Lush Food & Drink

Buying Guide ·Appliances

Best Electric Woks for Real Stir Fry Heat

The deciding specification is the published temperature ceiling, and it runs from 425 F on a skillet to 575 F on an induction burner, with two picks publishing no figure at all.

By the Lush Editorial Team·Researched & Compared

  • Researched & ComparedSpecs pulled from the manufacturer listing
  • Like-for-LikeSame measures across every model
  • No Paid PlacementsNobody pays to appear here

I compared published temperature ranges, wattage, power levels, pan material, capacity and accessories across five machines sold as electric woks, using only what each maker writes.

Our shortlist

Five products, one set of published numbers.
  1. Nuwave Induction Wok
    Best for the hottest published stir fry setting

    Nuwave Induction Wok

    The fullest heat control detail here, 100 F to 575 F in 5 F increments across 96 preset temperatures, with three selectable wattages of 600, 900 and 1500 and a 14 inch heavy gauge carbon steel wok.

    • Nuwave
    • 14" Wok
    • 14.4 lb
  2. ABangDun 1700W Concave Induction Wok Burner
    Best for simmering without the element cycling

    ABangDun 1700W Concave Induction Wok Burner

    The only pick claiming non pulse continuous heating, with sixteen power levels, 1700 watts at 120 volts, FCC certification, pan detection, a 9.25 inch copper coil and a wok, lid and oil draining rack included.

    • Abangdun
    • 1700W /120V
    • 6.9 lb
  3. VEXMAECY 1800W Induction Wok
    Best for cooking on cast iron with a knob

    VEXMAECY 1800W Induction Wok

    The only pick supplying a cast iron wok, 14 inches, on a concave crystal ceramic glass surface, with 1800 watts, ten power levels from P1 to P10, ten temperature ranges from 140 to 460 F and a 24 hour timer.

    • VEXMAECY
    • 12.59*15.74*4.33
    • Weight not listed
  4. Aroma Housewares AEW-306 Electric Wok with Tempered ...
    Best for steaming and tempura as well

    Aroma Housewares AEW-306 Electric Wok with Tempered ...

    The only self contained electric wok here, 5 quarts of nonstick cast aluminum with its own temperature probe, cool touch handles, chopsticks, a tempura rack, a steaming rack and a wok that detaches for the dishwasher.

    • AROMA
    • 5Qt.
    • 8.4 lb
  5. Moss & Stone Round Electric Skillet with Lid
    Best for one pan that also does pancakes

    Moss & Stone Round Electric Skillet with Lid

    A round electric skillet rather than a wok, with a flat 11.8 inch cooking surface 3 inches deep, 200 to 425 F control, two layers of nonstick coating, a tilt leg for draining grease and a vented glass lid.

    • Moss & Stone
    • 12 x 12 Inch (5 Qt, 3" Depth)
    • 5 lb

Side by side

Blank means the maker does not publish it.
ModelBrandSize (capacity)WeightBest for
Nuwave Induction Wok Nuwave 14" Wok 14.4 lb Best for the hottest published stir fry setting
ABangDun 1700W Concave Induction Wok Burner Abangdun 1700W /120V 6.9 lb Best for simmering without the element cycling
VEXMAECY 1800W Induction Wok VEXMAECY 12.59*15.74*4.33 not published Best for cooking on cast iron with a knob
Aroma Housewares AEW-306 Electric Wok with Tempered ... AROMA 5Qt. 8.4 lb Best for steaming and tempura as well
Moss & Stone Round Electric Skillet with Lid Moss & Stone 12 x 12 Inch (5 Qt, 3" Depth) 5 lb Best for one pan that also does pancakes

Each pick in detail

What the listing says for it, and against it.
1 Best for the hottest published stir fry setting

Nuwave Induction Wok

The fullest heat control detail here, 100 F to 575 F in 5 F increments across 96 preset temperatures, with three selectable wattages of 600, 900 and 1500 and a 14 inch heavy gauge carbon steel wok.

