Bear in mind, a wok can be utilized for a lot greater than only a stir-fry; use it for searing and sautéing substances over a excessive warmth earlier than lengthy, sluggish bakes, or select a wok that comes with a lid so you may simmer and steam your solution to good dishes.
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One of the best woks at a look 2023
- Greatest hybrid wok: HexClad wok, £145.99
- Greatest for taking to the desk: Le Creuset toughened non-stick wok, £175
- Greatest light-weight high quality wok: Netherton Foundry 33cm iron wok, £79.35
- Greatest wok for heavy-duty warmth retention: Tramontina Trento 32cm forged iron wok, £79.99
- Greatest reward wok for an actual foodie: Samuel Groves basic non-stick stainless-steel tri-ply wok, £160
- Greatest wok for college kids: Progress Scandi 28cm non-stick wok, £40.98
- Greatest wok for tempura making: Prue’s World dual-handle lidded wok, £36.99
- Greatest for type and substance: Smeg 50s-style wok, £149.95
- Greatest for straightforward stir frying: Kuhn Rikon simple induction wok, £41.95
- Greatest non-stick wok: TEFAL Limitless ON wok, £49.98
- Greatest conventional carbon metal wok: Faculty of Wok Wok & Roll 33cm spherical backside wok, £30
- Greatest wok for households: Circulon Ultimum high-density cast 36cm wok, £128.99
Greatest woks to purchase 2023
HexClad wok
Greatest hybrid wok
Professionals:
- All recyclable packaging
- Sturdy pan
- Two handles
- Good condition for tossing
Cons:
- Troublesome to season the edges
- Heavy
Star score: 4.5/5
We’ve examined the HexClad frying pan and we’re totally impressed. However, we had one main query earlier than testing the HexClad wok: wok cooking is all about cooking rapidly and at very excessive temperatures, so how would the HexClad wok carry out, contemplating the model advises cooking on a medium warmth?
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To place this to the check, we made pad Thai. Regardless of seasoning the wok beforehand, we seen some sticking across the edges when scrambling the egg. Aside from this slight sticking, the whole lot else cooked nicely, although we’d be exhausting pushed to name what we did wok cooking. With every ingredient added, there was a notable absence of sizzle. Though HexClad claims that cooking at a medium temperature in its cookware is equal to cooking at medium-high in different cookware, we disagree. Consequently, our pad Thai took round 10 minutes to cook dinner – significantly longer than anticipated.
On the plus facet, the completed dish was scrumptious, and most of the building components of this wok scored full marks. We liked the scale: it’s 30cm, so nice if you happen to’ve obtained numerous mouths to feed. It’s a beautiful form to toss meals in, and the handles are usually not solely comfy, however remained cool, too.
Should you’re barely intimidated by the ferocious temperatures required for wok cooking, this HexClad wok is a good introductory mannequin. However, if you happen to’re well-versed, carbon metal is a more sensible choice.
Out there from:
Le Creuset toughened non-stick wok
Greatest for taking to the desk
Absolute high quality is achieved by Le Creuset, who use a toughened non-stick coating on this cast aluminium wok. The 2 riveted handles are unlikely to return unfastened or wobble, even after years of use. This wok reaches a searing warmth with no downside, retaining the temperature as substances cook dinner and even after the dish is completed and brought to the desk for friends to assist themselves. The pan isn’t too heavy in any respect, though clearly in an excellent grade of metallic. A helpful pan we’ll use for a lot greater than stir-fries.
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Netherton Foundry 33cm iron wok
Greatest for light-weight high quality
Netherton Foundry is a well-liked alternative with severe cooks as a result of it combines the whole lot you’d need in a pan, however make it gentle, simple to make use of and beautiful to have a look at. We love the branded oak overlaid deal with on this wok, which, like different varieties within the vary, is constructed from spun iron. Not solely does it have superior heat-conducting qualities, there’s not one of the excessive heft of among the massive forged iron fashions within the check, making it simpler to make use of. Though you should use this wok straight from the field, it’s finest to provide it a seasoning first. It’ll be the beginning of an extended cooking journey – this one is made to final.
