7 Best Whisks That Will Cause a Stir in Your Kitchen posted by Taylor Munsell Pin Share Tweet Email SomethingSwanky is reader-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission at no extra cost to you. Every great meal involves incorporating and blending ingredients together. Whether you are cooking a classic sauce, preparing a French meringue, or baking a cake, a great whisk will help you achieve uniform blended results in your recipe. Every regular baker needs a standard whisk in their kitchen. You’re probably familiar with the classic balloon whisk. But over the years, there have been innovations in whisk shape, size, and material. You’ll find a vast collection of whisks designed for different tasks in the kitchen. So, which whisk is the best for your cooking needs? In this post, we’re going to explore various types of whisks and their uses. Then, I’ll give you details on the best whisks available and answer common questions about this essential kitchen tool. Table of ContentsAbout WhisksTypes of WhisksWhat to Look ForWhy Do You Need a Whisk?7 Best Whisks1. French: Stainless Steel French Whisk2. Balloon: OXO Good Grips Balloon Whisk3. Dough: Tovolo Dough Whisk4. Flat/Roux: Flat Whisk5. Egg: Newness Egg Whisk6. Ball: All-Clad Stainless Steel Ball Whisk7. Spiral: Rosle Spiral WhiskFAQ About Whisks About Whisks Types of Whisks Balloon Whisks These all-purpose mixing tools have a rounded bulb shape with few metal tines. They are found in most kitchens and are great for simple everyday tasks like mixing pancake batter and blending dry ingredients. French Whisks A French whisk has closely-spaced wires and a narrower shape compared to a balloon whisk. It’s great for smaller pots and pans. French whisks are suitable for salad dressings and light sauces rather than heavy batters. These tools are also perfect for whipping air into eggs for excellent omelets. Dense batters and dough may clog a French whisk’s metal wires. Flat Whisks These whisks resemble flattened balloon whisks. They are perfect for maneuvering in shallow pans with ease. They are good for meals that need frequent stirring like gravies, custards, or lemon curds. This is because you can angle the handle of this whisk closer to the edge of a cooking pan or pot. Plus, this whisk can scrape food that’s stuck to the corners of cooking pans. Coil Whisk In this type of whisk, the wires form a tight coil shape. A coil whisk mixes food when you move the handle up and down. It’s also known as a spiral or spring whisk. They are ideal for small bowls, glasses, and mugs. Ball Whisk The wires in this whisk splay out from the handle. Each wire has a small round ball on its tip. Ball whisks spread across flat surfaces and reach into the corners of narrow containers like measuring cups. These whisks efficiently break up ingredients and blend them into a homogenous mixture. Danish Whisk This type of whisk has a series of stiff wire loops that make it great for blending together ingredients for bread dough without too much effort on your part. It’s also fantastic for pancakes, quick bread, and biscuits. It’s easier to clean than a balloon whisk. This useful kitchen equipment is also known as a dough whisk. What to Look For Type: Each whisk was designed for a specific role. For example, as mentioned above, a balloon whisk is great for simple mixing tasks. But if you’ll be making lots of bread, you should opt for a dough whisk. Therefore, consider the tasks for which you need a whisk before making a purchase. Material: The wire material of most whisks is made of either silicon or stainless steel. Silicone whisks are nonreactive and won’t scratch the surfaces of nonstick cookware. On the other hand, stainless steel whisks are more durable and ideal for cutting through thick batters. Care: Fortunately, most whisks are dishwasher safe. But do confirm the manufacturer’s instructions on caring for this kitchen tool. Why Do You Need a Whisk? Whisks are versatile tools that are great for meal preparation tasks. They are useful for beating eggs, preparing thin cake batters, blending dry ingredients, whisking custards, and whipping any mixture prepared in a bowl. These kitchen tools help to smoothly blend ingredients and incorporate air into liquid mixtures. 7 Best Whisks 1. French: Stainless Steel French Whisk by Sur La Table Made of durable stainless steel, this flexible French whisk holds up as you beat eggs, whip cream, and aerate ingredients. Its long narrow shape provides more motion compared to classic balloon whisks. Additionally, this lightweight piece has an ergonomic handle that’s easy to grasp and feels comfortable as you whisk away. It’s perfect for small mixing jobs. Better still, it cleans up easily in the dishwasher. And, it’s sturdy and nicely fits small hands. 2. Balloon: OXO Good Grips Balloon Whisk by [amazon link=”B00004OCNS” link_icon=”none” title=”OXO” /] [amazon fields=”B00004OCNS” value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”OXO Good Grips 11-Inch Balloon Whisk”] This highly-rated whisk performs exceptionally. It’s the perfect piece if you’re looking to buy a single whisk for your kitchen. Its strong stainless steel wires work well with thick batters. These same wires are flexible enough for fluffing and whipping eggs. Apart from that, its comfortable non-slip handle offers great support as you work on large batches of dough and batter. The whisks wide body helps you achieve smooth results with minimal hand fatigue. On the downside, you must be careful not to leave the handle of the whisk resting on a hot pan. Prolonged contact with very hot surfaces may cause the handle to melt. 3. Dough: Tovolo Dough Whisk by Sur La Table If you love to bake bread, then this is the tool you need to add to your baking kit. This whisk is designed to cut through dough without overworking it. Its round edges drag flour from the bottom and edges of your mixing bowl to ensure that all the ingredients are incorporated. Moreover, it’s great for no-knead bread, sourdough starter, and heavy batters that should not be overmixed. This sleek dishwasher-safe whisk perfectly mixes dough for bread and delicate pastries. With this dough whisk, you don’t need a stand mixer or your wooden spoon as you prepare bread dough. 