Can You Use a Wok on an Electric Stove?

At a certain point in life, people who are fond of cooking at home start thinking about the possible acquisition of a wok. This kitchen utility possesses a number of benefits, while the majority of contemporary recipes foresee that cookers will place their woks on electric stoves. But is it okay to cook with this utensil on an electric stove? Won’t it be a waste of money? The Yosukata experts receive this question quite often from the buyers. Therefore, we have decided to reply to the query and provide you with a response if you can use a wok on an electric stove. More so, we will guide you through the process of choosing a wok, seasoning it, and using a wok ring on an electric stove. Get all of your questions answered in this blog post.

We are not going to dive deep into the matter of wok’s advantages but will list the most essential ones so that you understand that it is not just trendy cookware you are going to waste your money on. Here are the main benefits:

High-speed heat treatment: Cooking has never been so fast. The versatility of dishes cooked with a wok: You will be able to prepare the absolute majority of meals according to most recipes. The quality of cooked food since a maximum of useful substances, vitamins, and useful microelements is preserved in it. Possibility to cook rare Asian dishes. Maximum ease of use. Dishes cooked in a wok are dietary since there is no need to use too much oil.

As you can see, a wok is not just a regular frying pan. The original version of this utensil dates back to ancient times. The typical feature of woks is that they have a rounded bottom and high walls that become wider to the top. Obviously, such a form of a bottom makes it impossible to fix a wok not only on an electric stove but also on a regular gas stove. Is there any solution?

Before you have completely set aside the idea of cooking with a wok on an electric stove, we would like to assure you that the modern market has a solution for contemporary stovetops. Since no one uses fire for cooking anymore, while only professional chefs and not so many home cooks can handle the round-bottom version of a wok, cookware manufacturers offer flat-bottom woks. Hence, if you would like to enjoy the benefits of cooking in a wok and do not want to refuse the convenience of an electric stove, you just need to select a wok that has a flat bottom. This type of wok allows you to cook on both electric and ceramic stoves.

It is the easiest solution to the question, however, not the only one. And we would like to provide you with the maximum amount of information so that you can select a suitable wok not only based on the kind of stove you have installed in the kitchen but also on the final results of dishes you expect to get.

While the benefits of the round form may convince you to choose this form of a wok, it is also necessary to take into account that choosing such a utensil, it will be necessary to get used to cooking in it. Preparing dishes in a wok requires constant stirring, while the maintenance of such cookware can be also tricky. It cannot be washed in a dishwasher, while an owner needs to master the art of seasoning a wok.

So, being sure that an electric stove is not a hindrance to acquiring a wok for cooking, it is worth starting with defining which kind of stove you have got.

Traditional electric stoves have been the most popular until recently. Such devices are equipped with round burners or tubular heating elements. They are distinguished by high reliability and relatively long cooking times, as well as high electricity consumption. Therefore, nowadays, these stoves are no longer popular and used. This is why we are not going to dwell on the use of a wok on this kind of stove. More so, the accessories you will need are not compatible with tubular heating elements.

In recent years, glass-ceramic stoves tend to come out on top in popularity. Special spiral or tape heating elements are used to heat food. The cooking speed is comparable to gas stoves, and the operational safety is much higher. One of the varieties of glass-ceramic stove tops is a halogen stove. Electric current passing through spiral tubes filled with halogen vapors, integrated into the surface, causes infrared radiation, which heats the dishes with food. At the same time, the temperature of the electric stove rises almost instantly and cools down just as quickly when the current is cut off. The principle of operation of induction cookers is based on heating dishes by eddy currents induced by a magnetic field. At the same time, the temperature of the burner of the electric stove does not change, but the metal body of the cookware heats up.

These are the electric stoves that are most often used in contemporary kitchens, and these are the stoves contemporary cookers use for preparing meals. So, let’s move on to the steps you need to take to be able to cook with a wok on an electric stove.

The next stage foresees the preheating of your wok. Remember that originally this cookware was used on the fire, therefore, to ensure the advantages of cooking with a wok, you need to pre-heat it. On average, it may take around 10-15 minutes to ensure the necessary temperature of the wok bottom. However, the time may vary depending on the technical features of your stove. So, wait until a wok emits smoke. Only after that should you add oil.

It is one of the types of electric stoves that are widely used nowadays. Therefore, it is logical that the owners of glass stovetops are wondering if they can buy a wok to use it. On the Internet, there is information that it is possible to acquire a ring for a round wok to install it on a glass stovetop. However, this is not recommended. The ring can be used only to place a wok when you are not cooking. You might consider getting a flat-bottomed one. However, keep in mind that it may scratch the glass surface of your stovetop.

Even though this kind of stove is no longer popular, there are still searches on the Internet related to the use of a wok on a stove with electric coils. If you are an owner of this stovetop, we recommend you to opt for a flat-bottomed wok since this cookware will be stable while cooking. The heating of the bottom and sidewalls will be even, while the food will not stick.

