Any wok experts here??

[zanemoseley]

So my mom wants a nice wok for Christmas. She has one now but she says it doesn't work well, something about it not getting hot enough. Not sure if it's lack of steel thickness so it doesn't retain heat. She has a nice gas range so the heat is there.

I looked just a bit but not sure what to get. I think she wants to try a flat bottom carbon steel version not a non stick one. I'd like to get her something nice, maybe $100 or so, not $300 nice lol. I've seen a bunch around $30 that get ok reviews but that's probably similar to what she's already got. Need a step up from them.

 

[NikolaeVarius]

$100 for a carbon steel wok is a good sweet spot.

Also if you feel like burning money

http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/05/...ur-home-burner-into-a-wok-range-solution.html

 

[Howard]

Nearly all home ranges don't put out enough heat to allow restaurant-quality wok cooking. That said, the thickness of the wok isn't that critical. Some say thinner steel is actually better.

Reading material:

http://www.seriouseats.com/2010/06/equipment-how-to-buy-a-wok-which-wok-is-the-best.html
http://www.seriouseats.com/2012/06/the-food-lab-for-the-best-stir-fry-fire-up-the-grill.html

 

[Spacehead]

I just watched an episode of Americas Test Kitchen & they said "ditch the wok". They said most woks don't get hot enough because they don't fit the stove burners correctly & don't retain the heat because they're too thin.
They didn't like the flat bottom wok because of too small of surface area on the bottom.
They just used a regular skillet.

 

[lxskllr]

I just watched an episode of Americas Test Kitchen & they said "ditch the wok". They said most woks don't get hot enough because they don't fit the stove burners correctly & don't retain the heat because they're too thin.
They didn't like the flat bottom wok because of too small of surface area on the bottom.
They just used a regular skillet.

I like my wok for the high walls. I don't do any proper Chinese food, but I like having a wok around. It's also great for popcorn.

 

[bigi]

So my mom wants a nice wok for Christmas. She has one now but she says it doesn't work well, something about it not getting hot enough.....

Stop right here.

Not hot enough?

You need very high output gas burner to use wok as intended.

99% of home gas ranges ain't good for wok use.

Look how it is used in Chinese restaurants.

See here

 

[mrblotto]

is it wrong that this immediately popped into my head?

http://iwokalone.ytmnd.com/

 

[Kaido]

So my mom wants a nice wok for Christmas.

1. Get an indoor/outdoor gas burner: ($40)

http://www.amazon.com/Iwatani-Corporation-America-ZA-3HP-Portable/dp/B006H42TVG/

2. Buy this starter kit: ($145)

http://eleanorhoh.com/wok-star-kit/

Starter kit has a wok, lid, spatula, and mitt, as well as instructions (3 discs with audio & video, plus laminated process sheet), and some seasonings with a bin. I have this setup. Wok easily gets to over 900F. Plus the video teaches you how to cook wok freestyle using a very easy method. Best bundle I've come across if you want to learn how to use it & have a solid setup.

 

[Kaido]

is it wrong that this immediately popped into my head?

http://iwokalone.ytmnd.com/

I knew as soon as I saw the YTMND in the URL that it was going to be Green Day

 

[Kaido]

Stop right here.

Not hot enough?

You need very high output gas burner to use wok as intended.

99% of home gas ranges ain't good for wok use.

Look how it is used in Chinese restaurants.

See here

Talk about fast food

 

[Imp]

Stop right here.

Not hot enough?

You need very high output gas burner to use wok as intended.

99% of home gas ranges ain't good for wok use.

Look how it is used in Chinese restaurants.

See here

Seen those before on TV. Seriously, it's like a freaking blow torch or afterburner going.

I know someone who uses a wok on an 8" burner, all but a few inner coils red hot. She also thinks that you save energy/water by using a pot too small for the burner (e.g. 4" sauce pan on a 6" burner, all outer coils glowing red, inside black).

 

[zanemoseley]

Any suggestions for just a wok, I'm not sure my mom wants a starter kit, she's not a fan of tons of extra junk, she's pretty ocd.

I talked to her today and told her the posibility her stove isn't getting hot enough but she said she still wants a new one, she said her old one is in pretty bad shape.

 

[Capt Caveman]

I've been quite happy with my Lodge Cast Iron Wok. It's heavy and you have to heat it for a while but it retains heat excellently and does a great job.

 

[DigDog]

Nearly all home ranges don't put out enough heat to allow restaurant-quality wok cooking.

^ this.

also, woks need to be pointy, on the bottom, not round. which makes them not work with conventional ranges. (so that the wok can both fry and pan-fry food at the same time).