[QUESTION] Opinions on nitro-infused carbon steel wok
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Does anyone have any opinions on nitro-infused carbon steel? I have a large carbon steel wok at home and found this smaller wok for $30 at my local Asian grocery store. I like it because the smaller size and larger flat bottom makes it easier to wield and cook evenly. Some light research shows it’s more for making the pan more durable and doesn’t really affect cooking, although I did see a comment that it’s a little harder for the seasoning to stick.
I haven’t seen any negative stuff safety-wise yet, but I did see that the process is used commonly for manufacturing industrial materials and is even used in guns. So I don’t really know if it’s safe because ammonia or sodium cyanide are the nitrogen-rich ingredients that are applied to the pan. And to a layman’s ear, that doesn’t really sound nice.
It’s carbon steel, and it does NOT have a nonstick coating.
Those are really the only two criteria for a decent wok.
But “more durable?” A regular wok will last several human lifetimes if it’s properly used and cared for. So that sounds more like marketing than anything truly useful.
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Does anyone have any opinions on nitro-infused carbon steel? I have a large carbon steel wok at home and found this smaller wok for $30 at my local Asian grocery store. I like it because the smaller size and larger flat bottom makes it easier to wield and cook evenly. Some light research shows it’s more for making the pan more durable and doesn’t really affect cooking, although I did see a comment that it’s a little harder for the seasoning to stick.
I haven’t seen any negative stuff safety-wise yet, but I did see that the process is used commonly for manufacturing industrial materials and is even used in guns. So I don’t really know if it’s safe because ammonia or sodium cyanide are the nitrogen-rich ingredients that are applied to the pan. And to a layman’s ear, that doesn’t really sound nice.
I have no opinions about nitro-infused steel, but: Those are just sources of nitrogen for whatever process is used. In other words: there should be no remaining CN- (cyanide) or NH3 (ammonia) on the pan after manufacture because the N(itrogen) has gone into the alloy. Always a good idea to give your pans a wash before use anyway, of course
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It’s carbon steel, and it does NOT have a nonstick coating.
Those are really the only two criteria for a decent wok.
But “more durable?” A regular wok will last several human lifetimes if it’s properly used and cared for. So that sounds more like marketing than anything truly useful.
Yes, I meant the comment I saw said it’s a little harder to season than a regular carbon steel pan because the seasoning doesn’t stick well.
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Does anyone have any opinions on nitro-infused carbon steel? I have a large carbon steel wok at home and found this smaller wok for $30 at my local Asian grocery store. I like it because the smaller size and larger flat bottom makes it easier to wield and cook evenly. Some light research shows it’s more for making the pan more durable and doesn’t really affect cooking, although I did see a comment that it’s a little harder for the seasoning to stick.
I haven’t seen any negative stuff safety-wise yet, but I did see that the process is used commonly for manufacturing industrial materials and is even used in guns. So I don’t really know if it’s safe because ammonia or sodium cyanide are the nitrogen-rich ingredients that are applied to the pan. And to a layman’s ear, that doesn’t really sound nice.
If it worked, well-known brands would adopt the technology.
I don’t trust any brand that adds a random Japanese phrase in the packaging to look more sophisticated.
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Does anyone have any opinions on nitro-infused carbon steel? I have a large carbon steel wok at home and found this smaller wok for $30 at my local Asian grocery store. I like it because the smaller size and larger flat bottom makes it easier to wield and cook evenly. Some light research shows it’s more for making the pan more durable and doesn’t really affect cooking, although I did see a comment that it’s a little harder for the seasoning to stick.
I haven’t seen any negative stuff safety-wise yet, but I did see that the process is used commonly for manufacturing industrial materials and is even used in guns. So I don’t really know if it’s safe because ammonia or sodium cyanide are the nitrogen-rich ingredients that are applied to the pan. And to a layman’s ear, that doesn’t really sound nice.
I like it because the smaller size and larger flat bottom makes it easier to wield and cook evenly.
Woks aren’t supposed to cook evenly. They’re supposed to have all the heat concentrated in the middle so that you can control how fast the food is cooking by scooting it up the sides.
I suppose if you’re trying to use one on an electric cooktop you might have to begrudgingly accept a flat bottom, but a round-bottom wok (used over a high-BTU but small diameter gas burner that looks like a jet engine, or even charcoal in a chimney starter outside) is more “correct.”
Edit: honestly, if smaller size + larger flat bottom is what you want, IMO you should get a western-style carbon steel skillet instead.
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If it worked, well-known brands would adopt the technology.
I don’t trust any brand that adds a random Japanese phrase in the packaging to look more sophisticated.
