Best Wok I've Ever Tried
Written: Jan 03 '03 (Updated Sep 19 '03)
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Pros: Makes the best stir-fry, especially on a gas stove
Cons: Requires some special care in cleaning
The Bottom Line: Best Stir Fry Pan you can buy. It's durable, heats great and is large enough to move around in.
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| randfan's Full Review: Calphalon Commercial Hard-Anodized Stir Fry Pan |
The Calphalon Stir-Fry pan is great for stir-fries, sauces, and any cooking that involves sauteeing at high temperatures. I have used one for years. With proper care, it will look great and perform great. I do use a lower temperature in this pan than I've used in stainless pans. In the Calphalon, I use the stir-fry pan at high temps (for stir-fries) and at medium-low temps for sauces. The even heat and lack of hot spots make this pan great at any temperature.
The anodized aluminum is helpful in the even distribution of the cooking heat. This is especially important when cooking at high temperatures. The pan is substantial in size, so it is easy to cook stir-fries for 8 people or more, yet it is not overly cumbersome or too heavy. It gives you plenty of room to move around in. When I am cooking with this cookware, I have room (and an optional rack that fits on the side) to place food up away from the most intense heat and continue cooking other food in the lower part of the pan. This flexibility makes it easier to keep veggies stir-fry crisp while ensuring that meat is completely cooked.
The depth of the pan is nice for making a sauce to finish the stir fry, or for making other sauces. You can get enough depth in your sauce so that scorching and burning are not a problem.
It is important to use an oil in this pan that withstands high temperatures without smoking, especially during stir frying. I prefer peanut oil, although grape oil and avocado oil are good choices, too. The peanut oil enables you to cook at a high temperature without smoking and spattering. Tip: I buy the peanut oil with vitamin E added. This helps protect the oil from rancidity.
The handle of this pan will get HOT! Calphalon makes a suede sheath that fits the handle perfectly, or an ordinary hot pad works fine, too.
Cleaning this pan, like all other Calphalon, is a little more challenging. These pans should not be placed in the dishwasher. I used to use the special Calphalon cleaner that is sold at most department and cooking stores. But it is expensive and I don't think it does as good a job as regular Comet cleanser. A Calphalon salesperson told me to use Comet and a Scotch Brite pad on my Calphalon pans. I have done so for 13 years, and they still look great.
Since Calphalon can create storage problems due to their size and their handles, I hang mine on a rack over the stove. The stir-fry pan hangs nicely.
I'm a fan of Calphalon and have been for years, and this stir-fry pan is one of my favorite pieces. I highly recommend it!
********** UPDATE **********
I wanted to add to my review the great experience I had with Calphalon on their warranty service. My 5 1/2 quart saute pan had begun to deanodized (turn silver) on the inside bottom of the pan. I contacted Calphalon via email, and described the problem and how I had cared for the pan. They instructed me to send it back to them and they would replace it. It took about 10 days round trip, but I just received my new pan, delivered by FedEx on a Saturday, today. It is slightly restyled, as my old pan was 13 years of age, and Calphalon included a new lid with my replacement so that the pan and lid would match.
I was very impressed with Calphalon's response and follow up and the entire process of their warranty claims. I think this is an excellent example of a company that stands behind their product, and gives me even more conviction in my recommending them so highly.
***Please check out my other Calphalon Reviews***
http://www.epinions.com/content_109995134596
http://www.epinions.com/content_107550183044
http://www.epinions.com/content_103483739780
http://www.epinions.com/content_97479134852
http://www.epinions.com/content_94064840324
http://www.epinions.com/content_85737508484
http://www.epinions.com/content_85602700932
http://www.epinions.com/content_85713260164
http://www.epinions.com/content_88926359172
Recommended:
Yes
Amount Paid (US$): 65.00
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Epinions.com ID:
randfan
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Location: The Beautiful MidWest
Reviews written: 143
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