Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • transitive verb To fry quickly in a small amount of oil over high heat while stirring continuously.
  • noun Food fried quickly in this manner.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • verb To fry something quickly in hot oil whilst constantly stirring; especially in a wok or similar pan
  • noun Food cooked in this manner.

Etymologies

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Examples

  • While paging through her newest work, Stir-Frying to the Sky's Edge which won a coveted James Beard award, I read: "While the term 'stir-fry' is now part of the American culinary vocabulary, the art of stir-frying remains misunderstood."

    A wok is a chef's best friend for simple, efficient cooking 2011

  • Regular tofu is dense and solid and holds up well in stir-fry dishes, soups, or on the grill.

    The Small Change Diet Keri Gans 2011

  • At the Fairmont Copley Plaza, for example, diabetics can enjoy steamed cod and organic brown rice; vegans are offered exotic mushroom stir-fry with tofu and Wakame Seaweed Salad; gluten-free dieters have the option of a roasted beet salad and grilled salmon entree.

    Melanie Nayer: Fine Dining: Hotels Help Guests Incorporate Healthy Eating Into Travel Melanie Nayer 2011

  • Staff and students at the University of Massachusetts celebrated the start of the new semester on Monday by making the world's largest stir-fry.

    UMass Welcomes Students With World Record Stir-fry (VIDEO) The Huffington Post News Editors 2011

  • At the Fairmont Copley Plaza, for example, diabetics can enjoy steamed cod and organic brown rice; vegans are offered exotic mushroom stir-fry with tofu and Wakame Seaweed Salad; gluten-free dieters have the option of a roasted beet salad and grilled salmon entree.

    Melanie Nayer: Fine Dining: Hotels Help Guests Incorporate Healthy Eating Into Travel Melanie Nayer 2011

  • • Use tofu instead of chicken in a stir-fry with lots of veggies.

    The Small Change Diet Keri Gans 2011

  • Many people stir-fry as a way to incorporate vegetables and meat together in the same dish, but keep in mind that oil is fat, which means extra calories—even if you use olive oil.

    The Flex Diet M.D. James Beckerman 2011

  • For example, stir-fry a small amount of steak with carrots, onions, water chestnuts, and bell peppers, and you get all the flavor with a fraction of the fat.

    The Small Change Diet Keri Gans 2011

  • Think raw bars, sushi bars, carving stations, stir-fry stations, or pasta stations.

    My Fair Wedding David Tutera 2011

  • Think raw bars, sushi bars, carving stations, stir-fry stations, or pasta stations.

    My Fair Wedding David Tutera 2011

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