So, we hope we have persuaded you that seasoning is a must, however, it is not at all a complicated process. Here are the steps you need to take:

1.It is essential to carefully check the state of cookware you have received before seasoning. If there are any scratches, dents, or damages on the surface, make sure to contact the vendor immediately. You will not be able to replace it after seasoning. 2.If everything is okay, proceed to properly clean a wok. Some stores even apply a special chemical coating to the surface of woks. In this way, they ensure that the metal will not rust while woks are stored in the warehouse, as well as in the process of shipment. If you are not sure - check the manual that would be delivered together with a wok. If it is unavailable - get in touch with the vendor to receive recommendations for removing the coating. 3.After washing the wok, place it on the stove and let it dry with high heat. It is essential that you do not place the wok on the stove heating to the maximum temperature. As we have already mentioned, such a temperature difference may damage cookware. Therefore, heat the stove to about half of its maximum temperature, then place the wok. Increase the temperature gradually. 4.Wait for the black spots to appear at the bottom of the wok. Check if it has turned gunmetal grey. If yes, this means that your wok is heated enough. 5.Take it off the stove and leave it for some time to cool down. 6.Then, add some heated oil to the wok to create a non-stick coating on it. 7.After this, heat the wok again (taking into account the recommendation on gradual heating) and add 2 tablespoons of the same oil. Spread it all around the surface of the wok. Make sure you have evenly covered the whole wok from the inside. 8.Further, add some chopped ginger. You will need to stir fry it for about 15-20 minutes. Thanks to this, you will get rid of the metallic smell from the wok, while the aroma of the oil will remain. The layer that will appear on the surface of the wok, the so-called patina, will protect it from rusting in the future. 9.Remove ginger with the remaining oil from the wok and take the utensil from the stove. Leave it to cool down.

When a wok is not too hot, wash it gently with a sponge without using any detergents. Then you need to carefully examine the surface of the wok making sure that the layer of oil is even and covers the whole inside surface. It may turn out that you will need to repeat the above steps again to make sure to create a sufficient and even patina all over the wok.

As you can see, there is nothing too complicated about using and seasoning a wok if you have an electric stove. Buying this cookware from a professional vendor, you will unlikely need to know the specifics of these utensils. However, we would like to provide you with essential points you will need to take into account when purchasing a wok in an online store on your own. So, if you have an electric stove, either ceramic or glass, here are the most essential things to consider:

Nowadays, the variety of materials is really impressive. When it comes to woks, the most popular options are cast iron and carbon steel. If you are choosing cookware for an electric stove, it is recommended to select a wok manufactured of carbon steel. The main reason for this is that this material transfers the heat better and faster. Besides, it will not react severely to the change in the temperature. So, compared to cast iron woks, carbon steel is your better choice for electric stovetops. Keep in mind, however, that this material may require you to carry out the seasoning treatment more than once. This is what we have mentioned above. Proper seasoning is essential to protect the carbon steel wok from rust and to enhance its lifespan.

We have already dwelled on the matter of the shape of a wok. The market nowadays offers a wide variety of woks in terms of their shapes. In the first place, take into consideration the type of electric stove you have got. If you have a stove with coils, the use of a round-bottomed wok is impossible, while the stove with a glass top allows for the use of a flat-bottomed wok, but the latter can scratch the surface. A flat-bottomed one will scratch the surface, which should be avoided.

Well, if you have managed to read the post till this section, you are highly likely interested in acquiring a wok and are ready to properly use it. That is why we have decided to finalize the post with a few recommendations from experts on cooking with a wok:

When you cut the ingredients, make sure that they are uniformly sized pieces, in this way they will be cooked more evenly. Every time you finish cooking with your wok, season the surface with some oil. Otherwise, high heat can weaken the layer of seasoning over time, which will lead to rusting. Don't double the recipe when you need to cook for more people. An overfilled wok won't allow the ingredients to hit the hot surface directly. Therefore, the dish will not be evenly cooked. Pick cooking oils with a high smoke point. This can be grapeseed oil, for instance. While virgin olive oil, which is commonly considered a good option for cooking, has a low smoke point, hence, it burns at high temperatures and releases harmful substances. To easily reach the bottom of the wok and stir the ingredients, you will need to acquire a long-handled ladle, spatula, brush, and slotted spoon. So, you will not get a hand burnt by hot vegetables and oil. Start with cooking your hardest veggies and wait before adding softer ones. In this way, all the ingredients will be fully and evenly cooked but not overdone.

Hopefully, we have covered all of the questions you might have had in relation to using a wok on an electric stove. Yes, there are plenty of considerations to keep in mind. However, be sure that the final result will be mouth-watering for you and all the guests you are going to treat with the dishes you cook in your wok will be pleased.