The distinctive smokiness, or wok hei, that greets your tastebuds if you eat dry-fried inexperienced beans or stir-fried lo mein can solely be achieved by cooking with a carbon metal wok at very, very, excessive warmth. After testing 11 fashions, the Joyce Chen wok was the one one to cleanly launch fried eggs. Its extensive 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
Severe Eats / Grace Kelly
The wok doesn’t come pre-seasoned, however that didn’t deter us. It was painless to clean and season—the wok took on a nonstick patina immediately. Regardless of being our funds 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 one in all many enjoyable wok equipment).
Its Massive Bowl Heats Shortly
Severe Eats
In our checks, the Joyce Chen wok boiled water in simply eight minutes and 50 seconds, the second quickest in our lineup. Its spacious inside offered loads of room for tossing cumbersome heads of bok choy. In keeping with our evaluate, an excellent wok ought to produce completely cooked meals that also keep a “vibrant and recent” high quality. This wok accomplishes that by making it simple to maneuver components by totally different zones of warmth to keep away from overcooking delicate greens.
It’s Straightforward to Use and Clear
Severe Eats
We particularly admire the wok’s picket deal with and reverse helper deal with, which make it simple to maneuver the pan with out concern of singeing your fingertips. As soon as seasoned, the slick floor is a cinch to scrub. Whereas it’s a tad heavier than our prime 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 Advocate 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 picket 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.
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