple and straight to the point. I don't know you but I love you for this, big thanks. 💪🏿👍🏿

[cathare]

Wow i just got this exact wok for Christmas. Convenient!

[kimberlychako]

There are so many different videos on YouTube telling you to do different things. I’ve been battling with mine for hours now. Wish I saw your clip first. Hope I haven’t ruined mine already

[SawthiAaron]

i have been looking for this kind of video thank you sir, i seasoned my wok wrong thats why i need to understand what really happened to my wok

[MaZEEZaM]

Hi Adam, you said to wipe out the oil and repeat the process, I have just bought a brand new wok, should I let it cool down between coats, or keep it hot?

[sature]

Good stuff. My mom does this to all her woks.

[andreamoboe]

Thanks Adam. My mum does the same thing with her works too :)

[fairlymoon]

Nevermind! found it :D you should link this in ur other vid! Does this coating come off when you wash it? Is there a certain way to wash it afterwards?

[spacepanda]

What about the manufacturer protective coating that comes on the wok? Do you not use a scour pad to scratch the coating off? I'm so confused

[jackdude]

tried to follow this.... but my Wok went black instead of blue XD now not quite sure if it's seasoned or just severley burnt

[soysaucebill]

In some videos the wok is heated first, then the oil is added. In others the oil is added first and then the wok is heated. In the end is one way better than the other?

[PrincessPattyPumpkin]

I tried season my wok on a gas stove using coconut oil. That paper towels kept catching on fire and now it is an uneven black and blue color on the outside with what seems to be a burned blackened area partially covering the inside. Did I ruin it? What do I do now?

[kayself]

Thanks Adam. I'm thinking of buying a pre-seasoned Japanese style wok. Arthritis in hands. What do you think?

[maximous]

HI Adam, I'm curious. After cooking in a seasoned wok how do you recommend to clean it? I pour warm water and scrub with a plastic brush (no soap). However, after doing this I find sometimes a few things are still stuck - Do you have any tips to avoid this ?

[Olyatzaneros]

I rinsed out my new wok With warm water but didn’t use any soap or give it a scrub before seasoning it. Should I start over or is it too late?

[jameshoey]

I did this but I feel that cleaning off the coating wasn't emphasised enough, now I'm afraid my wok could be ruined:(