The distinctive smokiness, or wok hei, that greets your tastebuds once you eat dry-fried inexperienced beans or stir-fried lo mein can solely be achieved by cooking with a carbon metal wok at very, veryexcessive warmth. After testing 11 fashions, the Joyce Chen wok was the one one to cleanly launch fried eggs. Its huge backside, tall sides, and conductive materials make it supreme for tossing meals and selling taste. Already reasonably priced, it’s now on sale for even cheaper at $33.
Why It Received Our Evaluate
It’s Very Nonstick
Critical Eats / Grace Kelly
The wok doesn’t come pre-seasoned, however that didn’t deter us. It was painless to wash and season—the wok took on a nonstick patina immediately. Regardless of being our finances choose, it’s one of many slickest woks we examined. We may easily stir fried rice round its cooking floor with a metallic spatula (simply certainly one of many enjoyable wok equipment).
Its Giant Bowl Heats Rapidly
Critical Eats
In our exams, the Joyce Chen wok boiled water in simply eight minutes and 50 seconds, the second quickest in our lineup. Its spacious inside supplied loads of room for tossing cumbersome heads of bok choy. In accordance with our assessment, a superb wok ought to produce totally cooked meals that also keep a “vibrant and recent” high quality. This wok accomplishes that by making it straightforward to maneuver components via completely different zones of warmth to keep away from overcooking delicate greens.
It’s Straightforward to Use and Clear
Critical Eats
We particularly admire the wok’s wood deal with and reverse helper deal with, which make it straightforward to maneuver the pan with out worry of singeing your fingertips. As soon as seasoned, the slick floor is a cinch to wash. Whereas it’s a tad heavier than our high picks at three kilos and 4 ounces, we discovered its worth for cash to be spectacular, particularly now that it’s on sale.
Why We Suggest It
Joyce Chen Carbon Metal Wok
Amazon
As we talked about earlier, this was the one wok that efficiently launched fried eggs with none sticking or tearing—an admirable feat. Its wood handles are a boon for holding palms snug whereas cooking, and its capacious bowl churns out flavorful fried rice and stir-fried greens. Seize it whereas it’s solely $33 at Amazon.
Discover Extra Critical-Eats Authorized Cookware
Yosukata Carbon Metal Wok Pan
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OXO Enhanced 8-Inch Frying Pan
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Lodge 12-Inch Solid Iron Skillet With Twin Help Handles
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Tramontina 12-Inch Tri-Ply Clad Stainless Metal Skillet
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Why We’re the Consultants
- An Uong is a author for Critical Eats.
- An has been testing kitchen gear for Critical Eats for over two years.
- A stir-fry fanatic, she prides herself on her selfmade pad Thai.