Lodge BOLD 14 Inch Seasoned Cast Iron Wok; Design-Forward Cookware

I had a stainless wok forever, but if you know about wok cooking you know why that was a bad choice. I absolutely did not want a non-stick wok for the obvious reasons. I read endlessly about woks, watched seasoning videos, bought Grace Young's book (she recommends a carbon steel wok and didn't seem to like American cast iron), but it just seemed that this particular Lodge cast iron wok has it all so this is what I decided to get. I had seen it in a local shop and once I'd looked at it, I kept coming back to it as a possibility. It has the traditional rounded bottom inside, which I've found I really like, but there is a square flat platform on the bottom side so you do NOT need a wok ring. It sits quite nicely on my gas burners and would work equally well on electric coils or a flat top stove. On high, it gets to the right heat in about 10 minutes, and once it is hot, it stays nice and hot, just as it's supposed to. The Lodge wok is beautiful and comes pre-seasoned, which I consider a great feature. When considering a new carbon steel wok, I frankly did not relish the task of getting a thick layer of seasoning on it (over time, too). Taking care of this cast iron wok is extremely simple and no trouble at all. It will become increasingly seasoned as you use it over time, but unlike a new carbon steel wok, this one is ready to go out of the box and you build it up from there. Surprisingly, when you turn off the heat, it seems to cool down for cleaning a lot faster than many reviewers implied. Cleaning is a snap: When it's cool, put it in the sink and add water, use a firm brush to scrub bits out, use a paper towel and water to clean as well (no soap, though!!), then dry it well, put on the heat for a few minutes to thoroughly dry it, then wipe some oil inside the bowl, and you're done. It simply is NO trouble at all, and I want to emphasize that because the whole wok care thing worried me before I got one. I think I read that this weighs 14 pounds. Big deal...this weight makes it nice and solid on the burner, and as a previous reviewer said, you can use two hands/two spatulas if you want to mix the food around with no worry of the wok turning over or moving around and I like not having to to hold onto a handle as you would with the light weight carbon steel woks. If I want to hold one of the handles for any reason, I put on an oven mitt, but I'm finding I don't need to hold any handles at all except when putting it on the stove or moving it to the sink to clean, and in both those instances the wok would be cold. No big deal! A reviewer a couple of reviews before this one made some excellent points so I won't repeat what he said, I'll just say I agree completely. This wok will last forever and Amazon's price is fantastic....it was almost double Amazon's price at my local kitchen shop, PLUS tax on top of that! So this is an amazing buy, and with Amazon prime it arrived in just a couple of days.

AMAZING Tool. Period. Finally a wok that the average person can get HOT enough to actually really stir fry. I find this works best with a gas range (why cook on anything but the best, eh?)....but should work well with electric too. Not shown clearly in the pics, on while the inside of the wok from the top is perfectly round like it should be, on the bottom is a nice sized large round metal pedestal disk at the bottom. This is the key to this wonderful wok. This allows the wok to stand upright on its own on the stove top or even a properly equipped grill. No ring required. This large chunk of iron also holds the heat at a long high temperature for you to be able to properly stir fry evenly and properly. I sit mine on my largest gas burner on my stove top. I turn it on high and let it heat for about 12 minutes. As you know to stir fry, the key is to have all your ingredients cut, prepped and ready to go and close at hand...I put everything in its own bowl, and line them up according to which goes in first to last. I mix my sauce up in a measuring cup for the end. When 12 min is up, I pour in my peanut oil (make sure whatever you use has a high smoke point)...it only takes about 5-6 seconds to heat the oil and then I start adding my ingredients and start cooking. This will hold heat long enough to cook a VERY full wok, even with tons of veggies like I like to do....and at the end, still enough heat so when you throw in your sauce and toss to combine, it still is cooking. The only drawback of this, is it is rather heavy. But it needs this to perform well. I have purchased these for myself, and as gifts to my parents in their early 70's. My Mom is certainly no weightlifter, but she can handle this on her own. But be aware this is heavy and hot when you cook with it. I've now had 2-3 friends buy these when they saw mine...it is great. On last thing...I recently have seen grill tops for gas and even the weber kettle charcoal grills. It has a round cut out in the center, and I can imagine this wok would work GREAT in those. I'm gonna try this on my Dad's new Weber gas grill soon. I can't recommend this enough. I've tried wok, after wok after wok, and none could hold the heat on a consumer stovetop like this can.