4. Flat/Roux: Flat Whisk by Sur La Table Comfortable and easy to maneuver, this flat whisk is great for stirring sauces for lump-free results. Its flat design helps scrape up any bits from the bottom of the pan as you prepare roux, béchamel, or gravy. It easily gets to the corners of saucepans. And its handle feels comfortable in your hand. This sturdy whisk is made of stainless steel and is dishwasher-safe. 5. Egg: Newness Egg Whisk by [amazon link=”B01B1LCVE4″ link_icon=”none” title=”Newness” /] [amazon fields=”B01B1LCVE4″ value=”thumb” image_size=”large” image_align=”center” image_alt=”Newness Egg Whisk”] With this whisk, you don’t have to rotate your arm. A simple press on the handle causes its wires to spin and whisk your ingredients. It also spins when the handle springs back up. This working mechanism minimizes strain on the hands and adds a hint of fun to mixing tasks. This sturdy whisk whips eggs, butter, cream, and light batters for delicate bakes. It also fits in narrow containers. You can use it to mix cocktails and coffee. This stainless steel piece is durable and won’t bend with regular use. 6. Ball: All-Clad Stainless Steel Ball Whisk by Williams Sonoma With its flexible wires and small beads, this stainless steel ball whisk is great for aerating mixtures. It blends and aerates ingredients faster than a balloon whisk. Additionally, it can reach the furthest ends of bowls, pots, or measuring cups. It’s great for sifting dry ingredients, whipping cream, beating eggs, and much more. There’s a natural vibration in its beads that ensures that no ingredients stick between the tines. Therefore, it’s easier to clean than traditional whisks. Additionally, this eye-catching piece has a hanging hook so that you can keep it within reach or display it in your kitchen. 7. Spiral: Rosle Spiral Whisk by Sur La Table Perfect for pan sauce, this whisk has a ring-shaped coil head that gets to all the hard-to-reach areas of a cooking pot. It scrapes the bottom of a gravy pot and beats out any lumps. This handy spiral whisk will thoroughly whip gravies, pancake batter, and more. Plus, it has a balanced weight and a smooth comfortable handle. Moreover, it’s crafted from non-corrosive stainless steel and is dishwasher-safe. FAQ About Whisks What size whisk is best? If your whisk is too small and skinny, it won’t do a great job of aerating your ingredients. It also won’t reach deep into containers. The best whisks measure from 10 to 12 inches long. They should be neither too skinny nor too bulbous.With that said, the size you select depends on the amount of food that you’ll be whipping. Different-sized whisks will come in handy for different amounts of food. Which whisk is best for whipping cream? Because of their design, balloon whisks are best for whipping cream. Their rounded shape increases the amount of air that you can incorporate into your ingredients. They’re also great for whipping eggs when you’re preparing meringues. How do I whisk egg whites? Separate the egg yolks from the whites. You can separate eggs when they’re cold. But ensure the egg whites are at room temperature before whipping them. Place the egg whites into a clean dry container. Add salt (a pinch of salt for four eggs). Grab your whisk. Beat the eggs at a steady speed until you achieve the desired peaks: soft, firm, or stiff peaks. How should I clean a whisk? Though most whisks are dishwasher-safe, extra cleaning effort is required if there is crusted food on the wires of the whisk. In such a case, you’ll need to soak the whisk in a bowl of soapy water until the crusted food particles fall off.Start by adding hot water to a bowl. Add some liquid soap. Stir the mixture with your whisk. Soak the whisk wires in the soapy mixture to remove food bits. Rinse the whisk with clean water and let it dry completely before you store it. What is the difference between whipping, whisking, and beating? Whipping involves blending ingredients and adding air into a mixture using a wire whisk or a whisk attachment on a mixer machine. When you whip ingredients, you have a purpose in mind. For example, you may whip eggs till they’re stiff.Whisking involves briefly stirring ingredients with light quick motions using a whisk for a lump-free mixture. Beating involves thoroughly combining ingredients using a wooden spoon or food mixer to create light and fluffy baked goods. Whip It Real Good If you’ve always relied on your trusty fork or wooden spoon to mix ingredients, then it’s time to try a whisk. You’ll come to find these kitchen tools necessary and very convenient. Remember, the type of whisk you choose depends on the task for which you’ll use it. There’s a whisk for every mixing job. If you need a multi-purpose whisk, then a balloon whisk is your best bet. If you’re a novice bread baker, then a Danish whisk is an excellent choice. Apart from that, compared to electric whisks, hand whisks give you great control as you mix ingredients. Because you can feel the consistency of your mixture, you’ll know when to stop whisking. Arm yourself with this simple kitchen tool for smooth uniform batters, sauces, puddings, creams, and much more.
