Abstract: A stove burner includes heating elements lying on a concave surface when viewed from above so that elements closer to the central portion are at a greater depth than elements towards the outer portion. The heating elements may constitute concentric pipes of decreasing radii when viewed in plan and at successively greater depths from the surface of the stove when viewed in elevation so as to define the concave surface. Alternatively, the heating elements may constitute an electrical resistance element following a spiral path wherein successive spirals are at increasing levels from the top surface of the stove when viewed from the side. The radius of curvature of the concave heating element configuration is made to match substantially the radius of curvature of the bottom surface of a wok (shallow steel pan with handles).