Customer Reviews

Joyce Chen J21-9985 Classic 10 Piece Xylan Non-Stick Wok Set

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Hi, I bought one of Chen's non-stick woks -- and gave it to a friend so I could free up cabinet space to buy Chen's steel flat bottomed wok (for my electric stove). You are not supposed to preheat the non-stick wok too high, and never without oil in it. Well, to stir fry, you want to get it real hot, so the non-stick limitation defeats the purpose.

I've had no problem with Chen's steel wok without non-stick coating -- you just have to wash it in hot water only (no soap or detergent), dry it, and rub a bit of oil on it after each use. I've enjoyed using the plain steel wok a few times a week for more than six months.

Really, don't be afraid to buy Chen's steel wok instead. You don't need a non-stick wok.

I have had this wok for awhile now, and it is...OK. I mainly bought it because it had the complete set: The wok, the dome lid, tempura rack, 12" bamboo spatula, bamboo cooking chopsticks, 10 sets of table chopsticks, steaming rack, 12" bamboo tongs, bamboo rice paddle, recipe booklet and video. For someone fairly new to cooking with a wok, this seemed like a decent quality "starter's kit."

While the wok has served me well for many years now, the rest of the kit has long since gone by the way side. I think I watched the video once or twice, tried out some of the recipes and played around with the other extras until I put them away for good. Some of the goodies, like the bamboo spatula, rice paddle and tongs, are still going strong and get a lot of use. The others...not so much.

The wok itself is a nice beginner's wok. Heavy, but not too bad, it is easy to maneuver around the stove top and keeps everything in for a nice stir fry. As I got familiar with wok cooking, I moved on to deep-frying and a few other techniques. The non-stick coating is the real issue, as it can't handle the high heats that most wok cooking is done at, and it has started to come off over the years.

I am in the market for a new wok, and while this one has served me well I don't think I will be going with this style again. I have my eyes set on a more traditional steel wok which requires a little more care but with better results. For beginners, however, I still think this is a decent set that gives you the complete package at a good price. Just don't expect to have it your whole life.