The 14 Best Woks To Buy In 2023

If you're not cooking with a wok, you're missing out. Used widely when making Asian cuisine, we typically associate woks with whipping up stir-fries and noodle dishes, but there's so much more this utensil can do. Woks are a versatile piece of kitchen equipment, with everything from deep-frying to making popcorn achievable in these round pans. What makes them especially effective is their distinctive shape, with the curved walls and wider bottom of the pan allowing an even distribution of heat and a huge surface area for different foods to cook together. Using a wok is also a fantastic way to cook a range of dishes without having to use copious amounts of oil, so you can serve up light, fresh food (per School Of Wok).

But as any chef will tell you, one of the secrets to making quality food lies in choosing quality cookware, and that's as true for woks as it is for anything else. When picked correctly, a good wok can produce great meals time and time again. But where do you start with a wok? We've got you covered. Whether you prefer a classic carbon steel option or a nonstick coating, cooking for a crowd or yourself, we've rounded up the top wok choices available in 2023.

Carbon steel woks are considered the gold standard by many chefs. The material is used to create lightweight, durable pans that don't cost the world, operate well at high heats, and develop a natural nonstick coating, explains The Woks of Life. What's not to love?

If you are opting for a carbon steel wok, The Wok Shop's signature pans are hard to beat. The San Francisco-based company creates woks in a range of sizes, meaning you can pick the perfect pan for your intended use. The sizeable handles, for which you can choose a wooden or a metal option, also gives you an easy grip while you cook, and "makes it easier to toss your ingredients," explains chef and cookbook author J. Kenji López-Alt (via New York Magazine).

The Wok Shop's woks are also available in both round bottom and flat bottom styles, so no matter what type of stove you have, you'll be able to get an evenly cooked result every time. But let's be real — with this pan, it's all about the carbon steel, which, as cookbook author Grace Young tells New York Magazine's The Strategist, "impeccably sears ingredients and gives stir-fries the elusive, smoky essence prized by Chinese gourmands."

Good cookware needn't cost a fortune, and the Town 14-inch Hand Hammered Cantonese Wok is a testament to this. An affordable option at just over $30, Town's carbon steel wok gives you a large amount of cooking space and gets hot quickly and evenly, so you can get your food on the table in no time. The high heat that Town's wok can achieve, aided by the deep shape and sloping sides, is essential to achieving the "wok hei" flavor, a combo of smokiness and caramelization that gives some Chinese dishes their distinctive taste (per Michelin).

Town, which has been making kitchenware since the 1920s, has also made this wok with a traditional dual-handle design, which some cooks may prefer for ease of transport and two-handed tossing. However, it's worth bearing in mind that this wok is made with a rounded bottom. As such, it is best suited for kitchens equipped with gas stoves or wok rings, instead of electric stoves where the pan has to sit flat on a surface.

Electric stoves are an attractive option over gas cookers for modern kitchen users, partly thanks to their environmental friendliness and their plug-and-play nature. But you might struggle with an electric stove when cooking with woks, which are traditionally crafted with a rounded bottom, making them trickier to heat effectively.

Enter the Joyce Chen Flat Bottom Wok. This wok marked a sea change in the pan industry, and "allowed woks to be used on any stove and made stir-fry a far more common dish in American households," according to The Brooklyn Kitchen cooking school's Taylor Erkkinen (per Eater). And the pan is still pleasing chefs to this day. The Joyce Chen Flat Bottom Wok has a large, 14-inch diameter, and its carbon steel production means that it can withstand intense heat, which helps give your food that moreish smoky edge. We're also a huge fan of the fact that it's suitable for use in an oven. The wok also comes with a large handle attached for gripping while cooking, and a smaller handle on the other side to help you lift or transport the pan. And best of all? It's really not that expensive, and you can even find it on sale (via Amazon).

HexClad has a little more going for them than a slightly witchy sounding name. They're also purveyors of great cookware, like their 12-inch Hybrid Stainless Steel Wok. This eye-catching pan, with its distinctive hexagonal detailing, is made with a nonstick coating that keeps your food from catching on the bottom of the wok. The nonstick, stainless steel design also makes cleaning super easy (did we mention this pan is dishwasher safe?), and allows you to cook with metal utensils without ruining the pan.

The HexClad Stainless Steel Wok is also pretty workable, with a relatively lightweight build that will allow you to toss and flip with ease, aided by the long handle and accompanying mini-handle. This wok's 12-inch diameter and 1-quart capacity is better suited for catering to smaller numbers. This wok also benefits from being able to reach high temperatures fast — although it should be noted that its stainless steel and nonstick woks are generally better suited to slightly lower temperatures, whereas carbon steel pans are for those who wanna get a little more fiery in the kitchen (via The Woks of Life).

