A laser power selecting method includes the steps of recording an asymmetry measuring recording pattern in an optical disk trial-writing area while a laser power is being changed, reproducing a signal from the trial-writing area to calculate an asymmetry value from the waveform of the reproduced signal, determining the change rate of asymmetry from the relation between a laser power when the recording pattern is recorded and the calculated asymmetry value, and setting a laser power, at which the determined change rate of an asymmetry value is maximum, as a recording power used when recording on an optical disk.