Salter BW04196 Pan For Life Carbon Steel Wok, 28 cm, Grey

My first foray into carbon steel woks. Took a couple of attempts to get the seasoning going but now starting to see the results after a month of occassional usage, it's blackening up and I'm getting a nice non-stick effect on it. Looks and feels like a quality wok. The stainless steel handle is thick and solid and held very securely by rivets, and the silicone sleeve makes it comfortable and easy to use. The base is flat, works fine on my flat gas hob. I like the curvature of the walls and the gradual transition from flat bottom to walls, seems nicer to use than the ones with a more sudden transition.Theoretically, you're supposed to be able to use metal utensils on a seasoned carbon steel wok, but when I tried a stainless steel spatula, it wasn't very nice to the seasoning, so I'd probably recommend holding off on metal utensils until your seasoning is well and truly set in.I would say this is a relatively small wok, so suitable for 1 or 2 people max. If you regularly cook for more, I'd definitely suggest getting a bigger version, probably with the extra handle on the opposite side.

My only gripe is the handle. This is my first pan bought for seasoning and it seems I can't just "cook" it in the AGA because the handle must not be overheated. How therefore can I possibly season the outside and sides of the pan?

The pan has fully met my expectations. I wasn't sure how 'non stick' it would be without a special coating but it works really well. It cooks vegetables beautifully and is great for stir fries. It is sturdy but not heavy so it is easy to handle and really great to cook with. I mostly wipe with a cloth as recommended but find the occasional wash with warm water does it no harm.

Bought this for a Christmas present, only been used 3/4 times, not non stick, gone completely rusty, now unusable, definitely NOT a pan for life.

First of all, this is not a non-stick pan. It does not have a non stick coating on it. Seasoning the pan will make it a non stick effect when use. To season it : heat the pan after cleaned with high heat, do not put anything to the pan until the pan slightly smoking, add oil(spread evenly on the whole pan) , continue heat the pan until it become smoky. Turn off the heat and carefully wipe away the oil. Rinse it and it ready to use. DO NOT wash with detergent, this will wash away the oil, which somehow act as a protective coat for the pan or else it will get rusted. Wash with scourer, even metal scourer will clean it very well. Steel pan will last longer than those non stick pan, if you keep it properly because it does not have a non stick coating, which will come off after time.

Overall, a decent pan well built however it's really too small for stir-frying. A good wok needs to be large enough to 'stir' the food that you are cooking and this one doesn't offer decent sides for that. OK for one maybe two small servings with minimal ingredients but not more. You'll get the stove messy. It doesn't hold heat well which is important. Get it smoking hot and it cools down very rapidly after throwing in veg and rice. I wouldn't bother if you do not have a gas cooker. I do but still could get my ingredients to get a strong sear on them even when leaving the ingredients sitting for some minutes over high heat. No different than cooking in a regular frying pan in my opinion. For serious wok cooking go for a 35cm/14in sized wok but high heat and retention is a must.

Where do I start with this pound believe me or not I am constantly praising it while I'm cooking on it need I say more I am not 14 reviews but I thought it's only just this that needs to be served and it is only fair that we use are there for me to make up my mind when I'm buying a product especially from Amazon honestly words cannot describe I have spent a lot of money over cooking products over the years and this has to be in the category of the best ultimate cooking utensils I ever bought and yes it is crazy that it is cost nearly nothing compared to what I have spent in the past but sometimes as the saying goes money is not everything I cannot praise this enough stress this enough and clarify this enough that this is one of the best purchases you will ever meet and I'm starting to sound like someone who works for Salter and I can understand that but when you're so happy about a product you are dumb struck for what words to use all I will say though this please make sure that you do season the pan well like I have done Let It smoke really hard luton as black as possible because that is the secret to season in the pan and honestly Chinese food stir fries has never tasted better hope you are happy with the purchase just like I have been honestly and please definitely leave reviews because it's only fair to do that so makes other people's lives easier when choosing a product to buy the pan can get super duper high on heels to the point things start flicking out of the pan due to the intense heat that it creates and I will say everything that I've got so far from chicken wings to vegetables it has been a treat and nothing sticks I promise you nothing and I mean nothing sticks to the pan and all you have to do is get a damp cloth and wipe it clean that said you never wash it there's no need to wash this pen that's how good is it yeah definitely a thumbs up from me and from my family

Excellent pan. Happiness in a pan!