Whether you want to equip your kitchen or prepare a sumptuous Asian meal for an occasion, purchasing the best wok is a smart decision. Although a wok is not a must for creating the best Chinese or other types of dish, it caters to your cooking needs and shortens your cooking time for optimal results.
This utensil offers a lot of bells and whistles, including even heat distribution. Plus, they are ideal for deep-frying. However, there are different options and factors to consider – material construction, warranty, capacity, diameter, weight, etc. – which makes choosing the right one slightly challenging.
In this guide, we’ll be reviewing the top 7 best woks and include a detailed buying guide to ensure you make an informed decision.
Looking for a related product, the best tamagoyaki pan is another choice for your kitchen.
Top 7 Woks Review 2021
Top 1 – Craft Wok Traditional Hand Hammered Carbon Steel Pow Wok
If you don’t want to spend a fortune purchasing a wok, then the Craft Wok Traditional Hand Hammered Carbon Steel Pow Wok can be your best bet. This budget-option wok features a round bottom, a gripping handle, and a long one. The gripping handle comes in handy for hanging up the wok for easy storage.
This affordable option is great for stir-frying and cooking a wide range of foods. These pans are also perfect for deep frying and make different types of soups. Another feature to like about this product is it can be used in an open fire.
Unfortunately, this model does not come preseasoned, and it’s not suitable for flat induction or flat electric induction stove. On the brighter side, it features a sturdy construction and is crafted by Chinese professionals, which assures users of excellent performance and durability.
Top 2 – Lodge Pro-Logic Wok With Flat Base and Loop Handles
The Lodge Cast Iron Wok features a flat base and large handle for easier and safe handling. This model is crafted with cast iron, which ensures unparalleled heat retention and uniform heat distribution. This heavy-duty construction makes this wok perfect for cooking just about anything from summer vegetable saute to stir fry.
More so, its flattened bottom allows users to use this pan over all cooking surfaces as well as on an induction stove. This model comes preseasoned with 100% natural vegetable oil, meaning it comes ready. Lodge Pro-Logic Wok With Flat Base and Loop Handles is perfect for searing, grilling, frying, braising, baking, broiling. Also, it can be used over the campfire, on the grill, or in the oven.
Top 3 – Souped Up Carbon Steel Wok For Electric, Induction, and Gas Stoves
Our next choice is a pan made of carbon steel to ensure customers enjoy the best of both stainless steels and cast iron without their downsides. This 12.5-inch diameter flat bottom wok is compatible with all heat sources – gas range, induction stoves, and electric stoves.
What’s more? Souped Up Carbon Steel Wok features a lightweight design for quick heat up and excellent heat distribution. This pan comes with a metal spatula and a beautiful wooden lid. The handle is made of wood to ensure it doesn’t get hot to prevent burning your fingers.
Also, the manufacturer includes a link to more than 190 recipes and how to season the wok for excellent nonstick performance.
Top 4 – Cooks Standard Flat Bottom With Lid 11-Inch Hard-Anodized Nonstick Wok
The Cooks Standard Flat Bottom 11-Inch Hard-Anodized Nonstick Wok comes with a black, hard-anodized surface that is harder and durable stainless steel. It features a heavy-gauge aluminum core to deliver even heat distribution and eliminates hot spots.
Further, its nonstick coating offers excellent performance and an easy cleaning experience. The tempered glass lid is protected by a stainless steel rim. This wok has a stainless steel handle securely riveted for extra strength.
However, this product works well on glass, electric, gas, etc. – except the induction stove. Nonetheless, it’s oven safe up to 450 degrees F. Plus; it’s dishwasher safe for a convenient cleaning experience.
Top 5 – MICHELANGELO 5 Quart Nonstick Woks
The Michelangelo 5 quart nonstick woks come with everything needed to prepare sumptuous baking, boiling, steaming, stir-fry, roasting meals, and more. Also, this nonstick wok can be used as a deep stockpot, steamer, rice cooker, deep fry pan, baking dish, stir fry pan, etc.
More so, it has a superior ceramic and titanium interior for scratch-resistant and superb nonstick performance for enhanced cooking performance and durability. Also, it ensures easy cleanup and dishwasher safe for a convenient cleaning experience. However, it’s best to hand wash.
In addition, this product is crafted from high-grade aluminum alloy to ensure fast heat conduction and eliminate hot spots. More so, it features a helper handle and a long stainless steel handle that stays cool to touch for a safe and easy grip. Plus, it delivers extra balance and support when pouring and lifting the utensil.
