The Wok: Recipes and Techniques
About this product
#1 New York Times Bestseller • #1 Washington Post Bestseller • Winner of the 2023 James Beard Award for Single Subject Cookbooks • One of Time 's 10 Most Anticipated Cookbooks of 2022
One of NPR's Books We Love in 2022 • A Bon Appétit, Tasting Table, Vice, Here & Now, Publishers Weekly, and Inside Hook Best Cookbook of 2022
From J. Kenji López-Alt, the author of the best-selling cookbook The Food Lab : the definitive guide to the science and technique of cooking in a wok. J. Kenji López-Alt’s debut cookbook, The Food Lab, revolutionized home cooking, selling more than half a million copies with its science-based approach to everyday foods. And for fast, fresh cooking for his family, there’s one pan López-Alt reaches for more than any other: the wok. Whether stir-frying, deep frying, steaming, simmering, or braising, the wok is the most versatile pan in the kitchen. Once you master the basics―the mechanics of a stir-fry, and how to get smoky wok hei at home―you’re ready to cook home-style and restaurant-style dishes from across Asia and the United States, including Kung Pao Chicken, Pad Thai, and San Francisco–Style Garlic Noodles. López-Alt also breaks down the science behind beloved Beef Chow Fun, fried rice, dumplings, tempura vegetables or seafood, and dashi-simmered dishes. Featuring more than 200 recipes―including simple no-cook sides―explanations of knife skills and how to stock a pantry, and more than 1,000 color photographs, The Wok provides endless ideas for brightening up dinner. Full color photographs throughout Read more
Editor's Take
Review coverage for The Wok: Recipes and Techniques is overwhelmingly positive. Amazon reviewers say the recipes are clear, detailed, and easy to follow, with especially strong praise for the technique explanations, ingredient guidance, and the book’s usefulness for expanding weeknight cooking. Goodreads readers describe it as a must-have cookbook, calling it informative, practical, and packed with helpful photos and science-backed instruction. Book review aggregators and review blogs also frame it as an essential, beginner-friendly wok guide, while noting that its length and density can feel intimidating at first. Reddit discussions generally echo that it is excellent for both recipes and technique, with users saying it works well even if someone does not already own a wok. A few reviewers mention that the photography is sometimes less polished than expected, but that complaint is minor compared with the overall praise for content and usability.
Price History
Specifications
| Publisher | W. W. Norton & Company |
| Publication date | March 8, 2022 |
| Edition | First Edition |
| Language | English |
| Print length | 672 pages |
| ISBN-10 | 0393541215 |
| ISBN-13 | 978-0393541212 |
| Item Weight | 4.6 pounds |
| Dimensions | 8.9 x 1.5 x 10.9 inches |
| Best Sellers Rank | #5,779 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #2 in Wok Cookery (Books) #3 in Chinese Cooking, Food & Wine #49 in Quick & Easy Cooking (Books) |
| Customer Reviews | 4.8 4.8 out of 5 stars (3,141) |
