Hey veggie lovers! ๐ฅฆ๐ Ever felt proud of your stir-fry skillsโฆ only to end up with a puddle of water in the pan and soggy greens on your plate? Been there, done that โ more than once! ๐
So today, I'm sharing my go-to tricks for keeping stir-fried veggies fresh, crunchy, and totally non-watery. If you're always asking "why does my veggies cry every time I cook it?" โ this one's for you! ๐
This is a game-changer. Don't be shy โ turn that heat way up before your veggies go in. High heat helps them cook fast and lock in the water instead of releasing it.
I wait until the oil is hot and shimmering. Then I toss the greens in and keep them moving. Fast stir-fry = crispy magic! โจ
This was my biggest mistake. I used to wash my spinach and toss them straight into the pan. Big no-no!
After washing, I either use a salad spinner or lay them out on a kitchen towel and gently pat them dry. Any leftover water causes steam in the pan, and that's exactly what makes your stir-fry go soggy.
Dry veggies = less steam = crunchy greens! ๐งผโ
I know it's tempting to cook everything at once, especially when you're hungry. But stuffing the wok full of greens makes it steam instead of stir-fry.
So if I have a big batch, I cook it in two or three rounds. Yes, it takes an extra few minutes, but the result is 100% worth it โ no soggy bits, just that perfect crisp.
Oh โ and one last quick tip! If you add salt too early, it pulls moisture out of the veggies. I usually stir-fry the greens first, then sprinkle the salt at the end, right before taking them off the heat. Works like a charm! ๐งโจ
Now it's your turn โ do you have any tips for making the perfect veggie stir-fry? ๐ฅฌ Or is this something you've struggled with too? Let me know in the comments or tag me in your next stir-fry post!