Do you know that Chinese people have been cooking with woks for over 2,000 years? Wok means “pan” in Chinese. It is perfect for stir-frying as the food cooked in a wok is not only flavourful but also healthy as less oil is needed.
We researched over 30 models and selected 5 best carbon steel woks. Our top pick is the Mauviel Made In France M'Steel Black Steel Wok. We considered the thickness as the most important factor. A thicker wok heats up more slowly but it retains heat better. The perfect thickness for home use is 1.5-2mm and more for heavier-duty jobs. Diameter also matters as you need to make sure that the wok will fit your stove. Our selection is versatile and includes from 11 to 16 inches options. The next is the handle. You want a model with a comfortable wooden or bamboo handle that won’t get hot during cooking.
More features: 9’’ long handle, safe for induction cooktops, flat bottom, oven safe
The French company Mauviel is well known among cooking professionals for providing quality cookware products for nearly 200 years, including this list’s editor’s choice.
The M’Steel Black steel wok is a professional grade and heavier duty utensil that will prove to be a great investment for home or commercial use. With a solid thickness of up to 3 mm, it’s heavy for a traditional wok, but sturdy. You can be sure this wok will cook your food evenly and do its job in the kitchen for a lifetime. It will also be able to withstand very high temperatures when stir-frying quickly or cooking over an open flame.
The wok has a flat bottom, making it suitable and safe for all stove types.
At a smaller diameter of 11.8”, this wok can handle multiple quick batches, but not a family serving all at once. The weight of the wok is well balanced with the two tightly attached iron handles, one helper handle and one 9” long handle.
To protect this wok from damage or rust before your first use, it comes covered with beeswax for protection. The only gripe with this feature is the extra hot water and effort it takes to remove it from the surface, but after that you’ll have a great working wok making your time worthwhile.
To top it off, your M’Steel carbon steel wok will come with a lifetime limited warranty.
More features: round bottom, hand hammered, non-slippery wooden handle
The Craft Wok brand focuses on making authentic and traditional carbon steel woks from their place of origin – China. Hand-hammered and assembled by professionals in Guangzhou, Craft Wok provides an affordable traditional wok that’s approved by professional Chinese chefs. It’s an excellent choice for a decent carbon steel wok on a budget, which is why we nominate it the budget pick on our list.
Being hand-hammered, this wok has indentations that make food less prone to sticking and easier to move around. The traditional production means it has a round-bottom and needs an elevated surface like a gas stove for cooking.
The 1.8 mm thick carbon steel allows for a stable cooking temperature and a practical response time to changes in heat. It also has a lighter weight, sacrificing a little sturdiness for easier movement.
The wooden handle has a surface that won’t slip, offering a better grip and control when moving the wok for stir-fry. It’s well fitted with three rivets but also removable if your wok needs to go in the oven. The steel helper handles won’t get too hot for you to hold, even when stir-frying at high temperatures.
The Craft Wok carbon steel Pow Wok will definitely last for many years if maintained well, and is a good choice to consider if you’re looking for a good deal.
More features: non-stick coating, flat bottom, phenolic handle
The 22-0040 Pro Chef Flat Bottom Wok comes from Joyce Chen, a company that’s popular for its high standard woks and other Chinese cookware. This particular carbon steel wok sticks out among others with its thicker surface and especially tough non-stick coating, making it the best non-stick carbon steel wok on this list.
Made of 2 mm thick carbon steel, this flat bottom wok is heavier and more durable, as well as more stable on any cooking surface. The 14” diameter means the wok can easily cook batches of food for 3 to 4 people at a time.
You can be sure this product was made to last, and stay non-stick for just as long. It comes equipped with Excalibur reinforced non-stick coating which is tough enough for even metal cooking utensils. Even the most stubborn residue can be removed from this wok’s surface. This makes it great for frying without issue.
The stay-cool phenolic handles are long and comfortable enough for you to hold and move the wok comfortably without getting too hot.
Though the wok can withstand higher temperatures, is recommended that the longer handle be removed, as it can be prone to softening and potentially becoming loose.