Out there from:
Netherton Foundry, £79.35
Tramontina Trento 32cm forged iron wok
Greatest for heavy-duty warmth retention
That is an absolute whopper of a enamelled forged iron wok from this Brazilian model. Don’t restrict it to frying – there’s much more it could possibly deal with. For starters, it’s far and away the heaviest mannequin on check, so that you’ll want muscle groups to maneuver it round. Due to its sturdiness, this can be a nice alternative for these instances when stability is vital – for tempura frying in sizzling oil, for instance. It’s additionally going to maintain warmth in your dish with its stainless-steel dealt with lid, and appears nice as a country desk centrepiece. A no-frills basic, this can be a pan that can solely get higher over time, including flavour to dishes if you happen to enable it to construct up a patina and hold it oiled each month or so.
Out there from:
Samuel Groves basic non-stick stainless-steel tri-ply wok
Greatest reward wok for an actual foodie
This top-quality British-made wok is available in a hessian presentation bag. When cooking, the riveted lengthy deal with and seize bar reverse really feel nice and safe. As a result of these are additionally in tri-ply metal, this wok might be positioned within the oven and beneath grills, too. Admittedly, this doesn’t crop up in Chinese language, east, south or southeast Asian cooking fairly often, but it surely provides to the flexibility of such a top quality pan, which is a bonus contemplating the upper value. You can too brown steak mince on this for ragu, which provides a pleasant char and color to the meat. Samuel Groves pans are all the time a delight to make use of and this wok was no exception.
Out there from:
Progress Scandi 28cm non-stick wok
Greatest for college kids
We just like the chunkiness of the fake wooden handles on this budget-friendly possibility, which is ideal for younger cooks. The handles are manufactured from plastic, nonetheless, so you may need to hold a detailed eye on the fuel flame to make sure it doesn’t creep spherical its base for surprising meltdown. That mentioned, this can be a good-quality grade of wok for the cash, and with a seize deal with on the other facet to the deal with, it is simple to maneuver a full pan round. What’s extra, a brand new inexperienced initiative from Progress means they will plant a tree for each wok purchased. There’s a snug-fitting lid with this one, too, so it’s nice worth.
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Prue’s World dual-handle lidded wok
Greatest for tempura making
A part of a variety of kitchen gear for worldwide dishes, the twin bamboo handles make this handsome wok an acceptable hob-to-table mannequin. After all, they imply it’s not an genuine alternative for individuals who favor to choose the pan as much as actually throw substances round as they cook dinner – a single lengthy deal with is finest for that. This wok is created from coated non-stick carbon metal and it heats rapidly and evenly, searing beef for teriyaki with out shedding warmth as substances are added. The hook-on tempura rack is a bonus for letting deep-fried substances drain whereas staying sizzling.
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Smeg 50s-style wok
Greatest for type and substance
Smeg’s expanded vary of cookware continues to make use of the high-quality supplies you anticipate from the model. There’s a brand imprint and sleep stripes on the lengthy deal with that mirror another Smeg kitchen gear you might need, and there’s a alternative of cream, black or pink outer casing. It is a very beneficiant, deep wok that may simply deal with frying for greater than 4 folks. The internal, barely roughcast non-stick coating doesn’t catch when cooking at excessive warmth and has numerous house to maneuver substances round for even charring.
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Kujhn Rikon simple induction wok
Greatest for straightforward stir-frying
This non-stick wok is specifically designed for use on induction hobs and has a clean, polished base that is simple to scrub and stays in nice form even after enthusiastic stir-frying. The pan has an anti-scratch coating and three-layer titanium coating for additional sturdiness. We like the texture of this pan, which has a smoother internal than most – substances slide effortlessly round over the floor, making it simple to cook dinner the whole lot evenly with a naked minimal of oil.
Out there from:
Kuhn Rikon, £41.95
TEFAL Limitless ON wok
Greatest non-stick wok
A basic, non-stick alternative, this wok is for these non-purists who like to stay a wok within the dishwasher – nice for household cooking, and at a strong mid-price level. It’s appropriate for all hobs, too. There is a good weight to this mannequin and the warmth could be very evenly distributed, cooking a stir-fry for 4 rapidly and evenly. With the darkening of its Thermo-Sign pink dot, there’s a visible cue that your wok has reached a great temperature for cooking, however when flash and stir-frying we’d all the time give it a minute or two additional to get issues actually smoking sizzling.
