A wok is a classic piece of cookware often used for making Asian specialty dishes such as stir fry. In order to get the best results from your dishes, it will require using an authentic wok.
But if you have an electric stove, you may be aware that only certain types of cookware can be used on this. So you may be wondering can you use a wok on an electric stove? Yes, you can! Keep reading to find out everything you need to know about using your wok on an electric stovetop.
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Q: Can You Use A Wok On An Electric Stove?
The good news is that yes, you can use a wok on an electric stove. Providing that you don’t have an induction stovetop, you can use virtually any cookware on your electric stove.
This of course includes woks! However, it’s important to note that you may need to adjust your cooking times if you use a wok on your electric stove.
Traditionally, woks are used with gas stoves. This is because a gas stove can achieve immense temperatures, with the flames of the stovetop hugging the bottom of the wok to heat your ingredients.
However, there’s nothing to stop you from using a wok on an electric stove if you wish to.
The only thing to bear in mind of course is whether you have an induction stovetop or not. If you do have an induction stovetop, then you will need to buy special cookware that can be used with this.
Which Wok Is Better Suited For An Electric Burner?
Out of all the different types of woks on the market, you will be better off using a flat bottom wok on your electric stovetop.
This is because the flat surface of the wok’s bottom will be able to maintain constant contact with the heating element.
This will allow your food to cook evenly and properly so that you won’t have to constantly be adjusting the bottom of the wok to heat your food thoroughly.
It is still possible to use a round bottom wok on your electric stove. However, you will need to bear in mind that your food will cook slightly differently in this than it will in a flat bottomed wok.
If you have an electric stove and are looking to purchase a new wok for the job, get the flat bottomed wok. This will give you the correct amount of heat needed to cook your food without too much effort in adjusting the wok itself.
Can I Use A Flat Bottom Wok On An Electric Stove?
Yes, you can use a flat-bottom wok on an electric stove! In fact, this is the best type of wok to use on an electric stove.
This is because the base of the pan is able to get better contact with the heat, which will ensure for more even cooking.
This allows your ingredients to cook properly, and won’t leave you with some raw and burnt bits.
What’s really great about using a flat bottom wok on your electric stove is that it is suitable to be used directly with the stovetop.
You can simply leave the ingredients to cook without constantly having to handle the pan.
If you were to use a round-bottomed wok, you would need to constantly hold the handle so that you can adjust the heated surface accordingly.
What Kind Of Stove Do You Need For A Wok?
Technically you can use any kind of stove with your wok. However, traditionally gas stoves are preferred because they are able to get up to higher temperatures needed for cooking traditional Asian dishes.
Some cooks argue that you shouldn’t use an electric stove with your wok as it can’t get up to the heat that you need, due to the fact that only a small area of the wok is coming into direct contact with the heat.
However, if you opt for a flat bottomed wok, this will address that concern.
How Do You Season A Wok On An Electric Stove?
It is super easy to season your wok using an electric stove. Just like cast iron needs to be seasoned to get that classic non-stick surface, woks need to be treated in a similar fashion.
This will mean that you need to season your wok from time to time before you start cooking with it.
Make sure that you first thoroughly clean your wok using hot and soapy water. Next, you will need to dry it over low heat on your stovetop. Now comes the seasoning part!
There are several different ways to season a wok. Here’s a simple one.
Simply add between 2 to 3 tablespoons of your oil of choice to your wok, then allow it to evenly coat the surface of your wok by turning and tilting it. You will need to turn up the heat onto a higher setting for this to work properly.
You will need to continue heating this oil and spreading it around the wok until it starts to glaze the surface.
This will appear as a thin filmy layer on your wok. You can use a spatula to spread the oil evenly if this makes it easier, but make sure not to spill any onto your cooking surface.
Finally, allow the wok to cool down so that the layer of seasoned oil will become hardened onto your wok.
You can use any type of oil to season your wok. The best types of oil to use are ones with a high smoke point like canola oil.
What Happens If You Don’t Season A Wok?
If you don’t season your wok, the food will start to stick to the surface each time you use it to cook.
This will make it a nightmare to remove cooked food from your wok. It will also make it a nightmare to clean once you have finished cooking!
In Summary
So there you have it! You can indeed use a wok on an electric stove. Even though woks are traditionally used with gas stoves, there’s nothing to stop you using your wok on your electric stovetop.
