Hamilton Beach 38531 Electric Wok: Full Review

The Hamilton Beach 38531 electric wok is an adjustable temperature wok that allows you to prepare a variety of Asian-inspired dishes at home with ease. This mid-priced electric wok features a durable nonstick cooking surface and a tempered glass lid to lock in heat and moisture.

With 1500 watts of power, adjustable temperature settings, and a spacious cooking capacity, the Hamilton Beach 38531 aims to replicate stove top wok cooking. Its curved cooking surface is designed to keep food centered while stir-frying. This electric wok also offers user-friendly features like cool touch handles and a probe that removes for easy cleaning.

Overall, the Hamilton Beach 38531 electric wok provides an affordable option for making flavorful stir-fry, sauteing, steaming, stewing, and more in your own kitchen. Its adjustable heat and nonstick surface allow both beginner cooks and more experienced users to prepare Asian recipes to their liking. This review will take an in-depth look at the key features, performance, and ease of use of the Hamilton Beach 38531 electric wok.

Design & Build

The Hamilton Beach Electric Wok has a sleek and modern design made primarily of stainless steel. It weighs approximately 8 lbs and has dimensions of 17.5 x 11.5 x 7.5 inches, making it a nice compact size for easy storage.

The wok itself and lid are made from stainless steel which allows for even heat distribution and easy cleanup. The handles on both the wok and lid stay cool to the touch thanks to a silicone cover, allowing for safe handling.

The base where the controls are housed is made of durable plastic with a non-stick coating on the interior cooking surface. There is a 3 inch steam vent on the glass lid to allow steam to escape while cooking.

Overall, the wok is thoughtfully designed, lightweight yet sturdy, and appropriately sized for most home kitchens. The combination of stainless steel and nonstick provides versatile cooking options.

Another great option is the BELLA 14607. This electric wok features a ceramic non-stick coating that promotes healthier cooking by requiring less oil. With a generous capacity, it allows you to prepare large meals quickly and efficiently. Its adjustable temperature control ensures optimal cooking results for stir-frying, steaming, and simmering, making it versatile for various dishes. The BELLA 14607 also comes with cool-touch handles for safe handling, further enhancing its user-friendly design.

Temperature Control

One of the standout features of the Hamilton Beach Electric Wok is the adjustable thermostat that allows you to precisely control cooking temperature. The temperature can be adjusted from 200°F all the way up to 400°F using the dial on the side of the wok. This gives you a wide temperature range to work with for various cooking tasks. For example, you can use lower temperatures for simmering sauces or poaching delicate proteins. Medium heat is great for stir frying veggies. And crank it up to the highest setting if you want to sear meat or braise. The ability to fine tune temperature settings gives you versatility and control when cooking. You don't have to guess if the wok is hot enough or worry about ingredients burning. Just set it to the temp you need for the recipe and ingredients you are working with. The adjustable thermostat really takes the Electric Wok to the next level for precision cooking.

Cooking Surface

The Hamilton Beach Electric Wok has a non-stick coating on the cooking surface that allows food to easily slide around during cooking without sticking. This makes cooking stir fry dishes and sautéing vegetables a breeze.

The cooking surface on this electric wok provides a large 14-inch diameter cooking area. This spacious surface gives you plenty of room to cook larger batches of food at once, making it easy to prepare meals for the whole family or for entertaining guests. Whether you're cooking up a veggie stir fry for four or searing scallops in batches for a dinner party, the ample cooking space allows you to cook efficiently.

The flat bottomed wok shape also provides even heating across the entire cooking surface. The non-stick coating prevents hot and cold spots, so food cooks evenly no matter where it's located in the wok. This allows you to quickly sauté ingredients without worrying about some pieces cooking faster than others.

Overall, the sizeable non-stick cooking surface on the Hamilton Beach Electric Wok makes it a versatile and user-friendly option for cooking all kinds of stir fry, sauté, and sear recipes.

Additionally, the Elite Gourmet EG6203 offers an equally impressive cooking experience with its unique features. This electric wok provides rapid heating and consistent temperatures, making it ideal for a variety of dishes. Its spacious 14-inch surface combined with a non-stick coating ensures easy food release and simple cleanup, perfect for busy cooks. With a sleek design and adjustable temperature controls, it caters to both novice and experienced chefs, enhancing your cooking efficiency and enjoyment.

