Woks are versatile and made to final, so searching for one could be a once-in-a-lifetime process. To seek out the perfect choices, we spoke with consultants after which started working sautéing, frying, and steaming. One clear winner stood out: the Sur La Desk Skilled Carbon Metal Wok. Because of its softly curved angles, it performs loads like an expert, round-bottom wok. And its comfy picket deal with and lightweight weight make this wok simpler to elevate, toss, and pour from.
Our decide
This wok flew by way of our cooking duties and is a delight to make use of. It’s light-weight and secure on the stovetop but nonetheless completely sloped for simple frying. This mannequin requires seasoning, however the payoff is value it.
The Sur La Desk Skilled Carbon Metal Wok carried out practically identically to our earlier high decide from The Wok Store, which additionally means it outperformed each different wok we’ve examined. The underside is flat sufficient to remain secure on a stovetop, however the sides slope out subtly so {that a} spatula glides simply when stir-frying.
The trickiest half in our exams 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 grew to become extra evenly seasoned with every use. For cookware that would final you a long time, this wok can be a wonderful worth.
Additionally nice
This beautiful pre-seasoned wok supplies a shortcut to a slick floor, although it nonetheless requires some prep. It’s secure however heavy, so lifting it requires some power (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 considered 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 just a little smaller at 13.5 inches. (Yosukata additionally makes a 14-inch round-bottom wok, which continues to be fairly flat on the underside and might work on a gasoline vary, should you don’t thoughts a minuscule wobble.)
Nonetheless, this wok is 5 ounces heavier than our high decide, so we discovered it just a little harder to elevate with one hand. We advocate this wok for people who’re keen to spend extra for fashion and comfort and for many who have the power and mobility to maneuver a heavier wok.
