Check out J. Kenji López-Alt 's amazing review of the WokMon at SeriousEats.com: http://www.seriouseats.com/2014/05/the-wok-mon-converts-your-home-burner-into-a-wok-range-solution.html.
[Some notes about the above set of pictures: The first two were taken by Kenji during his tests. Given that he was using earlier prototypes, he used aluminum foil to add height to both the WokMon and the removable stove grate. The third picture was taken by me using a 2" burner with a smaller flame. So while you may not get the same type of flame on a smaller burner, the high heat produced by using a WokMon even with this size burner will produce wok hei.]
And here's a short video clip of Kenji stir-frying with the WokMon:
The WokMon is a patented first-of-its-kind revolutionary breakthrough kitchen gadget that can turn your home's kitchen into a haven for cooking delicious and healthy stir-fried dishes. It directly addresses and solves a long persistent heating problem that has plagued millions of people who have attempted to cook at home using woks with varying degrees of success. Every major author of Asian cookbooks has also tried with mixed results to address this heat issue and Asian cooking bloggers have been writing about this issue for a long time.
The WokMon is the solution that everyone has been hoping for when it comes to woking. I cannot emphasize the importance of achieving this “Holy Grail” of high heat that Asian chefs call “Wok Hei” or “Breath of the Wok.” When Wok Hei is achieved the result is a great tasting dish.
As you can see, from the illustration below, there is a “dead spot” in consumer gas stoves because the flames fan outward. Therefore a wok placed on this flame can never achieve its ultimate cooking potential.
Without the WokMon:
Making sure that the center of your wok attains a high temperature is an integral part of woking. Enter the patented WokMon.
The WokMon's unique focus ring redirects all of your gas burner's flames towards the center turning your wok's “dead spot” into a “hot spot.” The WokMon easily turns relatively low powered gas burners into very efficient wok burners. The results are amazingly hot stir-fried dishes and a wok that is also capable of efficient steaming just like in a Chinese restaurant's kitchen.
By using every bit of the gas flame's energy (measured in BTUs) that would normally be wasted, your stove becomes up to 50% more efficient, thus making the WokMon a green (energy efficient) device. [Note: Home gas burners vary from 7000 BTUs to 18,000 BTUs for hi-end stoves vs.150,000+ BTUs for restaurant burners].
With the WokMon:
As you stir your food from side to side, in and out of this hot zone, you are searing your food without burning it, truly stir-frying and not stewing your food. It's a fun and easy technique to learn. I am not saying that you will be ready to open a Chinese restaurant, but you will be able to replicate many exciting dishes from your favorite Asian cookbook using the WokMon.
The American version of the wok started out as a traditional rounded bottomed wok from Asia. However, various manufacturers have contributed to the mutation of today’s wok designs that include flat-bottomed, aluminum, multi-layer clad, stainless steel and most recently green ceramic. However with the exception of expensive cooktops designed for woking, gas stove burners have not evolved to take advantage of the potential benefits of these new wok designs. The WokMon will breathe new life into these woks! [Important note: Teflon woks cannot be used with the high heat from WokMon without toxic fumes being emitted, a real no-no. The intensity of the heat will also damage the non stick surface.]
Is your Wok "woking out" for you?
Western stoves were designed for flat cookware that require relatively low power to cook basic cuisine. But they are grossly underpowered for woking. Despite the desire to make a fabulous Asian meal, many cooks end up putting up with mediocre results. After a few disappointments, they may order take-out, often abandoning their woks all together. Its Stew-Frying vs. Stir-Frying.
There are also electric element and induction stoves available for flat bottom woks only. However they still don’t quite generate enough “Wok Hei.” Once a good amount of food is “introduced” into the wok, the temperature drops and the food releases its water content therefore producing stewing results not stir-frying. Gas has a "quicker heating response" and is easy to gauge by eye. Most professional chefs and serious cooks won’t consider anything but gas.
