Tell me about your wok

[tropicalmom]

Want to start doing stir fry so wok is on my Christmas list but have no idea what to look for or where to start. We stay away from nonstick for health reasons.

[hillview]

We've had this one since we got married (10 years) and it is great. Wedding gift
http://www.amazon.com/All-Clad-Stainless-14-Inch-Open-Stir/dp/B00028X2XM

[Pepper]

The All-Clad one is beautiful, but IMO overkill for a wok. If you have a gas stove you can do very well with an inexpensive, carbon-steel wok. You want to be able to vary the temperature quickly and stainless takes longer to heat/cool down. We have one that I bought almost 20 years ago. I think Joyce Chen makes a similar one for about 40 bucks; I saw just a basic wok/stir fry pan on the Bed Bath & Beyond website for less than $20.

The only thing with the carbon-steel wok is that you must wash it right after you use it, no leaving the dishes until the next day haha. We usually dry it right after hand washing it.

[tropicalmom]

Thanks for input. We have electric stove. Would the carbon steel work well with that as long as its a flat bottom shape?

[ijopint]

I have the Bodum wok for almost 9 years and it is a cast iron wok. I cooked mostly Asian foods in this wok, stir fry, fried rice, steam fish etc.. fantastic wok. I have this one.http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Chambord-Enameled-Glass-Black/dp/B003LL18MO (http://http://www.amazon.com/Bodum-Chambord-Enameled-Glass-Black/dp/B003LL18MO)
But Lodge offers similar wok for a less price and I also have two Lodge's pan. Yep, Love cast Iron !
http://http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00063RXQK/ref=pd_lpo_k2_dp_sr_1?pf_rd_p=486539851&pf_rd_s=lpo-top-stripe-1&pf_rd_t=201&pf_rd_i=B003LL18MO&pf_rd_m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&pf_rd_r=0D8RRRVZ1SWB1PAXFFVC

[Pepper]

If you can get good contact between the bottom of the wok and the heating element, it should be ok. i had an old apartment stove once where the burner elements were not flat so it wouldn't have worked very well :-( IIRC sometimes the wok comes with a "ring stand" that is supposed to help hold it over the burner.

[tropicalmom]

I love cast iron and the red enameled one is $69.99 at Amazon with free shipping. Woo Hoo!

Pulled the trigger. Now I can tell DH what he's giving me for Christmas :-)

Thanks, all