Bests & Worsts Reviews from Amazon

I purchased a Presto stainless steel wok to get away from coated surfaces. Overall, the product was a pleasant surprise. First, a warning to those who are leaving older, coated, electric woks; the temperature control on this wok is very quick to respond after preheating. It's almost as quick to heat and cool as a steel wok on a gas stove. Very impressive! If you were used to preheating your teflon wok to 375 degrees for stir-frying, you probably noticed that after you began adding ingredients, the temperature declined and never returned fully to the desired temp. The Presto wok hits the temperature you set and stays there. The company recommends some lower temperatures for such things as seafood and vegetables. Take them seriously. Use the lower recommended settings and reserve 375 for searing beef, pork, and chicken. Be prepared to turn the heat down after that. It will respond quickly. In fact, everything will stir-fry faster than most coated woks, so be prepared to step lively while cooking! One drawback to the Presto wok is a lack of racks for steaming or draining tempura. Presto and its call center are both still located in Wisconsin, and a call to them revealed that the company never gave much thought to these other wok functions. A tempura rack and steaming insert (the simple, perforated aluminum type for 14" wok) are inexpensive and easily obtained online. I recommend The Wok Shop out of New York. The glass cover of the Presto wok is heavy and unvented, a slight drawback to steaming. I simply left the lid slightly ajar to vent, set the temp to just under 225, and used 2 to 3 cups of water. It works like a charm, and I can even steam tamales with the wok. If capacity is a question, I would estimate this wok at 6.5 qts. I don't know of many who have ever tried to stir-fry that much volume in a single recipe, but it can be done. The flat bottom of the wok is the hot zone cooking surface. If you move things up the sides, they are not likely to burn or overcook. Cleanup is usually easy following the company directions. My wife and I love stir-frying. The Presto wok is a great addition to our kitchen.