One of my goals in inventing the WokMon was to help us eat healthier “balanced” diets. Many health experts and dietitians emphasize the need to add "fresh vegetables and fiber" to our overall diet. We are combating very complicated, confusing messages in the media on what to eat and our waistlines are not shrinking. We are battling obesity and related rising medical costs. Asian cuisine and wok cooking with the help of the WokMon can help us take a healthier approach to our diet. Also the combination of meat and vegetables makes for a more interesting eating experience than the regular day-to-day fare.
Up until this point, I have explained how WokMon works and why it is needed in the kitchen. Now I need your help to get it into America’s and the world's kitchens. In return, you will be the first cooks to experience the power of the WokMon.
Help me bring Woksanity to your kitchen!
Scroll down or click on the Rewards link on the right to see the many funding/rewards levels. Of course, any amount you can contribute to make the WokMon a reality would be very greatly appreciated. You can also help by getting the word out to your family, friends and woking enthusiasts everywhere.
While I hope to get the WokMon manufactured here, given the high cost of US manufacturing, the reality of this happening is dependent on the funding amount raised. My first priority is making sure I am able to deliver well-manufactured WokMon kits to you and this is something I will certainly do if I reach my funding threshold of $20,000.
The final production version will be custom fit to your stove and be similar in principal but more efficient in design when compared to the sample prototype seen.
We have gotten this to a point where we just need the funds to go into production. This will be done immediately upon the successful conclusion of this campaign and we will make sure we are as efficient as possible in getting you the first units of the WokMon.
Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions about the WokMon.
I keep myself busy as a working actor and part-time tinkerer. Over the years, with my background in the aerospace industry, my inventions have been focused on the Asian food space. That's me in Entrepreneur magazine back in 1985 when I invented EZ-STICKS, the mechanical chopsticks. They were sold nationwide through Bloomingdale's Housewares, Spencers Gift Stores and Benihana restaurants.
Story on EZ-Sticks on KCBS TV (1985)
This lowered funding goal will pay for the manufacturing of the WokMons (without any tooling or dies) and the adjustable legs to fulfill all rewards. Packaging and shipping costs will also be covered. I will continue to attempt to keep manufacturing in the US. Please read the update dated July 28th for more detailed information.
This amount will pay for the five needed dies (one for each WokMon size and two for the legs), the initial production runs to fulfill rewards, and packaging and shipping costs. The WokMon and its adjustable support legs will be made in the US.
This reward consists of the WokMon, a wok support ring and four detachable/adjustable legs with high-temperature silicone booties that will let you position your wok's bottom at the optimimum distance from your burner. Please note that this image shows prototypes.
The WokMon comes in three different sizes to custom fit your gas burner. Please check your burner and choose your WokMon's size carefully when pledging your support. Thank you!
This reward consists of the following:
You are helping make the WokMon a reality. Thank you shout out via Twitter and Facebook with much appreciation from the WokMon superhero.
You are helping make the WokMon a reality. Thank you shout out via Twitter and Facebook with much appreciation from the WokMon superhero. Three randomly selected recipes from the Official WokMon Cookbook delivered digitally.
You are helping make the WokMon a reality. Thank you shout out via Twitter and Facebook with much appreciation from the WokMon superhero. Six randomly selected recipes from the Official WokMon Cookbook delivered digitally.
These are the very last of the original mechanical chopsticks that started a craze in 1985. Chopsticks' color will be chosen at random from white, black, red, green and pink.
The all-purpose carbon steel cleaver from the Wok Shop is perfect for cutting vegetables, meats, poultry, and fish. The cleaver features a 8" long x 3.25" wide blade and 4" wooden handle.
This single-piece all-purpose stainless steel cleaver from the Wok Shop is perfect for cutting vegetables, meats, poultry, and fish. The cleaver features a 8" long x 3.25" wide blade.
You will be a stir-frying superhero in these WokMon aprons. 65% polyester, 35% cotton. 24" long. Color: white. 7-color print. Please choose your design when placing your pledge.