Ease of Use

The Hamilton Beach Electric Wok is designed for easy operation and maintenance. The onboard controls are simple and intuitive. There are only two knobs - one to turn the unit on/off and select temperature, and another to extend/retract the cord.

Cleaning is straightforward thanks to the nonstick cooking surface and detachable probe. The probe can be removed for cleaning and the nonstick surface allows food to release easily with minimal mess or effort. The wok itself can be hand washed with warm soapy water. Users mention how simple it is to clean compared to other electric woks.

The lid, spatula, and rack are also dishwasher safe to further simplify the cleanup process. The cord wraps under the base for tidy storage as well.

Overall, customers find the Hamilton Beach Electric Wok very easy to use straight out of the box, and simple to clean up afterwards. The uncomplicated controls and detachable parts make it one of the more user-friendly electric woks available.

Safety Features

The Electric Wok Hamilton Beach 38531 has some nice safety features to prevent accidents while cooking. One of the most useful is the automatic shutoff function. If you forget to turn off the wok, it will automatically shut down after 2 hours of not being used. This prevents overheating or other potential fire hazards if it's left on accidentally.

The cool-touch handles are another great safety addition. The handles stay cool to the touch even when cooking. This prevents you from burning your hands while moving the wok or adjusting temperatures. Since woks get extremely hot during use, cool-touch handles are pretty much a necessity for safe operation. You don't have to worry about putting on oven mitts every time you need to move the wok.

Performance

The Hamilton Beach Electric Wok excels when it comes to performance. The heating element provides very consistent heat across the entire cooking surface. This allows you to stir fry ingredients evenly without hot or cold spots. The non-stick surface also makes it easy to toss and flip ingredients without them sticking.

In terms of durability, this wok is made to last thanks to its heavy-duty die-cast aluminum body. The non-stick coating is high quality and designed to be scratch resistant. The lid, handle, and other components are sturdily built as well. After repeated use, the wok shows minimal wear and tear. Overall, this is a high performing electric wok built to deliver excellent cooking results for years to come.

Accessories

The Hamilton Beach 38531 electric wok comes with a few handy accessories to help you get cooking right away.

Lid

This electric wok includes a glass lid that seals in heat and moisture to speed up cooking times. The domed shape allows you to keep an eye on your food as it cooks. The lid fits securely on top of the wok pan.

Spatula

A 13.5 inch long spatula comes included for easy stirring and flipping. The head is angled to reach into the sloped sides of the wok for efficient mixing. The soft silicone will not scratch the nonstick surface.

Recipe Booklet

Hamilton Beach provides a booklet with 20 Asian recipes to try out in your new electric wok. It contains a good variety of starters, mains like fried rice and noodles, and even desserts. The recipes have been designed for the electric wok, with timing and temperature guidelines.

Pros & Cons

Pros

• Large 14′′ nonstick cooking surface for stir frying and cooking for multiple people
• Adjustable temperature control from warm to 425°F for precise cooking
• Heats up quickly and recovers temperature rapidly after adding ingredients
• Slanted sides make tossing food easy
• Cool-touch base and handles for safety
• Dishwasher safe pan and lid for easy cleanup
• 1-year limited warranty

Cons

• Base can slide around on counter while cooking if not anchored
• No digital display of temperature setting
• Short power cord limits placement options
• Only available in black color option
• Lid does not have vent or glass to view food while cooking
• Pan depth may be too shallow for deep frying

Conclusion

The Hamilton Beach 38531 electric wok is a solid option for an electric wok in the under $100 price range. It offers adjustable temperature control, a large nonstick cooking surface, and helpful features like the lid and steam vent. The wok heats up quickly and can stir fry or steam foods efficiently.

For the price, the Hamilton Beach delivers good performance and durability. The nonstick surface holds up well with proper care. One downside is the temperature dial lacks specific temperature markings. But for casual home cooking, it provides sufficient heat adjustment.

The wok is easy to use and lightweight enough to maneuver and store. The 12 x 12 inch cooking surface can handle cooking for 2-4 people. If you need to cook larger batches, other models like the Aroma Housewares AEW-306 have a 14 inch surface.

Overall, the Hamilton Beach 38531 electric wok is a good choice for home cooks looking for an affordable electric wok with adjustable heat and a decent cooking surface. It provides versatility for stir frying, steaming, sautéing and more. For basic electric wok needs under $100, the Hamilton Beach delivers good value.