A journal for the everyday cookRecipes, reasons & good things to eat

Equipment guide · 7 minute read

Made In vs. Lodge Woks: Will You Lift or Stir?

A long handled carbon steel wok and a heavy cast iron wok invite different cooking movements.

Read the guide ↓
Wooden kitchen utensils, a whisk and ceramic vessels on a counter.

Researched product comparison

At a glance

Compare manufacturer specifications and instructions reviewed on October 15, 2026, with recommendations for different kitchen tasks.

Published specifications and buying considerations
What to compareMade In Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok, 13-inchLodge 14-inch Seasoned Cast Iron Wok
Selected model13-inch seasoned Sweden version14-inch L14W
MaterialCarbon steelCast iron
Published empty weight1.59 kg12.8 pounds
HandlesLong riveted handleTwo loop handles
Manufacturer specificationsRead specifications Read specifications

A lighter wok with a long handle

Made In Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok, 13-inch. The current thirteen-inch model lists a 1.59 kg empty weight.

Cooking with the wok left on the burner

Lodge 14-inch Seasoned Cast Iron Wok. L14W offers two loop handles and a 12.8-pound cast iron body.

Picture the movement before the purchase

The useful question in this comparison is how you move the food. Made In's current thirteen-inch Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok has a long handle and a published weight of 1.59 kilograms. Lodge's fourteen-inch L14W has two loop handles and weighs 12.8 pounds before food. Those differences influence the workflow well before any claimed searing advantage.

If you like lifting the pan to redirect ingredients, the lighter Made In is the more plausible match. If you intend to leave a wok planted on the stove and move food with a spatula, the Lodge fits that approach. Neither choice guarantees a restaurant burner result on an ordinary home range.

Confirm the current Made In identity

The old Made In Blue Carbon Steel Wok listing now redirects to a different product: a seasoned thirteen-inch wok made in Sweden. Older search results still describe a French twelve-inch version with different dimensions and weight. This article uses the current Swedish product, so an older listing should not borrow its specifications.

Made In lists a flat base and a fourteen-centimeter cooking surface diameter. The larger rim measurement does not represent a flat thirteen-inch searing floor. Before buying for induction, compare the base against the cooktop's minimum pan requirements. Burner compatibility alone does not establish how evenly food will cook up the sloping sides.

Give a heavy wok a sensible home

Lodge documents compatibility with stovetops including induction, as well as an oven, grill or campfire. That flexibility may matter if the vessel will stay put over one heat source. The two handles give lifting points, but they do not reduce the load. Think about lifting from storage, washing in the sink and draining food.

Both vessels are seasoned iron-based cookware. Keep up the maker's washing and drying routine rather than treating the dark surface like a disposable nonstick coating. Lodge explicitly instructs hand washing, drying and oiling. A damp cupboard or prolonged soaking is an avoidable ownership problem, especially if the wok is used only occasionally.

Let the batch size follow the burner

A wide rim should not encourage loading every chopped ingredient into one batch. Food needs access to the hot part of the pan, and a crowded wok can accumulate liquid. Portioning ingredients and arranging the prepared food beside the stove remain useful habits regardless of the material or the number printed on the box.

Choose Made In when the lighter documented weight and long handle suit your intended movements. Choose Lodge when you accept its substantial weight and want a stationary cast iron vessel. Check the exact model, storage space and care routine before treating either as an upgrade.

Keep in mind

Compare manufacturer specifications and instructions reviewed on October 15, 2026, with recommendations for different kitchen tasks.

The products in this comparison

Check the details before you buy

Compare the exact model, dimensions, and care instructions before ordering. These notes draw on published specifications.

Made In

Made In Seasoned Carbon Steel Wok, 13-inch

Moving a lighter wok during cooking

construction
Seasoned carbon steel
size
13-inch nominal; total diameter 34.3 cm
weight
1.59 kg

Consider: Long handle needs storage clearance

Read specifications

Lodge

Lodge 14-inch Seasoned Cast Iron Wok

Stirring in a wok that stays on the burner

construction
Seasoned cast iron
size
14-inch nominal; 14.31-inch width
weight
12.8 pounds

Consider: 12.8-pound empty weight makes tossing impractical for many cooks

Read specifications

Published manufacturer specifications checked 2026-10-15. Read the full specifications and care instructions for the exact model before choosing.

Keep a good thing close

Your next dinner is in here.

Save the recipes you want to come back to. Your recipe box stays on this device.

Open my recipe box