I have been using this cast iron wok for a few years now and I am very impressed with its quality and performance. It is seasoned and ready to use right out of the box, and it has a large cooking surface that can handle anything from stir-frying to deep-frying. It heats up quickly and evenly, and retains heat well for consistent results. The handles are sturdy and comfortable, and make it easy to lift and maneuver the wok. The wok is also oven-safe and can be used on various heat sources, including induction, gas, electric, and even fire. It is perfect for making dishes like fried rice, noodles, curries, soups, and more. One of the best features of this wok is that it is naturally nonstick, thanks to the vegetable oil seasoning that creates a smooth and shiny surface. The more I use it, the better it gets. It is very easy to clean and maintain, as I just need to hand wash it with warm water and a soft brush, dry it thoroughly, and rub some oil on it to preserve the finish. I do not need to worry about rusting, chipping, or peeling, as this wok is made to last for generations. This cast iron wok is not only a great cookware, but also a beautiful piece of design. It has a sleek and modern look, with a black matte finish and a bold logo on the bottom. It adds a touch of elegance and style to my kitchen, and I love displaying it on my stove or hanging it on my wall. It is also a great gift idea for anyone who loves cooking and appreciates quality craftsmanship. I highly recommend this cast iron wok to anyone who is looking for a versatile and durable wok that can handle any cooking challenge. It is worth every penny, and I am very happy with my purchase. This is the best wok I have ever owned, and I can’t wait to try more recipes with it.

Sometimes you buy something where you wonder, 'why did I not get one of these sooner' This is the third Wok I have owned(in 40 years of cooking), that last two being pretty decent non-stick coated types. When the last one started to lose it's non-stick properties after about 16 years (yes...quite impressive) I had a look online and noticed that if you get a very good cast iron wok and treat it well, then you can basically buy a heirloom WOK that will last for a lifetime, regardless of how much it is used. This LODGE cast iron WOK is one of those lifetime purchases! I have cooked Chile, many stir fry dishes, curries, even special fried rice, and NONE have stuck to this wok. The one tip I would give is to get a very rigid 'stirring stick' to make sure you remove as much food as it starts to stick without giving it a chance to glue itself. The quality of this wok gives a decent margin of error to minimise the chances of this happening. Do not expect miracles if you leave it for any more that 30 seconds if the ingredients are dry. The point is, you do not have to worry about damage caused by the possible rigorous stirring and scraping as it is made of cast iron, and not non-stick coating that has been getting a bad reputation in the last few years. There was some sticking of sauces, higher up the sides, but simply rinsing it or soaking depending on the dish, and this wok continues to impress. I have wiped it with vegetable oil after every use, and it amazes me every time how all the sticking just disappears whilst cooking, as long as there is moisture either coming out of the veggies or the meat. If it starts sticking, just look to add some moisture or oil, it is as simple as that. A class act that is getting more used the longer I cook with it. OUTSTANDING!

Heavy weight so heat distributed equally. Good quality. One time investment for those who looking for a great wok

Works great on induction as the flat bottom provided a firm and stable base. It also heats up quite fast with induction. Only thing is it's too heavy to do hand toss

compra 100% acertada, el wok es perfecto, tiene capacidad suficiente para poder saltear la comida. Hay que secarlo siempre después de lavarlo tal como dice en el libro de cuidados para evitar el óxido. El wok es grande, robusto y pesado. Lo aconsejo sin lugar a dudas porque la verdad es que una vez que lo tienes solo te apetece cocinar en el todo el tiempo, y es que da muchísimo juego. Hay muchos más? Sí, pero como este de Lodge; ninguno!!!

Firstly,.. the Lodge cast iron is much better quality made than the off shore produced cast iron. Perfectly pre-seasoned. Sits perfectly flat. Used it on many dishes. This wok is amazing! Totally non-stick! For other reviews that say food sticks,.they don't know how to use a cast iron wok. It's quite simple, hot wok, hot oil before anything goes in (and yes, you do need some oil. For those who want to cook with no oil at all, stay with non stick coated cookware which have chemical coated composition that eventually winds up transferring to your food) Using a cast iron wok is the healthiest way to cook! This wok is also much easier to use than carbon steel which require a bit more attention when cooking. For pro and beginners alike. Glad I settled on a USA made wok. (China made cast iron lacks quality) One other thing, this is a wok that (obviously) you don't pick up and toss like with carbon steel woks. Put it on the element, put it on high heat and remember,... hot wok, then oil poured from around the top and pools at the bottom to heat,..when oil is hot,..then add ingredients and stir! You won't regret buying this wok. BTW, it gets 5 stars for all but "light weight" which obviously does not apply because cast iron is not intended to be light weight. Happy woking!