What Power Levels Are High and Low Fire on Commercial Induction?

High fire (wu fire) suits stir-fry and boiling; low fire (wen fire) suits soups and braises—similar to gas flame levels. What wattages do they mean? CHINENG explains.

Low fire: about 300–600 W for gentle simmer—micro-boil without scorching or boil-over, releasing nutrients thoroughly.

High fire: rated commercial power about 3–35 kW reaches max output quickly without damaging electronics—ideal for Chinese stir-fry habits.

Extra notes

1. Wen fire is small/gentle; wu fire is fierce and raises temperature fast.

2. Terms come from herbal decoction: wen fire for long gentle boils of tonics; wu fire first then wen, or wu only for aromatics that should not cook long.

3. Do not treat all models alike—top step = high fire, bottom = low, mid = medium; many units have 6–10 steps—watch indicators and food response.

4. Avoid iron/copper/aluminum pots for herbs due to reactions.

In short: 300–600 W for simmering; 3–35 kW for stir-fry/boil. Follow the CHINENG website for more induction details.