Top 5 compared
The best woks
Quick, hot stir-fries at home, with room to toss the noodles and veg without them landing on the hob.
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The top 5 at a glance
A wok is a deep pan with sloping sides, which let food be pushed up out of the heat and tossed back in: that’s how a stir-fry cooks fast without stewing. Bare carbon steel is the traditional kind, taking fierce heat and building its own slick surface over time. Non-stick woks let food go easily and need less oil, and hybrids set raised steel among a non-stick coating, so metal spatulas are fine.
Every wok here works on every hob, induction included, so none needs a wok ring. Care depends on the surface: bare steel wants drying and a wipe of oil after each wash, while a coating lasts longer away from metal tools, unless its maker says otherwise. For everyday frying, see our list of frying pans.
What matters
- A diameter that suits how many you usually cook for.
- A lid, if you’d like to steam or simmer too.
- Dishwasher-safe, if hand washing a big pan is a chore.
- A handle that stays cool, or a helper handle for lifting.
#1VonShef Non-Stick Wok with Glass Lid (28cm)
£22.99 RRP
A deep 28cm wok with a marble-effect non-stick coating, a silicone handle that stays cool and a base that works on induction, and it comes with a glass lid. That makes it as handy for steaming dumplings or simmering a curry as it is for a stir-fry.
What owners say: Owners say the non-stick is still going strong after years of use, and like having a vented lid in the box.
A closer look: At 9cm deep there’s room to deep-fry a few pieces at a time, or to steam dumplings under the lid on a rack. Silicone or wooden tools are kindest to the coating. VonShef says it can go in the dishwasher, though a hand wash is quick and gentler on any non-stick.
- Cool-touch silicone handle
- Lid has a steam vent
- Room to deep-fry small batches
- Marble-effect coating
- 2-year warranty
Best for: Stir-fries and steaming
- Type
- Aluminium, non-stick
- Size
- 28cm
- Induction
- Yes
- Lid included
- Glass
- Dishwasher safe
- Yes
#2Tefal Comfort Max Stainless Steel Non-Stick Wok (28cm)
£30–£50
Polished stainless steel outside, non-stick inside and a bonded base with an aluminium core that suits every hob, induction included. Tefal, named after Teflon and aluminium when it started in 1956, adds its Thermo-Spot to show when the wok is hot enough to start cooking.
What owners say: Owners rate it for stir-frying, saying it heats quickly and evenly and comes through the dishwasher well.
A closer look: Let the Thermo-Spot change before the oil goes in, then cook in batches so the wok stays hot and the vegetables fry rather than steam. The handle has a hanging loop, so it can live on a rail by the hob, and a matching glass lid is sold separately.
- Thermo-Spot shows when it’s hot
- Stay-cool handle with hanging loop
- Aluminium-core bonded base
- Matching glass lid sold separately
Best for: Knowing when the oil can go in
- Type
- Stainless steel, non-stick
- Size
- 28cm
- Induction
- Yes
- Lid included
- No
- Dishwasher safe
- Yes
#3Blackmoor Classic Non-Stick Wok (28cm)
£10–£20
A light forged-aluminium wok with a marble-effect non-stick coating, a soft-grip handle with a hole for hanging, and a base that works on induction: an easy second pan for noodles and fried rice.
What owners say: Food slides out easily, owners report, and it’s big enough for a large stir-fry yet light to lift.
A closer look: Its soft-grip handle keeps it on the hob rather than in the oven. Wooden or silicone tools look after the coating, and a gentle hand wash once it has cooled keeps the non-stick working longer. At 28cm it cooks a stir-fry for two or three.
- Forged aluminium
- Marble-effect non-stick
- Soft-grip handle with hanging hole
- Not for the oven
Best for: A spare wok, light to lift
- Type
- Aluminium, non-stick
- Size
- 28cm
- Induction
- Yes
- Lid included
- No
- Dishwasher safe
- No
#4HexClad Hybrid Wok (30cm)
£139 RRP
A raised pattern of stainless steel hexagons over HexClad’s PFAS-free TerraBond ceramic non-stick, so metal spatulas are fine on it, on a tri-ply body with an aluminium core. A long handle and a helper handle make a full wok easier to lift.
What owners say: Owners find it heats up fast, cooks evenly and is easy to clean afterwards.
Heads up: HexClad asks for a quick seasoning before first use: a teaspoon of oil spread over the inside on medium-low heat for two to three minutes.
A closer look: Warm it through on medium heat before the food goes in, as with any steel pan, and use a little oil. The helper handle makes it easier to tip a finished stir-fry into a serving bowl. A lid is sold separately, and it goes in the dishwasher when the cooking is done.
- Raised stainless steel hexagons
- Helper handle for lifting
- PFAS-free ceramic non-stick
- Lifetime warranty on defects
Best for: Metal tools and hard use
- Type
- Steel and ceramic hybrid
- Size
- 30cm
- Induction
- Yes
- Lid included
- No
- Dishwasher safe
- Yes
#5Souped Up Recipes Carbon Steel Wok with Lid and Spatula (32cm)
£30–£50
Bare carbon steel with no non-stick coating, seasoned before it ships, with a flat base that sits on gas, electric and induction hobs alike. It takes the fierce heat a stir-fry wants, metal utensils won’t hurt it, and a wooden lid and a steel spatula come with it.
What owners say: Owners find it heats up well and cleans easily, though some say the seasoning chipped or food stuck before it settled in, and a few found the handle awkward to fit.
Heads up: Hand wash it, dry it straight away and wipe it with a little oil after each cook: bare carbon steel rusts if it’s left wet.
A closer look: Get it properly hot before the oil goes in, then cook in small batches so everything sears rather than stews. The steel darkens and turns slicker with use, so a patchy colour early on is normal, and the lid makes it handy for steaming dumplings or finishing a braise.
- Steel spatula included
- Metal utensils are fine
- No non-stick coating
- Darkens and slickens with use
- Flat base for every hob
Best for: High-heat stir-fries
- Type
- Carbon steel, pre-seasoned
- Size
- 32cm
- Induction
- Yes
- Lid included
- Wooden
- Dishwasher safe
- No
How they compare
Swipe sideways or rotate device to see all 5.
| Feature | #1VonShef | #2Tefal Comfort Max | #3Blackmoor Classic | #4HexClad Hybrid | #5Souped Up Recipes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Best overall | Best budget | Best premium | Best carbon steel | ||
| Picked Rating | 9.3 | 9.0 | 8.9 | 8.6 | 8.6 |
| Price | £22.99 RRP | £30–£50 | £10–£20 | £139 RRP | £30–£50 |
| Type | Aluminium, non-stick | Stainless steel, non-stick | Aluminium, non-stick | Steel and ceramic hybrid | Carbon steel, pre-seasoned |
| Size | 28cm | 28cm | 28cm | 30cm | 32cm |
| Induction | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Lid included | Glass | No | No | No | Wooden |
| Dishwasher safe | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | No |
| Best for | Stir-fries and steaming | Knowing when the oil can go in | A spare wok, light to lift | Metal tools and hard use | High-heat stir-fries |
| Buy now | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon | Amazon |
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