Yeah, the JOYCE CHEN Professional Series 14-Inch Carbon Steel Wok is great for high heat cooking, but there's a bit of prep work involved. The wok comes with a protective coating to prevent rusting, and you'll need to remove that first. Here are a few ways to do it:

Removing the Protective Coating

1. Boiling Water: Fill the wok with water, bring it to a boil, and let it go for about 5-10 minutes. This loosens the coating. Dump the water, scrub the wok with a stainless steel scrubber and soap, and you should see progress. Might need a couple of tries, but it's a start.

2. Oven: If your wok doesn't have plastic handles, place it upside down in an oven at 450°F (232°C) for 30-40 minutes. The heat helps break down the coating. Once it cools, scrub it again with soap and a scrubbing pad. Might take a few rounds.

3. Scrubbing: Steel wool or a metal scrubber with soap and water works too. It's a bit of a workout, but it's effective. For really stubborn spots, try an abrasive cleaner like Bar Keepers Friend.

4. Combo Method: Some folks combine these methods. Start with boiling water, scrub, then use the oven for the tough spots, and finish with more scrubbing if needed.

Seasoning Your Wok

Once the coating is gone, you'll need to season the wok to make it non-stick and ready for high heat:

1. Heat It Up: Put the wok on medium-high heat until it starts to smoke. Rotate it to heat all surfaces evenly.

2. Oil It: Dab a bit of high-smoke-point oil (like canola or peanut oil) on a paper towel and spread it around the wok with tongs. Keep heating and spreading the oil until the wok turns darker.

3. Cook Aromatics: Some people like to cook aromatics like onions, ginger, or scallions to add flavor. Cook them until they're charred, then toss them out.

4. Repeat: Keep repeating the oil and heating process until the wok has a glossy, black finish.

After these steps, your JOYCE CHEN wok should be all set for high-heat cooking. It's perfect for stir-fries and other quick, high-temp dishes. With the right care, it'll be a trusty tool in your kitchen for a long time.

It sounds like that gray, sticky film you're dealing with on your JOYCE CHEN Professional Series 14-Inch Carbon Steel Wok is actually a protective factory coating.

It's there to keep the wok from rusting during shipment. You'll need to get rid of this coating and season your wok before you start cooking with it. Here’s how you can do it:

How to Prepare Your Wok:

Initial Cleaning:

1. Wash with Soapy Water: First, give the wok a good scrub with hot, soapy water and a coarse scrubbing pad. This helps get rid of the initial layer of the protective coating.

Heat Treatment:

2. Burn Off the Coating: After washing and drying the wok, heat it up on your stovetop over high heat. Make sure to rotate and tilt it so all the surfaces change color from grayish to blueish, and finally to a darker tint. This means the coating is burning off. It will smoke a bit, so ventilate your kitchen well.

Additional Scrubbing:

3. Remove Residue: Once you've heated the wok, scrub off any remaining residue with steel wool and soapy water. You might have to repeat the heating and scrubbing until it’s all gone.

Oven Baking:

4. Complete the Burn-Off: Thoroughly dry the wok and bake it in an oven at 450°F for about 30-40 minutes. This ensures any leftover coating burns off. Depending on the residue level, you might need to run this step a few times.

Final Cleaning:

5. Last Scrub: After the oven treatment, give the wok one last scrub with hot, soapy water, then dry it immediately.

Seasoning the Wok:

6. Apply Oil: Coat the wok with a thin layer of oil (peanut oil or vegetable oil works great) and heat it on high.

Make sure to cover all surfaces, including the interior and edges, until the oil smokes and darkens the metal. You'll need to repeat this until the wok has a dark, non-stick surface.

Notes on Handling:

• You might find it easier to remove the wok's handles (if possible) when working with high heat. You can usually unscrew them.

User Experiences:

According to our research, getting rid of the factory coating can be a bit tricky.

But users have had success with these steps. It seems patience and persistence with heating and scrubbing are key. Once you’ve prepared and seasoned your JOYCE CHEN wok, it should provide excellent cooking performance and non-stick abilities for a long time.

The JOYCE CHEN Professional Series 14-Inch Carbon Steel Wok needs to be seasoned before you use it.

Don't worry, here's a simple guide to walk you through it based on the manufacturer's description and our research. It might take a bit of effort, but creating a great non-stick surface is totally worth it. Let's dive in step by step.

1. Removing the Factory Coating:

First, you need to get rid of the factory coating that keeps the wok from rusting before it gets to you. This can be a bit of a process.

• Scrub: Use steel wool and some dish soap to thoroughly scrub the wok. It might take some effort and you might need to scrub it a few times.

• Rinse and Repeat: After scrubbing, rinse the wok with hot water. If there's still some coating left, scrub it again.

• Boil Water: Fill the wok with water and bring it to a boil. This helps to loosen any residual coating.

• Oven Treatment: Some folks suggest putting the wok in the oven at around 400°F for an hour to make sure all the coating is burnt off.

2. Seasoning the Wok:

Once the wok is clean, it's time to season it.

• Dry the Wok: Make sure your wok is completely dry. Heat it over low heat to evaporate any leftover moisture.

• Oil Application: Use a paper towel to apply a thin layer of high smoke-point oil (like flaxseed oil or vegetable oil) to the entire interior surface of the wok. Make sure it's evenly spread.

• Heating: Place the wok over medium-high heat. You'll notice it will start to change color, usually a dark brown or black. This is a good sign! Keep heating until the color change is consistent across the wok's surface.

• Repeat the Process: For the best results, repeat the oiling and heating process 2-3 more times. Each layer adds to making a durable, non-stick surface.

3. Regular Maintenance:

To keep the seasoning intact, avoid using soap when you clean your wok. Just use hot water and a soft sponge. If food starts to stick, you can always re-season it.

Hope that helps you get the most out of your JOYCE CHEN wok. Happy cooking!