More features: flat bottom, safe for electric stoves, wooden handles, hand wash only, 4‘’ deep
This carbon steel wok from M.V. Trading is a durable and user-friendly choice. Available in sizes up to an impressive 16 inches, this wok is our choice for the best carbon steel wok for batch cooking.
Its size can hold and endure cooking greater amounts of food for over 12 people. With a carbon steel body at 1.5mm thick, it’s light enough to maneuver and heavy enough to remain stable when on a stovetop. The wok is well balanced with a long wooden handle that provides better grip and control when moving it. It stays cool and won’t burn your hands when over hot surfaces. The wooden helper handle provides full control. The thickness allows for quick heating and even cooking throughout.
This carbon steel wok has a flat bottom and can work on any cooking surface. It is also suitable for use at high temperatures.
One issue customers have regarding this wok is in the handle and the risk of it coming loose. More often than not, the handle is attached tightly, but it is better to make sure it is fastened well before each use.
More features: round bottom, pre-seasoned, hand-welded one-piece red eucalyptus handle
If you’re looking for a quality wok that’s durable, reliable, and saves you the trouble of seasoning before use, then look no further than the pre-seasoned carbon steel pow wok from Timoneylove. This traditionally handmade wok has already been pre-seasoned with vegetable oil by its makers so you can get straight to using it.
Hand-hammered and 1.8 mm thick, the wok is strong, durable, and needs no chemical non-stick coating due to the indentations from hammering. The large 14” diameter lets you cook larger batches easily.
The wok is round bottomed and is most suitable for gas stoves. It can be used on induction surfaces but would require you to hold it more carefully while cooking.
The hand-welded wooden handle is guaranteed not to fall off or become loose when used, and adds a nice visual touch. You really get the look and feel of a traditional wok with this product from Timoneylove.
Like any wok that should last, this wok needs special procedures and maintenance. After each use, you need to make sure to dry any water droplets manually to prevent rust and increase longevity.
The Timoneylove pre-seasoned carbon steel pow wok is a traditional and reliable wok that will cook evenly and last. On top of that, it comes pre-seasoned which is why we nominate it the best pre-seasoned carbon steel wok you can find.
Woks are yet another addition to the kitchen some people cannot live without. What a wok can do for you is immense, from stir frying and deep-frying to braising. Getting the right wok is the biggest problem you’ll face since everyone’s cooking style is slightly different and every wok is different as well.
Carbon steel is not the only material used for manufacturing woks, but it does seem to give the competition a run for its money. For instance, Teflon woks are extremely popular given their non-stick cooking surface but are not ideal contenders for high heat cooking. Stainless steel woks are non-reactive but you do need to keep an eye out for scorching as stainless steel transmits heat very quickly. Carbon steel woks seem to provide the perfect balance between the two and offer the following benefits:
Woks are an investment, so when purchasing a wok, keep in mind that you want it to last a long time. The cheapest models come for around $40-$50. More expensive models come for over $100.
You can go for cheaper models even if you’re looking for an every-day home use wok. Woks typically don’t come made cheap and carbon-steel woks have always been reared to the more affordable selection of woks.
A wok is not just a chunk of metal, but can completely change your perspective of quality cooking. For traditional and enrichened tastes, most professionals turn to woks for performance. If you want to purchase the right wok for either home or work, there are some crucial features to look for.
ThicknessHeat regulation is a strength for carbon-steel woks. They heat up and cool down very quickly. The best thickness for home use is 1.5-2mm. Among our options listed here, take a look at the Mauviel Made In France M’Steel Black Steel Wok for an impressive thickness going up to 3mm with the Joyce Chen 22-0040 Pro Chef Flat Bottom Wok being a close second at 2mm. Both these types are very well suited for heavier duty jobs.
If you want something a little less thick, then consider the Timoneylove Pre-Seasoned Carbon Steel Pow Wok or the Craft Wok Traditional Hand Hammered Carbon Steel Pow Wok, both of which yield a workable thickness of 1.8 mm each.
