Wok vs sauté pan
Choose a wok for stir-fries and fried rice over high heat, especially on gas. Choose a sauté pan for searing and then simmering in a sauce, and on electric or induction cooktops, where its whole floor meets the heat.
| Difference | Wok | Sauté pan |
|---|---|---|
| Shape | Sloped sides around a small base | Straight sides around a wide flat floor |
| Lid | Sometimes | Usually |
| On electric or induction | Only the flat base heats; check it against the zone | The whole floor heats |
| Best for | Stir-fries, fried rice, deep frying with less oil | Searing then simmering, shallow frying, one-pan dinners |
| Sizes we list | 10–14 in (8 products) | 1.5–7 qt (70 products) |
| Empty weight, single pans | 3.1–12.8 lb (6 pans) | 4–8 lb (9 pans) |
| Oven-safe to | 500–900°F (4 of 8) | 350–1050°F (61 of 70) |
| Works on induction (maker says) | 8 of 8 | 50 of 70 |
On this page
Two exact examples
| Difference | Made In Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok, wok only | All-Clad D3 Everyday 3-quart Sauté Pan with Lid |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Carbon steel | Stainless clad |
| Cooking surface | Seasoned carbon steel | stainless steel |
| Included shapes | Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok, wok only | Sauté pan |
| Supplied lids | 0 | 1 |
| Empty total weight | 3.5 lb | 4.44 lb |
| Dishwasher | Hand wash only | Hand wash only |
| Induction | Works on induction | Works on induction |
What each one is for
A wok's sides slope up from a small base, so food can be pushed up the sides and tossed while the bottom stays hottest: stir-fries, fried rice, deep frying with less oil. A sauté pan has a wide flat floor and straight sides, so more food sits on the heat at once and a sauce stays put; most come with a lid for simmering.
On your stove
On electric and induction cooktops only a wok's flat base touches the heat: Made In's 13-inch wok has a 5.5-inch base. Made In recommends a flat-bottomed wok for home stoves, with a smooth bottom on glass. A sauté pan's whole floor sits on the burner, which makes it the easier pan on an electric zone.
What’s in each, measured
Scroll sideways for every column; tap a heading to sort. “Not stated” means the maker doesn’t publish it.
| Made In Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok, wok only | 13 in | 13.5 in | 5.5 in | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | Not included |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All-Clad D3 Everyday 3-quart Sauté Pan with Lid | Not stated | Not stated | Not stated | 3 US qt | 9 | 6 | Included |