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How to Choose and Buy an Electric Wok

Here are some hints and tips on some of the things to consider when choosing and buying an electric wok:

What do you need a wok for?

Woks are excellent for cooking stir-fries, curries and fried rice. They can also be used to stew and steam ingredients, by using different amounts of water. If you and your family do not enjoy this type of food or do not often cook it, then a wok may not be for you.

How does a wok work?

A wok is shaped like a bowl, with a rounded base and tapered sides. This allows the heat to focus in the centre of the wok, while at the same time letting the heat graduate outwards through the pan. This results in a very versatile multi-zone heating effect.

What size wok do you need?

Depending on what you need the wok for, size can definitely be a deciding factor when making a purchase. Do you require a small wok that will pack away neatly and cater for one or two people? Or, on the other hand, are you cooking for a large family where a large sized wok is of paramount importance?

Additional Features

The following features are worth looking for when choosing a wok:

• Nonstick Coating: Useful when cooking and also when washing up!
• Variable Temperature Control: Stops your food from getting burnt and provides extra heat when you need it.
• Heat Resistant Handles: Stops you from getting burnt!
• Dishwasher-Safe Coating.

Extras

Many woks come with extras such as chopsticks, tempura and steaming racks and recipe books. Check the product descriptions when you are choosing your wok to see whether any extra items are included, as these can provide added value.

Further Information

You can find out more about some of the top models of wok available on the market on our Top Wok Models page.

If you want to buy a wok, you can find out more about some of the top online wok suppliers including details of their delivery times and postage and packaging costs in our Where to Buy section.

You can learn more about other types of cooking appliance in our Types of Cooking Appliance section.

You can find out about specific cooking appliance manufacturers and brands in our Brands of Cooking Appliance section.