Fried egg in a new carbon steel wok

For a brand-new wok, attach the handle and wash thoroughly with soap to remove the factory coating; this is the only time soap is used. Dry completely.

Heat the wok on high until smoking hot (a new wok may not smoke the first time): about 30 seconds on a small gas stove, about a minute and a half on electric, about 10 seconds on a very powerful burner.

Add the oil and toss it around; let it heat toward its smoke point before adding food.

For a tender fried egg, turn the heat off and let the wok cool about 20 seconds (for meat, keep the heat on high).

Turn the heat to low, add the egg, add a little splash of water and cover with a lid; cook a minute or two until the white sets.

Slide the egg out sunny side up, or flip it for over easy.