Joyce Chen Carbon Steel Wok Review

The unique smokiness, or wok hei, that greets your tastebuds when you eat dry-fried green beans or stir-fried lo mein can only be achieved by cooking with a carbon steel wok at very, very, high heat. After testing 11 models, the Joyce Chen wok was the only one to cleanly release fried eggs. Its wide bottom, tall sides, and conductive material make it ideal for tossing food and promoting flavor. Already affordable, it’s now on sale for even cheaper at $33.

Why It Won Our Review

It’s Very Nonstick

The wok doesn’t come pre-seasoned, but that didn’t deter us. It was painless to scrub and season—the wok took on a nonstick patina instantly. Despite being our budget pick, it’s one of the slickest woks we tested. We could smoothly stir fried rice around its cooking surface with a metal spatula (just one of many fun wok accessories).

Its Large Bowl Heats Quickly

In our tests, the Joyce Chen wok boiled water in just eight minutes and 50 seconds, the second fastest in our lineup. Its spacious interior provided plenty of room for tossing bulky heads of bok choy. According to our review, a good wok should produce thoroughly cooked foods that still maintain a “vibrant and fresh” quality. This wok accomplishes that by making it easy to move ingredients through different zones of heat to avoid overcooking delicate vegetables.

It’s Easy to Use and Clean

We especially appreciate the wok’s wooden handle and opposite helper handle, which make it easy to maneuver the pan without fear of singeing your fingertips. Once seasoned, the slick surface is a cinch to clean. While it’s a tad heavier than our top picks at three pounds and four ounces, we found its value for money to be impressive, especially now that it’s on sale.

Why We Recommend It

Joyce Chen Carbon Steel Wok

As we mentioned earlier, this was the only wok that successfully released fried eggs without any sticking or tearing—an admirable feat. Its wooden handles are a boon for keeping hands comfortable while cooking, and its capacious bowl churns out flavorful fried rice and stir-fried vegetables. Grab it while it’s only $33 at Amazon.

Explore More Serious-Eats Approved Cookware

Yosukata Carbon Steel Wok Pan

OXO Enhanced 8-Inch Frying Pan

Lodge 12-Inch Cast Iron Skillet With Dual Assist Handles

Tramontina 12-Inch Tri-Ply Clad Stainless Steel Skillet

Why We’re the Experts

• An Uong is a writer for Serious Eats.
• An has been testing kitchen gear for Serious Eats for over two years.
• A stir-fry enthusiast, she prides herself on her homemade pad Thai.