Your wok is durable! Before we get too deep into the maintenance, remember that the wok is very durable. It's made of steel. You can find all sorts of people fussing over their woks, which is awesome, but only to a point. 

Do’s

Using the wok regularly is the best maintenance program. The best way to take care of your wok is to use it regularly. “Seasoning” a wok just means getting it really hot and covering it in oil which is what happens when you use the wok. If we ever look at our wok and feel it needs a little love, we’ll stir fry a simple green vegetable in oil and boom!, we now have a nicely seasoned wok and a tasty veggie.

Wipe your wok clean after use. After a simple stir fry, we recommend that you simply wipe the wok clean with a paper towel. No water. Definitely no soap, Just a quick wipe down. If you really want to rinse out the wok that is fine, just make sure to wipe off the water or heat the wok on the stove until it dries out (make sure you remember to turn the heat off....).

Now, let’s say you finish cooking up a particularly saucy stir fry, and you are confident you don’t want that sauce to affect your next dish. Bring your wok over to the sink, scrub it out with warm water and then bring it back to the stove. Turn the heat on and dry out the wok. Once the wok is dry, add a little oil. Swirl it around until the wok is hot and covered in a thin layer of the oil. Turn off the heat and wipe out the excess oil with a paper towel. Your wok is now ready to hang out until your next meal.

Don’ts

Don't leave a wet wok sitting around. This is rule #1. The carbon steel we use has all sorts of positive qualities, mainly the ability when seasoned to prevent anything from sticking to it. The one trade off is that the steel is not stainless (rust proof) which means that if you leave it sitting around with water in it or you leave it in a moist environment it will rust. 

Don’t put it in the dishwasher! Dishwashers are amazingly convenient. We have been known to wash a wood implement here or there even though we know that we are shortening its life (sorry chopsticks). Your wok does not love the dishwasher, it won’t survive. This is hands down the most efficient way to destroy your wok. 

If your wok has lost its matte texture and is looking overly dry here is what you do.

1. Rinse out the wok with hot water and remove loose food with a scrub brush
2. After rinsing, heat the wok on a stovetop to eliminate moisture
3. Apply a tablespoon or two or three of neutral oil. Use a paper towel or cloth rag to rub over all surfaces of the pan, inside and out**
4. Heat the wok on high for 3-5 minutes. There should be some smoke.
5. Wipe away excess oil to leave a dry, matte finish

If your wok is in particularly bad shape you can do this a couple times until you've got the finish that you want.

**If you are worried about burning your hand we recommend grabbing the paper towel with some kitchen tongs