The Presto 5900 stainless steel electric wok is a great choice for those people that are a little wary of non-stick coatings or for those that just love stainless steel cookware. I will admit that I don’t fit in either of those categories and I’ll explain why a little later. None the less, this is a fine option if you are looking for an electric wok for your home kitchen.
In this review we’ll take a look at both the good and bad points of the Presto electric wok so you’ll be able to make an informed decision before you buy. It has a lot of nice features, most of which are pretty standard for any wok that I review here. If a wok doesn’t make the cut on paper I don’t take a further look at it. Though in the future I put some review up of these other woks just so people can see the difference. Well, that’s enough rambling from me, let’s take a look at the…
Presto Stainless Steel Electric Wok Review
This wok has a lot of great features that we look for in a product, including the main one – High Heat. If you’ve read any of my other reviews or articles you’ll know this is a must have for stir-frying. Without it you’ll get a soft and mushy dish that doesn’t come out tasting right. We’ll take a look at this wok’s heat as well as the other features. Below is the list I’ll explore a bit further.
- High Heat
- Adjustable Cooking Temperatures/Cooking Methods
- Aluminum Clad Bottom
- Large Capacity
- See Through Glass Lid
- Round Bottom
- Stainless Steel Surface
- Dishwasher Safe
High Heat
With a 1500-watt heating element and temperatures up to 400 degrees, this one definitely has what it takes to make a good stir-fry. You’ll be able to sear meats properly and properly cook off sauces.
Adjustable Cooking Temperatures/Cooking Methods
The Presto 5900 Wok has a nice adjustable dial to control the cooking temps. It ranges from 200 to 400 degrees. This allows you to cook a wide range of dishes from soups and curries to stir frys. Following is a list of recommended settings from the manufacturer, though there more of a guide and you’ll learn to adjust to the appropriate temperature as you get comfortable with the wok
If you want to read the full manual click Here.
Aluminum Clad Bottom
The aluminum clad bottom on the wok is great for conducting heat and evenly distributing it through the sides of the wok. It allows for fast heating so the wok is ready to start cooking on after a few minutes of pre-heating.
See Through Glass Lid
Although there isn’t a vent available on the lid like on the Breville EW30XL or Breville 600XL a see through glass lid is still nice to have. You can watch as you are cooking soups or curries without having to remove the lid. Not a huge revolution in cooking, but definitely something that is more of a ‘must have’ these days.
Round Bottom
I’ve said it before, but as this is a new review I’ll say it again, I’m not a fan of flat bottom woks if I can have the traditional round bottom alternative. Which is why electric woks are so nice, they almost all have the round bottom, and this is no exception.
Stainless Steel Surface
Now this is where I have an issue, and I fully admit it is a personal preference. I don’t like stainless steel cookware. Yes it looks nice and cooks well. However I spent several years cooking in a restaurant and all we used is stainless steel. I found that food has a tendency to stick and worse get burned on. Cleaning can be a real pain. For my home kitchen I prefer non-stick.
However, don’t let my personal preference dissuade you. If you like stainless steel or have concerns about non-stick surfaces than go for it. Buy the Presto 5900 Wok, it is a good product.
Dishwasher Safe
The Presto electric wok is dishwasher safe, however as I mentioned above you may find cleaning it is not as simple. You may require a stainless steel scouring pad and some elbow grease. Or you might have to use the old cooks trick of boiling water to de-glaze the pan as you scrape it with your spatula. I just want you to know what you may be in for.
What I didn’t like about the Presto Stainless Steel Electric Wok
You already read my opinion about stainless steel. However I understand people are afraid of scratching it and damaging the coating, and there was the whole Teflon scare a few years back (Breville doesn’t use Teflon but their own non-stick coating).
The only other draw back I can see is the short cord. I usually cook over my electric range and an electric outlet isn’t that close by. However a short extension cord should do the trick for you should you need it.
Conclusion
Should you buy the Presto electric wok or should you not. My overall recommendation is yes. It meets the necessary requirements for a good electric wok, high heat that is good for stir-frying and adjustable temperature settings. As far as price compare it is a pretty good deal if you buy it online. You can find it on Amazon from less than 70 dollars with their big discount rates.
If you are not comfortable or don’t like non-stick surfaces than this is a wok I would highly recommend. However if you are a fan of non-stick coating and the ease of use and cooking, I would suggest you seriously consider getting the Breville EW30XL or the Breville BEW600XL.
So in parting, the Presto electric wok is a good wok that meets the needs of at home chefs to prepare a really good stir-fry as well as many other Asian dishes.
If you are interested in buying a Presto Stainless Steel wok, please use my Amazon link to show your support for this site. This review as well as the others takes me HOURS to write.
Cheers,
The Traveling Chef
