Best Woks for Gas Stoves: Buyer’s Guide for 2020

If you spend a lot of time in the kitchen and you’re looking for a pan that can do it all, then it’s time to take a closer look at the wok. Carbon steel woks have quickly become one of the most popular types of pans to cook with, for many good reasons. These versatile pans have a lot to offer both the pro and amateur cook but choosing the best woks for gas stoves can be tricky, considering there are many types and styles of woks to choose from these days.

If you’re new to cooking with gas, or you’ve never cooked with a wok, then my buyer’s guide will walk you through the different types, styles, and features available, to help you narrow down your choices and find the perfect model for your stove and cooking needs.  I’ve tested many models that are designed for gas stove use and chose six models that are built tough, offer the type of features most cooks are looking for, and feature the perfect design for gas stove use. Below, you’ll find a comparison chart that includes each of the six models, how they rated, and their best features.

Woks for Gas Stoves Comparison Chart

Product	Material	Size	Weight	Rating
Yosukata Carbon Steel Wok Shop On Amazon!	Carbon Steel	14 in	3.89 lbs
T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized Wok Shop On Amazon!	Hard Anodized Aluminum	14 in	5.23 lbs
Homeries Carbon Steel Wok Shop On Amazon!	Carbon Steel	12 in	5.49 lbs
Chef’s Medal Traditional Wok Shop On Amazon!	Carbon Steel	14 in	4.59 lbs
Rachael Ray Cucina Wok Shop On Amazon!	Hard Anodized Aluminum	11 in	3.6 lbs
Yimeijia Wok Shop On Amazon!	Carbon Steel	13 in	3.5 lbs

Yosukata Carbon Steel Wok

Our Rating: (5/5)

This popular model by Yokukata is pre-seasoned, so there’s no worry of food sticking to the pan’s cooking surface, which will be a huge plus for any cook. The helper handle is designed to help cooks pick up a full wok, easily, while also using the long ergonomic wooden handle. Additionally, the helper handle, while made out of steel, is designed to stay cool, so you won’t need to use an oven mitt or potholder to remove the pan from high heat. This wok earned top marks for its durable design, faster heat up time, and even heat distribution.

Conclusion

This beautiful, lightweight wok is perfect for gas ranges and features the classic round bottom design, helper handle and a long ergonomic wooden handle, both of which will make it easy to remove a full, hot wok from your stovetop.

T-fal Ultimate Hard Anodized, Aluminum Wok

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This round-bottomed wok is made out of hard anodized aluminum and is designed to retain and distribute heat evenly. The hard-anodized aluminum material is both scratch and rust-resistant and will not react to acidic foods. The durable nonstick surface allows you to cook without the use of unhealthy cooking oils and also makes cleaning the pan a cinch. The riveted silicone handle features an ergonomic design that makes lifting the pan comfortable and easy.

Conclusion

This pan can handle temperatures up to four hundred degrees, comes with a stay-cool silicone handle, and features a nonstick cooking surface that allows you to prepare your food without the use of fattening cooking oils. The pan itself is light, durable, and features a rust-resistant and scratch-resistant coating, so you can easily pop this pan in the dishwasher, without the fear of damaging it.

Homeries Carbon Steel Wok

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This twelve-inch carbon steel wok features a honeycomb design which works to reduce scratches and improves durability. The pan is equipped with a stay-cool, ergonomic wooden handle that allows you to remove the pan from the burner, safely. This pan comes with a wooden lid and two large wooden spatulas. The spatulas can be used to toss and mix food as it cooks, while the included lid will allow you to steam, poach, and cover splattering food. The pans natural nonstick surface prevents food from sticking to the pan as it cooks, allowing for easier cleanup.

Conclusion

This set is a great buy for cooks of all skill levels, and it comes with some great extras that all users will appreciate. Unfortunately, the spatulas, pan, and lid all must be washed by hand. The durable honeycomb design will increase the lifespan of the pan, while the long textured wooden handle makes it easy to toss veggies and meats like a pro. This is a pan that will quickly become your go-to for cooking large meals for the family, thanks to its lightweight durable design and even heat distribution.

