One of the most indispensable cooking items in Asian kitchens is a flat-bottom carbon steel wok.
If you're an Asian-dish enthusiast who wants to take your cooking skills to the next level, don't miss out on the list below. Here are the six best flat-bottom carbon-steel wok options tested by our experts:
Here are the best flat bottom carbon steel woks you can buy in 2024:
- Best For Even Heat Distribution: Bielmeier Wok Pan 13”
- Best For Braising: Yosukata Carbon Steel Wok
- Best For Sautéing: Helen's Asian Kitchen Flat Bottom Wok
- Best For Fast Heat Transfer: KYTD Carbon Steel Wok
- Best For High Heat: BK Black Steel Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok
- Best For Small Families: ZOOMBO Woks and Stir-fry Pans by POVOS
| 6 Best Flat Bottom Carbon Steel Woks | ||
|---|---|---|
Best For Even Heat Distribution | Bielmeier Wok Pan 13” | |
Best For Braising | Yosukata Carbon Steel Wok | |
Best For Sautéing | Helen's Asian Kitchen Flat Bottom Wok | |
Best For Fast Heat Transfer | KYTD Carbon Steel Wok | |
Best For High Heat | BK Black Steel Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok | |
Best For Small Families | ZOOMBO Woks and Stir-fry Pans by POVOS | |
Best For Even Heat Distribution: Bielmeier Wok Pan 13”
- Fast and even heat distribution
- Durable & rust-resistant - nitriding craftsmanship
- Great value – including many practical accessories and a 12-month warranty
- Very heavy
- The wooden lid needs improvement
The Bielmeier 13" was our favorite carbon steel wok thanks to its even heat distribution. If you're a Chinese authentic stir-frying enthusiast, you will know this cooking technique requires a very hot pan and this wok can give you that.
It heats up super-fast and works especially well for high heat.
You are worried-free about damaging any chemical coating or PFOA leaching into your food because it's not a non-stick pan.
It is made with nitriding craftsmanship to be more durable, rust-resistant, and will become more non-stick during proper care and cooking process.
The price is good, especially when it includes a pair of gloves, a Loofa pot brush, a pair of cooking chopsticks, a wok spatula, a wooden lid, and a 12-month warranty.
| Bielmeier Wok Pan 13” Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 5 pounds |
Size | 12.5 Inches |
Depth | 3.75 inches |
Highlight Features | nitriding craftsmanship including many practical accessories and a 12-month warranty |
Along with included practical accessories, the even heat distribution makes the Bielmeier Wok Pan 13
Best For Braising: Yosukata Carbon Steel Wok
- Perfect for various Asian cooking styles, including braising – featuring 13.5
- The wok has a sharp edge
If you want to get the most from your Chinese carbon steel wok, then the Yosukata might be what you're after.
Its 13.5" diameter and 3.8" depth are suited to many Asian cooking styles, including authentic Chinese stir-frying, deep-frying, pan-frying, and braising. The size, on the other hand, won't take up much space in your kitchen cabinet when not in use.
At only 3.6 pounds, the wok is very easy to hold, flip, or lift by one hand, which comes in handy for female cooks.
| Yosukata Carbon Steel Wok Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 3.6 Lbs. |
Size | 13,5” |
Depth | 3.8” |
Highlight Features | featuring 13.5" diameter and 3.8" depth 3.6 pounds of weight |
The Yosukata Carbon Steel Wok could be your ideal choice if you want a versatile flat-bottom carbon steel wok that’s not only ideal for stir-frying or deep-drying but also for braising.
Best For Sautéing: Helen's Asian Kitchen Flat Bottom Wok
- Ideal for sautéing & many other cooking styles – 4” depth & a high-domed lid
- Sturdy – a heat-resistant bamboo handle with riveted design
- Easy to hang
- A bit shaky on a flat surface
- Wish the directions were clearer
While most flat-bottom carbon steel woks come with a flat lid, this product includes a high-domed lid. And, during our testing, this often-underestimated feature turned out to be key making it a perfect choice for sautéing (especially sautéing vegetables).
The wok itself is very sturdy and durable for its price.
The bamboo handle doesn't heat up while cooking and the 1.6mm carbon steel feels expensive. It also comes with a spatula and recipes, which bangs for the buck.
One small bonus is the metal hook at the end of the handle, which is easy to hang to store.
| Helen's Asian Kitchen Flat Bottom Wok Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 4.89 pounds |
Size | 13.5 Inches |
Depth | 4 inches |
Highlight Features | 4” depth & a high-domed lid a heat-resistant bamboo handle with riveted design |
The extra depth, high-grade carbon steel material, and high-domed lid allow the Helen's Asian Kitchen Flat Bottom Wok to be perfect for sautéing.
Best For Fast Heat Transfer: KYTD Carbon Steel Wok
- Extremely strong & fast heat transfers – the 7.39-pound weight & high-grade carbon steel
- Reliable - a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty
- Easy to check the cooking status - the included glass lid
- Very heavy & a bit hard to maneuver for people with wrist issues
This is not a regular flat-bottom steel wok.
The KYTD Carbon Steel Wok boasts a heavy 7.39-pound body made of high-grade carbon steel that is claimed to not only deliver superior fast heat transfer to the competition but also last a lifetime.
To consolidate their statement, KYTD offers this line a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty, which really convinced us.
