How to Select the Best Wok?

Are you thinking of adding a wok to your neat kitchen? If your answer is super duper yes, then here’s an article perfect for you! Whether you are simply dipping your toes into the world of Asian cooking and cuisine or want to get serious about your stir-fries, there’s just one cooking tool you’ll need in your kitchen - a wok.

These deep, round-bottomed pans are important Chinese cooking tools, though you can use them for all Asian-inspired meals. There are several types of woks on the market, so before you get one of our favorite Asian cookbooks, make sure you pick the pan that suits your cooking style best.

Why Choose a Wok?

Here, you will discover the kind of wok that's ideal for your stir-fry needs. For sure, you know that tons of Asian recipes call for a fast, high-heat cooking method. Hence, if you prefer every piece of food to be cooked quickly, use dry heat to brown instead of softening, and let the meats and vegetables cook simultaneously.?

Here are the reasons why woks are the best kitchen tool for the job for the following reasons:

• They have high sides that make it easy to toss and flip every bite of food.
• Their flared sides also allow steam to escape rather than remain in the pan and soften the food.
• They are made from a thin material compared to most everyday pans, allowing heat to conduct quickly and efficiently.
• All types of woks should have those three elements—the high sides, flared design, and thin conductive material.

Different Types of Woks and Features

To know which wok fits your style of cooking, you have to consider these criteria before clicking “add to cart.”?

Material

Woks should be made with a conductive metal and definitely a lightweight material. This is why carbon steel is a well-known choice. Also, aluminum is another lighter-weight selection.

Take note that cast-iron woks are heavier, but if you enjoy cooking with cast-iron skillet pans, then you will probably like a cast-iron wok likewise. It would also be nice to get a cast-iron wok if you have the skillet pan to match your cooking essentials.

Nonstick vs. Seasoned

You surely don’t want food sticking to the pan in a high-heat situation. A material like carbon steel can be seasoned with oil, like your cast-iron pan, creating a naturally nonstick surface that will improve with every use.

Many woks come with a nonstick coating, like So-well’s wok. What’s more, it is easy to clean and lets food glide over the surface. On the other hand, a nonstick coating usually cannot handle a cooking temperature more than medium heat, which means your stir-fry will not be as crisp as it could be over a hotter temp. Nonstick pans also don’t last as long as cast-iron or carbon steel woks since the coating does wear away over time.

Flat vs. Curved Base

Many woks have a curved base, which makes for easy food tossing and lets heat travel up the curved sides most efficiently. Curved-bottom woks work ideally once placed in a wok ring: a round collar that holds the wok over a burner, usually a gas burner.

But are you cooking directly on a gas or electric burner? You might want to look for a wok with a flat base, which will allow it to sit directly over the burner and conduct heat evenly. Check out So-well’s woks for options.

Handles

Generally, woks either have two small metal handles that look like ears or sometimes, they have one long one. So if you want to shake and toss your ingredients like a pro, a wok with a long handle is the ideal type for you. However, if you only like using it for stirring the contents of your wok, the one with small handles will work better.

Size

Are you cooking for a big family? Then go ahead and get a big wok. You can get one as large as six or eight quarts.

However, if you mostly cook for two or three, better get a smaller model. Why? Always remember that cooking a small amount of food in a too-large pan makes it easy to burn the food and scorch the cooking oil, giving the food a bitter taste.

Electric Woks

Stand-alone electric woks have a built-in heat element, which lets cooks plug in anywhere and get cooking. They offer a high, consistent heat that’s ideal for stir-frying.

Most electric woks offer the user flexibility in their kitchen. Hence, if you want one, you can set up an electric wok anywhere there’s an outlet and get to work. Moreover, this can give your sous chef some room to make rice on the stovetop. However, these types of woks tend to be more costly compared to their classic counterparts.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, a wok is an essential kitchen tool for achieving palatable stir-frying. Remember to buy only the best you can and make sure to take care of it for longer use. Check out this website https://www.sowellcook.com/ for quality yet affordable woks.