What is a "wok"?

A wok is a versatile round-bottomed cooking vessel with high, sloping sides, originating from Chinese cuisine. Traditionally made of carbon steel, cast iron, or aluminum, woks are designed to evenly distribute heat across the cooking surface, making them ideal for stir-frying, steaming, deep-frying, boiling, and even smoking food. Woks often have long handles for easy tossing and flipping of ingredients, as well as a rounded bottom that allows for the use of less oil when cooking. They are commonly used in Asian cooking but have gained popularity worldwide due to their versatility and efficiency.