Holstein Housewares HH-09198003C Electric Wok: Full Review

The Holstein Housewares Electric Wok is designed for versatile cooking right on your countertop. This 1200-watt electric wok has a generous 14-quart capacity, making it easy to cook stir fry dishes and other favorites for the whole family.

The wok features an adjustable thermostat and a tempered glass lid to lock in heat and moisture. The non-stick surface allows for easy cooking and fast cleanup. Other highlights include cool-touch handles, a removable heat controller, and a dishwasher safe wok pan.

This electric wok aims to bring the high heat and stir frying capabilities of traditional round-bottom woks right to your kitchen counter. Keep reading to learn more about the key features and performance of the Holstein Housewares Electric Wok.

Features

The Holstein Housewares Electric Wok has some great features that make it a versatile and easy to use appliance.

• Non-Stick Coating: The wok has a durable, PFOA-free non-stick coating on the interior that allows for low-fat cooking and easy cleanup. Food slides right off the surface with little or no oil needed.

• Temperature Control Probe: This wok comes with a adjustable temperature control probe that allows you to precisely control the cooking temperature from warm up to 425°F. The probe helps ensure even heating and prevents burning or scorching your food.

• Cool-Touch Handle: The handle stays cool while cooking so you can safely grip and maneuver the wok. The helper handle on the opposite side also remains cool.

• Large Capacity: The Presto 06852 Electric Wok is another excellent choice, featuring a spacious 7-quart capacity suitable for large meals. This electric wok also has a non-stick finish and adjustable temperature settings, making it user-friendly for various recipes. For more information, check out the Presto 06852.

Performance

The Holstein Housewares Electric Wok performs very well for stir frying, steaming, and other cooking tasks. The aluminum construction and curved shape ensure even and efficient heating.

The non-stick coating is high quality, allowing you to cook with little to no oil. Food slides easily along the surface for effective stir frying. The pan heats up quickly and retains heat well to sear ingredients.

The domed lid locks in heat and moisture for steaming. The open design still allows you to monitor food while simmering or steaming. The wok is easy to use right out of the box, with user-friendly controls and settings.

The large capacity enables cooking for multiple people or meal prepping batches of food at once. All in all, this electric wok delivers excellent versatility and performance for various cooking needs.

In comparison, the Black+Decker SK1215BC offers similar features, including a non-stick coating and a spacious cooking surface. Its adjustable temperature control allows for precise cooking, making it equally suitable for stir frying and steaming. Additionally, it has a removable power cord for easy serving and storage, enhancing its convenience. The Black+Decker model is known for its great value and reliability, catering to both novice cooks and experienced chefs alike.

Size and Capacity

The Electric Wok by Holstein Housewares has a generous 14 inch diameter cooking surface, providing ample room to stir fry ingredients with ease. With its 4 quart capacity, it can hold enough food to serve 3-4 people comfortably. Whether you're cooking a quick weeknight meal or preparing a larger weekend feast, this size is perfect for most households and occasions.

The expansive cooking surface allows you to really spread out ingredients and keep them moving constantly, essential for getting that perfect wok char. Compared to a smaller 10-12 inch wok, you'll have more flexibility to cook larger batches or a variety of ingredients at once. Yet it's not so large that it's cumbersome to store or difficult to handle.

At 4 quarts, it provides enough room to stir fry vegetables, proteins, and sauces without overcrowding the pan or needing to cook in multiple shifts. With most stir fry recipes calling for 1-2 pounds of meat and 3-4 cups of vegetables, the 4 quart capacity is well-suited for the task. Whether you're cooking for the whole family or meal prepping for the week, you'll appreciate the ability to make complete meals in one go.

Overall, the size and capacity make this electric wok a versatile addition to any home kitchen. With its spacious 14 inch cooking area and 4 quart volume, you'll be able to take your stir frying skills to the next level.

