What is the easiest way to prepare vegetables for stir fry ???

Question

I am considering a food processor to help with the chopping of the vegetables. These range from the manual choppers to motorized processors. But, wonder if all of this is just wishful thinking. Please help me with this decision. Steve

Answer 1

Rinse and chop... then stir & fry!

Answer 2

For stir fry a food processor will make the vegetables too small. Use a mandoline for your squashes (zucchini, yellow squash, etc.), carrots, celery. Cut the squashes into circles. Cut the carrots and celery on the bias for an attractive change. If you use peppers, cut off the top and bottom, take out the seeds by hands and cut lengthwise strips either by using the mandolin or with a knife. Cut mushrooms into quarters. Leave snow peas whole. Cut broccoli into little trees with the bottom stems cut on a bias. Once you get all your vegetables prepared, blanch and shock your vegetables by boiling each one separately for a few seconds each. Then take them out and place in a bowl of ice water. Then take them out, put them in some paper towels to dry a little bit. Then heat up a wok, add just some vegetable oil to the pan and once the oil is heated, add your vegetables. Stir them up until they're all coated. Add just a little sesame oil and toss some more. Add some soy sauce to the pan along with some black pepper and mix until done.

Answer 3

I agree that food processors chop too fine for stir fry. They are also a pain to clean up because they have so many parts. I like to use a mandoline to chop carrots, squash, onions, peppers and other firm veggies for stir fry. The veggies come out evenly sliced and cook at the same rate. It really doesn't work with broccoli, cauliflower, or odd shaped veggies. They are much cheaper than food processors and a lot less work to clean up.

Answer 4

A cheap one-evening cooking course in knife skills will teach you how to use a knife well. After that, it is simply a matter of practice, to gain speed, much like typing. And, like typing or riding a bike, you will have this skill for the rest of your life.

Once you learn how to chop decent quantities of food quickly and well, a food processor will seem a lot less useful.

Genuine food processors chop things too finely, and they aren't worth the cleanup unless you are preparing large quantities. Gimmicky food chopers that you see on TV always have blades that can't be sharpened once they get dull.

Answer 5

Depends if your cooking for one or whether you have family. If I was entertaining I would chop the veg myself, but if it's just a quick bite after work then I would buy a bag of stir fry vegetables from supermarket. That way you get more variety with less wastage.....or am I just really lazy??

Answer 6

a food processor will run the risk of chopping things to small...either uy the veggies already cut or cut them yourself...although i have heard that product the quick chop works wonders

Answer 7

Chop veggies into 1/2 inch to 1 inch chunks. Thats all you need to do.

Answer 8

I use a food processor a lot, but not for stir fry - you need bigger pieces for stir fry so it doesn't go to instant mush.

Answer 9

i think you should chopped by hands and knife
you get better pieces and more nutrients