Chef’s Medal Traditional Hand Hammered Pow Wok

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This carbon steel 1.8-millimeter-thick wok is hand-hammered and comes equipped with a beautiful wooden handle made out of bamboo. The handle has a hole located at the end, so you can easily hang this pan on the wall or a pot and pan rack. The manufacturer has included seasoning instructions for the pan, which you can follow to achieve a natural nonstick surface that will allow you to cook your favorite dishes with little to no cooking oil. This model is also covered by a limited lifetime warranty.

Conclusion

This is a beautiful, elegant looking wok that’s definitely display-worthy. The beautiful hand-hammered finish combined with the classic bamboo handle definitely make this model display-worthy. The durable, lightweight design allows you to easily cook up your favorite dishes, thanks to the pan’s even heat distribution and faster than average heat up time.

Rachael Ray Cucina Hard Anodized Wok

Our Rating: (4.5/5)

This model by Rachel Ray is made out of hard anodized aluminum and features a PFOA-free nonstick cooking surface. The pan is designed to promote even, fast heating and comes with a dual-riveted handle that’s made out of silicone. The handle is comfortable to hold and will stay cool to the touch as you cook. The pan also comes with a clear glass lid that will allow you to poach, steam, and cook food, without food splattering on your stovetop. The pan can withstand temperatures up to four hundred degrees, so you can prepare dishes that require high-heat. The pan is also dishwasher safe, for easier cleanup.

Conclusion

This model is covered by a limited lifetime warranty, features a beautiful rustic, modern design, and comes equipped with a nonstick cooking surface that prevents food from sticking to the bottom and sides of the wok. The pan is made out of durable, lightweight hard anodized aluminum, so it’s able to withstand heavy daily use. And the best part? The pan is also dishwasher safe.

Yimeijia Wok

Our Rating: (4/5)

This wok is made out of heavy-duty carbon steel a material that promotes fast and even heat distribution. The pan’s ergonomic handle has been hand-welded and reinforced, so it won’t fall off or loosen with heavy-duty use. The interior of the pan is nonstick but will still need some light cooking oil to prevent food from sticking, at least until the pan has developed a true nonstick surface through seasoning. The beautiful handle is made out of imported red eucalyptus and will remain cool to the touch during use. This model is also covered by a thirty-day money-back guarantee. So, if you’re not satisfied with this pan, contact the manufacturer for a full refund during the return period, no questions asked.

Conclusion

This wok makes cooking up a variety of dishes a breeze, due to the faster heat up time, even heat distribution, and durable design that allows you to prepare any type of food ranging from steaks and eggs, to your favorite soup or stir fry. This is a gorgeous pan and one that’s built to handle everyday use, this top-selling model by Yimeijia is a steal for the price.

Woks for Gas Stoves Buyer’s Guide

If you’ve never used a wok before, you’ll be quickly impressed by how versatile it is and how it can easily cut the time you spend in the kitchen in half. You can use the wok to prepare your favorite curry rice, stir fry, and more.

While the wok may seem like just a different version of a skillet, the wok offers many perks that you won’t get with your basic frying pan or skillet. The concave shape of the wok is what makes stir frying and preparing classic Filipino recipes so simple. It also doesn’t require much cooking fuel since the heat is concentrated at the bottom of the pan and spreads up the sides. The pan’s sloped sides are essentially different cooking zones. Any food that rests on the sides of the pan will cook at a much slower rate compared to the food that cooks at the bottom. The pan’s depth also makes it more versatile, so it can be used for more than just making a stir fry.

Benefits of Woks for Gas Stoves

As I mentioned above, woks are very versatile and can be used for:

• Cooking eggs
• Pan-frying steaks
• Cooking bacon
• Stir frying veggies
• Fluffy jasmine rice
• Roasting chickens

Because of their shape, they’re also a great choice for pan popping corn.