  • For it
  • The widest published temperature range on this page, 100 F to 575 F
  • The finest published step, 5 F, across 96 preset temperatures
  • Three selectable wattages, 600, 900 and 1500, rather than one fixed figure
  • Supplies a 14 inch heavy gauge carbon steel wok, the traditional material
  • Against it
  • The heaviest published weight here at 14.4 pounds, for a burner and a wok together
  • Publishes no lid, so steaming in the supplied wok is not addressed
  • Publishes no voltage and no certification
2 Best for simmering without the element cycling

ABangDun 1700W Concave Induction Wok Burner

The only pick claiming non pulse continuous heating, with sixteen power levels, 1700 watts at 120 volts, FCC certification, pan detection, a 9.25 inch copper coil and a wok, lid and oil draining rack included.

  • For it
  • The only listing claiming non pulse continuous heating at low settings
  • Sixteen power levels, the highest count published here
  • States both wattage and voltage, 1700 W at 120 V, which only it does
  • FCC certified, with pan detection and overheat protection named
  • Against it
  • Publishes no temperature figure at all behind its sixteen levels
  • Publishes 13.78 by 18.11 by 5.91 inches, a lot of counter for one burner
  • States a coil diameter, 9.25 inches, without stating the wok diameter
3 Best for cooking on cast iron with a knob

VEXMAECY 1800W Induction Wok

The only pick supplying a cast iron wok, 14 inches, on a concave crystal ceramic glass surface, with 1800 watts, ten power levels from P1 to P10, ten temperature ranges from 140 to 460 F and a 24 hour timer.

  • For it
  • The only pick supplying a cast iron wok, at 14 inches
  • Publishes the highest wattage here, 1800 W
  • Ten power levels from P1 to P10 plus ten temperature ranges, 140 F to 460 F
  • Both touch and knob control, which no other pick offers
  • Against it
  • Publishes no weight at all
  • Its size field holds its three dimension figures instead of a size name
  • Publishes no lid with the wok
4 Best for steaming and tempura as well

Aroma Housewares AEW-306 Electric Wok with Tempered ...

The only self contained electric wok here, 5 quarts of nonstick cast aluminum with its own temperature probe, cool touch handles, chopsticks, a tempura rack, a steaming rack and a wok that detaches for the dishwasher.

  • For it
  • The only self contained electric wok in this group, at 5 quarts
  • Cast aluminum with a nonstick coating, and a temperature probe in the base
  • The whole wok detaches from the base for the dishwasher
  • Ships chopsticks, a tempura rack and a steaming rack
  • Against it
  • Publishes no wattage, no voltage and no temperature range
  • Its probe is described only as maintaining a consistent temperature
  • Publishes an 8 inch axis, the bulkiest profile on this page
5 Best for one pan that also does pancakes

Moss & Stone Round Electric Skillet with Lid

A round electric skillet rather than a wok, with a flat 11.8 inch cooking surface 3 inches deep, 200 to 425 F control, two layers of nonstick coating, a tilt leg for draining grease and a vented glass lid.

  • For it
  • Publishes a usable range, 200 F to 425 F, which two picks here do not
  • Two layers of nonstick coating rather than one
  • A tilt leg that drains grease while cooking, unique on this page
  • The lightest published weight here at 5 pounds
  • Against it
  • It is a round electric skillet, not a wok, and 3 inches deep
  • Its 425 F ceiling is 150 degrees below the highest figure here
  • Publishes no wattage and no voltage

Our verdict

Nuwave publishes the widest range here, 100 to 575 F in 5 F steps with 96 presets, and publishes the heaviest weight here at 14.4 pounds. VEXMAECY states 1800 watts and a 14 inch cast iron wok. Abangdun is the only pick claiming non pulse continuous heating, at 1700 watts and 120 volts. AROMA is the only self contained electric wok, 5 quarts of cast aluminum. Moss and Stone is a skillet, capped at 425 F.

“One reaches 575 degrees. Another stops at 425.”

Lush Editorial Team

What separates these five

Temperature ceilings Nuwave 575 F, VEXMAECY 460 F, Moss and Stone 425 F. Abangdun and AROMA publish no figure at all.
Power VEXMAECY 1800 W, Abangdun 1700 W at 120 V, Nuwave 600, 900 or 1500. The two non induction picks publish nothing.
What the pan is Carbon steel, cast iron, carbon steel again, cast aluminum, and one flat nonstick skillet surface.
How heat is set 96 presets on Nuwave, ten levels and ten ranges on VEXMAECY, sixteen levels on Abangdun, a probe on AROMA.
In the box AROMA adds chopsticks and two racks, Abangdun a lid and an oil rack. Nuwave and VEXMAECY add nothing.

