If you’re interested in whipping up some high-protein meal, the wok is your best bet. This unsung hero comes in a bowl shape to allow you to stir fry without using lots of calorie-dense oil.
These Asian pots are known for their excellent heat conductivity and are significantly bigger than regular frying pans. Thus, allowing you to prepare healthy meals quickly.
But with hundreds of options out there, choosing the best wok can be challenging. Luckily, we’ve expertly handpicked the best options out there and included a detailed buying guide to ensure you make an informed decision.
Best Wok For Gas Stove
Whether you are trying to cook some Chinese food at home or looking to diversify your cookware, purchasing a wok is the way to go. These Chinese pans offer a lot of flexibility and variety.
While it’s not a must to create Chinese meals using a traditional wok, it makes all the difference. These bowl-shaped cooking utensils offer several unique advantages, including even heat distribution to cook traditional Chinese food perfectly. Also, it can be great for deep-frying.
However, you have got a gas stovetop and need to choose the best wok; then you came to the right place.
Quick Tips on Buying a Wok for Gas Stove
When choosing the right wok for your gas stove, you want to consider the build quality, the handle, weight & size, the lid, and your cooktop. Nonetheless, the best wok for you should be built with either cast iron or carbon steel for incredible durability and outstanding performance.
Best Wok For Electric Stove
The wok is one of the most essential and versatile cooking utensils introduced from Asia to the world. This unit features a bowl shape and a handle. It’s perfect for making anything starting from deep-frying, pan-frying, stir-frying to boiling and making soups.
However, it’s essential to consider the type of stove you own in your kitchen when it comes to buying a wok. So, if you’ve got an electric furnace, then you need to purchase a wok built for an electric stove.
In this post, we’ll consider the best woks for an electric stove along with tips on how to choose the right one for you.
Tips on Buying Wok For Electric Stove
Whether you’re a seasoned or home chef, you want to consider some key features to guarantee you end up with the right one. You need to pay attention to the material, design & weight, size & shape, handle design and accessories. More importantly, you don’t want to purchase bulky woks thinking it has the highest quality.
Best Wok For Induction Cooktop
Recently, most homeowners are replacing their old gas stove with an induction cooktop. And, if you’re one of them, you might need to replace some of your cooking utensils, including wok. If you want to keep cooking with this Chinese pan on your induction cooktop, then you need a flat-bottomed wok with rounded edges.
This cooking utensil is an excellent acquisition for anyone looking to take the stir-frying game to the next level. The pan delivers uniform heat distribution for even and faster cooking. It’s highly sought after for its ability to lend you vegetables and meat that mouthwatering charred flavor and aroma without being soggy.
However, choosing the best wok for an induction cooktop can be a bit challenging. Thus, we’ve whipped up a list of the best options in the market to ease your decision-making process.
Tips on Buying Best Wok For Induction Cooktop
When choosing the best wok for an induction cooktop, you want to focus on the product’s construction. If you don’t mind your wok a little bit heavier, the traditional cast iron steel and carbon steel are your best bet. Also, you don’t want to opt for one that’s challenging to clean after cooking.
Best Wok For Deep Frying
A wok is known for its flexibility and is perfect for all sorts of cooking techniques such as frying pan, stewing, steaming, stir-frying, etc. this versatile cooking utensil doubles nicely as a skillet.
Using a wok for deep frying allows you to cook with less calorie-dense oil and fry a large quantity than other pots or pans. While the wok might not be the first cookware that pops up in your mind when you think of deep-frying, it’s a true game-changer for your crispy, crunchy fried meals.
There are several options to choose from out there, and choosing the right unit might be tricky. So, we’ll be considering the best wok for deep frying and how to make an informed decision.
Tips on Buying the Best Wok For Deep Frying
There are different types of wok offered by a plethora of brands. However, it’s best to choose a wok with shallow depth to allow you to take out your crispy fried food with ease. Also, you want to settle for a wider cooking surface to permit frying with less oil and more room for deep-frying.
Top 8 Best Wok To Buy
All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Frying Pan with Lid, 12 Inch Pan Cookware
The All-Clad HA1 Hard Anodized Nonstick Frying Pan comes top of our list with its wide flat base and low-profile multifunctional shape. This 12-inch pan is compatible with your kitchen oven, induction, gas and electric stovetop.
Moving ahead, this frying pan features hard-anodized aluminum construction for quick, uniform heating and hassle-free cleanup. Furthermore, it has a stainless-steel bonded anti-warp base to permit cooking on your induction cooktop.
On top of that, it comes with a PFOA-free nonstick scratch-resistant coating for easy food release and allows cooking with little to no oil. Another highlight of this model is its stainless steel handles that stay cool to the touch.
