With a wok pot, we can perfectly cook an infinite number of dishes, fry, sauté, and sauté with optimal and homogeneous cooking of all the ingredients. Let’s see how to choose the best wok pot based on the characteristics and the best models currently on sale.
According to the rules, the wok pot is essential for oriental dishes: Cantonese rice, chicken with almonds, tempura, etc. It resembles our classic recipes, such as braised meats and fried foods.
The advantage of cooking with the wok is to reach very high temperatures quickly; thus, the food is cooked with a crisp layer on the outside while keeping vitamins and minerals intact.
The wok is also unbeatable in frying, during which the hot oil and the deep shape of the pot allow you to get crispy food in a few minutes. But, again, there are many types of work available on the market.
Some of them maintain traditional oriental characteristics in terms of shape and materials. In contrast, others are adapted to our kitchens, thanks to the non-stick coating and bottom suitable for different cooking surfaces.
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How to choose a wok pot: Types and Characteristics
To properly choose which wok pot to buy, consider and evaluate the key features.
The shape of the wok pot
This traditional oriental pot’s qualities reside in its concave shape and edge, much higher than normal pans.
The wok’s shape can be a hemisphere with a homogeneous curvature or a conical shape with a narrow base and high edges. These shapes allow the distribution of different ingredients on the bottom and edges when cooking at different temperatures.
The temperature will be higher on the bottom and decrease along the pot walls. Also, the shape allows you to skip some foods without using tools, using the chef’s typical ” stroke of the wrist. ”
Dimension
As for the dimensions, we find wok pots of different diameters. However, the most common sizes are between 28 and 40 cm, similar to our pans.
Do not forget that the wok has a high edge, so a pot of 40 cm in diameter will have a considerable bulk, with the advantage of simultaneously cooking large quantities of food. On the other hand, the traditional Asian wok pots can have much larger dimensions and are cumbersome for our kitchens.
Materials
The materials of traditional wok pans are cast iron and iron. These materials are very heat resistant, so that they can reach very high temperatures quickly. This quality allows the perfect cooking of food in the face of a little practice in use.
The attention must be continuous to mix the ingredients without making them burn. Furthermore, it is necessary to treat these materials carefully, especially during the washing phase, and they are rarely dishwasher-safe.
There are non-stick woks lined with different materials to meet Western tastes today, identical to those of other pots. Coatings that are free of PFOA, nickel, and other substances facilitate cooking even for the less experienced. There are also wok pans in stone or coated with mineral particles, among the most requested to prevent food from attacking even when we are not cooks experienced.
Finally, among the other wok cookware materials, we find stainless steel, often used to make the handles or the bottom of the pot compatible with the induction oven.
Handles
The original Japanese or Chinese wok pot was equipped with two handles. Even today, we can find this solution or choose a single handle identical to our pans. However, some models of wok cookware are equipped with a single handle to hold plus a handle. In this way, it is easier to move the pot when it is fully substantial.
Given the high temperatures, the simplest handles of the iron or cast iron pans must necessarily be used with potholders or oven gloves. On the other hand, many handles are made of plastic or wood with a steel core, capable of isolating the heat in the best possible way and making use easier even for the less expert.
Accessories
The lids among the various accessories are not present in the original Chinese wok. The lid, useful in cooking, such as stews, allows you to cook, keep the humidity inside the pot, and save energy. The most useful are the transparent lids to check the cooking.
The grids are other useful accessories to be placed on the wok. Using the bottom’s warmth, you can place vegetables or fish on the grill to cook steamed while cooking other ingredients at the base. Or to support foods and drain them from the oil during frying.
Wood, silicone, or metal utensils, such as ladles, tongs, or blades, allow us to handle the ingredients inside the pot during cooking. We will necessarily choose silicone or wood utensils for frying pans with non-stick coating metal for all other materials.
The best wok pots to buy
Below are selecting wok pots of the best brands recommended with features, sizes, and prices.
- [11PCS WOK SET] You not only have quality 12.8 inch carbon steel pan and wooden lid, but...
- [HONEYCOMB CARBON STEEL CONSTRUCTION DESIGN] Wok pan made of QUALITY black carbon steel...
- [SAFETY AND TOUGH WOK] The chinese wok pan has been passed several safety tests,the flat...
- [Wok Set & Cookwares] - KAQINU 14 piece wok pan set includes wok pan with lid, wok...
- [Suitable Size & Versatile Dishes] - With perfect size: 12.6"W and 3.7"D, KAQINU stir...
- [Health, Sturdy & Fast Heat] - Made with high-quality black carbon steel, which develops...
- PRE-SEASONED & NONSTICK: Carbon steel is the best wok material because it has a natural...
- GENUINE TASTE: Our large wok pan reacts quickly to heat adjustments and is specially...
- VERSATILITY: Flat-bottomed wok is better suited for home use because it does not require a...
- COOKING SURFACE: With a size of 14 inches, this wok provides ample cooking space for...
- DURABLE AND STYLISH: This wok is made of durable carbon steel and is coated with a sleek...
- EFFICIENT LIGHTWEIGHT DESIGN: This wok heats quickly, is lightweight, boast a cool-touch...
- 【SNOW FLAKE TECHNOLOGY】Our design is created through a laser etching process to...
- 【SPECIALITY】Multi-layer compositse steel effectively solves the cooking conduction...
- 【HIGH-QUALITY MATERIALS】Made with High-quality stainless steel, our stir fry pan is...
- [Great Value Wok Set ] A perfect carbon steel wok set includes wok pan, wok lid, silicone...
- [Quality Material & Creative Design] The carbon steel wok is made of Premium black carbon...
- [Perfect Size & Multi-Purpose] Perfect Size: 13"W and 3.5"D. This extra large size wok pan...
- Round Bottom Heavy 14 Inch 15 gauge (1.8mm) carbon steel wok, commercial grade. Original...
- Not suitable for flat electric or flat induction stove. Carbon steel wok may rust. Do not...
- Hammered by Chinese masters in Guangzhou. This wok is the proven choice of many...
- HexClad's patented hybrid tech utilizes tri-ply construction – aluminum between two...
- Petite, but with a generous depth, our Hybrid 10-inch Wok is ideal for stir-frying up solo...
- Use your HexClad cookware on any home cooktop or stovetop, including induction. Every...
- PRE-SEASONED FOR IMMEDIATE USE - Sizzling stir frys, crispy deep frys, pan-searing to...
- HANDLES HIGH HEAT AND SCRATCHES - Carbon steel wok has no tefflon coating and can sustain...
- VIDEO AND WRITTEN INSTRUCTIONS - Had problems with other carbon steel woks getting rusty?...
- 9 INCH CAST IRON MINI WOK W/ LOOP HANDLES. This mini server is seasoned and ready to use....
- PRE-SEASONED COOKWARE. A good seasoning makes all the difference. Lodge provides...
- MADE IN THE USA. Lodge has been making cast iron cookware in South Pittsburg, Tennessee...
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