Customer Reviews

14 Inch Traditional Cast Iron Wokset

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

To again correct the original reviewer, this is a cast iron wok, it is obvious as the handles were cast with the body and the casting marks are evident.

I just finished seasoning the wok and it works wonderfully. Much better that the chemically treated non stick pans/woks. There are simple seasoning instructions, a nice recipe book, and even some extra goodies (like a bamboo wok cleaning whisk) to get you going that the wok store threw in with my package.

This is a traditional chinese wok that is very solid and functional. There are no fancy hand grips or anything but I personally prefer traditional cast iron and enjoy the fact that I don't have to worry about melting or scorching the handles.

The included spatula is surprisingly nice as well. It came with the wooden handle loose, and I thought I had gotten a defect, but there were even instructions with the spatula that mentioned this is normal while shipping the traditional wok utensils, and to simply pound the handle in a bit. Now the handle is solidly implanted and the thing feels indestructible.

Overall I am very pleased with this set and the wok store company. For anyone looking for a straight up authentic (and low priced) wok kit, you can't go wrong with this one.

Most people I showed this wok set to could not believe the price I paid for it. This kit contains everything you need to start wok'n except the food.

I seasoned it using the instructions sent to me in an email by the shop owner and what had looked like a dull, lifeless hunk of metal took on an almost sculptural look of bronze patterned metal. It was almost a shame to cook on it, but now that I have a few meals on the surface, water beads up and rolls off and nothing sticks to the shiny surface. I did need to take a metal file to the outside edges before seasoning, as they were quite sharp, but otherwise everything is just what I was looking for. I have already placed my next order from The Wok Shop.

As mentioned by other reviewers, the reviewer who stated that this isn't cast iron is mistaken. This is a traditional, old fashioned, authentic Chinese wok. If you want a modern stainless steel wok, don't buy this one. If you want the type of wok used in Chinese restaurants, this is it. The deal offered by the Wok Shop is a really good one and you'll be hard pressed to find this good of a deal on an authentic wok anywhere else. To learn more about The Wok Shop, the store selling this wok, and Tane Chan, the store's owner, you should read Gourmet Magazine's Dec. 2004 article on the shop. [...]

I have been looking for a wok for a while. I found a carbon steel wok in a popular department store chain (the one that people try to pronounce in a "french" way to be funny) and it was a big wok for a low price. However, that wok has a lacquer type of coating on it that would partially peel off every time I used it. Is this healthy or normal? It definitely worried me.

This wok, however, is a rustic-looking, traditional cast-iron wok and it has no coating to speak of. Once you scour away the protective oil on it, just use lard to season it and it becomes absolutely perfect! The directions instruct you to coat it with oil and bake it for 20 minutes at a time, and then repeat once or twice more. I recommend that you use a thin coating of lard and bake it for one hour at 450 and do this a total of three times. Oil tends to leave an uneaven, streaky type of coating that I'm not very fond of.

I didn't know if I would like the round bottom. My previous wok had a flat bottom, but after using the round bottom wok, I appreciate the difference. The heating seems to be much more even, and you have better control of your food when you are stir-frying. The included wok ring makes the round bottom a non-issue anyway, so it sits with stability on your range.

It comes with a lid and a spatula, plus a few other cool things that the wok shop threw in. For $35, I think you get something *far* better than you can find in your local store (specialty or department store, even).

I read everything I could about woks before purchasing this one. Everyone has a different opinion about material, size, heat source, etc.
I got this cast iron wok on the recommendation of a high school foreign exchange student from Fuzhou, China. Her mom uses one that is very similar.
This is definitely cast iron, but it weighs less than 3 lbs. I can hold it up by the handle with one finger. It came with some extra little goodies and that a surprise. Anyway, I seasoned it using the email I received as a guide. I used a Brillo pad to scour the whole thing and rinsed it in hot water. I used a thin layer of Crisco and baked it in my gas grill @ 350 degrees for 20 minutes. I let it cool and scrubbed it with a sponge in soapy hot water. I repeated these steps again. Then I coated it again and baked the wok @ 450 degrees for 20 minutes. My wok is now shiny black and nothing stick. The first meal I made was a simple chicken and vegetable stir-fry I got from a website. It came out excellent and every meal since then has also; even popcorn! Clean-up is hot water, soap, and a sponge. Couldn't be easier. Same for the spatula.
I have to confess now that I have a Whirlpool ceramic flat-top stove. After wok cooking on this stove over a dozen times using the wok and wok ring, I cannot detect any damage. I turn the largest element on high and go. I've also been using cast iron skillets on this stove top nearly everyday for 6 years and I really didn't think I could hurt it despite what I've read on the web about the dangers of doing so.
If I dropped and broke this wok today, I would have another one on order within 10 minutes. I will never be without one again.

Update: I have enjoyed cooking in this wok so much, I have invited friends and family to watch me cook in it and they have enjoy the results that come from it. I have ordered one for my son and his wife as an anniversary present and one for a friend as a birthday present because they wanted one so much.

Years ago, I owned a carbon steel wok, which served me well until it was lost in a move. I decided to try cast iron this time, and I'm very glad I did! This unit seems to hold heat better and heat more evenly than my old one, and I find it easier to maneuver the cooked veggies up to the sides of the wok, where they stay nicely warm until the rest of the stir-fry and sauce is cooked. Despite being cast iron, it is relatively light-weight and easy to move. My range is an old electric one (with the coils), and this wok heats up quickly (and to a premium stir-fry temperature), despite having the rounded bottom. I inverted the wok ring so that the bottom would be closer to the coil and voila! Wok hee! The 14" size is perfect for me (no spillage of flung veggies), and I would estimate it would do nicely for up to six servings.

The wok set arrived with some nice, unadvertised extras: wooden utensils, chop sticks, a cookbook, and a back-scratcher (which made me smile). It also had very explicit, easy-to-follow instructions for seasoning the wok: an essential step. I followed the initial seasoning with a fry of pungent veggies (instructions also included) and this extra bit of effort removed any metallic flavor left in the wok. I've used the wok twice already (it arrived just two days ago), and I couldn't be more pleased with the results: crisp, tasty, stir-fried veggies and tofu without any sticky mess to clean. Another bonus to proper seasoning is that the wok itself is no longer the dull grey of untreated cast iron; it now has a lovely dark patina and looks great hanging with the rest of my pots and pans. Friends will never guess how inexpensive it was! This set is a fabulous bargain, and I anticipate a life-time of use out of the wok.

We received this as a gift from our wedding registry. Easy to season, it comes with clear instructions for seasoning (and cleaning). It also came with a slim cookbook. Quite helpful, since we'd never used a wok. Now we can't get enough of using it! Great quality for a very low price.

Great product, very well made, beat the steel versions you find in most department stores hands down. This company also provides great accessories with he wok that we did not expect.

the wok was as described. I seasoned it per instructions and am using it almost every day. I am very happy with the product. absolutely no complaints. shipping was fast. I would buy from them again.

This is a great wok!!! I was worried that it was going to be to heavy, but it is very light. I've cooked with it several times and it performs really well. It was easy to season and had no problems. The wok shop was very quick with the delivery, and came with extras I didn't expect.