Temperature Control

One of the key features of the Holstein Housewares Electric Wok is its adjustable thermostat with a wide temperature range. The thermostat allows you to select any temperature from 200°F up to 400°F. This gives you a lot of flexibility whether you are stir-frying, deep-frying, steaming, or simmering. The lower temperatures are great for delicate foods you don't want to burn. While the highest temperatures ensure you can get that perfect sear and caramelization on meats and vegetables when stir-frying.

Being able to finely control the temperature also helps when cooking multiple ingredients at once. You may want to start cooking harder vegetables at a higher temp, then turn it down as you add more delicate ingredients like seafood or leafy greens. The Electric Wok makes it easy to adjust the temperature at any point during the cooking process. So you end up with perfectly cooked ingredients without over or undercooking.

Ease of Use

The Holstein Housewares Electric Wok is designed for convenient cooking and cleanup. The interior cooking surface is coated in Dupont Teflon Select non-stick material, allowing you to sauté and stir-fry with little to no oil while preventing food from sticking.

The handle on the wok remains cool to the touch even during cooking. This protects your hands from heat while tossing and stirring ingredients. The wok is also dishwasher safe, so cleaning up after cooking is fast and simple. Just place it on the top rack of your dishwasher for easy cleanup.

The non-stick surface, cool-touch handle, and dishwasher-safe construction make the Holstein Housewares Electric Wok very easy to use for quick weekday meals or weekend stir-fry dinners.

Durability

The Holstein electric wok is designed to be durable for everyday use. It features a heavy-duty non-stick PFOA-free coating that is scratch and chip resistant. This allows you to use metal utensils without damaging the cooking surface.

The wok itself is made of lightweight aluminum but with a thick gauge construction that resists warping. Aluminum is an excellent heat conductor which allows for fast, even cooking. The sturdy aluminum build ensures the wok will maintain its shape through repeated heating and cleaning.

Customers report the non-stick holds up well over time with proper care. The materials and manufacturing quality make this an electric wok built to last.

Safety Features

The Holstein Housewares Electric Wok has some useful safety features for cooking. One key feature is the cool-touch handle which stays cool to the touch even when cooking. This prevents burns and allows safe handling when moving the wok.

The non-stick cooking surface is also a safety feature, as it prevents food from sticking and minimizes the possibility of burns from splattering oil. The non-stick surface makes cooking and cleaning much easier. With proper care, the non-stick surface will last for a long time.

Overall, the cool-touch handle and non-stick cooking surface allow users to cook safely. These design considerations show that safety was a priority for Holstein Housewares when developing this electric wok.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Even heating - The electric wok heats evenly across the entire cooking surface, ensuring food is thoroughly cooked with no cold or hot spots.

• Good size and capacity - With a 14-inch diameter cooking surface and 4-quart capacity, this wok provides enough room to cook for 2-4 people. It's a versatile size for everything from stir frys to deep frying.

• Temperature probe - The adjustable temperature probe lets you precisely control the cooking temperature from warm to 425°F. This is useful for cooking different foods at their ideal temps.

Cons

• High price - At around $60, this electric wok is more expensive than some basic stovetop woks. The higher price comes from the integrated heating element and temperature controls.

• Non-traditional - While convenient, using an electric wok lacks some of the traditional wok cooking techniques like tossing food. The shape and heat source differ from traditional round-bottom woks.

Conclusion

Overall, the Holstein Housewares Electric Wok provides solid performance and value for the price. The 1200 watt heating element delivers fast, even heating while the nonstick coating allows for easy cooking and cleaning. The tempered glass lid traps in heat and moisture for faster cooking.

The wok's ample 5 quart capacity can handle cooking for 2-4 people comfortably. The integrated steam vent prevents boiling over or splattering. Users mention the wok heats up quickly and can stir fry vegetables and meats with excellent results.

While not as durable or high-end as more expensive woks, for the price this model delivers very good cooking abilities. The nonstick holds up well with proper care. Some users wish the base was heavier to prevent tipping. Overall, if you're looking for an inexpensive electric wok that still delivers solid performance, the Holstein Housewares model is a great choice.