As part of my search to find a new electric wok that cooks as well as a traditional Asian model I looked at a lot of different models before making my decision. Both Breville woks were high on my list as they are known to be high quality cookware and a brand that stands behind their product.
This review will focus on the Breville BEW600XL Hot Wok, their top of the line model. It has a lot of nice features, as does their other electric wok. I was interested to see if there was a big difference with the Breville EW30XL Wok, and if the Hot Wok was worth the extra cost.
Breville BEW600XL Review
The feature list is extensive with this wok, and like all the models I reviewed the prerequisite was that it got hot enough to sear meats, which is essential for a proper stir-fry. I didn’t look at any wok that didn’t meet that criteria. Following is the short this of features which I’ll go into more thoroughly.
• High Heat
• Various Cooking Temperatures/Cooking Methods
• Large Capacity
• Cook ‘n Look Lid
• Non-Stick Surface
• Healthier Cooking
• Easy Clean Up
• Dishwasher Safe
• Round Bottom
• Sturdy Construction
High Heat
As I mentioned earlier, this is the number one thing to look for in an electric wok and the Breville 600XL delivers. It has a 1500w Butterfly heating element that heats the wok up to 425 degrees F. Hot enough to sear the food and produce an excellent stir-fry. The way the element is designed means you’ll have nice even heat up the sides and walls of the wok which is what you need for properly cooking your dishes.
The woks aluminum composition material you’ll find is also great for holding in the heat, this wok heats up fast and holds it. Which also makes it more energy efficient, which is a very nice bonus.
It also has 15 different heat settings, which leads us to the next feature
Various Cooking Temps and Cooking Methods
The 15 different settings are perfect for cooking all types of dishes. You can use it to slow cook sauces and soups, make curries and fried rice, deep fry dishes like egg rolls, and of course the High Sear setting for the perfect stir fry. You’ll be able to make any type of Asian dish you could make in a traditional wok.
Large Capacity
The 600XL is a large wok at just over 6 quarts and 14″ in diameter. There is plenty of room to easily make a meal for a family of 4 or 5, if not more.
Cook ‘n Look Lid
The glass lid is a nice feature to have when making dishes that require the top covered to keep in moisture. The bonus is that it also has a vent that you can open if you need to cook down some of the liquids on one of your dishes. Not all woks come with the see through lid, fewer with the vent.
Non-Stick Surface
This is a must have for me. I gave up on stainless steel pans or iron pans when I left cooking in restaurant. For woks, it’s even worse. You have to season your wok over time, and clean up can be harder work. Non-stick is so much easier. Plus it leads me to my next feature…
Healthier Cooking
Stir-Fry’s and many Asian dishes are just plain healthier with their mix of fresh vegetables and lean meats. Provided you don’t overdue it on heavy sauces or fried dishes. With the non-stick coating it gets even better. I’ve found you can use less oil for your stir-fry’s than you would in the conventional woks.
Easy Clean Up – Dishwasher Safe
The non-stick surface is easy to clean. You can wash it out with a sponge and some warm soapy water after each meal. Though Breville says the wok is dishwasher safe, they do recommend the hand washing to help preserve the non-stick coatings life. To me a quick wipe down with the sponge is so much easier, plus it saves a lot of space in the dishwasher – this thing is big.
Round Bottom
Too many of the conventional stove top woks, especially if you are on an electric range, are flat bottomed. They need to do this to get enough heat distributed around the wok, and to get it to the correct temperature. Traditional woks have a round bottom as does the Breville 600XL. It does make a difference – not huge, but I find it easier to cook some dishes. You can move portions up the wall of the wok away from the heat as you add new ingredients to the high heat of the center. You get the sear, then recombine and stir-fry the whole dish.
Sturdy Construction
This electric wok is well made and heavy – at almost 16 pounds. I read lots of reviews from people talking about how well this product is made. The parts fit together well and are very durable
Some Things To Be Aware Of
The non-stick surface is great, but it needs to be taken care of as well. Soft plastic utensils or wood or bamboo. Never any metal. Never any sharp edges. Some owners of the product reported scratches in the coating even when using plastic. The number of complaints I’ve read were very few.
I like that they have a 1-year replacement warranty, and that they’ll send you a brand new unit if something goes wrong – but not things that they advised you against. If you cut chicken with a knife while in the wok and destroy the coating – your going to be out of luck.
I also read one person warned about protecting your laminate counter top from the radiant heat as this gets very hot. I put my wok on the electric cook top, so I’ve not noticed the issue, but something to think about.
The final thing to be aware of is this thing is big. 17.8 x 9.2 x 17.8 inches ; 15.7 pounds. That is great for cooking, but if you have limited cupboard space, you might have this sitting out on your counter top all the time. Which for me is no problem as I use it several times a week. Just keep the measurements in mind.
Buy The Breville BEW600XL Hot Wok
I don’t know why, but I didn’t find a single electric wok in my local stores, they only seem to be available online. Which is fine by me, as the online stores usually have the best price anyway. I’ve found the best deal to be on Amazon, they really offer some great discounts and I’ve always been happy with their service.
Click Here To Check The Pricing on Amazon -> Breville BEW600XL
