What sort of wok to buy?

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winnie15, Apr 6, 11:56pm
oh ok .. will have a look when i'm in cambridge at briscoes perhaps?

fourz, Apr 7, 1:46am
Winnie and beechee I got mine from the asian supermarket really cheap for what they are and one of the best kitchen items I have. One of mine I have had for many years and the more I use it the better it gets. I bought a smaller one a few years ago as well.Just season and use and use.I wouldn't buy one from Stevens or any kitchen store because I doubt they would be authentic.

beechee51, Apr 7, 2:29am
Thats interesting!
Winnie, the ones in Briscoes are zip non stick, not good I am told.
Right I will have a look for an asian supermarket, there must be something in Dunedin, thanks

sophia4, Apr 7, 3:44am
I have a Briscoes Zip one that was about $40 and usually comes down to $20, it does the job fine, though the non stick comes off eventually if you are rough with it, as we were with the first one.You don't need to heat it up for ages like a heavier metal, and it holds the heat pretty well.We cook a range of stir fries in it and also stews as it's deep with a good lid.
I can't be bothered with the seasoning and the porousness of cast iron, and the rust-ability of steel so this one is fine for us and the stove we have.
I would call it a good basic starter wok.I would move on to a proper heavy round bottomed one if we had a gas stove only.

adragon, Apr 7, 7:49am
There is a shop called Southern Hospitality, it is in Frankton. Thats where I got my wok from. But I got my utensils from the Asian Supermarket by Seddon Park.I think they call them black metal?? but they are made for catering and restaurants and mine has served me very well.

cookessentials, Apr 7, 2:06pm
Any GOOD specialist cookware store ( we dont sell kitchens!!) will have "authentic" carbon steel woks. Stevens is not a specialist cookware store, they are part of the Farmers and Pascoes group, they copy good quality brands and have it mass produced in China. They sell it at 50 % off ( or more) quite often ( as does Briscoes) and they still make full mark up which goes to show how cheap it was to make!

cookessentials, Apr 7, 2:06pm
And Southern hospitality buy from the same distributors as good cookware stores do.

beechee51, Apr 7, 10:50pm
Just checked Stevens today and their own brand is a stainless steel oneselling about $100 and the carbon steel ones are a brand called The Gourmet Kitchen (Australia I think) $29 and made in Taiwan.
We have an asian shop here so will compare next week.

winnie15, Apr 8, 12:17am
OOo ouch thats a big jump in price aye ..

cookessentials, Apr 12, 8:53pm

beechee51, Apr 13, 2:52am
Thanks cookessentials, yesterday I went to the asian warehouse and got one just like the web site that you have shown, the same price also and it has a nice flat bottom. It has a long handle and I noticed on the website that you can get ones with two little handles.
Got peanut oil today and now ready to season it just like your instructions.
Many thanks for your help.

wron, Apr 13, 3:20am
Our one came from Wah Lee in Hobson St 40 odd years ago and they told me to put it on top a fire in the garden - which we did - still going strong, never use detergent, just wash / scrub with hot water and dry thoroughly on the wok burner, same for the carbon steel scraper thingee though that wasn't put on a fire as it has a wooden handle. If buying another I would get the same type wokbut with a handle for "tossing" instead of the 2 little ones.

suzanna, Apr 13, 4:30am
Yes the Asian warehouse up by My Mate John's and across the road from Savemart. They have a really quick turnover and some of their items are really cheap and of course you can buy in bulk so try there for woks. I bought my first one at Wah Lees in Auckland many years ago and still use it. Sorry cant give you the name of the store but you'll find it.

beechee51, Apr 16, 4:13am
I seasoned my new wok just like the earlier instructions and after using it for the first time tonight some of the food around the edge had a slight metallic taste. Have I not done the seasoning properly? It is a 14 inch size and I am working on an electric element. Thanks

cookessentials, Apr 16, 4:46am
That's quite normal for the first 2-3 uses beechee51, it willl disappear.

kstar21, Apr 16, 4:58am
id go to the asian warehouse

dzhang, Oct 17, 3:36am
Great contribution, cookessentials.
Had never heard of that Asian food warehouse site, and I had been looking everywhere for a flat bottomed wok. Thanks!