Is the Breville Gourmet Wok something you really need in your kitchen? Or is it just another hyped kitchen appliance that you’ll end up storing somewhere in your garage and forget about it? You can read in this article about my experience with this popular electric wok and find out if it is worth buying or not.
I really like cooking Chinese dishes, so a year ago I decided to buy a suitable wok. I had a wok before, but was not satisfied with the results I was getting. After looking around, I decided to go with the Breville EW30XL Gourmet Electric Wok, my choice was guided by the excellent reviews I have read on the net.
When I received the wok, I was pleasantly surprised by its sturdy appearance (and it is also quite heavy, 12 pounds) and the simple, clean design.
The same day I decided to make my first dish in the wok (Five Spice Beef and Pepper Stir-Fry). I purposely chose a recipe that included sautéing because my main concern was whether the wok could generate enough heat for this cooking technique. And I have to say I was surprised! It generated heat like a kitchen wok. Furthermore, it responded very quickly to changes in temperature (the temperature dial has very different heat levels, 15 in total).
So if you are in doubt about using an electric wok for sautéing and browning, let me tell you it is not necessary, because this electric wok can get very hot (especially on the maximum “high browning” setting).
After having tried it for browning and sautéing, I decided to try a recipe that included steaming (steamed vegetables with ginger miso dressing). Steaming, as you know, can be very tricky. You must find the right measure in steaming so that the vegetables remain crisp and are not too tender or overcooked. The Breville wok has a great feature for these purposes. The wok comes with a glass lid with a stainless steel rim and the lid has a very convenient steam vent. Once you’ve finished steaming, you can open the vent and let the steam escape. Therefore, you will be able to keep the food warm under the lid, but it will prevent it from becoming more moistened.
As for the surface of the wok, it is really non-slip, so you really need small amounts of oil to cook. Just be sure to use the putty knife carefully to avoid scratching the surface. You can use the spatula that comes with the Breville wok, but I advise you to get another one.
Another feature that I love is the detachable base that allows you to put the wok in the dishwasher. The shedding is really easy to do once you get the hang of it. Still, I try to avoid washing the wok in the dishwasher too often. I prefer to clean it with a cloth while it is still warm. This way I save some energy, water, and my wok will hopefully last longer.
Overall, I must say that the Breville wok has become my favorite tool in the kitchen. I use it almost every day, for all kinds of dishes (not just Chinese recipes). Because the wok has a temperature dial with so many levels, you can use it for frying, steaming, boiling, stewing, etc., making it a really versatile tool in the kitchen.
