Chinese Wok Range

Stir Fry Your Meals with a Commercial Chinese Wok Range

Chinese wok ranges are key to cooking many styles of Chinese cuisine. Commercial models often come with their own heat source such as a burner that uses natural gas. Now might be the time for new and established eateries to install one of these woks in the kitchen.

Natural gas is used to heat the burners on a Chinese wok range. A range comes with an ignition switch connected to a pilot light. Pressing the ignition switch allows the burner units to heat up as the gas flows. Depending on the type of model, the wok may also be portable and powered outside the normal confines of a restaurant kitchen. Without access to natural gas, such models may be heated with liquid propane. Not every model, however, works with propane or is portable.

The amount of BTUs -- British Thermal Units -- depends on the particular model, but 50,000BTU to 100,000BTU ranges are not uncommon. The number of ring burners factors into the amount of BTU; multi-ring woks will generate higher amounts of BTUs. The increased number of rings means sufficient heat must be generated to the pots on each one.

Individual models available on eBay come with varying numbers of wok chambers. Smaller units may be limited to one wok chamber, while larger units may offer up to 10 wok chambers. This allows for expanding the cooking capabilities of the unit. Different units also come with varying numbers of individual waste drains.

Stainless steel serves as the chosen material to produce these restaurant woks. Stainless steel is a reliable material for safe heat conduction in gas burners. Durability also plays a role in the usage of the material in manufacturing. When properly cared for, a steel Chinese wok range should last many years even after consistent, repeated use. It also tends to be easier to clean.