Recommend a Wok

[Raistlin]

Morning All,

I've been using a couple of Ken Hom woks for the last few years, unfortunately the non-stick on them is starting to break down and things are starting to.....well.....stick

Anybody bought a wok recently and care to recommend it?

Ideally I'd go for one which I could season myself, but I frankly can't be bothered with the upkeep.

It needs to be something of a decent size, with a lid, easy to maintain, and with a good non-stick coating.

Thanks

[Kymmy]

I always just go to a local chinese supermarket/cash-carry and buy one of thier spun steel woks, then take it home, heat up the BBQ and 'season' it outside with some cooking oil (don't do it inside!!! you have been warned) directly on the coals. Non of this non-stick rubbish which you never see anyone in china using

[Taf]

Find a Chinese shop, buy an original steel one, then temper it with oil (I did ours over BBQ coals about 20 years ago). It'll last you for decades if you lightly wash it (leave the blackening on the inside) dry, and then put away.

Non stick is rubbish for high temperature wok cooking... but if you have to go that way check out the Circulon one.

[Kymmy]

Kymmy gives TAF a nudge and thinks she might do him for copyright infringment

[Ravenheart]

Another vote for Chinese supermarket here, you'll get a damn good one a hell of a lot cheaper than the branded ones.

When seasoning... if you can do it outside then it's better, a thick groundnut oil smoke haze takes a while to get of

[superbiatch]

I've got a ken hom one which I bought about 5 years ago for £25. Can't fault it and no faffing round seasoning it. I do all kinds in it, not just chinese

[heero_yuy]

I managed to get egg fried rice welded to my KH wok. Took ages to get that off.

[Bulky]

another vote for chinese supermarket steel wok , cheap and once seasoned nothing sticks too it

[superbiatch]

Originally Posted by heero_yuy

I managed to get egg fried rice welded to my KH wok. Took ages to get that off.

Haha, I have never done that but maybe thats cos the chinese across the road do the best EFR

[Kymmy]

Not really the answers you probably wanted Rob but a properly seasoned steel wok will not only cope/reach a decent high temp for proper stir frying it'll also keep itself clean and just needs a simple wipe with paper towels and a little oil to finish off after each use

[Ben B]

I'd recommend a Tefal wok, never had a problem with them. Alternatively you could use a sky dish

[webcrawler2050]

Originally Posted by Ben B

I'd recommend a Tefal wok, never had a problem with them. Alternatively you could use a sky dish

I'd second that, I've got a Tefal Hot spot wok, works a treat, couple of years old and is perfect!

[alferret]

Another vote for a properly seasoned wok. Not only is it far superior as a non stick cooking device its healthy as well due to the toxins released by teflon coatings.

Dupont, the company that created and owns the patent on Teflon, claims their coating is fine on cookware up to 650 degrees Fahrenheit. However, most electric stovetops heat to well above 725 degrees, and the pans reach those temperatures almost as quickly as the burners. This results in a chemical breakdown of the Teflon that results in the release of at least five gas toxins including one called MFA that is lethal to humans when concentrated in a closed space. Another breakdown of Teflon occurs at 1000 degrees (reached in stovetop drip pans) releases a chemical called PFIB, which is a chemical nerve gas agent.

http://www.lawsuitsearch.com/toxic-products/teflon.aspx

[Uncle Peter]

I bought a steel wok from Chung Wah in Liverpool years ago, it was a fiver and I've certainly had more than a fiver's worth out of it. Eventually the inside of the wok will turn completely black then you will know it's well seasoned It's worth mentioning that this type of wok is usually coated with a protective layer to guard against corrosion during transport and storage so a quick once over with a wire brush should suffice before the seasoning process.

I've tried a sky mini dish but it's not very good for soup.

[Kymmy]

Originally Posted by Uncle Peter

I've tried a sky mini dish but it's not very good for soup.

Great for msking noodles though!!!