Obviously, we’re looking at specifically carbon-steel woks so the material in question should be known. If you’re looking for a wok to use at home, a 14” one should do the trick. Larger sizes are better suited for commercial purposes. Anything smaller than this standard size won’t be very useful when cooking family-sized meals.
For more exact measurements; a 12” wok is best suited for a family of 5, 14” woks suit a group of 6-12 people and 16” woks are for parties larger than 12 people. 16” woks would be better for commercial use. 14” woks can accommodate a family and more if you have guests often.
Our pick for batch cooking, the Carbon Steel Wok with Helper Handle offers a wide utensil with a 16” diameter suitable to prepare larger batches of food. It is a utensil that can cater equally well to larger families or even for commercial use. On the smaller side of things, take a look at the Mauviel Made In France M’Steel Black Steel Wok offering an 11.8” diameter, ideal for a small family or even cooking for two.
Weight is important and is something many people overlook. You’ll want a wok as light as it can be. The bulkier the wok is, the harder it’ll be to transport it around. Tossing and manipulating the wok won’t be an easy task if the wok is heavy.
There are two types of bottoms you’ll encounter with woks; a flat-bottomed, and a round-bottomed. Flat-bottomed woks work better over induction stoves, electric and flat grills while round woks perform more efficiently over gas tops.
The Mauviel M’Steel Black Steel Wok, the Joyce Chen Wok and the Carbon Steel Wok with Helper Handle all offer a flat-bottomed utensil to work on various stove top types.
The classic woks were always rounded so some people may prefer using rounded woks. For this group, the Timoneylove Pre-Seasoned Carbon Steel Pow Wok and the Craft Wok Traditional Hand Hammered Carbon Steel Pow Wok will work well.
Your wok’s handle will determine how well you can manipulate your wok while you work. The longer the wok handle, the easier you can toss your food. All our featured models present woks with one long handle and a small helper handle to make lifting or moving the wok easier.
You’ll also want handles that aren’t conductors of heat.
Materials such as wood, plastic, and phenolic are the best handles. Phenolic is the most resistant to solvent cleaners, but it doesn’t tend to be ergonomic.
The type of heating element you will use your wok on is an important factor to consider. This is given the shape of the wok, which can sometimes be hard to place on your stove. Luckily, there are two ways to go about this; you can either go with a flat-based wok or purchase a ring that goes over the stovetop.
The flat-bottomed woks work over gas, propane, electric, induction, and flat-top stoves. If you have a gas or propane stove, you can remove the cast-iron grate and place a ring instead. This ring will better hold the circular shape of the wok.
When it comes to purchasing a wok, there’s no harm in searching for a dishwasher and oven-safe utensil. If it’s dishwasher safe, then your clean-up will be easier each time you use the wok.
Buying a wok that that is oven-safe means you can use your wok in a more versatile manner. You can bake chickens and roasts for a completely unique taste and texture.
Quality items always come with quality assurance. That’s why, before you buy a wok, you’ll want to ensure there’s a warranty to back up your purchase. Things such as the coating peeling off and the wok rusting at an alarmingly fast rate can be covered under a warranty if you can find the right one.
This video will teach you how to season your carbon-steel wok so its performance is at its peak with every use.
Here’s another way to season your wok:
If you feel as though your seasoning has come off, don’t be afraid to do this all over again to perfect the seasoning once more.
After cleaning it out, it’s important you season it. Seasoning strengthens the wok adding to its lifespan. Once you’ve seasoned it, you don’t want to use soap on your wok anymore. If any food stuck on your wok, soak it until it can come off with only a sponge.
Re season your utensil if you ever feel as though the first coating is coming off.
If you’re looking to invest in a top-quality carbon steel wok from a reliable name that’ll last you for generations to come, you should definitely consider the Mauviel M’Steel Black Steel wok. You can be sure you’re getting your money’s worth from a company with over 200 years of crafting expertise.
The Craft Wok Traditional hand-hammered Carbon Steel Pow Wok, is a durable and user-friendly choice. This 14-inch wok is quite affordable and offers great value for your money.
