The wok is type of pan from Asia that has become extremely popular in France. It lets you cook food quickly without adding a lot of fat and without having to use several pans. A wok is an essential pan for cooking Asian dishes, but it can also be used for stir-frying, simmering, frying and steaming. A wok is therefore a very practical and versatile kitchen utensil.

How do you choose a wok? What buying criteria should I take into account? Why is it better to choose a stainless steel wok?

What are the advantages of wok cooking?

Wok cooking has many advantages. Thanks to its rounded base and non-stick coating, the wok can be used to cook many different dishes in large quantities without using a lot of fat. So you can prepare a healthy dish for all the family.

Another advantage of cooking in a wok is that the heat is evenly distributed thanks to the high edges, ensuring rapid cooking and preserving the flavour of your food, for example when stir-frying vegetables, meat or seafood.

Traditional wok or electric wok?

There are two different types of wok: the traditional wok used on hobs and the electric wok that you can place directly on the table for a sociable meal.

The traditional wok is the most common and can be used to cook a wide variety of dishes, while the electric wok is mainly used to make Chinese fondue. Purists will prefer the traditional wok for its sturdiness and versatility.

Why choose a stainless steel wok?

We recommend you choose a stainless steel wok. Stainless steel is a healthy material that transmits heat quickly while maintaining its integrity. This makes it ideal for cooking meat or vegetables. It's also a hard-wearing material that won't rust and will last longer.

Finally, stainless steel is hygienic, unbreakable and hard-wearing. Composed of 18% chromium and 10% nickel (used in the manufacture of surgical tools), CRISTEL® stainless steel is 97% recycled and 100% recyclable.

A wok with removable handles?

Need to finish cooking your dish in the oven? In that case, opt for a wok with removable handles. This way, you can easily put your stainless steel wok in the oven without burning yourself.

What's more, a wok with a removable handle saves a lot of space when you're storing it in your cupboard or it's in the dishwasher.

What hobs is it compatible with?

Before choosing a stainless steel wok, you first need to know what type of hob you have. You'll find stainless steel woks that are compatible with gas, induction hobs and electric cookers... It's vital to choose your wok based on the type of hob you have at home, as you risk damaging it.

But rest assured, CRISTEL® stainless steel woks are compatible with all types of cooker. These woks are very practical, as they can follow you throughout your life, even if you change cooker or hob. Of course, these models cost a little more than the others, but you'll have peace of mind.

What price range?

Take the time to choose a model that is suited to your needs and made from quality materials. Manufactured under the "Origine France garantie" label which guarantees your product is made in France, and warranted for life against all manufacturing defects, CRISTEL® stainless steel woks will provide you with many years of happy cooking.

What about durability?

Depending on the material you choose for your wok, durability will vary. The stainless steel used in CRISTEL® woks is of the highest quality and comes with a lifetime guarantee. By opting for a stainless steel wok, you can be sure of many years of use.

To extend the life of your equipment even further, you can also have the non-stick coating of your wok replaced at a lower cost using our online module. You will receive your recoated product within a maximum of 4 weeks from the date of receipt.

Wok: which diameter should I choose?

How many people are in your family? When choosing your stainless steel wok, this is a very important question to ask yourself. Depending if you are serving 2, 6 or 10 people, you will need to choose a wok of different sizes.

CRISTEL® woks are available in several sizes (20 cm, 24 cm, 28 cm, 30 cm, 32 cm, 34 cm depending on the collection), so it's up to you to choose the one that suits your family best.

We recommend a 24 cm wok for 2 people, a 28 to 30 cm wok for 4 people, a 32 cm wok for 6 people and for more than that a 34 cm wok or larger.

What weight should I choose?

The final criterion to consider when choosing a stainless steel wok is weight. You need to think carefully about its weight, especially when it's full, as this can make it difficult to prepare your recipes. If in doubt, we advise you to opt for a wok with two handles to make it easier to move.

And finally

As you may have realised, choosing a stainless steel wok is no easy task. There are many factors to take into account, so take the time to research different models to find the one that best suits your needs and the size of your family. Stainless steel is a very useful material, because it is long-lasting and highly resistant to heat, which is why it is so widely used in the manufacture of saucepans and woks. Now all you have to do is find the wok that's right for you from CRISTEL®'s wide selection.