Pros:
- Solid hard anodize aluminum construction
- Three layers of nonstick coat to optimize cooking performance
- Easy to clean
- Compatible with all cooktops
Cons:
- It tends to flake and peel after a couple of use
Scanpan HAPTIQ 12.5″ Wok
If you need a wok to handle most of your cooking functions, you might want to consider the Scanpan HAPTIQ 12.5″ Wok. This model’s interior is one of its highlights with its revolutionary Stratanium + nonstick coating for excellent cooking performance.
In terms of build quality, the wok features a mirror-polished stainless steel exterior and a PFOS and PFOA-free nonstick micro-textured surface to ensure this wok peel, blister or warp. In addition, it features a squeeze-cast body to prevent hot spots for uniform cooking and perfect browning.
What’s more? The Scanpan HAPTIQ 12.5″ Wok features a cast stainless steel handle that stays cool longer and is oven safe up to 500 degrees F on any cooking source. Plus, it’s backed by a lifetime warranty.
Pros:
- Stratanium+ nonstick coating for better food release
- Composite 5-layer clad-aluminum construction
- Safe to use with nylon, wood, silicone and metal utensils
- Oven safe up to 500 degrees F
Cons:
- On the pricey side
ZhenSanHuan Chinese Hand Hammered Iron Woks and Stir Fry Pans, Non-stick, No Coating, Less Oil
If you want a more traditional iron wok, then you can’t possibly go wrong with this unit. This product features the ancient Chinese forging technique – including 12 processes and up to 36,000 times of hand hammering.
To optimize its food release performance, this pan features a mirror surface to ensure your ingredients slide inside the cookware smoothly.
The ZhenSanHuan Chinese Hand Hammered Iron Woks is not painted or coated, which eliminates any worries regarding the nonstick cowling peeling or falling off.
As said earlier, this pan is made of iron and forms iron oxide, which is a protective layer that acts as a nonstick coating. This gets better with each use.
Pros:
- Outstanding non stick performance
- Solid, reliable iron construction
- Classic concaveness design for optimal heat conductivity
- Absorbs less oil and generate less smoke
Cons:
- On the heavier side
- Come at a salty price
ZhenSanHuan HandHammered Iron Wok
Another spot, another iron wok from ZhenSanHuan; this unit is a go-to for anyone looking to purchase a wok to pass down to the next generation. This wok features the brand’s traditional cold forging technique.
Talking about this ancient technique, the wok goes through 12 different processes and is hand-hammered up to 36,000 times for a mirror surface. This surface finish guarantees the ingredients slide smoothly over the wok’s cooking surface.
More so, this pan is not painted or coated, just forged from iron, which creates iron oxide on the surface for more than a decent nonstick release.
Pros:
- Excellent food release
- Hand-made, high-quality build quality
- No coating or paint for long-lasting performance
- It comes pre-seasoned
Cons:
- Expensive
- Not dishwasher safe
Cuisinart 726-38H Chef’s Classic Stainless 14-Inch Stir-Fry Pan
The Cuisinart 726-38H Chef’s Classic Stainless 14-Inch Stir-Fry Pan is the best wok on your list for anyone who loves a classic look. It features stainless steel construction, which means this stir-fry pan doesn’t get discolored. This way, you can enjoy authentic food flavor each time.
Further, this 14-inch stainless cookware exhibits an aluminum encapsulated base to promote even and quick heating to deep fry your goods. This unit features a flavor lock lid, which can come in handy when steaming your food to seal your food’s natural flavor. However, it’s not advised to use this lid while deep frying.
Pros:
- Dishwasher safe for easy-to-clean
- Aluminum encapsulated base for uniform
- Compatible with electric cooktop
- It features measurement markings
Cons:
- Not suitable for gas cooktop
Lodge Pro-Logic Wok With Flat Base and Loop Handles
The Lodge Pro-Logic Wok is another decent option for home cooks looking to purchase the best wok for gas stoves. This unit rocks a modern style with curved lines, which makes it a treat to the eyes.
When it comes to impressive cooking performance, cookware from Lodge always earns a spot on the list. This 14-inch cast iron wok offers enough room to cook a substantial amount of your favorite stir-fry recipes. Made of cast iron, this model delivers superior heat retention and uniform heating to ensure properly cooked meals.
More so, it comes with two loop handles for a secure and safe grip. Also, its flat bottom makes it easy to use on a gas stove without a ring to keep the wok in place. More so, it comes pre-seasoned, which means you can use it straight out of the box.
Pros:
- Made in the USA
- Unparallel heat retention and uniform heat distribution
- Roomy cooking space
- Brutally tough for decades of cooking
Cons:
- On the heavier side
HexClad 12 Inch Wok, Hybrid Stainless/Nonstick Inside and Outside Cookware
Next on the list, HexClad 12 Inch Wok offers the best of both stainless steel pans and nonstick pans. This cookware features a laser-etched raised design that makes the overall design of this unit beautiful and elegant.
