Having the right stove for wok cooking is a must if you enjoy restaurant-style Chinese cuisine. But how do you find the best stove for wok cooking?
Well, there are excellent stoves on the market to make your traditional Asian food, but not all are ideal for wok cooking. In this guide, we’ve helped you narrow down the choices based on customer reviews and expert opinions.
However, before we dive into the reviews, it’s essential to understand what a stove for wok cooking is and why you need it. This way, you’ll be able to decide whether or not you need a stove for wok cooking.
What is a Stove for Wok Cooking?
The best stove for wok cooking features a burner capable of delivering stable high heat required to heat a wok. The burner heats the wok and provides it with enough heat to stir-fry all your favorite Chinese dishes.
It’s worth noting that cooking with a wok is not like cooking with a regular skillet, pan, or saucepan. A wok has a round or flat bottom and may not work better on most stoves. You will need to use the right type of stove suitable for wok cooking.
The Benefits of a Stove with a Wok Burner
A wok, especially round bottom one, when used on a regular stove burner, tends to wobble. But when you are using it on the right stovetop and wok burner, it is safer and easier to use. It has a burner that produces a high heat output required for wok cooking.
Wok cooking will require high heat cooking. Other stoves may not have burners that deliver maximum heat to the center of the wok to produce better wok hei.
How To Choose: Cooking & Stoves – Tips For Fun & Safe Outdoor Cooking
Our Picks: Best Stove for Wok Cooking
If you are on the market for the best stove burner for wok cooking, read on. We’ve come up with the top-rated models you can lay your hands on right now.
1. GS-2000 Stove For Regular Cooking (Best Overall)
The first on our list is the GAS ONE GS-2000 Stove Burner. It will get the job done – cook that lip-smacking stir-fry in a wok, exactly when you need it. Of course, it’s a no-frill product, but it’s a great compromise between price and cooking power.
It comes with two burners, and each burner offers an output of up to 8,000 BTUs. With this kind of heat, you are sure to cook any recipes without getting worried about food getting under or over-cooked. The stainless steel construction makes it rust-resistant and easy to clean.
The unit measures 5 x 11.3 x 26.7 inches and has a gas flow cut mechanism that prevents gas leaks. The stove is quite compact and weighs 10 pounds. This makes it ideal for camping, emergency preparedness, tailgating, and more.
It works well with any type of wok, round or flat-bottomed woks. It has high temperatures heat that is great for stir-fry dishes. Being on a budget-friendly side makes it affordable for most people.
Specs
- Material: Stainless steel
- Fuel Type: Liquefied Petrol Gas
- Power Source: Gas and Electric
- Dimensions: 26.7 x 11.3 x 5 inches
- Weight: 10 Pounds
Pros
- The piezo-electric ignition eliminates the need for matches
- Easy to clean and portable
- Easy to set up and takes as little as two minutes
- Great customer service
Cons
- It comes with crappy case handles
2. Iwatani 35FW Butane Stove For Wok Cooking
Make your outdoor cooking experience more memorable with this lightweight butane stove from Iwatani. The Iwatani butane stove is the most accessible stove for wok cooking, and it is portable to carry anywhere. This stove weighs just 4.4 pounds, making it perfect for camping and tailgating.
What’s impressive about this product is its ability to deliver a whopping 15 000 BTUs of cooking power. It has a very advanced heat panel and a durable burner made of brass. To load the fuel can, all you need to do is push it on the magnet.
It comes with an instruction manual to guide you on how to use it. The design features a built-in windbreaker which helps in preventing it from getting affected by wind. So you can use this stove both indoors and outdoors without worrying about strong winds blowing it away.
It is a safe stove to use since it automatically stops if there is an unusual rise in the fuel pressure. The flame extinguishes once the flow gets shut off automatically. The super high heat it produces makes it suitable for wok cooking. The built-in safety mechanism in the stove that makes it shut off when it over-heats need to get cooled before inserting back again.
Specs
- Material: Aluminum
- Fuel Type: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
- Power Source: Butane
- Dimensions: 13.3 x 11.9 x 3.7
- Weight: 4.4 Pounds
Pros
- Easy magnetic locking system
- Easy to use
- Automatic safety shut-off
- Delivers powerful 15,000 BTUs per hour output
Cons
- A bit expensive
- Easily destroyed by water
3. 2 Burner Gas Camping Triton and Propane Stove
If you need to save some space and money, this may be the best propane stove for you. The unit features two adjustable burners that are capable of delivering an output of up to 22,000 BTUs. You can set it on low, medium, or high settings depending on what you are cooking.
Forget lighters and matches. You don’t need them to ignite the Coleman Gas Camping Stove. This stove comes equipped with a push-button ignition system. You will get consistent performance regardless of the weather condition outside, thanks to the pressure regulator.
The rust-resistant aluminum cooktop and chrome-plated grate make cleaning effortless.
The windshield prevents the flame from getting blown away when it gets exposed to strong winds outside.
Specs
- Material: Steel
- Fuel Type: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
- Power Source: Propane
- Dimensions: 22.83 x 13.78 x 5.51
- Weight: 10 Pounds
Pros
- Ideal for both indoors and outdoors
- High power output
- The unit is lightweight and portable
- Comes with a matchless ignition system
Cons
- Difficult to set the burners to low
4. Coleman Portable wok Stove
If you are on a budget, it doesn’t mean you can’t get a quality portable stove. This little butane stove from Coleman is by far the most popular camping stove on Amazon. The unit is one of the best sellers on Amazon, which means the majority of buyers are satisfied with it.
