Key specs – Material: Stainless steel; Handle: Stainless steel; Diameter: 34cm; Weight: 1kg; Lid included: No; Seasoning required: No; Dishwasher safe: No; Heat sources: Induction only; Ovenproof: No; Guarantee: Lifetime; Extras: Ring support for heating and serving Despite having a super-smooth titanium ceramic coating, the ProCook wok still requires a light seasoning before use, which should be repeated frequently if you want to retain its smooth surface. It will also help if you often put the pan in the dishwasher. Key specs – Material: Heavy gauge, forged aluminium; Handle: Stainless steel; Diameter: 32cm; Weight: 1.7kg; Lid included: No; Seasoning required: No; Dishwasher safe: Yes; Heat sources: All; Ovenproof: Oven safe to 260°C; Guarantee: Lifetime; Extras: None Heating was rapid and cooking was even, and fried foods crisped beautifully. Pasta danced around the pan and reheated super-fast. The wok can’t be used in the oven though, as there’s a wood handle with a useful carved-out hole for hanging. Key specs – Material: Forged high density aluminium: Handle; Soft phenolic heatproof; Diameter; 26cm; Weight: 1kg; Lid included: No; Seasoning required: No; Dishwasher safe: Yes; Heat sources: All sources; Ovenproof: Yes, to 205°C/Gas 6; Guarantee: Lifetime; Extras: None

This wok isn’t going to look shabby in the kitchen, with its traditional appearance, comfy wooden handle and handy hanging hook. It’s also extremely lightweight, making lifting when filled with food easy. Key specs – Material: Carbon steel; Handle: Wood; Diameter: 28cm; Weight: 0.7kg; Lid included: No; Seasoning required: No; Dishwasher safe: No; Heat sources: All except induction; Ovenproof: No; Guarantee: 2 years; Extras: None As well as being smooth it’s also lightweight, which meant food went whizzing up the sides and allowed for some impressive chef-style moves in the kitchen.

The verdict: Woks 

The conductivity of the pan was impressive; it heated in seconds, including up those steep sides. Plus, there’s the useful Tefal red Thermo-Spot on the base indicating when it’s at the right temperature for cooking. A wok’s bowl-shaped design spreads heat evenly for consistent cooking, plus if you love crispy dishes, you can cook them in a wok with less oil than a deep-fat fryer. The BergHOFF may be one of the largest woks on test but it’s not the heaviest. It’s easy to move around and, with the help of two integrated handles, easy to lift. The handles coupled with the well-fitting lid make this a versatile pan, as it can be used for steaming and poaching as well as stir frying and deep frying. Plus, it’s ovenproof. The pan is an investment piece of cookware but it delivers in spades and will be one to pass on to the grandchildren, as with care it will last forever. This may not be a traditional-looking wok but its versatility makes it a useful addition to the kitchen.

We looked at the weight and comfort of the handle, the speed and evenness of heating, the movement of ingredients around the wok and lastly how easy cleaning was. The shallow bowl means food is better stirred than shaken, especially as the smooth surface means food can fall over the sides easily. Our only disappointment was that after using a few sauces the pan took on a slightly yellow discolouring, which remained even after washing. However, this will look great in the kitchen and will impress keen cooks with its efficiency. As the pan is cast iron, it was used at lower temperatures than other woks tested and retained its heat long after being removed from the stove. Washing under the tap was easy, too. Key specs – Material: Aluminium; Handle: Wood; Diameter: 28cm; Weight: 1kg; Lid included: No; Seasoning required: No; Dishwasher safe: No; Heat sources: All; Ovenproof: No; Guarantee: 2 years; Extras: None If you only need a small wok, or have a small kitchen, this pan comes highly recommended and will bring many years of happy cooking.Start on a low temperature and gradually increase. This is especially important when using induction hobs. The pan heated efficiently and evenly but it wasn’t the best at retaining the heat – deep frying and stir frying took longer than with others, but the end result was excellent. This wok must be re-seasoned periodically though, especially when using acidic foods like tomatoes, and washed by hand (without detergent) to keep the lovely surface free from damage. For all that extra work, you’ll be rewarded with a great-looking, deeply patinated wok which, with care, will last you a lifetime.

Towards the top end of the market is this two-handled forged aluminium pan with a super generous 32cm diameter, making it well-suited to families or dinner parties.

Roasting Tins and Trays for All Your Cooking Needs

This is a beautiful wok that’s been handmade in Shropshire using spun iron and comes with a smooth oak handle fixed with brass. For such a generous size, it only weighs just over a kilo, so was light and easy to use. The small size of the pan means deep frying is a no-no though, except for in small quantities. But reheating food, poaching, stir frying and shallow frying all work well. It can withstand the use of metal utensils, too. The AEG Fusion can only be used on induction hobs. The round-bottomed wok uses a rather smart support ring to sit directly on the hob and help you position the pan correctly. It also helps to heat the wok rapidly.