Wok Burners 101

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A Wok Burner is Exactly What your Cooking is Missing!

cooking using wok burners

Cooking is an art that requires not just skill, but the right tools as well.

You need to know the food that you are cooking, the palette to know what flavours work well together, and the right tools to make your vision come to life.

While people generally do recognize the importance of skill and a sound palette, the tools are often ignored.

When cooking Chinese cuisine especially, you can’t do without certain tools, such as the wok burner.

Wok burners are a versatile piece of equipment that you can use for a range of cuisines.

For a quick introduction to wok burners, and the best ones you can use, keep reading below.

What is a wok burner?

Fueled by propane, a portable wok burner generates vast amounts of heat in a very short time.

This helps bring the wok to a very high temperature in a very short time. This means that you can also use a lot of cooking techniques that you otherwise couldn’t, on a regular stovetop.

Techniques such as searing a steak, smoking, deep drying or steaming are all easily done on the wok burner, making it one of the most diverse additions to your kitchen.

Additionally, the wok burner is an additional attachment that you can even move around.

You can carry wok burner of yours with you on camping trips or just for the outdoor barbeque as well.

wok burner flame

Why do I need a wok burner?

The reason why cooking essentials such as the wok burner often go under the radar is that most of us assume they’re unnecessary expenditures. However, the wok burner can be an excellent addition to your cooking arsenal.

You can use the wok burner to lower the amount of oil you use in stir-fries and other Chinese cuisines.

Additionally, you can also use less heat with wok burners because they help distribute the flame more evenly. This can help you cook much faster, and much more efficiently as well.

You can reduce the risk of your food being oil clogged or overcooked. Instead, with wok burners, you get perfectly stir-fried vegetables every time!

cooking flame

What to consider when buying a wok burner

Portability is the first thing to consider when getting any wok burner.

One of the best-selling points of the Chinese wok cooker is the fact that it is portable.

Certain factors ensure that wok burner of yours will function best in all conditions. The first is that wok burner of yours should be easy to set up. You don’t want an overly complicated product that can even cause dangerous mishaps.

Secondly, opt for a product that is light and easy to carry around. Apart from portability, consider the type of fuel the burner requires.

The best option to look for is a propane-fueled burner, as propane can easily be found anywhere. Butane, on the other hand, can be difficult to source at times.

Cooking food in a wok

Are wok burners safe?

Wok burners run on fuel and generate a massive amount of heat in a very short time. This can make them seem dangerous, but if you follow the instructions correctly, there should be no problem.

When using wok burner, make sure that all your fittings are secure, firstly.

Ensure that children or pets are far from the burner and that your burner is placed on a stable location.

Lastly, make sure you don’t use the wok burner inside the house, ever!

If you follow these directions, using the wok burner of yours is safe.

wok burner

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The Best Wok Burners

Image

Product

Features

Recommended Products

  • 65,000 BTU
  • CSA Approved
  • Easy To Use
5/5
  • Easy to Use
  • Air Flow Control
  • Easy to Clean
4/5
  • 8.0kw Heat Output
  • Cast Iron
  • Butane & Propane
4/5
  • 8.0kw Heat Output
  • Manual Ignition
  • Butane & Propane

Detailed Reviews of Wok Burners

Eastman Outdoor Wok Burner​

Features

Rating

Price

  • 65,000 BTU
  • CSA Approved
  • Easy To Use
5/5

Eastman Outdoor Wok Burner​​ Review

This is top on our list of the best wok cookers for you to start with for many reasons. With hundreds of 5-star ratings, you know this is a tried and tested burner to work with. This wok burner comes with wok brackets and can support even an XL pot. Furthermore, the product has adjustable and removable legs which make it extremely portable.

These wok burners are extremely heavy-duty and is perfect for everyone, from the most seasoned chef to the novice. For a clean, efficient burn, opt for the Eastman Outdoor portable burner.

NJ GB-24 Wok Burner

Features

Rating

Price

  • 8.0kw Heat Output
  • Manual Ignition
  • Butane & Propane
4/5

NJ GB-24 Wok Burner Review

This is another excellent option, especially for beginners. This wok burner can use a wide range of fuels, such as butane, propane and even propane and butane gas mixtures.

Furthermore, it comes at a great price range and is perfectly safe to use and easy to set up. If you want to test out cooking with any wok burner, start with this budget-friendly option.

NJ NGB-100 Wok Burner

Features

Rating

Price

  • Easy to Use
  • Air Flow Control
  • Easy to Clean
5/5

NJ NGB-100 Wok Burner Review

This is another budget-friendly compact wok burner that is also great to look at. With automatic ignition and fantastic support, this burner can make you feel like you’re in your kitchen.

Additionally, it’s a powerful burner than can help you get your pan sizzling in no time. You can also use this burner on both propane and butane gas.

NJ GB-29 Wok Burner

Features

Rating

Price

  • 8.0kw Heat Output
  • Cast Iron
  • Butane & Propane 
4/5

NJ GB-29 Wok Burner Review

The NJ is another pocket-friendly option to outdoor cooking. Using this burner, you can make a wide variety of dishes, whether for yourself or an audience.

The cast iron burner is incredibly durable and safe and can support heavy pans as well. This burner is handy and a great place to start.

Conclusion

A wok burner can be a fantastic addition to your cooking arsenal, especially if you like hosting outdoors or going camping.

Wok burners aren’t just limited to helping you cook Chinese food. Rather, you can sear steaks, grill and smoke food to add another amazing dimension of flavour, previously untapped.

Andy Canter

Andy

Ever since I started cooking I’ve been fascinated by how different people’s techniques are and how they best utilise the ingredients around them. Even the person living next door will have their own unique way of frying an egg or cooking a salmon fillet.

This fascination led me on a journey across the globe to discover the countless practices and traditions the world of cooking has to offer. I thought you’d enjoy and find value in sharing that journey with me so I created Cooked Best!