How we chose

Priorities, not a computed score. The inputs are published specifications, so we rank by what matters most and say how much.

  1. 30% Published temperature ceilingStir frying is a high heat technique, and the published ceilings here differ by 150 degrees with two listings giving no figure at all.
  2. 25% What the product actually isThree of these five are induction burners with a wok in the box, one is a true electric wok and one is a round skillet.
  3. 20% Wattage and how heat is setFour different vocabularies appear across five listings, from counted presets to counted power levels to an unnumbered probe.
  4. 15% Pan material and shapeCarbon steel, cast iron and cast aluminum all appear, and one pick is flat rather than curved.
  5. 10% What ships with itLids, steaming racks, tempura racks, chopsticks and an oil draining rack are spread unevenly across the five.

How the Five Compare on the Numbers

Seven listings sit in this pool and the phrase electric wok covers at least three different machines among them. Starfrit is not here at all: it is a multi pot sold for keeping food warm at parties, with no wok shape and no stir fry claim anywhere in its bullets, and the capacity it publishes describes a pot rather than a pan. Moss and Stone is here, and it is a round electric skillet 3 inches deep, which the page says plainly rather than pretending otherwise.

The other four split two ways. Nuwave, VEXMAECY and Abangdun are induction burners with a 14 inch wok in the box, so the heat source and the pan are separate objects. AROMA is the only self contained electric wok here, a 5 quart cast aluminum bowl with its own element and a probe. Those are different products with the same search term attached.

Specification Nuwave VEXMAECY Abangdun AROMA Moss and Stone
What it actually is Induction burner and wok Induction burner and wok Induction burner and wok Self contained electric wok Round electric skillet
Temperature range published 100 to 575 F 140 to 460 F not published not published 200 to 425 F
Temperature step published 5 F, 96 preset temps Ten ranges not published not published not published
Wattage published 600, 900 and 1500 W 1800 W 1700 W not published not published
Voltage published not published not published 120 V not published not published
Power levels counted Three wattages Ten, from P1 to P10 Sixteen not published not published
Cooking surface Coils brought close to the wok Concave black crystal ceramic glass Concave, 9.25 in copper coil Cast aluminum bowl Flat, 11.8 in griddle surface
Pan supplied 14 in heavy gauge carbon steel 14 in cast iron Carbon steel wok Integral bowl, detaches from the base Integral, 12 by 12 in, 3 in deep
Stated capacity not published not published not published 5 quarts 5 quarts
Lid supplied not published not published Yes Tempered glass, steam vent Glass with steam vent
Other accessories not published not published Oil draining rack Chopsticks, tempura and steaming racks Tilt leg for draining grease
Timer published Add or deduct time at any point 24 hour Yes, unspecified not published not published
Certification named not published not published FCC certified not published not published
Safety features named not published not published Pan detection, overheat protection Cool touch base and handles Heat resistant handles
Dishwasher stated not published not published not published Yes, the wok detaches from the base not published
Published weight 14.4 lb not published 6.9 lb 8.4 lb 5 lb
Dimension fields 14 by 15 by 4 in 12.59 by 15.74 by 4.33 in 13.78 by 18.11 by 5.91 in 15.5 by 14.2 by 8 in 15 by 12 by 5 in
Size field content 14 in wok The three dimension figures 1700 W and 120 V 5 quarts 12 by 12 in, 5 qt, 3 in deep

What the table cannot do is put the three induction burners’ wattage beside AROMA’s silence. AROMA publishes no wattage, no voltage and no temperature figure at all, only a probe that maintains a consistent temperature, so the one true electric wok on this page is also the least documented. Its capacity, 5 quarts, is the only number it shares with any other pick here.