Is it really that weird for a Japanese brand to have Japanese text on their products?
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Is it really that weird for a Japanese brand to have Japanese text on their products?
It has Chinese as well, brah. Other commenter is correct, this is a common trope even in China.
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Is it really that weird for a Japanese brand to have Japanese text on their products?
It is not a Japanese brand. It is a Chinese brand pretending to be Japanese.
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Ah, you’re right. Didn’t pick up on that.
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Does anyone have any opinions on nitro-infused carbon steel? I have a large carbon steel wok at home and found this smaller wok for $30 at my local Asian grocery store. I like it because the smaller size and larger flat bottom makes it easier to wield and cook evenly. Some light research shows it’s more for making the pan more durable and doesn’t really affect cooking, although I did see a comment that it’s a little harder for the seasoning to stick.
I haven’t seen any negative stuff safety-wise yet, but I did see that the process is used commonly for manufacturing industrial materials and is even used in guns. So I don’t really know if it’s safe because ammonia or sodium cyanide are the nitrogen-rich ingredients that are applied to the pan. And to a layman’s ear, that doesn’t really sound nice.
Seasoning doesn’t “stick” on carbon steel like cast iron. You aren’t leaving a surface on the pan.
The short over simplified version is your just getting the pan really hot.
If you’re not scrubbing that thing with soap and treating it like cast iron, like I suspect, you are just doing extra work.
That comment you keep referencing in here is worthless fyi.
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I like it because the smaller size and larger flat bottom makes it easier to wield and cook evenly.
Woks aren’t supposed to cook evenly. They’re supposed to have all the heat concentrated in the middle so that you can control how fast the food is cooking by scooting it up the sides.
I suppose if you’re trying to use one on an electric cooktop you might have to begrudgingly accept a flat bottom, but a round-bottom wok (used over a high-BTU but small diameter gas burner that looks like a jet engine, or even charcoal in a chimney starter outside) is more “correct.”
Edit: honestly, if smaller size + larger flat bottom is what you want, IMO you should get a western-style carbon steel skillet instead.
This. A wok with a flat bottom is just an elaborate saucepan
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Seasoning doesn’t “stick” on carbon steel like cast iron. You aren’t leaving a surface on the pan.
The short over simplified version is your just getting the pan really hot.
If you’re not scrubbing that thing with soap and treating it like cast iron, like I suspect, you are just doing extra work.
That comment you keep referencing in here is worthless fyi.
Sorry, what do you mean extra work? I season my regular carbon steel pan after I wash it. I avoid using soap to wash unless it’s really full of grime. I also bought it unseasoned so I had to go through the entire seasoning process before using it. I haven’t bought the nitrated carbon steel pan in the picture yet.
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I like it because the smaller size and larger flat bottom makes it easier to wield and cook evenly.
Woks aren’t supposed to cook evenly. They’re supposed to have all the heat concentrated in the middle so that you can control how fast the food is cooking by scooting it up the sides.
I suppose if you’re trying to use one on an electric cooktop you might have to begrudgingly accept a flat bottom, but a round-bottom wok (used over a high-BTU but small diameter gas burner that looks like a jet engine, or even charcoal in a chimney starter outside) is more “correct.”
Edit: honestly, if smaller size + larger flat bottom is what you want, IMO you should get a western-style carbon steel skillet instead.
Yup I understand that. The reason I prefer a wok is that it’s versatile because it has higher walls than a saucepan. I use it as my swiss army knife pan where I cook everything there except soups. Having a wider flat bottom while at the same time higher walls that still bring the food to the center is the best of both worlds to me.
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Sorry, what do you mean extra work? I season my regular carbon steel pan after I wash it. I avoid using soap to wash unless it’s really full of grime. I also bought it unseasoned so I had to go through the entire seasoning process before using it. I haven’t bought the nitrated carbon steel pan in the picture yet.
Avoiding soap and not taking a scrub brush to it. You can skip all that, just use dawn and a scrub pad
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Yup I understand that. The reason I prefer a wok is that it’s versatile because it has higher walls than a saucepan. I use it as my swiss army knife pan where I cook everything there except soups. Having a wider flat bottom while at the same time higher walls that still bring the food to the center is the best of both worlds to me.
It sounds like you’re looking for a deep frying pan, which is different to a wok, though similar in shape (except for lacking a round bottom). Looking for “deep frying pans” might be more useful for you, although western-style woks are usually very similar if you get a wok from a western shop.
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This. A wok with a flat bottom is just an elaborate saucepan
Bro you’re woking a thin line here…