Wontons Sticking To The Pan? Try This

Wontons are delicious bite-sized dumplings that are perfect as a snack or appetiser. However, they can be tricky to cook, and one common problem is that they stick to the pan. Here are some tips and tricks to prevent this from happening and ensure your wontons turn out perfectly every time.

Use a non-stick pan

Using a non-stick pan is a great way to prevent your wontons from sticking. Non-stick pans are designed with a coating that reduces the likelihood of food adhering to the surface, making them ideal for cooking delicate items like wontons. Here are some detailed steps and tips for using a non-stick pan to cook wontons successfully:

Choose the Right Non-Stick Pan

Select a non-stick pan made of quality materials, ensuring it is scratch-resistant and durable. Look for a pan with a comfortable handle that provides a secure grip, as you'll need to hold and manoeuvre the pan during the cooking process.

Prepare Your Wontons

Before placing them in the pan, ensure your wontons are properly sealed. Wet the edges of the wonton wrappers with a mixture of cornstarch and water, or just water, to help them seal shut. This will prevent the filling from leaking out and potentially causing sticking.

Heat the Pan

Place your non-stick pan on the stovetop and turn the heat to medium. Let the pan heat up gradually; avoid using high heat, as this can damage the non-stick coating over time. A non-stick pan doesn't require a lot of oil, so add just a tablespoon of vegetable oil to the pan and let it heat up.

Cook the Wontons

Carefully place your wontons in the pan, ensuring they don't touch each other. Give them enough space to cook evenly and prevent sticking. Cook the wontons for about 2-3 minutes on each side until they turn golden brown and crispy. You may need to cook them in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan.

Remove and Serve

Once the wontons are cooked to your desired level of crispness, remove them from the pan and place them on a plate lined with paper towels. This will absorb any excess oil. Serve the wontons hot with your favourite dipping sauce, such as soy sauce, sweet chilli sauce, or vinegar with chilli oil.

Tips for Success

• Always use wooden or plastic utensils when cooking with non-stick pans, as metal utensils can scratch the coating.
• Avoid using cooking sprays, as they can leave a residue that builds up over time and reduces the non-stick properties.
• Let the pan cool completely before washing. Sudden changes in temperature can damage the non-stick coating, so avoid pouring cold water into a hot pan.
• Hand wash your non-stick pan with mild soap and a soft sponge or cloth. Avoid using abrasive scrubbers, as they can scratch the coating.

Brown the wonton's base first

Browning the base of your wontons first is a great way to prevent sticking and create a delicious, crispy texture. Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving the perfect browned wonton base:

Step 1: Prepare Your Work Space

Before you begin cooking, it's important to have everything you need within easy reach. Gather your ingredients, including the wonton wrappers, filling, and any seasonings or sauces you plan to use. Set up a small bowl of cold water (about 200-300 ml) to wet the edges of the wrappers for sealing. You'll also want some trays or baking sheets to place the wontons on before cooking, and a flexible-bladed spreading knife or teaspoon. A small towel is also handy to wipe your fingertips if they get flour on them from the wrappers.

Step 2: Heat Your Pan

When browning wonton bases, it's best to use a non-stick pan if you have one available. Heat your pan over medium-high heat. You can test if your pan is hot enough by using the "water test." Sprinkle a few drops of water onto the pan, and if it balls up and slides around without evaporating, your pan is ready.

Step 3: Add Oil

Once your pan is hot, add a couple of tablespoons of oil. You can use olive oil, grape seed oil, or another variety of your choice. Heat the oil until it starts to ripple, then turn the heat down slightly. This will ensure that the oil is evenly distributed across the pan, reducing the likelihood of sticking.

Step 4: Place Wontons in the Pan

Carefully place your wontons in the pan. It's best to work in batches to avoid overcrowding the pan, which can lead to uneven cooking and sticking. Give the wontons a gentle jiggle as you place them in the oil to ensure they don't stick.

Step 5: Fry the Wontons

Let the wontons fry for a couple of minutes. You're aiming for a golden brown colour on the base. Use a spatula to gently lift one of the wontons and check if it's browned to your liking. If you want a really crispy base, you can let them fry a little longer.

Step 6: Flip and Cook the Other Side

Once the bases are browned, it's time to flip the wontons. Be careful not to tear the wrappers as you flip them. Let the other side cook for a minute or two, until it's also golden brown.

Step 7: Remove from the Pan and Serve

Once both sides of your wontons are browned, use a spatula to remove them from the pan and place them on a platter or individual plates. Serve with your choice of dipping sauce and garnishes. Enjoy your delicious, crispy wontons!

