If you are looking for a wok

[MonkeyK]

I've been wanting a new wok ever since I got a super powerful range (Bluestar, and I recommend them too). My old cast iron 12" wok was a little too small, so the flames from the burners hit close to the top of the wok; a slight bump and there was fire (grease fire) in the wok. Not safe.

I found a nice carbon steel wok set from wokshop.com and my mother-in-law bought it for me for a Christmas present. Unfortunately, when I examined it, I noticed that it had a sharp gouge inside, near the top. I contacted the shop and they sent me a new one, and told me to keep the old one (said it's still wokable). So now my brother-in-law has a new wok too.

Great service, great looking wok!

I'm in the process of seasoning it now.

 

[Hillbilly Steaks]

LOL, remember that cooking with Yan show that used to be on. The guy always had some sort of funny WoK saying on his apron, like 101 Ways to Wok your dog!

 

[Devil Doc]

The shows title was Wok with Yan.

doc.

 

[Matty_Vegas]

"If Yan can cook...so can you!!!"

I have a large cast iron wok I got in Japan...been using weekly for almost 10 years..love my wok very much..thanks for the info

 

[Ginseng]

Thanks for the link Monkey,

I've been on the lookout for a wok with wok stand/burner. Unfortunately, my house came with a glass-top range so I can't do any real cooking inside.

 

[Wurm]

Thanks for the link Monkey,

I've been on the lookout for a wok with wok stand/burner. Unfortunately, my house came with a glass-top range so I can't do any real cooking inside.

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lol buy a new range... I suggest gas if you have it in your area.

 

[tjm5019]

I like to cook stir fry in woks, but my fav. Kitchen item has got to be cast iron skillets. They are great for everything! Bacon and eggs, Steaks, Cornbread, fried chicken, yeah, cast iron is great. Dutch Ovens are even better from cooking over the camp fire!

 

[PetersCreek]

Remember the early TV infomercials for the "Hand-Hammered Wok of China"? Mine is still going strong even though it's pushing 15 years of age now. I used to watch a lot of Martin Yan's shows, too.

 

[MonkeyK]

I'm a big fan of cast-iron too. Properly seasoned, they have a better non-stick surface than anything. Add a kick-ass Range for super high heat and there's almost nothing you can't take on.

The Bluestar that I recently bought has two 22K BTU burners (although I only need one). If you take the burner grate off of a burner, a wok fits into the space perfectly. I bought it because the previous owners of my house left a glass top electric range behind that I just could not get the hang of. I like being able to see how hot it is by looking at the flame. Setting the electric to 7 (especially with the elements that turn on and off) did not make sense to me. The Bluestar also has an infrared broiler, which is pretty darned cool. My wife probably wishes that I spent a little less on the range, but she is definitely happy with the results.

My last wok was cast iron. I bought it 14 years ago in Nepal while I was in the Peace Corps. I cooked on that thing for two years in nepal over a kerosene stove and then for the next twelve in the US. It's still in great shape. At 12" it's just to small for my stove so it catches on fire every now and then. Thats why I looked for something bigger. The new wok is a 14" carbon steel which makes it lighter and also has a nice big wooden handle so it will be easier to shake it around a bit.

 

[MonkeyK]

Oh, and they make flat bottomed woks for use on smooth topped electric ranges, but I don't think that they are the same thing. A flat bottomed wok would definitely be hotter at the bottom, where a traditional wok on a hot burner is hot closer to the top.

I've heard people talk about using turkey cookers for a 30-50K BTU flame. You just have to cook outside. Gives your cooking that genuine Asian street food appeal.

Another interesting new cooking technology for woks is induction (for woks). Appearently these are taking Asia by storm. These are supposed to be very efficient since only the wok gets hot and can generate the equivalent of 35K BTU!