Top 6 -YOSUKATA Pre-Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok Pan
If you want to achieve rich, authentic flavors of Asian cuisines, then you can go wrong purchasing the Yosukata 14 inch wok. This round bottom pan is designed to seal in the flavor and juice inside ingredients.
More importantly, this is pan comes preseasoned, which means it arrives ready to use. This large utensil is made from heavy-duty black carbon steel and features an ergonomic wooden handle for a comfortable and secure grip.
This product is also great for other traditional cooking techniques asides from stir-frying: deep-frying, braising, pan-frying, and many more. This steel cookware is hassle-free to carry and store.
Top 7 – T-fal, Ultimate Hard Anodized, Nonstick 14 in. Wok
This model is designed to be a true workhorse in any kitchen, thanks to hard-anodized aluminum construction that ensure perfect heat retention. Plus, it has a stronger protective layer for a scratch and corrosion-resistant experience.
T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized Nonstick 14 in. Wok features a durable nonstick coating that stands up to the rigors of daily use. Also, it ensures food slides along the surface smoothly for convenient cleanup and an easy cooking experience.
In addition, it is equipped with an even heat base to deliver excellent heat distribution for superior cooking performance. Besides, this pan has a riveted silicone handle for a comfy grip and safe handling. Similarly, this hard-anodized wok is oven safe up to 400 degrees F and dishwasher safe.
Things to Consider When Shopping for the Best Wok
Material
Woks are made out of different materials, which can make all the difference. The most common options include cast iron, carbon steel, aluminum, and stainless steel. For a more traditional feel, woks crafted out of carbon steel is your best bet. They are ultra-lightweight, meaning carbon steel woks are easy to maneuver on the stove and around the kitchen.
But the cast iron construction bring high heat retention to your kitchen. However, they are quite heavy and comes already preseasoned to eliminate the hassle of seasoning your wok before use. The stainless steel pans feature both carbon steel and cast iron. Although they are not as heavy as cast iron pans, the stainless steel woks do not heat up quickly like carbon steel.
Generally, aluminum pans are good conductors of heat due to their thinner construction. However, they are not as durable as other options.
Size & Weight
The woks’ weight and size influence your cooking experience. A wok capacity is another measurement to look out for when trying to purchase the best wok. You don’t want to end up with a pan that’s too small to cook enough servings at once. So, choosing the right utensil size depends on the number of people you intend cooking for.
More so, a lightweight pan is easy to maneuver on the stove. If this is what you want, you are better off with carbon steel.
Bottom Shape
When it comes to woks, their bottoms are one of the unique features. Round bowls are best for cradling food and creating a round hot spot for uniform heating. However, this isn’t always an easy decision. The flat-bottomed wok is compatible with most heat sources, including induction. But round wok might not be compatible with your induction stove. Therefore, you should do proper research before opting for a wok.
Nonstick Coating
On this guide, most options come with a nonstick coating usually made from hard-anodized aluminum. Purchasing a pan with a nonstick coating might not deliver that high heat sear you expect from a wok. Such pans are not designed to handle high heat for stir-frying.
Warranty
This is another factor to consider when trying to pin down the right wok that best caters to your needs. A warranty gives an insight into the manufacturer’s confidence is in his products. Hence, the best wok to buy should come with a decent warranty, such as a lifetime limited warranty.
FAQs
How to use a wok on an electric stove?
If you need a wok to cook on an electric coil stove, you should go for a flat-bottom wok. This model sits on the heating coils perfectly and ensures even heat distribution.
How to clean carbon steel wok?
Once your pan is seasoned, you should wash the utensil with soap. Instead, wash the interior with hot water and only scrub with a soft sponge only.
How to season a stainless steel wok?
- Preheat the wok on medium heat
- Add a little amount of oil to create a thin layer.
- With the aid of a paper towel, spread the oil evenly around the interior surface.
- Wait for the oil to start smoking before removing the stainless steel wok from the heat.
- Get rid of any excess oil with a paper towel
- How to clean a wok with burnt food?
- Soak the wok in hot water for 5 minutes and scrub with a soft sponge for.
Conclusion
We’ve reviewed the top 7 best woks out there on the market for you and your kitchen. However, you need to consider the factors discussed in our buying guide section to ensure you make a smart decision.
But if you skipped over the guide and jump straight here to know our top pick, Craft Wok Traditional Hand Hammered Carbon Steel Pow Wok can be your answer to most of your cooking problems.