Let me ask you something: Are you a fan of Asian cuisine?
The holiday season is behind us, and it’s finally time to switch to lighter dishes that include lots of vegetables. That’s why I think this is the perfect time to talk to you about electric woks.
So, have you considered buying one?
You’re probably thinking: How can I be sure I choose the best electric wok?
Best Electric Wok
Don’t worry, that’s why you have me on your team – today’s article is dedicated to helping you find the perfect one for your needs.
As a fan of dishes inspired by Asian cuisine, finding the greatest electric wok was a top priority for me, especially since I’ve decided it’s time to retire my traditional wok after years of heavy use. And with a little help from my side, you’ll be able to find the perfect wok in no time, too.
Related: Learn Our Recommended Woks From Carbon Steel
First Things First: What Is An Electric Wok And Why You Need One
Have you ever had a chance to use a traditional wok before?
The concept is pretty much the same.
Well, except the one very noticeable difference: an electric wok doesn’t need a dedicated oven or a stovetop, for that matter – the electric wok will come with a heating element already built-in. All you need to do is to plug it in, and that’s it – you’re ready to start cooking all those delicious recipes.
So, if there’s not much of a difference between a traditional wok and an electric one, why should you invest time – and money – into finding the perfect electric wok in the first place?
One of the most significant advantages is how portable these woks are.
Instead of being conditioned by the placement of your stove, you can place the wok in a more convenient location – the kitchen island, for example – and chat with your family and friends while you’re cooking.
And those of you that are huge fans of camping trips will appreciate the fact that you can bring an electric wok with you – as long as your camping spot has access to electricity, that is.
While We’re On The Subject Of Keeping Things Light, Take A Look At The Perfect Rice Cookers
How To Choose Electric Wok: Helpful Buying Guide
Okay, let’s move on to why we’re all here: To help you find the perfect electric wok on the market.
Without further ado, here’s a list of features you should consider before you make a purchase:
Material: Stainless Steel, Aluminum, Or Something Else?
The main thing you need to look for is an electric wok with a non-stick surface. Trust me; you don’t want to spend the rest of the night scrubbing off all the burned food from the bottom of the unit.
Once you’ve made sure the wok does, in fact, have a non-stick interior surface, the rest is pretty much a matter of preference. Stainless steel, aluminum, ceramics, copper – it’s up to you.
That’s not to say that some of these materials don’t offer particular advantages – they most certainly do, especially if you’re worried about scratching the non-stick finish and ingesting the flakes by accident. In that case, a more durable option, such as stainless steel or ceramics, might be the right choice for you.
Size And Capacity Are Important
One of the first things I looked into when I was conducting my search for the best electric wok was the size of the appliance. Making sure it was big enough to prepare a meal for my family was my top priority – and it should be yours, as well.
However, don’t get carried away – you’ll have to store the unit somewhere. So, before you go on and buy the biggest one you can find, consider the amount of counter space (as well as storage space) you have available and choose accordingly.
Adjustable Heat Settings
While most electric woks aren’t able to reach the same heat levels as the traditional ones are, just because electrical appliances have to be capped at a specific temperature, that doesn’t mean they won’t be able to perform equally as well.
Most will be able to reach a temperature of about 400 degrees Fahrenheit, though, so there’s no need to worry about that. What you should keep an eye on are the heat settings – you want a unit that will allow you to adjust the temperature just right.
It may not seem significant, but trust me, you’ll appreciate having that level of control during the cooking process.
Set Your Budget And Stick With It
Now’s the time to be honest with yourself:
How often do you plan on using your electric wok?
Because here’s the thing:
You could buy a $30 electric wok, and it will work fine. However, if you honestly plan on using it more than once every couple of months, you should consider investing a bit more. While a cheaper one will be able to do the job, it will probably break after a year or so, which means you’ll just end up buying a new one.
Sometimes saving up doesn’t work out as planned, huh?
Best Electric Wok Recommendations – Top 5 Favorites 2022
AEW-305 Electric Wok Easy Clean Nonstick
With a 7-quart capacity and a non-stick interior, this electric wok should be more than enough to feed a family of four – trust me on this. The handles, as well as the base, are heat resistant, which plays a huge role in preventing any potential burns.
Of course, there are some things I didn’t like, as well.
First off, I’ve noticed that the heating element protrudes from the bottom of the wok, causing the food to burn. And before you go on to say that a little bit of stirring would’ve prevented it, I’ve tried it, and no, it didn’t help.
Also, the opaque lid made it hard to take a quick look at the food during the cooking process. Oh, if I had a penny for each time, the hot steam burned my hands as I lifted the lid…
Pros
- The interior has a non-stick coating.
- It heats up reasonably fast and has adjustable temperature levels.
- It’s large enough to prepare family meals in it (7-quart capacity)
- Cool-touch handles and base will prevent any potential burns.
Cons
- The protruding heating element causes food to burn and stick to it.
- The lid is opaque, so you can’t monitor food without opening the wok.
- Due to a flat bottom, it requires a lot of stirring.
Presto 5900 1500-Watt Stainless-Steel Electric Wok – For Those On A Tight Budget
As I said previously, there’s no need to spend a small fortune on an electric wok, and to prove that, I decided to include this Presto 5900 model in my round-up.
Those of you that are working with a slightly smaller budget will appreciate the fact that you can still afford a decent electric wok at a reasonable price.
The wok is made of stainless steel, which promises a certain level of durability, and it’s dishwasher safe (and so is the lid), which is a huge plus. The cover, on the other hand, is made of tempered glass and also features a stainless steel rim, as well as a handle.