Named after the creator's mother and designed with her child in mind, the Mammafong Preseasoned Carbon Steel Wok is crafted with love and passion for food at the forefront. And we're inclined to say that's resulted in a very high quality wok. This is a seriously all-around pan that comes preseasoned, taking out some of the initial effort needed to maintain your wok for a long time, although you may well want to season it at home anyway, Mammafong notes.

This 14-inch flat-bottomed wok is great for use on both electric and gas stoves. It's capable of getting to seriously high temperatures while the wooden handle keeps your hands from getting burned. The handle of this hand-hammered wok is also removable, should you want to place the pan in the oven. The high heating capacity and generous size mean that you'll be able to get a decent char on your food without everything becoming overcrowded and steaming. In addition, the gentle curve of the sides means that the rounded edges give way to the flat surface smoothly. As a bonus, the Mammafong Preseasoned Carbon Steel Wok is also easy to clean, and if maintained properly, should last you for many years to come.

While carbon steel is often the go-to choice in the wok world, it's far from the only material that's used to make them. Cast iron woks are also a viable choice, and Lodge's Cast Iron Wok is pretty desirable for several reasons.

The first is the premium heat you'll get from this pan. "With a home stove, you're simply not going to get to that same level you do in a restaurant," explains Mister Jiu's owner and executive chef Brandon Jew to The Strategist. But cast iron woks will get you pretty close, as they are especially good at building and retaining heat. As a result, the Lodge Cast Iron Wok is a good option for dishes that require consistently high heat to nail every time, like fried rice. This pan is also on the heavier side, and therefore will retain its sturdiness when you're stirring fervently on the stove. Plus, its two-handled design makes it easier to maneuver. Pleasingly, the Lodge Cast Iron Wok's flat-bottom design means that it's usable on any stovetop out there. The wok also comes preseasoned — although, like carbon steel, it's recommended that you season cast iron woks after each use to maintain them for as long as possible. 

Like classic cars, a wok's design is pretty timeless. But tiny details and changes can make all the difference, taking a wok's visual appeal from good to great. Such is the case with the Made In Blue Carbon Steel Wok, with a unique curved handle that makes this wok both great to look at and cook with.

With a deep conical shape and a flat bottom, this wok can be used on electric hobs and in smaller cooking spaces without compromising its pretty impressive heating capabilities. The pan is designed to be able to operate effectively in temperatures up to 1,200 degrees Fahrenheit, thanks to its cast iron-inspired, French-completed design. It's also safe to use in the oven without any risk of the wok getting damaged. The Made In Blue Carbon Steel Wok is also slightly lighter than some other products on the market, though every bit as durable, making the cooking process that much easier. 

If you're in the market for a pow wok, this Craft Wok Hand Hammered Carbon Steel option is a great choice. Pow woks are distinguished by their long, single handle, which makes food easier to work with and flip than if using a two-handled model (per Wok Owner). And Craft Wok nailed their version of this pan, which comes recommended by MáLà Project's chef Amelia Kang. She tells Eater, "it's suitable for quick, high-temperature stir-fried dishes," thanks to its carbon steel design, which results in a more intense, smokey flavor.

At a mid-range price point, Craft Wok's pow wok also won't break the bank, while still delivering a quality product. The wooden handle means that no matter how hot the wok gets, your hand will still be safe when gripping it, and the wider, 14-inch diameter gives you slightly more space than other options to make multi-portion meals. But bear in mind that unlike some other modern woks, Craft Wok's model comes with a round bottom, making it better suited to gas stoves or wok burners. This pan also needs seasoning before use, to ensure that it doesn't deteriorate.

We love a pan that feels sturdy. And the Calphalon Signature Nonstick 12-Inch Wok, despite its slightly smaller size, is just the ticket. This wok is made from hard-anodized aluminum, which gives it a robust feel without being too cumbersome to move around and cook with. The long handle also gives this wok good maneuverability, with an accompanying mini-handle to help transport it to the table. And the deep edges mean that it retains heat well and cooks food effectively. 

Calphalon's wok is safe at cooking temperatures up to 500 degrees Fahrenheit and is also an oven-friendly choice. Particularly useful is the nonstick surface, allowing you to make meals without using significant amounts of oil. It also makes for increased ease of cleanup afterward. The Calphalon Signature 12-Inch Wok is safe to use with metal cooking instruments and should be able to go in the dishwasher with no problems. As a bonus, this wok also comes with a lid, making it easy for you to steam or simmer a range of dishes.