The recipes in the Official WokMon Cookbook are the result of a collaboration between amateur chef and woking enthusiast, Michael Alan who has been cooking with a WokMon prototype for several months and Glen Lee. Written by food writer Corbo Eng.
This 48-page 8" x 10" full-color cookbook includes 20 recipes crafted specifically for the high heat provided by the WokMon. These recipes range from more traditional Chinese stir-fry dishes to Indian-inspired curries. It also contains a guide to the care of and seasoning of your carbon steel wok, tips/tricks and other useful information.
This reward consists of the WokMon, a wok support ring and four detachable/adjustable legs with high-temperature silicone booties that will let you position your wok's bottom at the optimimum distance from your burner. Please note that this image shows prototypes.
The WokMon comes in three different sizes to custom fit your gas burner. Please check your burner and choose your WokMon's size carefully when pledging your support. Thank you!
The American-made round-bottom wok from the Wok Shop is 14" diameter, made of heavy gauge carbon steel and has two wooden handles. This wok must be seasoned.
The American made round-bottom Pow Wok from the Wok Shop is 14" diameter by 4” deep, made of heavy gauge carbon steel and has a hollow metal handle. This wok must be seasoned.
This reward consists of the WokMon, a wok support ring and four detachable/adjustable legs with high-temperature silicone booties that will let you position your wok's bottom at the optimimum distance from your burner. Please note that this image shows prototypes.
The WokMon comes in three different sizes to custom fit your gas burner. Please check your burner and choose your WokMon's size carefully when pledging your support. Thank you!
The round-bottom American-made Pow Wok is 14" diameter by 4” deep, made of heavy gauge carbon steel and has a hollow metal handle. This wok must be seasoned. Includes: a wok cover, spatula and brush. All from the Wok Shop.
Sorry for the late response. Please go to www.wokmon.com for the latest updates. This has been a challenging startup process but the first consignment of WokMons is about to be shipped from China. I have been reaching out individually to all my crowdfunding supporters to find out if there is any change in their address or stove size. I truly appeciate your patience and you will not be disappointed. So please monitor the News & Updates page of my website.
Make sure you are logged in when viewing this page. You will see a yellow section near the top which lists the details of your pledge, the last few digits of your card number, and your shipping address. If any of these details have changed, simply click the appropriate button, make the changes and submit your new information.
If you have any problems navigating the website or pledging, please send an email to [email protected] right away.
Thank you for your support!
Hello All,
When I set out to crowdfund the WokMon, I was determined to have it manufactured in the US. I had been working with a New York-based steel factory for over a year on my prototypes and I hoped to continue working with them for the production run for the rewards.
The problem was that the WokMon dome comes in three different sizes and the final quotes I received from this factory days before the launch of the campaign pegged the tooling costs for the dies for the three WokMon sizes at a total of about $60,000. This number did not include the tooling costs for the adjustable legs (another $14K) or the cost of the production runs.
Then there were the silicone booties (Tooling costs quoted at just under $16,000!!! Production cost extra).
The kit also has to include wok rings which I have to buy off the shelf. And let's not forget the cost of shipping these units all over the US at no extra cost to all of you.
In short, if I were to pre-sell 500 WokMons via my campaign, I would have had to set the cost of each WokMon kit to approximately $400 to cover all my costs of fulfillment. I optimistically set the pricing of each unit between $38 and $50 in the hopes that I would find 5,000 supporters. Unfortunately, my optimism has not paid off and it is quite possible that when this campaign ends only about 500 units will have been claimed.
After speaking to the platform (Crowdzu) once again for their support in making some changes to my campaign as needed, I have spent the last several weeks contacting mostly US manufacturers for alternate quotes based, if necessary, on alternate manufacturing methods.
By eliminating tooling for the WokMon domes (even though this greatly increases the per unit manufacturing cost of each dome) and by getting quotes from other parts of the US, I have gotten to a point where I can almost manufacture enough WokMon kits to fulfill the rewards at 1/10th my original funding goal of $200,000 (later lowered to $100,000 based on interim quotes received).
