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The Best Wok

Last updated on August 16, 2024
Categories Kitchen Tags

We looked at the top 15 Woks and dug through the reviews from 190 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best Woks.

Best Wok

Our Review Process

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Our Picks For The Top Woks

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Product Overview
Key Takeaway
Pros
Cons
 Best Overall

Craft Wok 731W88 Round Bottom Commercial Grade Wok, 14-Inch

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Craft Wok

Round Bottom Commercial Grade Wok, 14-Inch

This wok is made from 100% carbon steel and then hand-hammered by Chinese professionals. That means it's both sturdy and designed to last. You'll also find both a helper handle and a wooden handle for properly holding the wok while stirring and serving your dish.

Overall Take

Classic ShapeIt's the commercial-grade construction that sets this wok apart from the rest.

Pros
" Many also commented that the product could carry heat nicely."
Cons
"This wok does not include accessories, but requires a wok ring for flat surface cooktops."

Whether you want to steam, smoke or deep fry, this wok has you covered. It's constructed from a solid stainless steel that is not only free of toxins, but also rust resistant. It measures 14 inches and does an excellent job of heating foods evenly, so you never have to worry about cold spots.

Overall Take

Budget-Friendly OptionAlthough this wok has a more affordable price tag, it doesn't sacrifice on quality.

 Lidded Option

Souped Up Recipes Pre-Seasoned Flat Bottom Wok, 12-Inch

Souped Up Recipes

Pre-Seasoned Flat Bottom Wok, 12-Inch

This medium-sized wok is made from a light carbon steel that heats up quickly. It comes with a host of accessories, including a beautiful wooden lid, a metal spatula and a video users guide. As long as this wok is properly seasoned, it will continue to retain its non-stick properties.

Overall Take

Comes With ExtrasThis wok works on a variety of heating elements, including gas ranges, electric stovetops and induction stovetops.

Pros
" It has a flat bottom, meaning that it works on electric stoves, induction stoves, gas ranges and other heat sources"
Cons
"The lid is natural Fir wood and may have an odor."
 Upgrade Pick

T-fal E76589 Aluminum Everyday Wok, 14-Inch

T-fal

Aluminum Everyday Wok, 14-Inch

Creating a homemade feast for a family of four is a breeze with this classy wok. It's made with a silicone handle that stays nice and cool, as well as a companion handle for easily moving the wok from stovetop to table. The wok itself is constructed from a durable aluminum and coated with a scratch resistant and a toxin-free nonstick material.

Overall Take

Superior Heat DistributionNot only is this wok dishwasher safe in temperatures of up to 400 degrees Fahrenheit, but it can also be cleaned in a dishwasher.

Pros
" Fast, even heat distribution. Light weight. Earns high marks from native Asian chefs. Can go in the oven up to 350°F."
Cons
"Some reviewers found the product didn't heat up as well on an electric cooktop since the contact area on the bottom was too small."

Buying Guide

The wok is one of the most useful pieces of kitchen equipment for both professional chefs and home cooks. It has been used in Chinese kitchens for centuries and is now a staple in many kitchens around the world.

“There’s a reason why the wok is the single most important tool in the Asian kitchen: its incredible versatility,” says our resident culinary expert Julie Chernoff, a long-time food journalist and dining editor of Better, a lifestyle website and print magazine. “Stir fry, deep fry, steam, blanch… the wok can do it all.”

In order to use the wok effectively, you need to first have very high heat. This results in meals that cook in a short amount of time. Because of the high heat, it’s important to use the right amount of oil so that the ingredients don’t stick to the pan. In many recipes, the ingredients, such as chicken, beef, pork or fish, plus vegetables like carrots or cabbage, are seared on high heat in the wok, before being used in a different cooking method in the same pan. The wok can be used to boil ingredients in a liquid or steam them by using the lid.

Don’t overfill the wok. If this happens, the ingredients will cook too slowly and you won’t get the proper amount of heat. Before putting any ingredients in the pan, it’s critical to prepare all of your ingredients by washing, cutting and setting them out. This mise en place technique ensures that you can add the right ingredient to the wok at the right time.

One of the most common ways a wok is used is to make a stir fry.

“The key to a great stir fry is to cut up each ingredient to similar size so that they cook in the same amount of time (meaning equal-size chunks of protein, or all ¼-inch thick carrot coins, etc.), and to know what order to add them to the wok,” Chernoff explains. “Aromatics are added first, then ingredients in order of length of cooking time, from longest to shortest.”