Stir-frying meals in a wok often requires the chef to work very quickly, and using a heavy pan can slow things down quite a bit. That's why cooking with a lightweight wok can keep you nimble in the kitchen, and the T-Fal Specialty Nonstick Wok is a particularly ideal choice. Despite being lighter, the wok doesn't compromise on size, with an impressive 14-inch diameter and an extended silicone handle.

The T-Fal nonstick wok has deep curving sides, and the flat bottom allows the heat to build evenly, with the higher heat concentration at the base helping to sear and char food. This wok is also on relatively inexpensive, making it a great choice for chefs on a budget. The nonstick coating over the hard anodized aluminum is pretty durable, and as an added bonus, this pan is marketed as both dishwasher safe and oven safe. 

Aside from loving the name of the JIA Companion Wok (Seriously, a wok that's your companion? Like a little friend that helps you cook delicious food? We're all about it.), we also love what this pan can do in the kitchen. This wok is a favorite of chef and food writer Lauren Joseph, who notes that the wok can build up and retain heat effectively, even on stoves that are slightly underpowered (per The Strategist).

What's unique about this wok is its cooking surface, which has a distinctive bumpy texture. This feature means a smaller surface area for the food to touch and helps ensure that your dish is less likely to catch and stick to the wok, while not compromising its cooking ability. The JIA Companion Wok is available in a range of size options, including a flat-bottom frying pan, and its beech wood handle provides a safe and stylish grip while you cook. Unlike a lot of other wok brands out there, the JIA Companion Wok also comes with a lid, giving you even more options for cooking.

While some love entertaining a big group of guests, others are just as happy cooking a gourmet meal for one and curling up on the sofa. And if you're doing the latter, you're probably not going to want to have to wash and dry an enormous wok after making just one portion. For those instances, we recommend the Scanpan Classic 12.5-inch Wok, which gives you a generous enough surface area for a hearty dish while remaining a manageable size for individual cooking. Scanpan's wok is a nonstick pan with a difference, achieved through a ceramic titanium coating. This gives it further durability and longevity, and also makes the wok usable with heavier-duty metal utensils without fear of scratching (via Amazon).

The Scanpan Classic Wok benefits from a dual-handle design, with a companion handle opposite a longer main grip for easy cooking – although it should be noted that this wok is slightly on the heavier side when compared to other models. Its flat surface allows it to be compatible with a range of stovetops, although it should be noted that it may not be the best option for induction heaters. 

One of the best things about woks is that you typically don't have to spend huge amounts of money to get a quality product. This truth is embodied clearly in the Yosukata Carbon Steel Wok, a pan that will have you cooking great food without overreaching on your budget. Yosukata's wok has a sturdy design, a 13.5-inch diameter, and a depth of 3.8 inches, despite weighing in at just over 3.5 pounds (per Amazon). It's made out of traditional carbon steel, meaning it can get seriously hot in no time, and the wok undergoes a preseasoning process before it even gets to your kitchen.

Unlike some other woks on the market, the Yosukata Carbon Steel Wok comes with its handle welded to it, meaning that your food won't be at risk of catching underneath an attached plate or screw. The wok also comes with a handy instruction guide, advising the user not only on how to season the pan properly (which is still advised, despite it being seasoned before sale), but also how to achieve the classic "wok hei" taste in your dishes. Fans of this pan also say Yosukata's wok also cleans after use pretty easily (via Amazon).

Not all of us have sprawling stovetops to house our enormous woks. And if this is the case for you, the Breville Hot Wok Pro could be the solution. What sets the Breville Hot Wok Pro apart is its accompanying hot plate, so you can plug this wok in wherever you have space (ideally on a sturdy, non-flammable countertop) and it reaches a scorching 425 degrees Fahrenheit. Its 15-inch diameter gives you plenty of space to cook meals for the family, and the nonstick surface makes cleaning up quick and easy.

The Breville Hot Wok Pro can also be set to a range of lower temperatures, giving you the capacity to cook things at a gentler heat. And the lid that comes with the wok enhances this pan's multi-function capabilities, so you can use it for simmering and steaming as well as stir-frying and searing. 

It's important to bear in mind that this wok needs the heating base to operate, and it can't be transferred for use on a stove or moved around while you're cooking. When you're ready to serve, however, the wok insert can be removed and transferred to the table.