Love cooking stir-frys but not sure how to choose the right wok for you? Read on as our Test Kitchen experts discuss one of our best-loved kitchen utensils to help you decide!

What is it?

A wok is a large, bowl-shaped pan with rounded sides, most often used in Chinese cooking. It spreads heat evenly, doesn’t require much oil for cooking and allows food to be tossed during stir-frying.

Perfect for:

The word “wok” is derived from the Cantonese word meaning “cooking pot,” and these pans are used for a variety of culinary tasks. In Western cooking, we tend to associate woks mostly with making stir-fries. However, their large cooking area and consistent heat means that they’re also ideal for techniques like braising, deep-frying, steaming and making sauces and soups.

What to consider:

If you have room for it in your cupboard, a wok makes a valuable addition to your collection of kitchen equipment. Before buying, make sure it’s suitable for use on your hob. A non-stick coating is also a bonus, allowing food to move around easily — essential for quick-cooking methods like stir-frying, where food needs to be in near-constant motion. If you’re not particularly strong, consider the weight of your wok: it’s better to choose one that’s lightweight enough for you to move with ease.

What we love:

Our Test Kitchen loves a good wok, and we get great use out of our Pyrex® Optima 28cm Wok. Not only is it suitable for all hobs, including induction, but it’s also made from a sturdy, lightweight material that allows the wok to heat up quickly and concentrates the heat in the centre. Its non-stick coating with extra glide means that we can toss our food around with ease, as well as making it easy to clean — and it’s dishwasher safe, too, a real lifesaver in our always-busy kitchen.

Ready to get cooking? Here’s a handy throw-together healthy and delicious recipe that will have you woking up a storm on any night of the week!

20-minute garlic prawns by Pyrex® click here for full recipe!

Click here for more details about the Pyrex Optima 28 cm Wok

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