DeWok Table Wok Review: The raclette replacement?
9.12.2021
Translation: machine translated
Many have tried, but none have succeeded: to replace the raclette oven as the gold standard of tabletop cooking appliances. With DeWok, another company is giving it a try, this time with tabletop woks powered by fuel paste.
The idea of the table wok is not new. There are already inexpensive, electrically operated devices from various manufacturers. The idea is the same everywhere: Instead of topping raclette cheese with all kinds of ingredients and pushing it into the device, the cooking-friendly table community should conjure up glass noodles, vegetables or shredded meat for an individual symphony of pleasure in their own mini-wok. The electric devices fail because they do not get hot enough. A wok has to get so hot that the ingredients in it would burn after a short time if they are not stirred constantly and skillfully.
Now, a start-up is gearing up to solve the problem of lack of heat with a burner. DeWok's woks are also designed for two servings, which means that the dishes prepared are not a first-person party, but can be shared at the table.
DeWok, THE wok?
The first thing that stands out is the weight of the package. The set of two weighs eight and a half kilos, not without reason. The stand and woks are made of stone and high-quality steel, and wooden handles provide heat insulation. So there's nothing to complain about here. The paste burner, on the other hand, falls short. It is made of thin sheet metal, which bends under the heat. So it is difficult to adjust the air supply.
The manufacturer would have rather invested more money here, instead of in the promotional material. The package comes with various stickers, key chains and jute bags with the DeWok logo. I want a working tabletop wok, not a trade show goodie bag.
According to the manufacturer, the latest version includes less promo material, but a small bottle of firing paste. This is also the version I linked to above.
It's getting hot
The wok works. The principle is familiar from the fondue caquelon: Fill the burner with paste, close it, light it, and heat up the wok. Although the burners deliver a lot of heat, they never come close to the temperatures of a real wok burner. Woks reach well over 350 °C on a professional burner, the small flame on the DeWok never manages that much. I couldn't measure it, but the heat is about as high as on a stove top set to medium high. So proper stir-frying is not possible with the DeWoks either, which disappointed me at first. In practice, however, this was then not tragic.
I opted for two types of noodle stir-fry. Once with a sesame sauce and once with Korean chili paste bibimbap style, both with ground meat. This would have all worked out very well if I hadn't kept overloading the woks. My mistake. Woks retain heat for a long time, which makes cooking easier. You don't have to keep waiting for them to reheat. The mince browns nicely, the sauces cook quickly and the noodles are also warm instantly. If something spills over, the stone surface is cleaned subito.
The size of the woks is great. They are not so small that everyone cooks their ego wok, but explicitly made for sharing. In this respect, DeWok is more social than raclette, where selfishly onions, mushrooms and - God forbid! - Pineapple are piled on slices of cheese. This is about compromise at the table. Don't like cilantro? Sit out one round, and the next round will have shrimp, which I don't like. With those compromises, DeWok is more Helvetian than any raclette.
Accessories? What accessories?
I could test my DeWok with accessories that would cost extra. Especially the storage ring is practical, but not a must. More useful is the holder for the burners, you can easily do without. That DeWok does not include a basic set of accessories or at least makes discounted packages is annoying.
Raclette alternative with small flaws
DeWok doesn't reinvent tabletop woks, but it's a classy and great alternative to raclette. Easy to use, very high quality workmanship and easy to wash. The fact that they don't get as hot as real woks doesn't bother at all. It's fun. The quality of the burners and the only optional accessories give deduction.
Chopstick rating
The maximum score is five 🥢.
Workmanship:🥢🥢🥢🥢
Handling: 🥢🥢🥢🥢🥢
Scope of delivery: 🥢🥢🥢
Price / performance: 🥢🥢🥢🥢
This pleases
- high-quality workmanship
- right size to be able to share dishes
- easy to assemble and disassemble
That falls off
- burner made of thin sheet metal
- few accessories included
Simon Balissat
Teamleader Editorial
Simon.Balissat@digitecgalaxus.chWhen I flew the family nest over 15 years ago, I suddenly had to cook for myself. But it wasn’t long until this necessity became a virtue. Today, rattling those pots and pans is a fundamental part of my life. I’m a true foodie and devour everything from junk food to star-awarded cuisine. Literally. I eat way too fast.
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