Three Machines, One Search Term

A Burner With a Wok in the Box

Nuwave, VEXMAECY and Abangdun all sell an induction hob with a round bottomed wok included, and all three build the pitch around the shape of the hob. VEXMAECY states a concave black crystal ceramic glass surface and says outright that the concave design suits round bottomed woks. Abangdun states a concave surface with a 9.25 inch copper coil. Nuwave claims its coils sit closer to the wok than rivals do.

The practical consequence is that you are buying two things and can replace either. All three note compatibility limits: Abangdun names round bottom carbon steel and cast iron, and VEXMAECY states it suits ellipse iron cookware and magnetic cookware such as cast iron, enameled steel or magnetic stainless steel. A flat pan on a concave hob is the failure mode all three are warning about.

The Only Wok That Is One Object

AROMA is the traditional design: a 5 quart cast aluminum bowl with a nonstick coating, an element in the base, a temperature probe, cool touch handles and a tempered glass lid with a steam vent. Its listing states the entire wok disassembles and detaches from the base for the dishwasher, which none of the induction picks can offer because their woks were never electrical.

It also ships the only cooking accessories on the page beyond a lid. Chopsticks, a tempura rack and a steaming rack come in the box, which points at the two jobs an electric wok gets used for besides stir frying. What AROMA never publishes is a single figure about heat: no wattage, no voltage, no temperature range and no number on the dial.

What the Temperature Figures Actually Say

575, 460 and 425 Degrees

Three listings publish a range and the ceilings are far apart. Nuwave states 100 F to 575 F in 5 F increments with 96 preset temperatures, which is the widest span and the finest step on this page. VEXMAECY states 140 F to 460 F across ten ranges. Moss and Stone, the skillet, states 200 F to 425 F. Stir frying lives at the top of all three.

The 150 degree gap between Nuwave’s ceiling and Moss and Stone’s is the clearest reason on this page to choose one machine over another. A skillet that stops at 425 F will brown food, and a hob that reaches 575 F is aimed at the dry, fast searing that a wok is for. VEXMAECY sits between them with a higher wattage than either.

Power Levels Instead of Degrees

Abangdun takes the other approach and publishes no temperature at all. It counts sixteen power levels, states 1700 watts at 120 volts, and makes a claim none of the others make: non pulse continuous heating, so the element does not cycle on and off at low settings. That is a specific and checkable design claim about simmering, and it is the only one here.

VEXMAECY does both, ten power levels from P1 to P10 and ten temperature ranges, selectable by touch or by knob, with a 24 hour timer. Nuwave publishes its three wattages, 600, 900 and 1500, as well as its temperature range. Between them these four listings use four different vocabularies for the same dial, which is the reason a straight comparison is impossible.

Footprint, Weight and What You Store

What the Weight Fields Say

Nuwave publishes the heaviest weight here at 14.4 pounds, which is what a burner plus a heavy gauge carbon steel wok comes to. Its dimension fields are 14 by 15 by 4 inches. Abangdun publishes 6.9 pounds and dimension fields of 13.78 by 18.11 by 5.91 inches, so it takes more counter and less lifting than the Nuwave does.

VEXMAECY publishes no weight at all, and puts its three dimension figures, 12.59 by 15.74 by 4.33 inches, in the size field where a size name should be. AROMA publishes 8.4 pounds and 15.5 by 14.2 by 8 inches, and that 8 inch height field is more than the 5.91 inches Abangdun publishes, because the bowl and the base are one unit rather than a flat plate.

What Goes in the Cupboard

Moss and Stone publishes the lightest weight here at 5 pounds, and its shape is the easiest to slide away: 15 by 12 by 5 inches with a flat 11.8 inch cooking surface and a tilt leg for draining grease. It is also the only pick that publishes two nonstick layers rather than one, and the only one that offers itself for pancakes as readily as for stir fry.

Storage on the induction picks is two problems rather than one, because the wok and the hob stack separately and only Abangdun states that a lid comes with it. Neither Nuwave nor VEXMAECY publishes a lid at all, which for steaming or for a covered braise in the same pan is worth knowing before ordering.

Which One Fits Your Kitchen

The cook who wants real wok heat. Nuwave publishes 100 to 575 F in 5 F steps with 96 presets and wattages of 600, 900 and 1500, behind a 14 inch carbon steel wok. It publishes the heaviest weight here at 14.4 pounds.

