Pictured Recipe: Sweet & Sour Pork
A 14-inch flat-bottomed carbon-steel wok with a long wood handle is the best all-purpose wok. The carbon steel conducts heat efficiently, the wooden handle stays cool and the flat bottom gives the wok more contact with the burner—especially important if you have an electric or underpowered gas range. You can find them for $25-$35 at kitchenware stores or at amazon.com.