Our Expert Consultant

Julie Chernoff
Culinary Expert

Julie Chernoff is a long-time member of Les Dames d’Escoffier (past president of the Chicago Chapter, and current co-chair of the LDEI Legacy Awards Committee), the Association of Food Journalists (AFJ) and the International Association of Culinary Professionals.

Chernoff is the dining editor of Better, a lifestyle website and print magazine. Her journalism started in the test kitchens of Weight Watchers Magazine. She holds a BA in English from Yale University and is a graduate of the California Culinary Academy. She has spent the last few decades styling, photographing, teaching, developing recipes, editing, thinking and writing about food.

Don't just take for granted what one reviewer says. Along with our own experts, DWYM analyzes the top expert reviews of the leading products and generates a score you can actually trust.
22

Products Considered

We identified the majority of the woks available to purchase.
15

Products Analyzed

We then selected the leading and most popular products for our team to review.

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190

Expert Reviews Included

In addition to our expert reviews, we also incorporate feedback and analysis of some of the most respected sources including: Delishably, 111Reviews, The Breslin, Kitchen Surfing, Thrive Cuisine.

50,937

User Opinions Analyzed

We also incorporate user reviews from the leading retailers including

Our experts reviewed the top 15 Woks and also dug through the reviews from 190 of the most popular review sites including and more. The result is a ranking of the best of the best Woks.

DWYM is your trusted roduct review source. Our team reviews thousands of product reviews from the trusted top experts and combines them into one easy-to-understand score. Learn more.

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The Best Bang For Your Buck

Kenmore Hammond Stainless Steel Non-Toxic Wok, 14-Inch

Key Takeawy

Whether you want to steam, smoke or deep fry, this wok has you covered. It's constructed from a solid stainless steel that is not only free of toxins, but also rust resistant. It measures 14 inches and does an excellent job of heating foods evenly, so you never have to worry about cold spots.

What to Look For

  • An important element to consider when selecting your wok is the material it’s made out of. “While there are many expensive Westernized versions available — made of copper, stainless steel, or even with nonstick surfaces — it’s hard to beat the classic carbon steel,” Chernoff says. “Although the carbon steel must be seasoned before first use, and cleaned thoroughly after each use and reoiled, the extra care and time are well worth it for the final product.” Some woks are made out of hard-anodized aluminum, while others are 100% cast iron and sold already seasoned. You’ll even find woks with an aluminum core between two stainless steel layers. Other woks are made of heavy gauge carbon steel.
  • If you want to avoid using excess oil in your cooking, you may want to pay attention to the non-stick coating on your work. Some woks have three layers of non-stick coating, while others have been seasoned with 100% vegetable oil. The seasoning improves as the pan is used.
  • The way your wok retains heat and distributes heat can affect the outcome of your recipe. Even heating is what you’ll get with aluminum construction.
  • Because the wok is operated on such high heat, it’s important that the handles on the wok enable the cook to move it around safely, without having to touch the pan. “Look for a wok with a long wooden handle on one side and a helping handle opposite it for handling and moving the wok,” directs Chernoff.
  • Look for a wok with one long, brushed stainless steel handle that stays cool on the stovetop. Of course, a model with two assist loop handles for a safe and secure grip is also a good choice. However, they do heat up while cooking and can only be held using an oven mitt to avoid injury. Some woks have a long ergonomic phenolic handle and a small assist handle, which stays cool while cooking.
  • If you’re interested in exploring the versatility of the wok, then “look for a wok with a lid,” as Chernoff guides. This “helps with steaming and simmering ingredients during cooking.” Some woks come with a clear tempered glass lid, while others don’t come with a lid at all.
  • Whether you’re routinely cooking for a crowd or just for your family will dictate the size of wok you need. “You’re not going to need a gigantic wok (like the ones used in Asian restaurants), and you want to make sure that it will fit over one burner on your stovetop,” explains Chernoff. Some woks measure 12.5 inches, while others come in at 14 inches.

More to Explore

Ever wonder why some woks have round bottoms while others have flat ones? Their unique design actually dictates what kind of stove they are best for.

“Round-bottom woks will come with a metal collar/ring to keep them steady over a gas flame; flat-bottom woks are best for electric stovetops, but can also be used over gas,” explains Chernoff.

The classic wok has a rounded bottom as it was used on a traditional charcoal fire. On a gas stove, however, the metal ring provides stability so that the pan can be used safely. If you have a round-bottom wok and an electric stove, you will find that the pan doesn’t sit properly on the cooking element. However, there are wok add-ons available that make it easier to use your round-bottom wok on an electric element.

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