Reddit reviews Helen Chen's Asian Kitchen 14-inch Carbon Steel Wok Stir Fry Pan with Bamboo Handles
We found 7 Reddit comments about Helen Chen's Asian Kitchen 14-inch Carbon Steel Wok Stir Fry Pan with Bamboo Handles. Here are the top ones, ranked by their Reddit score.
Helen’s Asian Kitchen Carbon Steel Wok for stir frying, stewing, sauteing, steaming, braising, frying, and deep frying favorite Asian recipes and moreMade from 1. 8-millimeter carbon steel with 2-tone heat-resistant bamboo handle and helper handle; sturdy riveted design; hangs for easy storageCarbon steel distributes heat quickly so foods cook evenly; cooking surface collects a natural patina over time for non-stick cooking performanceFlat bottom design sits securely on any stovetop; works with gas, electric and induction; carbon steel is recyclable and bamboo is sustainableCarbon steel is easily seasoned and maintained to help prevent rust; full instructions included; lifetime against manufacturer’s defects
Your wok should be carbon steel, it should not have a non-stick coating or be pre-seasoned, it should not be too heavy, and it should look silver and shiny like this: https://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-14-inch-Carbon-Bamboo-Handles/dp/B000OFREBY
If you have the time, keep looking.
Source: I'm Chinese. I cook with a seasoned carbon steel wok.
Wok
I am overweight and I need to start cooking healthier. So I want to learn how to stir fry, that's about it. :-)
Thanks! Here's the wok pre-seasoned on amazon.
Ah...ok - you want something like a wok
This is the wok I use, it's very capable http://www.amazon.com/Kitchen-14-inch-Carbon-Bamboo-Handles/dp/B000OFREBY
I use my cast iron daily for things like pan frying anything, frying bacon, French toast, pancakes, baking bread, really versatile piece.
As Aureolin22 said, I doubt the flowerpot would tolerate very many heating and cooling cycles before it broke. Have you considered doing the same thing but lining a small charcoal grill or a cheap steel wok instead?
Serious question: Why is propane not an option? Stores won't sell propane to you, or your parents won't let you?
I ask because you might have good luck making a small propane forge using a spiral flame propane torch, a small coffee can or large soup can, and a 50/50 mix of sand and Plaster of Paris. (refractory cement would probably work as well or better than the sand/plaster mix)
There was a post here on it a short while back. It seemed interesting so I built one myself just to see how well it worked. Turns out, it works pretty good! It won't produce welding temperatures, but it gets plenty hot for forging. It worked even better after I partially closed off the mouth of the forge with three pieces of firebrick. The one I made also has a 9/16" hole drilled through the back so that I can heat round stock up to 1/2" inch diameter anywhere along its length. I have used it twice now for about 30 minutes each time and I still have only used about half of the fuel in the tank. (I started with a full tank just to see how long it would last in one of these.)
If you are interested I can take some pictures of the one I made.
If coal or charcoal is your only option and you want to stay really cheap just dig a little hole and build your fire in the hole with your air pipe poking in from the side. (assuming the powers that be at home won't lose their minds over you digging a hole and you have a yard to dig in.)
This one is the one that I have, and it is perfect. It came with seasoning directions, so just follow those and you'll be set.