At a glance, this stove might not have all the bells and whistles of high-end stoves. But it fulfills all your basic cooking needs. The burner is constructed with aluminum, and the grate is porcelain-coated to make it rust-proof and durable.
The cooktop supports up to a 10-inch pan. It delivers an output of 7650 BTUs per hour. And you can easily control heat, according to the meal you are cooking. Other features worth mentioning are the windshield to block the wind and the automatic matchless ignition. Additionally, the stove comes with a carry case which makes it easy to carry on your trip.
Specs
- Material: Synthetic
- Fuel Type: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
- Power Source: Butane
- Dimensions: 20 x 12 x 4 inches
- Weight: 4.68 Pounds
Pros
- Easy to hook up the gas cylinder
- Top-rated on Amazon
- The stove is easy to use and affordable
- It comes with a weatherproof cover
Cons
- The canister is pretty small and lasts about an hour
5. Portable Stove With Brass Burner Head
The last on our list is the Gas ONE GS-3900P Portable Stove. It comes at a slightly higher price point than the Coleman Portable Butane Stove. However, one of the reasons could be that it is compatible with both propane and butane. Note that both the propane and butane cylinders are not included. But is it the best stove for wok cooking?
This gas stove has everything you need to make delicious stir-fries outdoors, including a windshield and a matchless piezo-electric ignition. Additionally, it features a 15,000-BTU burner and a built-in pressure sensor. It will automatically shut off when it detects an irregular gas flow.
When you are done cooking, you can simply put it inside the carrying case for transport or storage.
Specs
- Material: Aluminum
- Fuel Type: Liquefied Petroleum Gas
- Power Source: Gas and Electric
- Dimensions: 13 x 10 x 4 inches
- Weight: 6.38 ounces
Pros
- Sturdy quality
- Users on Amazon highly recommended it
- Easy to clean up after cooking
- Lightweight, compact, and portable
Cons
- The regular valve could have been made of metal instead of the cheap plastic
How To Buy the Best Performing And Safe Stove for wok Cooking?
Stove buying can be both fun and challenging, depending on which one you intend to purchase. There several features that one needs to look at to get the best out of your cooking. Consider these points before buying a stove for cooking.
The BTU/hr Rating
For wok cooking, the BTU ratings are essential. It gives you an idea of the maximum amount of heat it could possibly deliver. Cooking in a wok requires high heat, especially for stir-fry. Stove burners can deliver as low as 3,000 BTU per hour. Some models will put out as high as 250,000 BTU per hour.
The problem with having a burner with less heat is that you will have to either cook in bits. Choose a stove with burners that have the BTU ratings that meet your requirements for the best results of the wok hei needed.
Fuel source
There are at least three types of fuel sources for wok burners, namely butane, propane and liquefied fuel. Propane wok burners are more popular than other fuel sources because they burn clean and are easy to ignite. Additionally, propane is cheaper and more accessible compared to butane and liquid fuel.
Size of the Stove
The size of the stove you choose will determine the dimensions of the wok you use on it. Different sizes will be able to support various sizes of cooking woks as well. Woks are either in small or large sizes. So you have to keep this in mind when buying a stove for wok cooking.
Check the Construction Material
The construction material is the number one factor that you need to consider when choosing a stove. It determines its durability. Most stoves are made of stainless steel and aluminum. You may also come across some that are synthetic.
Stainless steel stoves can be easier to clean and more corrosion resistant than aluminum. But if you are on a budget, aluminum, and synthetic stoves will be more cost-effective options.
Safety
Some stoves will come with safety mechanisms installed on them. If you want to enjoy stir-frying your foods outdoors, then getting one with windshield properties is something you need to consider. Having an in-built windshield will help protect the stove and the wok from flying away during strong winds. It also covers everything from the harsh weather elements, no matter the climate.
Fuel type
Fuel type is limited to three options, and these include; gas, electricity, and both (gas and electricity). Gas stoves are better for cooking foods in a wok since they produce a lot of heat compared to electricity.
To get even cooking, you will need to either get a gas stove or dual. Gas also comes in a variety of options – LPG or natural gas. Fuel can get expensive sometimes, and it is best to choose which best fits your needs appropriately. You may also get stoves that are compatible with both butane and propane.
Budget
Stoves can be budget-friendly or expensive depending on many factors. When on the market, going with a budget in mind can save you from overspending. As the old adage goes, you get what you pay for. Quality determines the price. But you need to be careful because this notion is not always true. Sometimes expensive may not guarantee quality.
The stove you choose should be one that gives you the best bang for your buck. How much you need to spend on a good stove is a personal preference. Your budget should include a lot of things from purchase to maintenance and repairs.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is BTU?
British Thermal Units, commonly referred to as BTUs, are a determinant to measure the power of a burner. How much gas it uses and how much energy it produces.
What Type Of Heat Is Great For Wok Cooking?
Wok cooking requires high heat to have a well even cooked food. The stove you choose to use should maintain the necessary amount of heat throughout the cooking process. Hot temperatures ear food well, and you end up with restaurant-styled food.
Conclusion
After a deep search, we found the best stove for wok cooking. As you’ve seen, the choices are nearly infinite. On the surface, it feels like they all do the same thing, but nothing could be further from the truth. We hope this guide has provided you with a better grasp of which stove for wok cooking you should be looking to buy.
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