Brentwood SK-69BK Electric Wok: Full Review

The Brentwood SK-69BK is a 13-inch electric wok designed for easy stir-frying, steaming, frying and cooking an array of Asian dishes in the home kitchen. Brentwood is a trusted brand for electric kitchen appliances and has designed this easy-to-use wok specifically for cooking healthy, delicious Asian cuisine at home. While traditional round-bottomed woks are great for gas burners, the SK-69BK features a flat bottom and is well-suited for electric and smooth cooktops. With 1300 watts of power and a 13-inch cooking surface, this wok provides ample room to prepare meals for the whole family, whether you live alone or have a larger household to cook for. It offers even heat distribution and a variable temperature control knob with low, medium and high settings to suit a range of cooking needs. The electric wok is a versatile addition to your cookware that makes Asian cooking simple and approachable.

Design & Appearance

The Brentwood SK-69BK electric wok has a stylish and modern design. It is made from brushed stainless steel, giving it a sleek metallic look. The wok itself has a 13-inch diameter cooking surface, providing ample room to stir-fry ingredients.

It has a wider bottom that tapers up to form deep sloping sides. This allows for even heating and makes tossing and stirring food easy. The entire wok is lightweight but durable, weighing just under 7 pounds.

The stainless steel lid fits tightly to lock in heat and moisture. The cool-touch handle and knob stay cool while cooking. Overall, the wok has a nice heft and quality feel. The glossy black exterior with stainless cooking surface gives it an elegant look that would fit right in any contemporary kitchen.

Another great option is the Elite Gourmet EG2212. This electric wok features a similar modern design with a durable non-stick interior coating for easy cooking and cleaning. It has a slightly larger 14-inch diameter, providing extra space for larger meals. The adjustable temperature control allows for precise cooking, making it a versatile addition to any kitchen. Like the Brentwood model, it also comes with a cool-touch handle and knob, ensuring safe handling during use.

Heating Element & Temperature Control

The Brentwood SK-69BK electric wok features a powerful 1500W heating element that allows the wok to reach high temperatures quickly. The adjustable thermostat ranges from warm to 425°F, giving you precise control over the cooking temperature.

The high wattage heating element is able to maintain even heat across the entire 13-inch cooking surface and recover temperature rapidly when ingredients are added. With most electric woks in this price range offering 1000-1200W, the 1500W offered by the SK-69BK is impressive.

The adjustable thermostat knob allows the temperature to be easily set to anything from a gentle simmer all the way up to searing. The wide range makes this electric wok quite versatile for cooking anything from stir fries to steaming veggies or seafood.

Overall, the heating element and temperature control of the Brentwood SK-69BK provide power and flexibility suitable for most cooking tasks. The high wattage and wide temperature range allow similar capabilities to cooking on a stovetop wok.

Another notable product in this category is the Presto non-25970. This electric wok also offers impressive performance with its high wattage and efficient temperature control. It is designed to provide even heating across the cooking surface, making it reliable for various cooking techniques. The Presto non-25970 is known for its user-friendly design and durability, making it a popular choice among home cooks.

Cooking Surface

The Brentwood SK-69BK electric wok features a 13-inch cooking surface coated in premium non-stick material. This allows food to easily release from the surface without sticking. Cleaning up after cooking is a breeze thanks to the non-stick coating. Food doesn't bake on or char, so the wok surface can be wiped clean with little effort. The large 13-inch size provides ample cooking space to stir-fry vegetables, meats, noodles and other ingredients with ease. With its premium non-stick coating and spacious surface, the cooking surface is one of the highlights of this electric wok.

Ease of Use

The Brentwood SK-69BK electric wok is designed for easy operation and maneuverability. The control panel features simple knobs to adjust the temperature, making it straightforward to set the desired cooking level.

The power cord is a generous length which provides flexibility for placement on your counter or moving the wok around during cooking. There's no need to worry about the cord pulling or restricting your range of motion.

The stay-cool handles on either side are made of bakelite for insulation. This allows you to move the wok comfortably even when it's hot. The curved shape of the handles makes it natural to grip them when tossing and stirring ingredients. The handles feel sturdy and secure when moving the wok.

Overall, the thoughtful design around ease of use makes the Brentwood SK-69BK very convenient for home cooking. The intuitive controls, flexible cord, and insulated handles come together to deliver a hassle-free cooking experience.

Performance

The Brentwood SK-69BK electric wok performs exceptionally well for an appliance in this price range. The powerful 1500W heating element and thermostat dial provide excellent temperature control up to 425°F, allowing the wok to quickly reach high heat needed for stir-frying and searing within minutes.

