River Light Kiwame Nitrided Carbon Steel Induction Wok - 28cm
Gift Wrapping Service
What's included: a rigid gift box in plum-blossom pink with a washi-patterned band, tissue wrap to protect your pieces, and a gift invoice that lists the items without prices and carries your gift message. The gift box ships inside a plain outer carton. $4.90 per box.
How many boxes do you need?
| Items | Per box |
|---|---|
| Chopstick rests, sauce dishes, cups, small bowls (up to 12 cm) | up to 6 |
| Rice bowls, mugs, plates up to 20 cm, flasks | up to 4 |
| Plates 23–28 cm, ramen bowls, saucepans up to 18 cm | up to 2 |
| Donabe, wok, frypan, kettle, teapot, knife | 1 each |
| Sets (bowl sets, pair sets, gift sets) | 1 per set |
Not sure? Add one box and leave your gift message in the order note at checkout — we'll adjust the count before dispatch. Rice cookers and konro grills can't be wrapped.
River Light Kiwame Nitrided Carbon Steel Induction Wok - 28cm
River Light makes carbon steel pans and nothing else, and the Kiwame 28cm is the standard nitrided wok in our range: 1.6mm steel, a 16cm flat base, a wooden handle that unscrews, and a single pouring rim.
It suits two to four serves. The 16cm base sits squarely on a household induction ring, with enough curve above it to toss on gas; at 1.13kg it lifts one-handed. The handle unscrews — easy to store, cheap to replace.
Made in Japan. Nitriding hardens the steel so it resists rust far better than untreated iron — but it is not rust-proof, and it still needs seasoning and a wipe of oil after washing. Also available in 24cm, 26cm and 30cm, or with a matching stainless steel lid.
What's Included
Wok Only Option:
- 1 x River Light Kiwame Nitrided Carbon Steel Induction Wok - 28cm
Wok + Lid Set Option:
- 1 x River Light Kiwame Nitrided Carbon Steel Induction Wok - 28cm
- 1 x River Light Stainless Steel Lid - 28cm
Pairs with: the Tsubame Sanjo Slotted Turner, a flat stainless turner that scrapes the base clean without scratching nitrided steel, and Fujisho Copper Scrubbers for washing up — the traditional choice for iron pans in Japan.
Steam with it: add the Pearl Life Bamboo Steamer with the 28cm Adapter Ring, which seats the steamer level over this wok.
Key Features
- Detachable Wooden Handle: Unscrews for flat storage; a replacement handle is sold separately.
- Single Pouring Rim: One spout for pouring off oil or sauce without drips.
- 1.6mm Nitrided Steel: Thick enough to hold heat for searing, thin enough to respond when you turn the flame down.
- Optional Stainless Lid: The matching River Light 28cm lid, available as a set.
Which wok suits my cooktop? Our carbon steel woks at a glance
On induction, only the flat base is heated and the sides warm by conduction — so a wider base means a bigger hot zone. On gas, the flame wraps the curve, and a narrower base with a lighter body is easier to toss. The figures below are for each series' 27–30cm model.
| Series | Base | Weight | Steel | Handle |
| River Light Kiwame 28 | 16cm | 1.13kg | 1.6mm nitrided | Detachable wood |
| Yoshikawa Cook-Pal Ren 28 | 16.5cm | 1.08kg | 1.6mm nitrided | Detachable wood |
| Takumi 28 | 16cm | 1kg | 1.8mm bare iron | Fixed beech |
| Tanabe Kanagu 30 | 18.5cm | 1.17kg | 1.6mm nitrided | Fixed walnut |
| Pearl Life Hammered 27 | 13.5cm | 710g | 1.2mm nitrided, hammered | Fixed wood |
| Pearl Life Nitrocraft 30 | 14cm | 1.1kg | 1.6mm nitrided | Fixed wood |
| Tsubame Sanjo 30 | 14cm | 1.1kg | 1.6mm nitrided, hammered | Detachable wood |
| Wahei Freiz Enzo 30 | 17.7cm | 1.24kg | Graduated nitrided, hammered | Fixed beech |
What happens in the first few weeks?
- Wash and dry the new wok with warm soapy water, then dry it on low heat for a minute.
- Season it once — oil to a third of the depth, five minutes on low, cool, pour off, then wipe the film over the whole inside. Five minutes, done.
- First cooks: stir-fried vegetables, fried rice, pan-fried meat with plenty of oil — dishes that build seasoning fast.
- Hold off on eggs, delicate fish, boiling, steaming and acidic dishes until week two or three.
- Expect the surface to darken unevenly. That is the patina forming, not damage — do not scrub it off.
Full steps, with video, in our carbon steel care guide.
Will it rust, and what do I do if it does?
Nitrided steel resists rust far better than bare iron, but it is still iron. Rust appears when the wok is left wet, soaked, or put away without a film of oil.
- Every wash: hot water and a soft sponge or copper scrubber, dry on the heat, then wipe a teaspoon of oil over the inside. Never the dishwasher.
- Spots of rust: scrub them off and repeat the five-minute seasoning. The wok is not damaged.
- Deep pits: we restore carbon steel pans at our Chatswood store — free within warranty. See the care guide.
Important Notes
- Hand wash only. No dishwasher, no soaking.
- Wooden handle: not oven safe.
- Change-of-mind returns are accepted on an unused wok in its original packaging. Once a wok has been washed, seasoned or used, it cannot be returned or exchanged.
Seasoning & Care
Season once before first use, then wash, dry and oil after every cook. Step-by-step instructions, the oil test for a ready pan, and troubleshooting are in our carbon steel care guide.
About River Light
River Light has spent more than seventy years on a single material. That focus produced the Kiwame series: traditional iron pans brought to modern kitchens — rust-resistant, induction ready and easier to season — for home cooks and professionals alike.
Specifications
| Brand | River Light |
| Series | Kiwame |
| Dimensions | Approx. Ø 28cm x 7.5cm (H) |
| Total Length | Approx. 46.8cm (with handle) |
| Bottom Diameter | Approx. Ø 16cm |
| Weight | Approx. 1.13kg |
| Body Material | Nitrided Carbon Steel (1.6mm thick) |
| Handle Material | Natural Wood (Detachable) |
| Lid Material (Set Only) | Stainless Steel |
| Cooktop Compatibility | Induction, Gas, Electric, Ceramic, Halogen |
| Induction Compatible | Yes |
| Dishwasher Safe | No (Hand wash only) |
| Microwave Safe | No |
| Oven Safe | No |
| Country of Origin | Made in Japan |
