Amazon.com Review
Classic stir-fry techniques dictate cooking small pieces of food over high heat. To perform correctly at these temperatures, a wok must conduct heat well, and carbon steel does just that. Cheap, solid, and durable, it's the traditional choice throughout Asia. This classic wok is 14 inches in diameter so you can cook up a family-sized stir-fry. Alternately, use the wok for steaming, braising, and deep frying (for which you'll have to buy a lid). The wok has one long handle for moving it around on the stove, but an extra helper handle makes lifting a full pan of food a considerably easier task. Both handles are made of heat-resistant silicone, so they stay cool to the touch no matter how much heat you're using.
Like cast iron, carbon steel cookware must be seasoned well before first use to keep foods from sticking and also to prevent rust. Always wash carbon steel woks by hand and don't use abrasive brushes, which can remove the seasoning. For best results, apply more oil after cleaning, then heat the wok for a minute over a medium flame and wipe dry with a paper towel. --Mary Park