The cook who simmers as much as sears. Abangdun is the only pick claiming non pulse continuous heating, with sixteen power levels, 1700 watts at 120 volts, FCC certification, a 9.25 inch copper coil, pan detection and a wok, lid and oil draining rack in the box.

The cook who wants cast iron and a knob. VEXMAECY supplies a 14 inch cast iron wok, 1800 watts, ten power levels from P1 to P10, ten temperature ranges from 140 to 460 F, a 24 hour timer and both touch and knob control. It publishes no weight.

The cook who steams and fries too. AROMA is the only self contained electric wok here, 5 quarts of nonstick cast aluminum with a probe, chopsticks, a tempura rack, a steaming rack and a glass lid, and the whole wok detaches for the dishwasher.

The cook who wants one pan for everything. Moss and Stone is a round electric skillet, not a wok, with 200 to 425 F control, a flat 11.8 inch surface, two nonstick layers and a tilt leg. At 5 pounds it publishes the lightest weight here.

What We Could Not Verify

Everything above is from the listings. These are the things looked for there and not found.

  • AROMA publishes no wattage, no voltage and no temperature figure, only a probe described as maintaining a consistent temperature.
  • Abangdun counts sixteen power levels and never says what temperature any of them reaches.
  • VEXMAECY publishes no weight, and puts its dimension figures in the field where a size name belongs.
  • Neither Nuwave nor VEXMAECY states that a lid is included with the wok.
  • No listing states the wok’s depth or its capacity except the two that are not induction sets.
  • No listing on this page states a warranty period or whether a replacement wok can be bought separately.

Frequently asked questions

Do any of these actually get hot enough for stir frying?+

Three publish a figure and one is clearly built for it. Nuwave states 100 F to 575 F in 5 F increments, the highest ceiling here. VEXMAECY states 140 F to 460 F over ten ranges. Moss and Stone, which is a skillet rather than a wok, states 200 F to 425 F. Abangdun and AROMA publish no temperature at all, so on those two the dial cannot be matched to a technique.

What is the difference between these five, really?+

They are three kinds of product. Nuwave, VEXMAECY and Abangdun are induction burners supplied with a round bottomed wok, so the heat source and the pan are separate and either can be replaced. AROMA is a single self contained electric wok, a 5 quart cast aluminum bowl with its own element and probe. Moss and Stone is a round electric skillet, flat and 3 inches deep, included here because its own bullets name stir frying.

Can I use my own wok on the induction models?+

Only if it is magnetic and the right shape, and all three say so in their own way. Abangdun states it is designed for round bottom carbon steel and cast iron woks. VEXMAECY states it suits ellipse iron cookware and is compatible with cast iron, enameled steel or magnetic stainless steel, and warns that its concave surface limits what will sit on it. Nuwave claims its coils sit closer to the wok than rival designs.

Which one can steam as well as fry?+

AROMA is the only pick that ships the hardware for it, with a steaming rack, a tempura rack and a tempered glass lid with a steam vent in the box. Abangdun includes a lid and an oil draining rack. Moss and Stone includes a vented glass lid. Nuwave and VEXMAECY publish no lid at all, which matters because a wok without a lid cannot hold steam for a covered braise.

Why does one listing publish no wattage?+

AROMA's four bullets describe capacity, materials, a probe, a steam vent and a detachable base, and never state an electrical figure of any kind. That is unusual for a self contained appliance and it is the largest documentation gap on this page. Its 5 quart capacity and its 8.4 pound weight are the only figures it publishes that can be compared with anything else on this page.

Is the electric skillet a reasonable substitute?+

For some of the job. Moss and Stone publishes 200 F to 425 F, a flat 11.8 inch cooking surface, two nonstick layers, a 3 inch depth and a tilt leg that drains grease, and it publishes the lightest weight here at 5 pounds. What it cannot do is hold food up a curved side or reach the 575 F Nuwave publishes, so it is a pan for pancakes and pork chops that also stir fries.

Specifications come from the manufacturers' own published listings. Lush Food & Drink may earn a commission if you buy through a link on this page, at no extra cost to you. How we research.