Buying a wok

Replies: 7 - Last Post: Dec 21, 2012 12:58 AM Last Post By: Donkeystone

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Dec 19, 2012 5:41 PM
Posts: 13,459

Buying a wok

I want to cook Thai food and my second $10 IKEA wok has little non-stick left and is rusty.

So what should I look for when I get a new one? Size? Brand? Material? Thickness?

lucapal

Dec 20, 2012 12:44 AM
Posts: 10,137

I go for authenticity..

That is..go to a shop/street where Chinese/Thais etc work and live,and buy one from them ;-) Especially those who work in the restaurant business or the place where they buy their supplies.

The one I was sold (and its great) was carbon steel,round bottomed (that depends on the type of cooker you are cooking on..mine is gas not electric) and it is NOT non-stick.

It needs to be 'seasoned' before use and cleaned properly after each use....

lucapal

Dec 20, 2012 12:49 AM
Posts: 10,137

BTW...if your last wok is rusty,it is probably because you didn't season it before use and/or clean it in the 'correct' way after each use...particularly if you don't use it every day...

tony0001

Dec 20, 2012 9:20 AM
Posts: 2,426

I suspect Ria's non stick has gone rusty largely bacause the non stick is no more.

I agree stainless steel (high grade) is the best. Whilst I have a few non stick pans, I cannot see the point of a non stick wok - the food should be flying around the walls (of the wok, ideally) so fast that it won't have a chance to stick.

Fieldgate

Dec 20, 2012 9:27 AM
Posts: 2,779

I've got a wok pan from Ikea too. It works fine. You just need to rub it in with a little fat after use. Exactly same kind of woks are used in China, but I guess, the Chinese keep using them daily.

Donkeystone

Dec 20, 2012 11:08 AM
Posts: 841

I agree with lucapal in that it's better to go authentic, but you'll need to find one made of fairly thin steel as domestic stove burners don't reach a high enough heat, go to any Chinese supermaket and scrutinise them before you buy, you should be able to grab hold of the scoup with both hands and bend it in a little.

hardnosethehighway

Dec 20, 2012 4:54 PM
Posts: 1,066

25+ years ago I bought a cheap tin wok from a local Chinese run kitchen store and it's been making fabulous meals ever since-it even goes on the road with me.

Donkeystone

Dec 21, 2012 12:58 AM
Posts: 841