Choose your cooking tools wisely. They make a difference in the taste of your food, the amount of time it takes to cook, and the healthfulness of your meal. A wok is usually used for stir-fry dishes that require rapid heat distribution. It has sloped sides that allow for maximum exposure to heat, making it perfect for dishes with sauces or ingredients that need quick cooking.
On the other hand, a skillet is usually used for sautés and frying things like bacon, onions, or garlic. Skillets are heavy duty pans with vertical sides which are great when you want to brown meat or sear chicken before adding liquid. So, what should you use? Wok or skillet? Let’s find out together!
What is a wok?
A wok is a cooking tool that’s typically used for stir-fry dishes. The sides of the wok are sloped so that ingredients can be quickly and evenly cooked.
A wok has a deep bowl shape and is usually made of cast iron, aluminum, or carbon steel. The shape of the pan makes it perfect for sauces and crusty foods like fried rice or crispy vegetables.
What is a skillet?
A skillet is a type of frying pan that has sloped sides. It is usually used for sautés and frying things like bacon, onions, or garlic. A skillet has a heavy duty surface which means it can be used to brown meat or sear chicken before adding liquid.
The difference between the two
A wok is typically used for stir-fry dishes, which requires rapid heat distribution. It has sloped sides that allow for maximum exposure to heat, making it perfect for dishes with sauces or ingredients that need quick cooking. A skillet is usually used for sautés and frying things like bacon, onions, or garlic.
Skillets are heavy duty pans with vertical sides which are great when you want to brown meat or sear chicken before adding liquid. The difference between the two lies in their material. A wok is made of thin metal that distributes heat quickly while a skillet is made of thicker metal that doesn’t conduct heat as well.
Conclusion
The key difference between the two is the shape. Woks are typically long, narrow, and round with sloping sides, while skillets are round with straight sides. Another difference is the type of metal used to make the utensil. Woks are typically made of carbon steel, while skillets are often made of cast iron.