On Dec 18, 3:14*pm, "Steve B" > wrote:
> "spamtrap1888" > wrote in message
>
> ...
> On Dec 17, 3:07 pm, "Pete C." > wrote:
>
>
>
>
>
> > sf wrote:
>
> > > On Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:11:25 -0800 (PST), spamtrap1888
> > > > wrote:
>
> > > > On Dec 17, 12:18 pm, "Pete C." > wrote:
> > > > > Brooklyn1 wrote:
>
> > > > > > On Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:25:55 -0600, wrote:
>
> > > > > > >I'm not much of a cook at all.... but one thing I do
> > > > > > >like is fried potatoes and stir fry type dishes
>
> > > > > > >I have a nice skillet (probably too small) though.....
> > > > > > >but have wondered if maybe a wok is the better "tool"
> > > > > > >for me?
>
> > > > > > >Can someone give this neophyte cook some advice on the
> > > > > > >advantages of wok vs BIG skillet?
>
> > > > > > Big skillet wins... raw spuds is not something lends itself to
> > > > > > stir
> > > > > > frying. I see no point to a wok unless one cooks very teeny
> > > > > > quantities or has a huge BTU gas burner. The vast majority of
> > > > > > folks
> > > > > > who wok at home are just fooling themselves (ie. masturbating).
>
> > > > > I agree, unless you have a high BTU burner (or cook over a wood or
> > > > > charcoal fire) you don't have enough heat input for a wok to
> > > > > function
> > > > > properly and you may as well use an ordinary large skillet.
>
> > > > Hmm... should I go by this unsupported assertion, or rely on over
> > > > thirty years of personal experience stir-frying on ordinary gas
> > > > stoves?
>
> > > They're from the "Tim, the Toolman, Taylor" school of thought.
>
> > You'll find that same "unsupported" assertion from many professional
> > chefs and you'll find they all use woks on burners with much higher BTU
> > output than an "ordinary" gas stove.
>
> Funnily enough, most Chinese meals are not cooked by professional
> chefs, but by home cooks. A typical wok burner puts out 4.5kW, or
> 15,350 BTU, easily achievable from any US range.
>
> reply: *Did I get taken? *I just spent a grand on a Bosch, and the biggest
> burner is a 15k.
>

Tappan AKA Electrolux goes up to 18,000 BTU.