Tips & Tricks What Size Wok Do I Need? By: Lodge Cast Iron / March 9, 2022 We make cast iron woks in 4 different sizes, and determining what size wok is right for you can be tricky. This guide will help you decide based on what you like to cook and how many people you need to feed. E-mail this page Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Twitter Print this page Why have a cast iron wok? Cast iron woks are perfect for making favorites like stir-fries or noodles. Their deep sidewalls and excellent heat retention make them a versatile tool for cooking a wide range of dishes. The heat retention of cast iron provides the right environment for preparing fried rice, which requires you to keep the rice hot throughout the entire cooking process. Woks also provide plenty of space for frying meats and veggies. The sloped sidewalls help you gently add food and will catch any splattering oil. We’ll use our wok to make scrambled eggs, fajitas, and we’ve even prepared our Thanksgiving turkey in one. What tips should I know before using my wok? Prep your ingredients. Wok recipes often call for high-temperature cooking and short cook times. You’ll want to prep your ingredients ahead of time to avoid chopping and measuring while in the middle of cooking. Err on the side of a larger wok. If you have room, go for a larger wok. It’s much easier to make a small batch of food in a big wok than to make a big batch of food in a wok that’s too small. Overfilling your wok will lead to steaming, not searing. If you’ll be using your wok to prepare stir-fry or fried rice, you’ll need plenty of room to keep your food moving as it cooks. Preheat your wok. It’s important to get your wok hot before you start adding food. On gas cooktops, ambient heat travels up the sides of the wok. If you have an electric range, you can use a burner larger than the base of the wok to provide extra heat for the sidewalls. If you have an induction cooktop, we recommend preheating at a lower temperature to give all of the cast iron time to get to your desired temperature. After you’ve given your wok time to heat up, you can bump the temperature up. You can also preheat your wok in the oven at 500° F for 10-15 minutes—just be careful as you move it back to your stovetop. Use the right oil. Choose a neutral oil with a high smoke point. We like to use canola, avocado and grapeseed oil. The goal is to cook your food in a high-heat environment, not to burn your oil. Try cooking with your wok on the grill. Woks are useful for outdoor cooking, too. Impress your friends and family at your next cookout by whipping up some stir-fry on the grill. What size wok do I need? 6.25 Inch Cast Iron Mini Wok The 6.25 inch wok is ideal for preparing single servings or plating dishes. Cast iron is great for serving because it keeps your food warm from the kitchen to the table. This size is also nice for small desserts, such as cobbler, brownies, s’mores dip, or bread pudding. 1 person Individual desserts Plating or presentation 9 Inch Cast Iron Mini Wok The 9 inch wok works well for feeding one to two people or preparing side dishes. This size is nice for couples or people who live alone. It’s also our go-to for scrambled eggs and omelets. 2-3 people Omelet Scrambled eggs Sides Plating/presentation 12.5 Inch Chef Collection Wok The 12.5 inch wok is large enough to prepare dishes for two to four people, making it good choice for weeknight dinners or small gatherings. Veggies Dan Dan Noodles Curry Fajitas Fried Rice 14 Inch Cast Iron Wok The 14 inch wok can do almost anything. It’s large enough to cook for 4-6 people, so it can accommodate family dinners and large get-togethers. This size is also compatible with the 15 inch lid, which is helpful for steaming veggies and dumplings or even making popcorn. Stir-fries Fried rice Veggies Dan Dan Noodles Curry Fajitas Popcorn Turkey Try one of these recipes in your wok this week. Stir-Fried Duck with Green Onions Duck provides a rich flavor that continues to stand out with bold ingredients, like garlic, chili sauce, and ginger. Stir-Fried Pork with Peanut Ramen Noodles Warm, comforting, and ready in just over thirty minutes, this is a great recipe to add to your weeknight menu. Crispy Tofu and Charred Asparagus Stir-Fry The dish is textured with crispy tofu and charred asparagus—the perfect vessels for the gingery, garlicky sauce that finishes off the cooking process. Bacon Fried Rice The key to really good fried rice is stale rice that no longer sticks together... Vegetable Stir Fry You'll never guess the secret ingredient in this stir fry... Mee Goreng Stir Fried Noodles Looking to clean out your fridge? This stir fried noodle recipe is a winner. Beef & Broccoli For this recipe, you can use an inexpensive cut of meat from the bottom of a cow such as flap , flank, or skirt steak. Citrus Pork With Charred Brussels Sprouts Ready to add a new go-to recipe to your repertoire? Contributed By: Lodge Cast Iron We hope you enjoy our stories and recipes! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and tag your Instagram food photos with #lodgecastiron for a chance to be featured on our feed! Get $10 off any $50+ order!* While you're shopping, become a Pan Fan today and sign up for our newsletter! *Coupon code will be sent to your email after you sign up for our newsletter! New sign ups only. Sign Up By submitting your information, you are agreeing to Lodge Cast Iron’s Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Please try again.
