A wok is a Chinese pan with a rounded bottom and deep, slanting sides that's made of rolled or stainless steel, cast iron or aluminum and comes in a variety of sizes.

Woks are the preferred cooking vessel for making a stir-fry. The bottom gets piping hot, allowing you to quickly sear ingredients in a small amount of oil, then push them up to rest on the wok's sides while you cook the remaining ingredients, and finally mix them all together with the flip of your wrist. But woks are also all-purpose stovetop pans that can be used to stew, steam, braise or deep-fry food.

Flat-bottomed and electric woks are also available for those cooking over electric burners or wanting a stand-alone heat source.