There are so many kitchen appliances and utensils out there- it’s sometimes hard to know which ones are actually worth investing in, and which ones are just taking up valuable space. One such example would be a wok. A very distinctly shaped pan, this may or may not already be in your kitchen- but it’s definitely one that I love having!

Woks are probably best well-known for their great stir-frys. The shape allows easy tossing of vegetables, and because of their shape, it’s hard to overcook stuff- which is definitely a big deal with stir-fried veggies! No one likes soggy green beans. Stir-fries are delicious and can be a great healthy meal full of nutrients and perfect for a weekday dinner! Woks take the health level up a notch because you can get away with using less oil, which makes your stir-fry all the healthier.

However, woks are also great from a not-so-healthy approach….. Deep frying! While you shouldn’t be deep frying stuff every night, there are some recipes that are just worth making once in awhile… churros, monte cristo sandwiches, homemade battered orange chicken, to name a few. Woks are fabulous for frying, because their large rounded edges help to keep all that splattering oil at bay. You can also use less oil than when filling up a big skillet, so you’re saving money and resources as well!

Woks have a plethora of other great uses:

-Again, because of their large, wide rim they’re great for tossing- and not just your stir-fried veggies! Salads are easily tossed in these uniquely wide dishes.

-You can use a large wok for mixing bread batter and kneading dough- you definitely don’t have to worry about your bread spilling over!

-Cook a large amount of scrambled eggs without the worry of half of them falling out each time you stir.

-Heat up tortillas and keep them warm (and make fajitas in your wok to go with them!)

-Cook your popcorn on the stove the old fashioned way- that wok will provide plenty of room!

-Fry your hamburgers! Place them on the rim, and let your onions (or whatever fixings!) cook in the middle as they collect all the delicious juice from your hamburgers.

-Make up a big ol’ pot (or wok) of soup!

-Steam things easily because of its unique shape! You can easily place a covering (like a plate) over whatever you’re steaming (such as vegetables or a can of tuna).

-You could even use it as a decor item! A rustic wok would actually be a very chic and unique flower pot, or a great home for a large green houseplant.

While not necessarily a kitchen essential, woks definitely are useful and worth having if you have the space in your kitchen! Do you have a wok? Do you use it for anything else we haven’t listed here? I’d love to hear all about it!