Purchasing a wok
So you’re decided to buy a wok – congratulations! There are a few things to keep in mind when you research your purchase, so here are a few tips to get you started.
First of all, you should decide on a material. Cast iron woks are great because they are heavy duty and heat evenly. The downside is that they are the slowest to heat up and cool down. For the authentic wok experience though, I definitely recommend a cast iron wok. Not only that, but your arms will be in great shape after you cook with this thing – like all cast iron cookware, they tend to run on the heavy side!
Another option is a carbon steel wok. If you go this route, I would avoid getting one with a nonstick coating, because they are easily damaged under the high heat that you will be cooking with. Carbon steel woks are nice because they are both durable and lightweight, and the heat dissipates evenly.
I recommend staying away from stainless steel – the temperatures can fluctuate wildly, and you generally need more oil to keep them steady. While stainless steel has its advantages in some cookware, for the type of cooking you’ll be doing it’s best to avoid it altogether. No matter what type of wok you purchase, be sure to research how to properly season it.
You must also make your purchase based on what type of stove you have. If you have an electric range, you might want to consider a wok that has a flat bottom – this way, you can set it down and the heat will remain relatively constant. If you have a gas stove, a round bottom will work just fine. Sometimes you can flip the grate that sits atop the open flame and rest your wok on that, but be sure to test it out before you start cooking – it’s always better to learn these things while the stove is off!
Size also matters – if you’re only cooking for one or two, there’s no need to buy a large 16″ wok that can serve 10 people. It just means more time cleaning, and it’s more of a hassle to cook quickly with such a large wok. Stick with the smallest wok that you can get away with – 12″ is what I use for home cooking, and that suits me just fine.
As with any big purchase, read some reviews before you decide to buy. Mainstream websites like amazon.com offer a wide range of opinions – be sure to read the positive reviews as well as the negative ones so you can effectively contrast the opinions of the authors.
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