Users report the wok heats up rapidly and recovers temperature quickly when ingredients are added. The aluminum body evenly distributes heat across the entire 13-inch cooking surface for consistent results. The non-stick coating also helps prevent food from sticking.

This versatility enables the SK-69BK to produce excellent results for a wide variety of cooking tasks. From stir-frying meats and vegetables at high heat to simmering sauces or deep frying at lower temperatures, the wok cooks food thoroughly and evenly. The domed shape and round bottom are ideal for tossing and stirring food.

Thanks to its excellent heating element and well-designed cooking surface, the Brentwood electric wok delivers outstanding performance for quick and easy meals with professional wok cooking results.

Safety Features

The Brentwood Electric Wok has some excellent safety features that help prevent accidents while cooking with it.

One key safety feature is an auto shutoff that will turn the wok off automatically if it's left on for an extended period without being used. This helps prevent the wok from overheating if it's accidentally left on. It's a great feature if you get distracted while cooking and forget the wok is still on.

Additionally, the wok has a cool-touch handle that stays cool to the touch even during prolonged cooking at high temperatures. The handle utilizes a non-conductive material so heat doesn't transfer from the wok to the handle. This allows you to safely lift and maneuver the hot wok without the worry of burning your hands on an extremely hot metal handle. Even after simmering or stir-frying for extended periods, you can confidently grab the handle without oven mitts.

The combination of the auto shutoff and cool-touch handle demonstrates how Brentwood prioritized key safety elements in the design of this electric wok. These features allow you to use the wok with confidence and minimize the risks of leaving it on unattended or accidentally grabbing a scorching handle. Overall, the safety features make the wok easier and safer to operate on a daily basis.

Accessories

The Brentwood SK-69BK electric wok comes with a number of handy accessories to help you make the most of this versatile cooking tool.

Right out of the box, you'll find a bamboo spatula specifically designed to complement the shape of the wok. The angled, shovel-like head allows you to easily toss and stir-fry ingredients with just a flick of the wrist. With its long handle, you can keep your hand safely away from splatter while cooking over high heat.

Also included is a tempered glass lid that helps retain heat and moisture during cooking. The domed shape allows room for food to circulate while covered.

For inspiration, a printed recipe booklet features over 20 delicious dishes you can make in your new electric wok. You'll find tasty recipes for classics like Mongolian Beef, Sweet and Sour Chicken, and Vegetable Lo Mein. Helpful tips and instructions walk you through using your wok to prepare authentic stir-fry cuisine.

Between the spatula, lid, and recipe book, you'll have everything you need to start cooking mouthwatering Asian fare in your own kitchen using the Brentwood SK-69BK wok. These handy accessories add functionality and value to this all-in-one cooking appliance.

Warranty

The Brentwood SK-69BK electric wok comes with a 60 day warranty to cover defects in materials and workmanship. The warranty applies to products purchased from authorized sellers only.

The warranty covers issues caused by factory defects and normal use of the product. It does not apply to damage from misuse, abuse, or alterations made to the wok. Brentwood will inspect and examine the wok to determine if the issue falls under the warranty coverage.

If Brentwood confirms it is a factory defect, they will elect to either repair or replace the wok at no cost to the customer. Replacement woks may be refurbished units. The customer is responsible for the shipping costs to send the defective unit to Brentwood.

Brentwood's warranty is relatively standard for electric woks in this price range. It provides peace of mind against early manufacturing issues. However, the 60 day length is on the shorter side. More expensive wok brands often provide 1-3 years of warranty coverage.

Overall the warranty protects against premature failures, but not long term wear and tear. Customers need to inspect and test out the wok within the first 2 months to identify any covered issues.

Pros & Cons

The Brentwood SK-69BK Electric Wok has several notable pros and cons to consider:

Pros

• Large 13-inch cooking surface provides ample room to cook for multiple people
• 1500W heating element distributes heat evenly and can reach high temperatures
• User-friendly analog temperature dial offers a wide range of temps
• Non-stick coating prevents food from sticking and allows for easy cleanup
• Cool-touch handle and base make handling safe
• Tempered glass lid traps in heat and moisture
• 2 cooking utensils included for convenience

Cons

• Shape may not allow for effective stir-frying technique
• Durability concerns with long-term use
• Temperature dial lacks nuanced control
• Short power cord may limit placement
• Lid does not seal completely to lock in moisture
• No timer or automatic shutoff for safety

The Brentwood wok provides a sizeable cooking surface and powerful heating element at an affordable price point. However, the design and functionality may not be ideal for specialized wok cooking techniques. Carefully consider your needs before purchasing.