I’d always assumed high-powered gas stoves were my only option if I wanted to – 1) use my round-bottom traditional Chinese woks 2) generate good “wok hei”. That was before I met Kenneth Lim, the owner of Omnomnom Food...
I’d always assumed high-powered gas stoves were my only option if I wanted to –
1) use my round-bottom traditional Chinese woks
2) generate good “wok hei”.
That was before I met Kenneth Lim, the owner of Omnomnom Food Truck in Perth.
Kenneth convinced old-school (behind-the-times?) me that chefs in China have long ago adopted concave induction stoves and that they can generate as much wok hei as any high-pressure gas stove I’ve ever used.
So, after checking out my options online, I went ahead and bought the most powerful one I could find, that was also cheap enough (I paid AUD$195 for a 3500W unit) even for me who is famous for wearing decades-old clothes when presenting on camera.
Here’s the listing on Ebay where I found it (and no, I’m not getting paid for this) – https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/314516151449
Paul Unboxing Our New Concave Portable Induction Stove
Having used it for a few weeks, here’s what I’ve learned, since so many of you were asking:
Features that Matter
1. Power
This appliance boasts a powerful 3500W heating element, capable of reaching temperatures as high as 320°C. This is a higher wattage and top temp than any comparable model I’ve come across. When we first started using it we were inclined to crank it up to the max but we’ve since found that’s way too strong a heat for most of our cooking.
Still, as they say, better to have and not need, than to need and not have.
2. Controls
The stove offers a range of power settings from 120W to 3500W, allowing for control over cooking intensity.
Temperature settings range from 80°C to 320°C (but they go up by 20-30 degrees each turn of the dial, so you’re not going to be able to set it at 88°C or something that precise).
3. Compact Design
The concave area is 26cm in width and 5cm in depth.
The stove itself is 35 x 42 x 11cm (thereabouts). It’s designed to be compact and it doesn’t take up much kitchen space at all.
Will my woks fit in it?
These are the woks in my stash, which sit perfectly on this stove:
Small Wok
Width: 44cm
Depth: 11cm
Large Wok
Width: 52cm
Depth: 16cm
I do have another wok (a stainless steel, flat-bottomed one) which is too wide and shallow to fit properly in it so it doesn’t work – just something to keep in mind.
This induction wok stove can reach temperatures of up to 320°C, but for stir-frying, Paul usually sets it at 190°C. Play around with it and let me know what works for you.
What You’ll Love
1. Portability:
This stove is light and compact, which means it’s easy to carry indoors and outdoors as needed.
2. Ease of Cleaning:
Cleaning up is so easy – just a quick wipe-down is all you need after using it.
3. User-Friendly:
Plug it into a power outlet, and you’re good to go.
4. No More Heavy Gas Bottles:
This is a big deal for someone like me who lives on the top floor of an apartment block with no elevators. Lugging 9kg gas bottles up and downstairs is not my favourite activity.
5. Perfect for Wok Hei:
It provides more than enough heat to infuse your dishes with that sought-after smoky wok hei flavour.
(Video below shows some hor fun aka fresh rice noodles cooked at 270°C in real time)
6. Compatible with Chinese Restaurant-Style Round-Bottomed Iron Woks:
You don’t need to invest in expensive cookware. Budget-friendly round-bottomed iron woks work perfectly with this stove.
What to Keep in Mind
1. Smoke Production:
Be prepared for significant smoke production, especially when cooking at high temperatures. You’ll need to use it outdoors or in a well-ventilated area to prevent triggering smoke alarms indoors.
2. Instructions in Chinese:
Keep in mind that all the labels on the stove and also the instruction manual are in Chinese. It didn’t take Paul long, however, to figure out what everything was (and if you’re stuck, there’s always Google Lens to help translate the characters).
3. Direct Power Outlet Connection:
You’ll want to plug the stove directly into a power outlet rather than using a power strip if you want to prevent it from tripping (as we found out pretty quicky).
4. Not Suitable for Flat-Bottomed Woks:
This stove is not suitable for flat-bottomed woks (at least not mine; not enough surface area for it to make contact).
Conclusion
So, should you get a portable concave induction stove? Absolutely, if you do a lot of stir-frying, if prefer using round-bottom woks, and if that whole “wok hei” thing has eluded your culinary creations thus far. That, along with the reasonably low price point and its portability, has made it one of my favourite buys this year.
The post Review: Portable Concave Induction Stove first appeared on Jackie M.
The post Review: Portable Concave Induction Stove appeared first on Jackie M.