Out there from:
Faculty of Wok Wok & Roll 33cm spherical backside wok
Greatest conventional carbon metal wok
From the Faculty of Wok cookery college in London’s Covent Backyard, this was the most effective traditional-style wok we examined. Spherical bottomed and manufactured from carbon metal, this wok requires a fuel hob and does want a little bit of prep earlier than use.
First, the protecting layer of lacquer (that stops the wok rusting within the store) must be scoured off after which the metallic must be seasoned with two ‘burns’ over a sizzling hob or with a blow torch. Seasoning retains the metallic in good situation and prevents sticking. There are useful directions on how to do that and on-line movies if you happen to get caught.
Although just a little time consuming, the prep is price it for the searing and flavour produced by a conventional carbonised wok. Fairly priced, this wok has a cushty bamboo deal with, heats quick, is gentle and well-balanced.
Out there from:
Circulon Ultimum high-density cast 36cm wok
Greatest wok for households
This massive capability wok is good for feeding massive households or a crowd of associates. Its massive flat base retains good contact with an induction hob and works equally nicely on fuel and electrical. It does require some cupboard space however fortunately has two forged stainless-steel handles somewhat than an extended stick.
The handles do get sizzling so hold your oven gloves shut at hand. The wok heats evenly and quick. Circulon’s signature ridged floor along with a hard-wearing non-stick coating means stir-fry glides across the pan. Impressively, the non-stick is proof to 260C and it comes with a big domed lid making it a flexible pan for steaming and poaching. A strong, sturdy wok that’s simple to scrub too.
Out there from:
Circulon, £128.99
How to decide on a wok
Spherical or flat?
In case you have a fuel hob, a conventional round-bottomed wok is a good possibility, however keep in mind it’s possible you’ll want a wok ring to maintain it regular. For electrical, flat is finest as spherical woks can replicate warmth again on the factor, damaging it. Equally, for induction hobs you may want a broad, flat base for respectable contact between hob and wok.
Materials
Conventional carbon metal woks are sturdy, light-weight and cheap. They supply fast warmth conduction to rapidly sear meals, which is important for stir-frying. Nevertheless, they do require extra upkeep, as with out common seasoning (coating with oil) they’ll rust.
Much like carbon metal, forged iron must be seasoned. It takes longer to succeed in a excessive warmth, however will preserve temperature nicely. Forged iron could be very heavy, so not the most suitable choice if you happen to prefer to toss your stir-fries.
Non-stick coatings have developed through the years to resist the upper temperatures wanted for stir-frying. They nonetheless don’t sear the meals in fairly the identical means as carbon metal, however they do an excellent job and are actually simpler to scrub and preserve.
How we examined woks
Within the check we targeting stir-frying by cooking a pad Thai. We tossed, stirred, tilted and shimmied to see how a lot meals may escape from the pan. Quite a lot of utensils had been used to check comfort of form and sturdiness of floor.
What we regarded for in a wok
Stability and weight: We regarded for wok’s that may very well be lifted simply by the deal with with out drastic tilting. Some long-handled woks have a small second deal with to assist with stability.
Handles: We regarded for handles that had been comfy and secure to carry. Lengthy-stick handles are higher suited to tossing stir-fries and conserving your hand away from the warmth. Quick handles both facet of the wok are extra handy for storage and will also be used for tossing – simply keep in mind to make use of your oven gloves.
Form: Woks with deep curved sides that stored meals within the pan had been most well-liked.
Temperature: We thought-about how briskly and evenly the wok heated and the way nicely the meals seared. We rejected people who stewed somewhat than browned the veg, and people with uneven hotspots that resulted in burnt meals.
Sticking: Whether or not seasoned carbon metal or non-stick coated, we regarded for ease of motion within the wok. Woks are topic to vigorous exercise so non-stick coatings should be exhausting sporting and scratch-resistant.
How you can clear a wok?
Give woks a coating of oil with kitchen paper to maintain them in prime situation and by no means use harsh or abrasive cleaners on them. At all times attempt to use picket chopsticks or spatulas somewhat than metallic implements, to guard the floor from scores.
Plunging your pan within the washing up bowl from the hob is one other no-no, as you don’t need it to warp or crack. Go away it to chill absolutely earlier than cleansing and for max care, hand-wash somewhat than put within the dishwasher to guard the coating.
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