Woks are versatile and made to final, so looking for one generally is a once-in-a-lifetime process. To search out the most effective choices, we spoke with specialists after which started working sautéing, frying, and steaming. One clear winner stood out: the Sur La Desk Skilled Carbon Metal Wok. Due to its softly curved angles, it performs loads like knowledgeable, round-bottom wok. And its snug picket deal with and light-weight weight make this wok simpler to raise, toss, and pour from.
Our choose
This wok flew by way of our cooking duties and is a delight to make use of. It’s light-weight and steady on the stovetop but nonetheless completely sloped for straightforward frying. This mannequin requires seasoning, however the payoff is price it.
The Sur La Desk Skilled Carbon Metal Wok carried out practically identically to our earlier high choose from The Wok Store, which additionally means it outperformed each different wok we’ve examined. The underside is flat sufficient to remain steady on a stovetop, however the sides slope out subtly so {that a} spatula glides simply when stir-frying.
The trickiest half in our checks was seasoning the wok—a crucial first step for any unseasoned carbon-steel pan and an ongoing course of that’s achieved by way of cooking with the pan. However simply as marketed, this wok turned extra evenly seasoned with every use. For cookware that would final you a long time, this wok can be a superb worth.
Additionally nice
This pretty pre-seasoned wok gives a shortcut to a slick floor, although it nonetheless requires some prep. It’s steady however heavy, so lifting it requires some energy (and sure each arms).
Some producers provide woks that promise to take the seasoning step out of your arms. The Yosukata Flat Backside 13.5-inch Pre-Seasoned Blue Carbon Metal Wok is certainly one of them—though it nonetheless requires some minimal seasoning and cleansing earlier than use.
This wok has a hand-hammered bowl with a teal tint from the blue metal. We desire the steadiness and barely lighter weight of this flat-bottom wok, which runs somewhat smaller at 13.5 inches. (Yosukata additionally makes a 14-inch round-bottom wok, which remains to be fairly flat on the underside and may work on a gasoline vary, if you happen to don’t thoughts a minuscule wobble.)
Nevertheless, this wok is 5 ounces heavier than our high choose, so we discovered it somewhat harder to raise with one hand. We advocate this wok for people who’re prepared to spend extra for fashion and comfort and for many who have the energy and mobility to maneuver a heavier wok.