The interior is coated with a sturdy hard anodized nonstick coating material to deliver outstanding performance. This interior surface offers impressive versatility for braising short rinds, sauteing vegetables, searing steaks and frying delicate eggs.
Pros:
- Dishwasher safe
- Stay-Cool handle
- Induction ready
- Metal utensil safe
Cons:
- Slightly overpriced
DaTerra Cucina Ceramic 13″ Wok with Natural Nonstick Coating
When it comes to aesthetics, this wok is our favorite. But don’t take our word for it, why don’t you look at the picture?
This DaTerra Cucina Ceramic 13″ Wok is a professional-grade, ceramic-coated skillet designed to deliver outstanding heat distribution, thanks to its aluminum base. Unlike most inferior options out there, this unit does not include toxic carcinogens that flake off into your food.
Also, its ceramic-coated wok offers excellent food release and permits cooking with less oil. Plus, it makes cleaning this unit effortless.
Pros:
- Elegant and beautiful design
- Aluminum base for quick heating
- Ceramic-coated interior for easy food release
- Backed by 1-year manufacturer warranty
Cons:
- Poor quality control
Criteria for Buying a wok
Before purchasing a wok, you need to consider a couple of factors and options available. Here are key factors to influence your decision process.
Material
When choosing the right unit, the build quality is one of the critical qualities you don’t want to ignore. There are lots of material options, from stainless steel to aluminum, cast iron and carbon steel.
For those looking to purchase a more traditional wok, your best options are cast iron and carbon steel. Carbon steel has superior heat retention, which helps keep the food warm for a longer period and is light enough for easy handling.
On the other hand, the cast iron is thicker and comes pre-seasoned, which takes the hassle of seasoning your cookware before using it. However, stainless steel woks are incredibly lighter than both options and deliver the best of both worlds.
Last, the aluminum material is an excellent choice for cooks looking for cookware to deliver excellent heat conduction, thanks to its thin profile.
Size & Weight
The weight and size of this Chinese cookware play an integral part in your cooking performance and experience. If you find handling heavy pots and pans difficult, you should settle for carbon steel or stainless steel woks. They offer decent maneuverability to take your stir-frying or deep-frying skills to the next level.
Shape
One of the main highlights of woks is their curved bottoms which create a large hot spot and are ideal for cradling food. Also, there’s a flat-bottomed ring design – a modern design to fit contemporary stovetops.
The type of shape to opt for boils down to the type of cooktop you own. The flat bottoms are compatible with induction and electric stoves, while the round bases are best used with gas stoves.
FAQs
Do Woks Work On Electric Stoves?
Not all woks are compatible with your electric stoves. If you intend to use your wok on an electric stove, you are better off with flat base woks. With the round bottom cookware, you might have issues balancing the cookware on the stovetop.
What is A Wok Used For
This cookware is perfect for a host of Chinese cooking techniques, including making soup, searing, boiling, poaching, deep-frying, pan-frying, steaming, stir-frying, stewing, roasting and smoking.
How To Use A Wok On An Electric Stove
With an electric coil stove, you want to use a flat-base wok to ensure it stays securely on the heating coils. In this manner, you can be assured of excellent heat conduction and distribution.
However, for the glass-ceramic stove, you might want to opt for a round-bottomed wok for reliable cooking performance. But with this type of electric stove, you will need to place a wok ring on the stovetop before placing your wok on it.
How To Clean Carbon Steel Wok
- Rinse the wok in hot water
- With the aid of a non-metallic scrubber, scrub away the food particles
- Rinse the wok to remove the food particles completely
- Use paper towels to dry the interior and exterior of the wok
- Place the wok on medium or medium-high heat to finish drying
- Wipe the cooking surface with a minute amount of vegetable oil to prevent rusting
- Store until next use
How To Season A Stainless Steel Wok
- Wash the wok with a mild dish detergent and warm water
- Coat the cooking surface and inner rim of the wok with a layer of vegetable oil
- Place the oil pan on a stove at medium heat until the oil starts smoking before removing the wok.
- Allow the wok to cool before using the paper towel to wipe out all the excess oil.
How To Clean A Wok With Burnt Food
To clean a wok with burnt food, soak the cookware in warm water for at least 5 minutes to loosen up the food particles before cleaning as you would normally.
Conclusion
We have reviewed the top 8 best woks suitable for most cooktops along with a detailed buying guide on how to make a smart investment. Now, we leave it to you to make a decision based on your cooking needs and preference.
Nonetheless, we are confident that any of the models on this list are durable to last a lifetime and deliver perfectly searing and crispy crunchy stir fry every time.
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