The key is to fry the ingredients quickly, while constantly stirring to preserve the flavor and texture of each ingredient.

Have all ingredients prepped and ready to go. It's helpful to have the ingredients in small bowls, lined up and ready to add to your hot pan or wok.

Use a wok, if possible. The gently curved sides of the wok concentrate the heat at the bottom of the pan and allow you to push the ingredients to the cooler sides of the pan. You can use a frying pan, but it's harder to keep vegetables crisp.

Crisco® Canola Oil is a great choice for stir-fries.

Browse the ethnic aisle at your local grocery store for ingredients that will add authentic flavor to your stir-fry dishes. Soy sauce, hoisin sauce, and chili sauce are readily available.

Cut meats to be stir-fried into thin, bite-sized pieces, and marinate for added flavor (if you have time).

Chopped herbs and spices add great taste and aroma. Try garlic, green onions, red pepper flakes, and chili peppers for an extra zip.

Any vegetables used should also be cut into small pieces and added according to cooking time. Carrots and asparagus are examples of slower-cooking vegetables and should be added before quick-cooking items, such as tomatoes or pea pods.