Wok recommendations needed

soba

Well it's been a while since I started this thread - just an update to let you know that I've now got a cast iron wok. We bought it about a month ago from TKMaxx, it's 37cm in diameter and cost £15. It's already been well-used and I really like the idea of not washing it, just rinse it under the tap and give it a quick wipe with oil and Bob's your uncle!

MrsE_2

Been watching that new Chinese cooking thread on BBC2, I need a new large non-stick wok.

I have the very large Tefal one, that Robert Dyas sell as a special now & then, but the non-stick is going in the middle.

Anyone know when Robert Dyas is likely to be doing it again (I think its the 32cm one)?

Or does anyone know a great non-stick wok, I like a really big one because we are greedy:o :rotfl: , because with a small one when I get into my stirfrying with gusto it starts poping out the sides.

I use my wok for curries & Italian & everything.

ManAtHome

I've had a non non-stick one for around 15 years (think it's a Ken Hom one) - once you've used it for a bit, goes reasonably non-stick. Normally just swill it out with hot water and a nylon scrubby pad, then back on the heat to evaporate the water, squidge of oil and wipe round with a paper towel.

Advantages are that you can cook at higher temperatures and use metal spoons and stirrers.

MrsE_2

ManAtHome wrote: »

I've had a non non-stick one for around 15 years (think it's a Ken Hom one) - once you've used it for a bit, goes reasonably non-stick. Normally just swill it out with hot water and a nylon scrubby pad, then back on the heat to evaporate the water, squidge of oil and wipe round with a paper towel.

Advantages are that you can cook at higher temperatures and use metal spoons and stirrers.

Yeah I've seen those, TBH I'm more of a non stick fan, because I do like to try & cook without any oil at all.

Pink.

Hi Mrs E,

I know what you mean about a large wok...mine is large (bought in Boots) but still not really big enough for all of us. There's an earlier thread with lots of recommendations that may help so I've added your thread to it to keep the replies together.

Pink

KAAT_LADY

talking woks

We have just been to the chines cah n carry and they have the biggest and cheapest woks you will ever see,, I think DH saw one for £1,99 upwards and that was not a small one

hope this helps

KAAT

juliapenguin

I bought a cheap non-stick wok from Tesco about six years ago. The non-stick has gradually deteriorated (I'm wondering how much of it has been unwittingly eaten...) and the other day I burnt some food really badly in it and getting it nearly clean has just about finished it off.

I've been trying to work out what to do - I'm generally trying to make do with what I've got rather than rushing out to replace things, but I really do use my wok every day as it suits my sort of cooking so well (probably because it stops me spilling food all over my difficult-to-clean cooker!)

Basically, I want a wok-shaped pan as much as a thing for cooking stir-fry meals (which I also do a lot). Do you think I should buy another cheap one, or buy something better, which will last? I hate buying cheap if I'm actually creating more landfill - my mum has pans and dishes she's used for decades!

Can anyone help me? I really want help from OSers, as it's not about money per se, more about the relative merits of buying cheap and replacing often, compared to buying expensive and keeping it for years.

Thanks!

Butterfly_Brain

I got a brilliant stainless steel one £5 from Asda a couple of years ago and it is still going strong

buglawton

The Chinese themselves don't use non-stick woks as they know perfectly well that high temperature stir frying on gas would destroy them.

UK teflon woks are really bowl-shaped frying pans, not suitable for fast real stir frying. Most Chinese cash'n'carrys sell all-steel woks with a choice of flat (for electric) or curved (for gas) shaped bases. If you try one, I'd be interested to know how you get on. It should stay clean-ish if you do fast stir frying of veg only.

overlykeensaver

we bought a chinese steel wok from a Chinese supermarket for about £5 (this was about 8 years ago!) and it is still going strong. We have to season it every now and again (rub with warm oil) but it is great.