5 Best woks to buy online

Chinese cookery provides the world with some of the most tasty and healthy dishes in existence. At the center of Chinese cuisine is the wok, one of the most practical and versatile utensils ever designed. It is used mainly for stir frying, but can also be employed for more general duties in the Chinese kitchen.

There are many different sizes and types of wok. One factor that determines a wok type is whether it has a round or a flat bottom. The traditional round bottomed woks sit on a ring above the heat source, while the more modern flat-bottomed types sit directly on top of the stove. There are pros and cons for both sorts of wok.

Another factor that determines the type of wok is the material that the wok is made of, essentially whether it is made from carbon steel, which makes it easier to season, or whether it is made from a metallic alloy. Some modern woks also come with stainless coatings to make them easier to clean.

Woks also generally either have one long handle and one smaller loop handle, or two loop handles and no long handle. Some come with a lid when you buy them and some don’t.

One modern innovation has been the electric wok. This utensil comes with its own element, which spreads heat evenly across the surface of the wok.

I have tried to put a variety of woks in my list, while still including only the ones that I consider the best. I hope that you enjoy my choices for the 5 best woks to buy online and find them useful.

This wok from the Lodge Pro-Logic range is 14 inches in diameter and is made from cast-iron. It comes pre-seasoned, which means that you can start cooking with it straightaway. This flat-bottomed wok heats up quickly and has very good heat retention. The non-stick finish also makes for easy cleaning, although as with pretty much all cast-iron woks, hand washing is recommended.

This handsome Helen Chen wok is in my list because it is simply a great basic wok sold for a very competitive price. This flat-bottomed wok is made from traditional carbon steel and has a durable bamboo long handle and loop handle. This wok is ideal for making authentic stir-fries, curries, and other Asian-style recipes.

A traditional round-bottomed wok made from carbon steel, shaped by the Chinese hand-hammered method. Light but strong, this wok will cook all the healthy Asian-style recipes that you want and do it like a dream. Great value.

The Breville EW30XL is a state of the art electric gourmet wok which incorporates a number of innovative updates to the traditional wok. For one thing, its 1500-watt butterfly element has been designed to supply heat over the entire surface, making this wok ideal for stir frying and searing purposes. There are 14 heat settings and a high sear option.

This superior wok from Scanpan is constructed from 5-Layer clad recycled aluminum-stainless steel. It gives gourmet results, whether you are stir-frying, deep-frying, sautéing, or poaching. Its Ceramic Titanium PFOA-Free Non-stick interior surface makes for easy cleaning and unlike many non-stick coatings, you can use metal utensils with it. This wok is designed to last a lifetime!