Tips & Tricks What Size Wok Do I Need? By: Lodge Cast Iron / March 9, 2022 We make cast iron woks in 4 different sizes, and determining what size wok is right for you can be tricky. This guide will help you decide based on what you like to cook and how many people you need to feed. E-mail this page Share on Facebook Share on Pinterest Share on Twitter Print this page Why have a cast iron wok? Cast iron woks are perfect for making favorites like stir-fries or noodles. Their deep sidewalls and excellent heat retention make them a versatile tool for cooking a wide range of dishes. The heat retention of cast iron provides the right environment for preparing fried rice, which requires you to keep the rice hot throughout the entire cooking process. Woks also provide plenty of space for frying meats and veggies. The sloped sidewalls help you gently add food and will catch any splattering oil. We’ll use our wok to make scrambled eggs, fajitas, and we’ve even prepared our Thanksgiving turkey in one. What tips should I know before using my wok? Prep your ingredients. Wok recipes often call for high-temperature cooking and short cook times. You’ll want to prep your ingredients ahead of time to avoid chopping and measuring while in the middle of cooking. Err on the side of a larger wok. If you have room, go for a larger wok. It’s much easier to make a small batch of food in a big wok than to make a big batch of food in a wok that’s too small. Overfilling your wok will lead to steaming, not searing. If you’ll be using your wok to prepare stir-fry or fried rice, you’ll need plenty of room to keep your food moving as it cooks. Preheat your wok. It’s important to get your wok hot before you start adding food. On gas cooktops, ambient heat travels up the sides of the wok. If you have an electric range, you can use a burner larger than the base of the wok to provide extra heat for the sidewalls. If you have an induction cooktop, we recommend preheating at a lower temperature to give all of the cast iron time to get to your desired temperature. After you’ve given your wok time to heat up, you can bump the temperature up. You can also preheat your wok in the oven at 500° F for 10-15 minutes—just be careful as you move it back to your stovetop. Use the right oil. Choose a neutral oil with a high smoke point. We like to use canola, avocado and grapeseed oil. The goal is to cook your food in a high-heat environment, not to burn your oil. Try cooking with your wok on the grill. Woks are useful for outdoor cooking, too. Impress your friends and family at your next cookout by whipping up some stir-fry on the grill. What size wok do I need? 6.25 Inch Cast Iron Mini Wok The 6.25 inch wok is ideal for preparing single servings or plating dishes. Cast iron is great for serving because it keeps your food warm from the kitchen to the table. This size is also nice for small desserts, such as cobbler, brownies, s’mores dip, or bread pudding. 1 person Individual desserts Plating or presentation 9 Inch Cast Iron Mini Wok The 9 inch wok works well for feeding one to two people or preparing side dishes. This size is nice for couples or people who live alone. It’s also our go-to for scrambled eggs and omelets. 2-3 people Omelet Scrambled eggs Sides Plating/presentation 12.5 Inch Chef Collection Wok The 12.5 inch wok is large enough to prepare dishes for two to four people, making it good choice for weeknight dinners or small gatherings. Veggies Dan Dan Noodles Curry Fajitas Fried Rice 14 Inch Cast Iron Wok The 14 inch wok can do almost anything. It’s large enough to cook for 4-6 people, so it can accommodate family dinners and large get-togethers. This size is also compatible with the 15 inch lid, which is helpful for steaming veggies and dumplings or even making popcorn. Stir-fries Fried rice Veggies Dan Dan Noodles Curry Fajitas Popcorn Turkey Try one of these recipes in your wok this week. Stir-Fried Duck with Green Onions Duck provides a rich flavor that continues to stand out with bold ingredients, like garlic, chili sauce, and ginger. Stir-Fried Pork with Peanut Ramen Noodles Warm, comforting, and ready in just over thirty minutes, this is a great recipe to add to your weeknight menu. Crispy Tofu and Charred Asparagus Stir-Fry The dish is textured with crispy tofu and charred asparagus—the perfect vessels for the gingery, garlicky sauce that finishes off the cooking process. Bacon Fried Rice The key to really good fried rice is stale rice that no longer sticks together... Vegetable Stir Fry You'll never guess the secret ingredient in this stir fry... Mee Goreng Stir Fried Noodles Looking to clean out your fridge? This stir fried noodle recipe is a winner. Beef & Broccoli For this recipe, you can use an inexpensive cut of meat from the bottom of a cow such as flap , flank, or skirt steak. Citrus Pork With Charred Brussels Sprouts Ready to add a new go-to recipe to your repertoire? Contributed By: Lodge Cast Iron We hope you enjoy our stories and recipes! Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter, and tag your Instagram food photos with #lodgecastiron for a chance to be featured on our feed!