Steam the wontons

Steaming is a great way to cook wontons without having to fry them. Here is a step-by-step guide on how to steam wontons:

Prepare the filling

Start by preparing your desired wonton filling. For a vegetarian option, you can mix shredded cabbage, scallions, grated carrot, mushrooms, ginger, soy sauce, Sriracha, hoisin, cilantro, sesame oil, salt, and pepper. If you prefer meat, you can make a filling with pork, prawns, spring onions, garlic, ginger, oyster sauce, and water chestnuts.

Assemble the wontons

On a clean, flat surface, lay out your wonton wrappers. Using your finger, lightly coat all four edges of the wrapper with cornstarch water. This will help seal the wontons. Place a heaping teaspoon of your chosen filling in the centre of the wrapper and fold it in half, away from you, forming a triangle. Press the edges firmly together, then fold in the left and right corners over the centre. Seal with another brush of cornstarch water. Repeat this process until you have assembled all your wontons.

Prepare your steamer

You can use a traditional bamboo steamer or a digital glass steamer. If using a bamboo steamer, line it with cabbage leaves or lettuce leaves. If using a metal steamer, use parchment paper with a spray or smear of oil to prevent sticking. Arrange the wontons in a single layer, leaving space between them, and cover the steamer.

Bring a large pan of water to a boil. Place the steamer basket over the boiling water and steam the wontons for approximately 9-10 minutes for vegetarian wontons or 5 minutes for pork and prawn wontons. You may need to do this in batches to avoid overcrowding the steamer.

Serve

Serve the steamed wontons warm with a dipping sauce of your choice. Enjoy!

Don't overcook

Overcooking wontons can cause the starches in the wonton wrappers to become super sticky, which will make them more likely to stick to the pan.

When cooking wontons, it's important to keep an eye on them and avoid overcooking them. This is especially important if you are boiling or steaming them, as the moisture can cause the wrappers to become sticky and soft.

If you are boiling wontons, keep an eye on the water. Once it returns to a boil after adding the wontons, they will only need about another minute to cook. You can also take one out and cut it open to check if they are done.

If you are steaming wontons, only steam them long enough for the middle and top portions to cook. The wrappers should look slightly translucent, and the filling should feel slightly firm when pressed. This should only take a few minutes for small dumplings (2-4 minutes).

If you are frying wontons, avoid frying them for too long, as this can cause the oil to be absorbed into the wrappers, making them stickier and more likely to stick to the pan.

Use a bamboo steamer

Using a bamboo steamer is a great way to cook wontons without having them stick to the pan. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to do it:

Step 1: Prepare Your Wok or Pan

Place your bamboo steamer into a wok or a wide-rimmed, shallow pan. Fill it with enough water to come up above the bottom rim of the steamer by about a quarter to half an inch. The water level should be high enough to submerge the bottom rim of the steamer, preventing it from scorching. However, make sure the water doesn't touch the bottom of the steamer's inside bed, where the food will sit. If your bamboo steamer is new, consider soaking the bottom rim in water for 30 minutes to prevent scorching.

Step 2: Line the Bamboo Steamer

Bamboo steamers often have multiple levels, and you can use one, two, or all three levels, depending on the quantity of wontons you're cooking. Since you'll be placing the wontons directly on the steamer bed, you'll need to line it with something to prevent sticking. You can use napa cabbage leaves, lettuce leaves, layers of cheesecloth, parchment paper, or reusable cloth or silicone liners. The liner should be porous to allow steam to circulate.

Step 3: Place the Wontons in the Steamer

Place your wontons in the steamer, leaving about an inch between them, as they will expand as they steam.

Step 4: Put the Bamboo Steamer in the Wok/Pot

You can either preheat the water so it's simmering when you place the bamboo steamer in, or you can place the steamer in the wok/pan when the water is cold and then turn on the heat.

Step 5: Steam the Wontons

Once the water in the wok/pan is simmering, it will start to evaporate. Allow the wontons to steam according to your recipe, but keep an eye on the water level and add boiling water as needed. Don't add cold water, as it will interrupt the cooking process.

Caring for Your Bamboo Steamer

Before using a new steamer, consider soaking the bottom layer in water for 30 minutes to prevent scorching. After each use, make sure to fully dry your bamboo steamer before storing it to prevent mould. Wash it with a sponge and mild dish soap, then immediately rinse and air-dry for at least two days. Do not put your bamboo steamer in the dishwasher or soak it in the sink for extended periods.

Frequently asked questions