They can be used to:

• Sear
• Smoke
• Braise
• Boil
• Poach
• Deep-fry
• Pan-fry
• Steam
• Stir fry a variety of foods

They’re also a great choice for whipping up soups and stews, which makes them one of the most versatile pans in the kitchen.

You can both slow-cook and high-heat cook food at the same time. Place one type of food on the pan’s bottom for high-heat cooking and the slow-cooked food can be placed against the sides of the pan.

Now that you know some of the many benefits cooking with a wok has to offer, let’s find out which type of wok you need to use for a gas stove, and the different features to look for.

Stove Compatibility

One of the first things you need to take into consideration before you choose a wok is how or if it will work for your gas stove. Woks come in two design options: round-bottom, and flat-bottom. For gas stoves, the best type of wok to choose is the round bottom wok. The round bottom wok will help distribute heat better.

For induction stoves, a flat-bottom wok is a better choice since it will make total contact with the burner. But since this guide is all about woks designed for gas stoves, we’ll stick with focusing on the round bottom wok and the features this type of wok has to offer.

Materials

Woks are made out of a variety of materials including:

• Aluminum
• Cast iron
• Stainless steel
• Nonstick materials

Carbon Steel

Carbon steel woks are used for quick-cooking tasks such as whipping up a stir fry. Woks made out of this type of material are simple to use because adjusting the temperature is so easy. The material conducts heat well and heats up quickly. This material is perfect for searing foods and it responds almost immediately to heat changes. Additionally, the more you use this pan, the more it develops a natural nonstick surface, although it does take a while to develop a decent cooking surface.

Cast Iron

This material that can often be found in a variety of cookware types such as frying pans, sauté pans and skillets. It’s also a popular material for woks, especially commercial-style models.

Woks that are made out of this type of material are more affordable, and the material itself features excellent heat retaining properties. But cast iron must be seasoned to prevent food from sticking to the cooking surface and it can take a long time to heat up to the desired temperature.

Nonstick

These woks are not as durable as carbon steel or cast iron and cannot handle cooking at higher temperatures, and higher temperatures are a must if you’re making a stir fry or pan frying a steak.

Size

The size of the wok will be key. For a residential stove, a fourteen-inch wok will work well. If you have a larger family to feed or you love cooking for family and friends, then look for a sixteen-inch model.

If you only cook for yourself or one other person, then a twelve-inch wok should be sufficient.

Handle

Most woks come equipped with a single long handle that’s made out of wood, metal, or a durable plastic that’s heat resistant. The longer handle design is meant to keep cooks safe from the open flame and can also make handling a full pan much easier and safer. Woks that have wooden handles must be washed by hand, since the wooden handles do not usually have a protective coating so washing them in the dishwasher could damage the integrity of the handle. Plastic handles can feel somewhat flimsy, especially if you’ve ever cooked with a wok with a wooden handle, however, models with a plastic handle are often dishwasher safe. Some people will wash their woks by hand, even if they have a stainless steel handle since there’s still a chance that rust can develop, although, most manufacturers claim that these woks are also dishwasher safe.

Price

Woks are pretty affordable, especially compared to nonstick cookware. But like other types of cookware, you can expect the price to go up based on the materials used and the size of the pan. However, it’s totally possible to purchase the perfect wok for you and your cooking needs for around fifty dollars or under. In fact, many of the woks I’ve included on my top six list are very budget friendly.

Money-Back Guarantee/Warranty

Many of the higher-priced woks will come with a money-back-guarantee or warranty. On average, the money-back guarantee allows buyers to try out a pan for a period of thirty days and return it if they’re not satisfied, for a full refund. In terms of warranty length, many low priced models will come with a six to twelve month warranty, while higher priced models will be covered by a limited lifetime warranty which usually only covers manufacturing defects.

Final Thoughts

The best wok for gas stoves will have a round bottom and a durable design. It should also come equipped with a long handle that will prevent you from getting too close to the open flame and also makes handling the wok safe and easy. The woks that I’ve included here are designed for gas stove use, come loaded with some great extras and offer the type of low maintenance needs and durability that most home cooks are looking for.