We also liked the included glass lid, which gives a heavy hand-feel and is easy to check the cooking status.
| KYTD Carbon Steel Wok Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 7.39 pounds |
Size | 12.5 Inches |
Depth | 4.3 inches |
Highlight Features | the 7.39-pound weight & high-grade carbon steel a 30-day 100% money-back guarantee and a lifetime warranty the included glass lid |
For a heavy-hand-feel flat-bottom carbon-steel wok that delivers decently fast heat transfer, we are stunned by how much we enjoy the KYTD Carbon Steel Wok
Best For High Heat: BK Black Steel Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok
- Able to bear 600+ degrees F - pre-seasoned carbon steel material
- User-friendly - thin silicone wax coating
- Not dishwasher-friendly
Made of pre-seasoned carbon steel, the BK Black Steel Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok works like a champ on high heat up to 600 degrees F and can be used for grilling on an open flame - something that traditional carbon steel woks hardly do.
It's also proven to be able to resist stain and corrosion as good as aluminum, but 3x denser to last longer.
For non-experienced users, this wok comes in handy because after a quick wash with dish soap, it is ready to use, thanks to the thin silicone wax coating.
| BK Black Steel Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 4.24 pounds |
Size | 12" |
Depth | 2" |
Highlight Features | pre-seasoned carbon steel material thin silicone wax coating |
For those who are looking for a flat bottom carbon steel wok for high heat, you will rejoice when discovering the BK Black Steel Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok
Best For Small Families: ZOOMBO Woks and Stir-fry Pans by POVOS
- Ideal for small families – 11” size
- Rust-free, scratch-resistant, & wear-resistant - the pre-seasoned carbon steel material using aviation technology
- Dishwasher-safe – the detachable handle
- Not including a lid or any accessories
- Wish there were English instructions
Small families of 3 people or under will really love this wok. It features 11" size, 3.54" depth, and 4 pounds of weight, which is compact, easy to control, and versatile enough for different authentic Asian dishes.
It's also durable, rust-free, and wear-resistant thanks to the pre-seasoned carbon steel material using aviation technology.
Particularly, the scratch-resistant inner surface allows for using a stainless steel ball or metal spatula to clean with no issues.
The wok is also dishwasher-safe due to its detachable handle.
| ZOOMBO Woks and Stir-fry Pans by POVOS Specifications | |
|---|---|
Weight | 4 pounds |
Size | 11 inches |
Depth | 3.54 inches |
Highlight Features | 11” size the pre-seasoned carbon steel material using aviation technology the detachable handle |
The ZOOMBO Woks and Stir-fry Pans by POVOS features a modest size of 11”, which is small enough for three eaters, so maybe a small family will like it.
How To Choose The Best Flat Bottom Carbon Steel Wok?
Depth & Size
Depth
With flat-bottom carbon steel wok, depth is one of the most important elements that you should consider before purchasing.
If it’s too shallow, you won’t have much workable surface area. You will also find it hard to move the foods up or toss them. However, a too-deep wok only retains heat in the bottom, with inadequate heat transferred to the sides.
From our experience, you should opt for a flat-bottom carbon-steel wok at least 5” deep.
Size, or diameter
The size of a flat-bottom wok is considered relative to functionality.
For example, most stainless steel wok models used in restaurants are 6’ wide but will become extremely bulky for home use.
A 14” in diameter of wok is the most popular size as they provide adequate cooking surface areas for one or a family whereas are compact enough for storage.
Weight & Thickness
The thicker the wok material, the better the heat distribution and the longer the lifespan.
However, a thicker wok is equivalent to a heavier weight – which might cause some difficulties in transport, for people with weak wrists, or for cooking techniques that require much tossing or taking on/off the stove.
You, therefore, should choose flat-bottom carbon steel that has a balance of weight and thickness.
Bonus: A 1.5mm to 2mm thick wok is considered high-quality.
Handle
This often-underestimated feature is an influencing feature on how your hands are protected from high heat during cooking and how easily you can flip, toss, or move the foods up.
Opt for a wok with a handle made of heat-resistant material and covered with good grips to prevent slippage. About the handle length, consider your needs and preference. A short handle of a wok might be compact but will make maneuvering a bit tricky.
A longer model is easy for you to toss foods whilst keeping your hand away from heat. However, it is bulky.
Which Brands Make The Best Flat Bottom Carbon Steel Wok?
Yosukata
Founded by well-known Asian culinary experts, Yosukata's wok and professional skillets surpass any strict international standards for cleanliness, performance, and comfort.
Helen’s Asian Kitchen
As the name implies, the brand was founded by Helen, or Helen Chen - who is a widely acknowledged expert in Chinese cooking. She is also a cookbook author and an educator at Boston University.
BK
Speaking of cookware in general, BK is a widely known brand name. They are the Royal Founder of the Dutch oven and were granted a predicate Royal in 1951 by Queen Juliana.
FAQs
Are flat bottomed woks any good?
Flat bottomed woks are efficient and versatile to work on electric or gas stoves. However, it won’t stir-fry food as evenly as the rounded sides.
Is carbon steel better than stainless steel?
Carbon steel is stronger and more durable than stainless steel. In turn, it is less ductile and prone to rust and corrodes when even exposed to small amounts of moisture.
Should I cook acidic ingredients in carbon steel?
No, you shouldn’t. Carbon steel is made of 99% iron, which is reactive to acid ingredients while cooking and this will strip away the seasoning on them. A better choice for cooking acid ingredients is stainless steel.
How do you maintain a carbon steel wok?
To know how to maintain a carbon steel wok, please watch this tutorial video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jDWiBuTFVIY
How do you clean the bottom of a wok?
To clean the bottom of a wok, you should use hot water to gently scrub the interior using a wok brush or a regular kitchen sponge. never use metal scrubbers, harsh cleaners, or soap.
Conclusion
There are several things to consider when you select the best flat bottom carbon steel wok, and with an avalanche of models available on the market, it is hard to know how to begin.
Fortunately, there are some excellent options out there. Once you determine your needs and budget, follow this guide. Hope that it helped you in your decision-making. Thanks for reading!