At this point, I have already spent about $15,000 out of my own pocket on multiple prototypes, obtaining the patent, CAD drawings and so on. To avoid further costs that I have to cover, I am also looking into manufacturing in China if I can get a more affordable price for tooling. I am, of course, doing my best to try and keep manufacturing in the US.
I appreciate everyone's support. I am as excited to get my invention in your hands as you were in pledging your support. The WokMon was just reviewed very favorably by Gizmodo today. You can read this review here: http://gizmodo.com/using-the-wokmon-to-achieve-expert-level-chinese-food-a-1611989362
Given everything I mentioned above, I am reducing my funding goal to $20,000 and extending my campaign an additional two weeks to make sure that everyone who comes across the Gizmodo review in the coming days has an opportunity to get their pledges in. This may add a couple of weeks to my delivery date and for this I truly apologize.
I started working on the earliest prototypes of the WokMon - then called Dragon's Breath - over ten years ago. So this will be the culmination of a long-held dream. My goal in the slightly longer term, of course, is to get the WokMon on store shelves as soon as possible.
Thank you for your understanding and your support. You will not be disappointed!
Dear supporters,
I know how important it is to you that the WokMon is manufactured and that you receive the units you requested through your pledges. Many of you have contacted me via various means to see if this would happen even if I did not meet my funding goal here on Crowdzu and I have always responded in the affirmative.
FYI, Crowdzu is a new platform and as you may have noticed, the WokMon is their first crowdfunding project. I started working with the founders of this platform several months before the launch of both the website and my campaign. I have kept them informed of all my behind-the-scenes developments and after much discussion, they have agreed to extend my campaign to the end of this month. I have also lowered my minimum funding goal.
The How (did you manage to bring your cost down)? My original funding goal was based on working with a local NY-based manufacturer and using tooling and dies to stamp out the different sized WokMons and the legs. Doing this in the US on the East Coast is a very expensive proposition. I have now explored other manufacturing methods for limited quantities including machining and I have decided to move the manufacturing to another US state. Machining will bring the overall cost down for a limited production run even though it is not a cost effective proposition for mass production which is something I will have to revisit after this campaign.
The Why (did you extend the campaign)? I need to have some additional time to finalize production details with a new manufacturer while simultaneously working on more media coverage to reach every possible WokMon fan so it can indeed become a reality.
The What (effect does this have on my pledge of support)? Your pledge is not affected in any way. Even the scheduled delivery date of your WokMon will not change.
The Where (will you be manufacturing the WokMon)? As mentioned before, the goal is still to manufacture the WokMon in the US. I will be sure to inform you if anything changes in this respect.
If you, have not pledged yet, now is the time to do so. You can change your pledge easily at any time. Also please remember to spread the word among family, friends and stir-frying aficionados.
Please message me through Crowdzu or email me at [email protected] if you have any question.
Thank you again for your support and faith in the WokMon. Happy 4th of July to all my American supporters!
- Glen
I picked up my own infrared temperature gun last week and tested the WokMon on a 2" gas burner with a round bottom carbon steel wok. You can see the result in the picture below. That's work hei!
Man that's woking hot!
There are so many things to get done including finalizing all prototypes, ironing out details with manufacturers, reaching out to press and supporters, working with product testers, networking... the list is almost endless. However, this weekend I also found time to start working on the cookbook with Michael Alan and Corbo Eng, the food writer who came down from Washington DC to work with us.
Our goal is to create an awesome cookbook that you will enjoy using with your WokMon. Here's a collage of pictures taken with a smartphone to commemorate the first couple of days of work on the recipes. We will save the professional pictures for the cookbook.
That was some good eating, thanks to the WokMon. If you haven't already signed up for one, please consider changing your pledge to include this cookbook.
Thank you for your support! Please help spread the Woksanity!
- Glen
A smaller version of this picture is included with the WokMon rewards but I thought posting this bigger picture would help clear up any doubts. The burner pictured is 2-1/4" and would require the small WokMon. If you have any questions, please contact me at gtlee3[at]gmail.com.
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