How to Stir-Fry

It's all about high temperature, technique, and speed. Here's how to work the wok in 4 steps.

1 Heat oil to almost smoking point. Use oil that heats up fast, like peanut oil or sesame oil. When hot, stir-fry aromatics like garlic, onion and ginger until fragrant.

2 Put in other ingredients according to their approximate cooking times. Meat like sausages should come first before vegetables. For seafood, order should be mussels/clams, fish, shrimp, squid, then scallops.

3 Add your sauce when the vegetables are about two-thirds done. If the food will take longer to cook, cover and let it steam until done.

4 Add herbs last.