A wooden spatula is also included in the package, which is a pretty fantastic offer for the price.
One thing I noticed is that the cord is a bit too short, which takes away from the wok’s portability – unless you have plenty of outlets in your kitchen, you won’t be able to move it around as much.
Also, due to its shape, only the flat area at the bottom gets heated – the sides don’t. I don’t see it as a deal-breaker, but I’m worried that it might cause some discoloration on the bottom. Again, it’s not much of an issue, but I wanted to let you know, anyway.
Pros
- It has a stainless steel body.
- Both the wok and its lid are dishwasher safe.
- It’s relatively affordable and comes with a wooden spatula.
- The rubber on the bottom will prevent sliding.
Cons
- Only the tiny flat area gets heated, while the sides don’t
- The electric cord is a bit short.
Breville BEW600XL Hot Wok – Cook ‘N’ Look Lids Should Be A Standard
If you’re looking for a quality family-size electric wok, this Breville model is the one to keep your eyes on – it has a 6-quart capacity, which should be enough to feed a family of four comfortably.
What I genuinely liked is the combination of materials used – stainless steel and glass are always a good combo, not just when it comes to quality, but appearance-wise, as well.
So, the base is made of stainless steel, which, as I said previously, is one of the standard materials used to make electric woks – and a personal favorite of mine, too.
The lid, on the other hand, is made of glass, which makes it quite easy to take a look at your food during the cooking process without lifting it.
Those of you that aren’t big on washing dishes will appreciate the fact that both the lid and the bowl are dishwasher safe.
The first issue I had with this model – it’s not a deal-breaker, but it’s still worth mentioning – is how heavy it is. The lid, in particular, is what worried me the most. I kept wondering what would happen if I accidentally dropped it – it’s made of glass, after all.
I hope I won’t come to that, though.
Pros
- It has a durable stainless steel base.
- The wok has a 6-quart capacity, meaning it’s suitable for families.
- The glass lid allows you to keep an eye on your food.
- Both the bowl and the cover are dishwasher safe.
- The temperature control probe is removable.
Cons
- The entire thing, but especially the lid, seemed a bit too heavy for me.
- The non-stick coating won’t be able to endure heavy, frequent use.
Further Reading: Learn How To Find The Finest Wok On The Market
Breville EW30XL Electric Gourmet Wok – It’s All About Having Control
My next recommendation is another Breville model, this time, the EW30XL – a giant electric wok suitable for preparing family-sized dishes.
The amount of control you’ll get over the cooking process is impressive. While most units do have some temperature settings, this one takes it to the next level with its 14 different heat settings and an added high sear option.
And since the base is removable, cleaning the wok won’t be hard, either – just pop it in the dishwasher and let it do the rest.
I’d also like to point out that this Breville model has a glass lid with a steam vent. It may not seem like a big deal, but if the dish you’re making requires a lot of stirring, the steam won’t burn your hands every time you lift the lid.
And speaking of lids, I love the fact that it’s a glass one, as it allows me to check on my food without having to open the wok every single time.
Now, let’s talk about the disadvantages.
Even though I did use the utensils recommended by the manufacturer, the interior still got scratched rather easily. It still does the job well, and I haven’t noticed any significant flaking, but it just doesn’t look quite as pleasant as it used to.
Pros
- The base is removable, and the wok is dishwasher safe
- It has 14 heat settings and a high sear option
- The glass lid has a steam vent
- Non-stick cooking surface (four layers)
Cons
- Storage might be an issue due to its size
- The interior gets scratched quickly (even if you use the recommended utensils)
VonShef 7.4Qt Electric Wok with Lid – Adjustable Temperature Control
The VonShef Electric Wok has stay-cool side handles and lid handles, which means that there will be no more burns and the need to fumble to find and put on those oven mitts every time you need to stir the food.
The other feature which attracted my attention when I was reviewing this electric wok was its huge capacity of 7.4 quarts and its diameter of 14 inches. This is enough space to cook stir-fry for a large family or for a lot of guests at once.
The large-sized electric wok is made of sturdy aluminum with a non-stick interior coating, which will allow you to use less oil, and will prevent the food from sticking on the bottom.
The temperature of this unit can be adjusted easily with the turn of a rotary dial, which is located on the front. You can adjust the temperature to four settings, including warm (176 degrees F), low (302 degrees F), medium (374 degrees F), and high (446 degrees F).
As mentioned earlier, the silicone handles of the wok and the lid are made of heat-resistant silicone, so you won’t get burned when using the wok.
And the lid is see-through, so you can view the cooking process without having to open it and lose heat.
The overall size of this unit is 14.8 (L) x 14 (D) x 8.7 (H) inches, and it weighs 5.5 lbs.
Pros
- A very large capacity of 7.4 quarts for prepping large-sized meals at one batch
- 4 heat settings, which are easy to adjust
- A non-stick coating to reduce the need for the use of too much oil and fat
- Cool-touch handles on the wok and lid will keep you safe
- The wok can be detached from the power cord for easy serving on the table
- A glass lid so you can see what’s going on without having to open it
- It can be used for making soups, sauces, or frying just about anything without the splatters
Cons
- The bottom of the pot is flat, so it is not round-bottomed like a traditional wok
- It may be too large and bulky for smaller spaces
The Best Electric Wok: Final Verdict
I know you’re dying to know which one’s my personal favorite, so I don’t want to keep you in the dark any longer.
The one I opted for – and the one I highly recommend to you as the greatest electric wok on the market – is the Breville BEW600XL Hot Wok.
Do you agree with my choice?
Also, let me know what dishes you like to make using a wok. 🙂
Leave your comments below.