Stir-fry vessels are typically shallow, round-bottomed pans with high sides that are used to quickly cook food over high heat. The most common stir-fry vessel is the wok, which is a traditional Chinese cooking utensil with four letters: WOKS. Woks are designed to evenly distribute heat and to allow food to be tossed and stirred while cooking. They are also ideal for quickly searing food and adding sauces.